# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Top 10 interview questions | Get a job | National Careers Service

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It's important to know that the employer isn't just seeing if you can do the job. They are also finding out if you would fit in. Try to find out beforehand what the organisation's working culture is and explain how you are a good fit for it.

# data[].attributes.body
Common questions and how to answer them.

# data[].attributes.body
Excellent article.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What's the best job for you?

Use The Muse to find a job at a company with a culture you love. Select the career path that aligns with you:

How many years of experience do you have?

What company benefits are most important to you?

Calculating your job matches...

It's just as important to know what the hiring manager will consider a red flag. After all, a big monologue about your micromanager boss may lead to concerns that you'll complain about this company, too, even if you have stellar sales numbers five quarters and counting.

So, what are these red flags? Read our list of 18 things never to say in a job interview below-then spend your time prepping for what to say during your conversations here. And good luck!

1. "I didn't have time to prepare."

Rule No. 1 of interviewing: Do your research. You never want to walk into an interview knowing next to nothing about the position or company. You want to show that you're excited enough that you've done some homework and thought about how you'd fit in. To get started, do some online research, and try to find a current or past employee you can talk to before the big day.

2. "I'll do anything!"

Most recruiters want to hire passionate people. Not being clear on what you want to do tells interviewers that you're not truly invested in any specific role. A surefire way to irk interviewers is to say, "Well, the real job I was interested in is in another division at your company. Can you connect me to that recruiter?" Or worse, "Do you have any other open positions? I'll do anything!"

Even if you are interested in a specific role-you're just trying to get a job-"I'll do whatever" dilutes your brand.

3. "My last company was so toxic."

No matter how bad a job was, you never, ever want to badmouth a former employer in an interview. Even if you truly had a toxic job or boss, your interviewer doesn't know that-and could wonder whether you'll dish on their company next. Keep your tone somewhere between neutral and positive, focusing on what you've learned from each experience and what you're hoping to do in the future. This especially applies when you're talking about why you're leaving.

4. "I know I don't have much experience, but..."

This mistake is easy to make, especially if you're a recent grad or career changer. Problem is, when you apologize for experience you don't have, you're essentially saying that you're not a great hire, that you're not quite the right fit for the role, or even that you would be starting from square one. And that's just not the case! Instead of drawing attention to your weaknesses, stay positive, focus on your strengths, and immediately launch into your transferable skills and infectious enthusiasm for the position.

5. "It's on my resume."

Here's the thing: Interviewers know it's on your resume. If they're asking you about a particular job or experience, they want you to tell them more than you have written. They're also evaluating your communication and social skills. Are you articulate? Should you be client-facing, or are you someone we need to keep hidden in the basement next to the IT lending library? If a recruiter is asking you about a certain skill, don't reference your resume (you should be able to expand beyond a phrase or bullet point anyway), and instead use it as your moment to shine.

6. "Um, I don't know."

Even if you practice, and practice, and practice, you could still get a question that stumps you. But saying "I don't know" is rarely the right approach. Two strategies that work well are repeating the question thoughtfully before answering or saying (slowly), "Now, that is a great question. I think I would have to say..." Still stumped? Ask for what you need-whether that's a pen and paper, a glass of water, or a quick minute to think.

7. *Reads notes word for word*

Practiced your answers to some interview questions? Great. But don't memorize them word for word. When you're hyper-prepared and hanging on the edge of your seat waiting for certain questions, you'll likely have a very hard time engaging in genuine conversation with the interviewer. And interviewers don't tend to hire detached people who can't seem to have a genuine conversation. Certainly, walk in prepared, but force yourself to not memorize or over-rehearse the practice questions.

8. "My greatest weakness has to be perfection."

Chances are, hiring managers have heard this one before. And apart from being a cliché, it also doesn't offer much of a true insight into your work style or personality (especially if half the other candidates are giving the same response). Try a more genuine response-and if perfectionism really is your greatest weakness? Use these tips to spin it right.

See also: "I work too hard," and "I have such high standards for myself."

9. "I'd like to start my own business as soon as possible."

Entrepreneurial ambitions are great-but if you're applying for a job to work for someone else, you probably want to downplay the fact that you're trying to get funding for your burgeoning startup. Most employers want to hire people who are going to be around for a while, and if there's any suspicion that you're just collecting a paycheck until you can do your own thing, you probably won't get the job.

10. "I'll circle back on our strategic alliance to create synergy."

If your interview answers sound a little too much like Weird Al's song, "Mission Statement," you're probably not going to be the most memorable candidate. Business speak like "strategic alliances," "growth mindset," and *shudder* "synergy" make hiring managers' eyes glaze over. And unless they're industry-standard terms, don't use role or company-specific acronyms or jargon when you're describing your responsibilities. You'll be much more compelling (not to mention interesting) using language that everyone gets right off the bat.

