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Here Are the Job Interview Questions You Should Expect

Your Career

Job interviews can be stressful. The best way to prepare for an interview is to anticipate—and prepare for—the job interview questions you are most likely to be asked.

So instead of stumbling through a job interview trying to answer questions you didn’t anticipate, check out this list of frequently asked job interview questions so that you can prepare articulate and compelling responses ahead of time.

Introductory job interview questions

The job interview will probably start off with some general introductory questions, such as:

  • Can you tell me a little about yourself?
  • What do you know about our company?
  • How did you hear about this job?
  • What motivates you?

Questions about work history

The interviewer will be very interested in your work experience and how that experience might translate for the open position. So expect questions such as:

  • Can you please walk me through your resume?
  • Why are you thinking about leaving your current job?
  • Can you explain gaps in your work history? (if relevant)
  • Can you describe a difficult work experience and how you handled it?
  • What’s an accomplishment you are proud of?
  • Can you give me an example of when you went above and beyond the call of duty in your current job?
  • What is a typical workday like for you?

Questions about the job position

You will likely be asked questions that are specific to the position you are applying for, including:

  • Why do you think you will be a good fit for this position?
  • What relevant experience do you have for this position?
  • What interests you about this job?
  • How does this job fit in with your career plans?
  • When could you start work?
  • What’s important to enable you to do a great job?

Questions on interpersonal skills

The interviewer will likely want to probe you about your work relationships and interpersonal skills with questions such as:

  • Have you ever had problems with a co-worker or supervisor?
  • Do you consider yourself a team player? Can you give me an example of when being a team player was important?
  • Can you give me an example of how you deal with conflict?
  • How would your boss and co-workers describe you?
  • What’s your management style?
  • How would you describe your work style?
  • Can you describe how you dealt with a problem colleague in the past?
  • If you knew your boss was completely wrong about a particular issue, how would you handle it?

Questions about the new company

The interviewer might ask you a variety of questions about the new company to see if you have done your due diligence. So anticipate these types of questions:

  • What do you know about our company?
  • Have you tried our product? What are your thoughts about it?
  • Do you know any of our employees?
  • What do you think of our company website?

Questions on your strengths and weaknesses

The interviewer will likely ask potentially difficult questions to gain insight into your strengths and weaknesses, including:

  • What do you consider to be your greatest strength?
  • How do you deal with high-pressure situations?
  • What is your greatest professional achievement?
  • What do you consider to be your weakness?
  • What one thing would you like to do better? What’s your plan for improvement?

Questions on compensation

You will likely be asked salary/compensation questions, such as:

  • What is your current compensation (salary and bonus)? [Note that this question is illegal for an interviewer to ask in some U.S. states and cities.]
  • What are your salary requirements for this position?
  • Why would you take a job for less money? (if relevant)

Concluding job interview questions

There likely will be some concluding questions at the end of the interview, such as:

  • Do you have any questions for me?
  • Are there any questions that I should have asked, but didn’t?
  • Is there anything you want to add that we didn’t cover?

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Copyright © by Richard D. Harroch. All Rights Reserved.

Profile: Richard Harroch

Richard D. Harroch is a Senior Advisor to CEOs, management teams, and Boards of Directors. He is an expert on M&A, venture capital, startups, and business contracts. He was the Managing Director and Global Head of M&A at VantagePoint Capital Partners, a venture capital fund in the San Francisco area. His focus is on internet, digital media, AI and technology companies. He was the founder of several Internet companies. His articles have appeared online in Forbes, Fortune, MSN, Yahoo, Fox Business and AllBusiness.com. Richard is the author of several books on startups and entrepreneurship as well as the co-author of Poker for Dummies and a Wall Street Journal-bestselling book on small business. He is the co-author of a 1,500-page book published by Bloomberg on mergers and acquisitions of privately held companies. He was also a corporate and M&A partner at the international law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. He has been involved in over 200 M&A transactions and 250 startup financings. He can be reached through LinkedIn.