The 9 most frequently asked job interview questions

Preparation for a job interview should go way beyond simply choosing your suit and polishing those credentials to perfection. To stand the best chance of success you also need to have some great answers ready for the questions they will be asking. Here’s our top 9 of the most common, along with suggestions on how to answer them effectively.

1. What can you tell us about yourself?

Your answer to this question, often the first to be asked, will either spark the interviewer’s interest or sow the first seeds of doubt. This is your sales pitch – short, punchy and tantalising. Highlight your successes to convince them they need to know more.

2. What are your strongest points?

This is not the time to be modest. It is also not an invitation to show arrogance. Focus on the professional attributes you will bring to the job and how they will contribute to the company’s core mission.

3. Why are you the right person for this job?

Think of the abilities and strengths that set you apart from the competition, that distinguish who you are in the workplace. This will often be a combination of attributes, for example how your technical expertise helps you support and lead a team.

4. What are your goals for the future?

Demonstrate here that you are a person with vision and ambition, the kind of dynamic individual successful companies are built on. Talk about your professional goals for the next five years, your dream job and what you would like to achieve in your career.

5. Why do you want to work for us?

Your preparation for the interview should have included research into the company and the role they are looking to fill. This question gives you a chance to demonstrate your interest in the company and the job they are offering.

6. How would people describe you?

This is a good opportunity to demonstrate your strengths without bragging. Your answer should show the interviewer that you are:

• very competent;
• hard working;
• a great person to have on the team.

7. What salary do you expect?

Part of your research should focus on determining the going market rate for someone with your skills and experience. In the interview try to avoid being too specific with numbers. Instead talk about a salary range that leaves room for negotiation later on.

8. Why are you leaving your current job?

This question will almost certainly be asked. You need to prepare a positive response. Negative comments about your past employers will not impress anyone. Instead show you are a dynamic person who wants to grow and develop professionally by moving into this new role.

9. What questions do you have for us?

Don’t miss this last opportunity to impress. Questions show you are interested in the company and the job. Prepare a few that are unlikely to have been covered in the course of the interview so you can finish on a positive note and hopefully leave the room with the job firmly in the bag.