Practice Interview Questions
Practice interview questions are an essential part of job interview preparation. Here we outline the 50 most commonly asked interview questions, and provide guidance on how to answer the top 10.
The 50 Most Common Interview Questions
| 1. Tell me about yourself |
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| Don't simply restate what's on your résumé. Personalise your story with details of what ignited your interest in your field of work and who has influenced you along the way. |
| 2. What excites you most about this job? |
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| Highlight your passion points and tie them back to the key aspects of the role you're interviewing for. |
| 3. Why do you want to work for our company? |
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| Research the company's website, blog, mission statement, & social pages to identify what the company stands for, then highlight the areas that are aligned to your own values. |
| 4. Why did you leave your previous/current job? |
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| You can cite a desire for new opportunities, greater challenges, professional development, career change etc, but avoid mentioning money, rapid career progression, or grievances with your employer. |
| 5. What are your greatest strengths? |
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| Highlight workplace skills or personality traits, but ensure that the attributes discussed are central to performing the role well. |
| 6. What are your greatest weaknesses? |
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| Be honest and self aware about your own limitations, but avoid surfacing issues that may be viewed as detrimental to performing the role. |
| 7. What career achievement are you most proud of? |
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| This is your chance to highlight your greatest career accomplishment, but it's also an opportunity to demonstrate humility by acknowledging the contributions that others have made to help shape who you are. |
| 8. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? |
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| Discuss milestones you'd like to achieve for the company, as opposed to titles you'd like to earn for yourself. |
| 9. Why should we hire you? |
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| This question is inviting you to get a little personal, so don't be afraid to highlight what it is that makes you unique and why this would be an asset to any potential employer. |
| 10. Do you have any questions for us? |
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| Yes you do! Show your interviewers how you think by asking insightful questions that demonstrate an understanding of their business and the challenges they face. |
See more answers to common interview questions in our video library
For advanced techniques, explore our Online Interview Training Course
11. Why are you a good fit for this role?
12. What is it about this industry that excites you?
13. What do you like most about your current/previous job?
14. What do you like least about your current/previous job?
15. Describe a time when you’ve gone above and beyond?
16. Describe a time when you’ve had to resolve a complaint?
17. Describe a time when you demonstrated your client service focus?
18. Describe a time when you successfully demonstrated your analytical skills?
19. Describe a time when you successfully demonstrated your attention to detail?
20. Tell me about a time when you’ve come up with a creative solution for a work problem?
21. Can you provide an example of when you’ve shown initiative and taken the lead?
22. Describe something you’ve done that improved efficiency?
23. How do you stay motivated when doing mundane tasks?
24. Tell me about a time you made a mistake and what you learned from it?
25. Describe a difficult work situation and how you overcame it?
26. What is the most important project, transaction, or task you’ve ever been involved in and what was your contribution?
27. What’s the best piece of feedback you’ve ever received about yourself?
28. How do you handle stress and pressure?
29. How do you deal with multiple competing priorities?
30. How do you ensure you stay on top of all your tasks and deadlines?
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31. How do you feel when someone interrupts you in the middle of an important task?
32. How do you cope with having your schedule interrupted by impromptu meetings?
33. When faced with a problem, will you typically try to solve it on your own in the first instance or will you seek guidance straight away?
34. What are some of the things that trigger you to seek help from other team members?
35. Do you prefer working alone or as part of a team?
36. Describe your preferred working style?
37. What kind of work environment do you most enjoy working in?
38. What do you think you could contribute to our office culture?
39. Have you ever been in a situation where you’ve disagreed with your manager?
40. Describe what qualities your ideal manager would have?
41. Who has been your best boss and why?
42. What is the most useful criticism you’ve ever received?
43. What have been the biggest learnings from your current/previous workplaces?
44. Tell me about something you would have done differently at work if you had your time again?
45. Are you more ‘bigger picture’ or more ‘detail oriented’?
46. What’s more important to you, to be liked or to get the desired outcome?
47. What impact do you think you have on your colleagues?
48. What motivates you?
49. What values best describe you?
50. What makes you unique?
See more answers to common interview questions in our video library
For advanced techniques, explore our Online Interview Training Course
How to use these practise questions
Select multiple questions from the list above and prepare "interview ready" answers to them. This exercise will help crystallise in your own mind exactly what it is you can offer to your potential employer. And even if the specific questions you've prepared for are not asked, your preparation will better enable you to give impromptu answers that are well articulated and on point.
For guidance on how to answer specific interview questions, explore our video library.