By ALISON DOYLE
(Updated May 25, 2018) From The Balance Careers
When you go on a job interview there are a variety of
different types of interview questions you'll be asked. You'll be asked about your employment history,
your ability to work on a team, your leadership skills, your motivation, as
well as other interview questions related to your skills and abilities.
When you go on a job interview there are a variety of
different types of interview questions you'll be asked. You'll be asked about your employment history,
your ability to work on a team, your leadership skills, your motivation, as
well as other interview questions related to your skills and abilities.
Your responses need to be targeted for the job you
are interviewing for. Your responses should show the employer why you're a
qualified candidate and why you are a fit for the job and the company.
Take the time to prepare for a job interview, in advance, by reviewing the different types of
interview questions you'll be asked, as well as by taking a look
at sample answers for each type of question.
During a job interview, you'll be asked questions
about your abilities. The key to successfully responding is to focus on your
abilities as they relate to the qualifications required for the job. Review
common interview questions about your abilities and sample answers.
When you're interviewing, you will be asked why you
left or are going to leave your job. Here are interview questions, along with
sample answers, related to leaving your job, getting fired, and what you have
been doing if you're not currently employed.
Interview questions about salary can be tricky. When
you answer questions about compensation at your previous job(s) you need to be
honest, because your salary can be verified by a prospective employer. When it
comes to how much you want to make, it can be difficult to answer in a way that
ensures you'll get paid a fair salary. Here are common interview questions
about salary, advice on the best way to respond to salary related interview
questions, and sample answers.
Interviewers want to know what your strong points are
and what might be an issue if you're hired. Be prepared to answer so you focus
on your qualifications for the job. Here are interview questions related to
your strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and accomplishments, along with
examples of answers. Do tailor your responses to fit your personal
circumstances.
When an interviewer asks questions about you they are
trying to determine how good a fit you are for the company. Is your personality
a match for the company culture? Are your goals and expectations a match for
what your role in the company will be if you're hired? How will you fit in with
the current team? Here are common interview questions that you'll be asked
about yourself, along with sample answers and tips on how to respond.
During a job interview you will be expected to
provide the details of your work history, include each job you had, starting
and ending dates of employment, compensation, positions held, and the companies
you worked for. Review common interview questions about your work history and
the information you will be expected to provide during a job interview.
Behavioural interview questions will be more focused
than traditional interview questions and you'll need to respond with special
examples of how you handled situations in the workplace. Review examples of the
questions you may be asked during a behavioural job interview and think about
how you would answer them.
Good communication skills are essential for workplace
success. When you interview for a job, the hiring manager will ask about
communication skills, including how you handle issues, how you handle difficult
situations, what you expect as far as communications from management, and other
questions related to your ability to communicate. Review these interview
questions related to communicating, as well as sample answers.
Company culture is the personality of a company and
defines what a company, from an employee perspective, is like to work for.
Interview questions about company culture are designed to determine whether you
will be a good fit for the organization. Here are examples of interview questions
that are used to determine how good a match you for the company, along with
sample answers.
Competency based interview questions require
candidates to give specific examples of times in which they demonstrated
particular skills or attitudes.
Here's information on how to prepare for this type of
interview, plus tips for answering and examples of questions.
Regardless of the level and type of job you are
interviewing for, your interpersonal skills matter. Hiring managers want to be
assured that you have the interpersonal skills necessary to get along with
colleagues, co-workers, supervisors, managers, clients, vendors, and/or
customers. Review the common interview questions you'll be asked about your
interpersonal skills as well as sample answers.
When you are interviewing for an Information
Technology (IT) job, in addition to the standard interview questions you will
be asked during a job interview, you will be asked more focused and specific
questions about your education, skills, certifications, languages and tools you
have expertise in.
When you are being interviewed for job where you will
have a leadership role, the hiring manager will want to know about the
experience that qualifies you to lead, your leadership style, your
accomplishments, and your expectations for the future. Review these common
leadership interview questions.
When you are being interviewed for a management
position, the interviewer will want to know about your experience, your
management style, what you have accomplished in the past, and what your expectations
are for the future. Review these common manager interview questions and sample
answers, so you are prepared to interview for a management position.
Interviewers commonly ask about motivation during a
job interview. When you're asked about motivation during an interview, the
hiring manager is trying to understand what drives your success and wants to
determine whether what motivates you is a fit with the job responsibilities.
Here are some examples of motivation interview questions and best answers.
Personal interview questions are questions about you
personally – your personality, your work style and work ethic, how you handle
stress, what you expect from an employer, and how you handle certain
situations. Before you head out to a job interview, review these personal
interview questions and sample answers to get an idea of what you'll be asked
and the best way to respond.
Phone interviews are conducted just like in-person
interviews. They are used by hiring managers and recruiters as a tool for
screening candidates for employment. It's important take time to review the
typical phone interview questions you'll be asked and to prepare answers.
When you are interviewing for a sales position, your
goal is to sell yourself to the hiring manager. A sales job interview is among
the most challenging of interviews, because candidates need to do more than
just respond to questions.
Here are examples of common sales interview
questions, along with sample answers you can use to frame responses based on
your own qualifications, skills, product knowledge, achievements, and sales
experiences.
Examples of job interview questions that employers
commonly ask high school students, college students, and graduates seeking
part-time, summer and full-time entry level jobs. There are also sample answers
for each of the interview questions.
When asked about teamwork during a job interview,
it's important to show enthusiasm for working on a team vs. independently if
the position requires teamwork. Give specific examples of teamwork you have
participated in successfully.
Review these interview questions about teamwork and
sample answers to questions about working as part of a team to help you prepare
for a job interview
Employers are always concerned about productivity.
When they interview candidates for employment they want to know how productive
they can expect the person to be and how well the applicant manages their time.
Review interview questions about time management,
along with examples of the best way to respond.
One of the most important parts of successful
interviewing is to relate your qualifications to the job you are interviewing
for. It's critical to show the hiring manager why you have the qualifications
the company needs in a candidate. Review typical employment questions about
your qualifications and sample interviews.
Take the time to review more of the common interview
questions you will most likely be asked. Also review sample answers to these
typical interview questions.
The more familiar you are with the questions you will
be asked during a job interview, the more comfortable you will be responding to
the hiring manager. Here are practice interview questions and sample answers
for a variety of different occupations and types of jobs.
As the interview comes to a close, one of the final
questions you may be asked is "What can I answer for you?" Have
interview questions of your own ready to ask. You aren't simply trying to get
this job – you are also interviewing the employer to assess whether this
company and the position are a good fit for you.
Knowing proper job interview etiquette is an
important part of successful interviewing. How you dress, what you bring to a
job interview, how you greet the interviewer, and how you communicate can all
make a big difference in the outcome of the interview.