11. "Um, you know, like..."

Filler words like "like" and "um" can make you look like you lack confidence-or worse, the ability to communicate clearly on the job. Try these tips to erase "like" from your vocabulary for good.

12. "So, yeah-

"Even with the most prepared interview candidates, I've found that a lot of people still make one critical mistake," says career counselor Lily Zhang. "They'll deliver absolutely fantastic and relevant stories, and I'll be completely hooked-all the way up until they end with, 'and... yeah' or just an awkward pause." Instead, try one of these three approaches to perfectly wrap up your answers.

13. "Sh*t, I'm so sorry."

You'd think not swearing is Interviewing 101, but you'd be surprised how often people still do it. Even if your interviewer drops a few S- or F-bombs, you're better off keeping your language PG.

14. "If it makes you feel better, I never wash my bras."

Never, really? And you ran a red light so that you could be on time today? How interesting-yet completely inappropriate to say during a job interview. Even if you're interviewing for a role within the most free-wheeling, fun-loving organization, the fact remains that you are...in a job interview. Never, ever get wooed into believing that the casual environment gives you an all-access pass to the TMI zone.

15. "And then my dad had to call the school..."

Stories are a great way to connect with the interviewer. They're more memorable than facts, and help back up your skills and experiences. But you need to tie that story back into what the company's needs are or the position they're trying to fill-or you risk being forgotten (and looking a bit strange).

16. "What's in it for me?"

When you bust in with WIIFM (what's in it for me?) questions, you look both arrogant and, frankly, unappealing. Guess what interviewers want to know when they meet with you? First and foremost, they want to know what you can do for them. What can you do to make the company money, improve business processes, grow the organization and make their lives easier? If you start asking about benefits, promotions, and when you can take off too early, it can come off as a bit entitled, and like you're not as focused on the job as the personal perks for you. However, you can and should ask about professional aspects of the job to make sure this is the kind of position you're looking for.

17. "Do you want to see my references?"

When an employer wants your references, they'll ask for them.

18. "Thanks, but I don't have any questions."

Not having any questions for the interviewer says that you're not interested enough to learn. And if you don't even work at the company yet, there's plenty to explore! Prepare some thoughtful questions to ask ahead of time to help finish your interview strong.

Regina Borsellino is a former editor at The Muse, where she covered job search and career advice, particularly resume best practices, interviewing, remote work, and personal and professional development. Before The Muse, Regina was an editor for InvestorPlace, where she also wrote about topics such as investing and biotech companies. She holds a BA in English language and literature from the University of Maryland and an MFA in creative writing from American University. Find her on LinkedIn and Twitter.

More from Regina Borsellino

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
18 Things You Should Never Say in a Job Interview

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
You want to convey that you're the best candidate for the job-and be aware of interviewee red flags. From complaining about your current boss to office jargon and filler words like "um, you know" here's what not to say to a recruiter or hiring manager.

# data[].attributes.body
Interview questions

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Wouldn't it be great if you knew exactly what questions a hiring manager would be asking you in your next job interview?

We can't read minds, unfortunately, but we'll give you the next best thing: a list of more than 40 of the most commonly asked interview questions, along with advice for answering them all.

While we don't recommend having a canned response for every interview question (in fact, please don't), we do recommend spending some time getting comfortable with what you might be asked, what hiring managers are really looking for in your responses, and what it takes to show that you're the right person for the job.

Consider this list your interview question and answer study guide.

1. Tell Me About Yourself.

2. How Did You Hear About This Position?

3. Why Do You Want to Work at This Company?

4. Why Do You Want This Job?

5. Why Should We Hire You?

6. What Are Your Greatest Strengths?

7. What Do You Consider to Be Your Weaknesses?

8. What Is Your Greatest Professional Achievement?

9. Tell Me About a Challenge or Conflict You've Faced at Work, and How You Dealt With It.

10. Tell Me About a Time You Demonstrated Leadership Skills.

11. What's a Time You Disagreed With a Decision That Was Made at Work?

12. Tell Me About a Time You Made a Mistake.

13. Tell Me About a Time You Failed.

14. Why Are You Leaving Your Current Job?

15. Why Were You Fired?

16. Why Was There a Gap in Your Employment?

17. Can You Explain Why You Changed Career Paths?

18. What's Your Current Salary?

19. What Do You Like Least About Your Job?

20. What Are You Looking for in a New Position?

21. What Type of Work Environment Do You Prefer?

22. What's Your Management Style?

23. How Would Your Boss and Coworkers Describe You?

24. How Do You Deal With Pressure or Stressful Situations?

25. What Do You Like to Do Outside of Work?

26. Are You Planning on Having Children?

27. How Do You Prioritize Your Work?

28. What Are You Passionate About?

29. What Motivates You?

30. What Are Your Pet Peeves?

31. How Do You Like to Be Managed?

32. Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?

33. What's Your Dream Job?

34. What Other Companies Are You Interviewing With?

35. What Makes You Unique?

36. What Should I Know That's Not on Your Resume?

37. What Would Your First 30, 60, or 90 Days Look Like in This Role?

38. What Are Your Salary Requirements?

39. What Do You Think We Could Do Better or Differently?

40. When Can You Start?

41. Are You Willing to Relocate?

42. How Many Tennis Balls Can You Fit Into a Limousine?

43. If You Were an Animal, Which One Would You Want to Be?

44. Sell Me This Pen.

45. Is There Anything Else You'd Like Us to Know?

46. Do You Have Any Questions for Us?

47. Bonus Questions

Classic Questions

These frequently asked questions touch on the essentials hiring managers want to know about every candidate: who you are, why you're a fit for the job, and what you're good at. You may not be asked exactly these questions in exactly these words, but if you have answers in mind for them, you'll be prepared for just about anything the interviewer throws your way.

1. Tell Me About Yourself.

This question seems simple, so many people fail to prepare for it, but it's crucial. Here's the deal: Don't give your complete employment (or personal) history. Instead give a pitch-one that's concise and compelling and that shows exactly why you're the right fit for the job. Muse writer and MIT career counselor Lily Zhang recommends using a present, past, future formula. Talk a little bit about your current role (including the scope and perhaps one big accomplishment), then give some background as to how you got there and experience you have that's relevant. Finally, segue into why you want-and would be perfect for-this role.

2. How Did You Hear About This Position?

Another seemingly innocuous interview question, this is actually a perfect opportunity to stand out and show your passion for and connection to the company. For example, if you found out about the gig through a friend or professional contact, name drop that person, then share why you were so excited about it. If you discovered the company through an event or article, share that. Even if you found the listing through a random job board, share what, specifically, caught your eye about the role.

3. Why Do You Want to Work at This Company?

Beware of generic answers! If what you say can apply to a whole slew of other companies, or if your response makes you sound like every other candidate, you're missing an opportunity to stand out. Zhang recommends one of four strategies: Do your research and point to something that makes the company unique that really appeals to you; talk about how you've watched the company grow and change since you first heard of it; focus on the organization's opportunities for future growth and how you can contribute to it; or share what's gotten you excited from your interactions with employees so far. Whichever route you choose, make sure to be specific. And if you can't figure out why you'd want to work at the company you're interviewing with by the time you're well into the hiring process? It might be a red flag telling you that this position is not the right fit.

4. Why Do You Want This Job?

Again, companies want to hire people who are passionate about the job, so you should have a great answer about why you want the position. (And if you don't? You probably should apply elsewhere.) First, identify a couple of key factors that make the role a great fit for you (e.g., "I love customer support because I love the constant human interaction and the satisfaction that comes from helping someone solve a problem"), then share why you love the company (e.g., "I've always been passionate about education, and I think you're doing great things, so I want to be a part of it").

5. Why Should We Hire You?

This interview question seems forward (not to mention intimidating!), but if you're asked it, you're in luck: There's no better setup for you to sell yourself and your skills to the hiring manager. Your job here is to craft an answer that covers three things: that you can not only do the work, but also deliver great results; that you'll really fit in with the team and culture; and that you'd be a better hire than any of the other candidates.

6. What Are Your Greatest Strengths?

Here's an opening to talk about something that makes you great-and a great fit for this role. When you're answering this question, think quality, not quantity. In other words, don't rattle off a list of adjectives. Instead, pick one or a few (depending on the question) specific qualities that are relevant to this position and illustrate them with examples. Stories are always more memorable than generalizations. And if there's something you were hoping to mention because it makes you a great candidate, but you haven't had a chance yet, this would be the perfect time.

7. What Do You Consider to Be Your Weaknesses?

What your interviewer is really trying to do with this question-beyond identifying any major red flags-is to gauge your self-awareness and honesty. So, "I can't meet a deadline to save my life" is not an option-but neither is "Nothing! I'm perfect!" Strike a balance by thinking of something that you struggle with but that you're working to improve. For example, maybe you've never been strong at public speaking, but you've recently volunteered to run meetings to help you get more comfortable when addressing a crowd.

Questions About Your Work History

The meat of any job interview is your track record at work: what you accomplished, how you succeeded or failed (and how you dealt with it), and how you behaved in real time in actual work environments. If you prep a few versatile stories to tell about your work history and practice answering behavioral interview questions, you'll be ready to go.

8. What Is Your Greatest Professional Achievement?

Nothing says "hire me" better than a track record of achieving amazing results in past jobs, so don't be shy when answering this interview question! A great way to do so is by using the STAR method: situation, task, action, results. Set up the situation and the task that you were required to complete to provide the interviewer with background context (e.g., "In my last job as a junior analyst, it was my role to manage the invoicing process"), then describe what you did (the action) and what you achieved (the result): "In one month, I streamlined the process, which saved my group 10 person-hours each month and reduced errors on invoices by 25%."

9. Tell Me About a Challenge or Conflict You've Faced at Work, and How You Dealt With It.

You're probably not eager to talk about conflicts you've had at work during a job interview. But if you're asked directly, don't pretend you've never had one. Be honest about a difficult situation you've faced (but without going into the kind of detail you'd share venting to a friend). "Most people who ask are only looking for evidence that you're willing to face these kinds of issues head-on and make a sincere attempt at coming to a resolution," former recruiter Rich Moy says. Stay calm and professional as you tell the story (and answer any follow-up questions), spend more time talking about the resolution than the conflict, and mention what you'd do differently next time to show "you're open to learning from tough experiences."

10. Tell Me About a Time You Demonstrated Leadership Skills.

You don't have to have a fancy title to act like a leader or demonstrate leadership skills. Think about a time when you headed up a project, took the initiative to propose an alternate process, or helped motivate your team to get something done. Then use the STAR method to tell your interviewer a story, giving enough detail to paint a picture (but not so much that you start rambling) and making sure you spell out the result. In other words, be clear about why you're telling this particular story and connect all the dots for the interviewer.

11. What's a Time You Disagreed With a Decision That Was Made at Work?

The ideal anecdote here is one where you handled a disagreement in a professional way and learned something from the experience. Zhang recommends paying particular attention to how you start and end your response. To open, make a short statement to frame the rest of your answer, one that nods at the ultimate takeaway or the reason you're telling this story. For example: "I learned early on in my professional career that it's fine to disagree if you can back up your hunches with data." And to close strong, you can either give a one-sentence summary of your answer ("In short...") or talk briefly about how what you learned or gained from this experience would help you in the role you're interviewing for.

12. Tell Me About a Time You Made a Mistake.

You're probably not too eager to dig into past blunders when you're trying to impress an interviewer and land a job. But talking about a mistake and winning someone over aren't mutually exclusive, Moy says. In fact, if you do it right, it can help you. The key is to be honest without placing blame on other people, then explain what you learned from your mistake and what actions you took to ensure it didn't happen again. At the end of the day, employers are looking for folks who are self-aware, can take feedback, and care about doing better.

13. Tell Me About a Time You Failed.

This question is very similar to the one about making a mistake, and you should approach your answer in much the same way. Make sure you pick a real, actual failure you can speak honestly about. Start by making it clear to the interviewer how you define failure. For example: "As a manager, I consider it a failure whenever I'm caught by surprise. I strive to know what's going on with my team and their work." Then situate the example in relation to that definition and explain what happened. Finally, don't forget to share what you learned. It's OK to fail-everyone does sometimes-but it's important to show that you took something from the experience.

14. Why Are You Leaving Your Current Job?

This is a toughie, but one you can be sure you'll be asked. Definitely keep things positive-you have nothing to gain by being negative about your current employer. Instead, frame things in a way that shows that you're eager to take on new opportunities and that the role you're interviewing for is a better fit for you. For example, "I'd really love to be part of product development from beginning to end, and I know I'd have that opportunity here." And if you were let go from your most recent job? Keep it simple: "Unfortunately, I was let go," is a totally acceptable answer.

15. Why Were You Fired?

Of course, they may ask the follow-up question: Why were you let go? If you lost your job due to layoffs, you can simply say, "The company [reorganized/merged/was acquired] and unfortunately my [position/department] was eliminated." But what if you were fired for performance reasons? Your best bet is to be honest (the job-seeking world is small, after all). But it doesn't have to be a deal breaker. Frame it as a learning experience: Share how you've grown and how you approach your job and life now as a result. And if you can portray your growth as an advantage for this next job, even better.

16. Why Was There a Gap in Your Employment?

Maybe you were taking care of children or aging parents, dealing with health issues, or traveling the world. Maybe it just took you a long time to land the right job. Whatever the reason, you should be prepared to discuss the gap (or gaps) on your resume. Seriously, practice saying your answer out loud. The key is to be honest, though that doesn't mean you have to share more details than you're comfortable with. If there are skills or qualities you honed or gained in your time away from the workforce-whether through volunteer work, running a home, or responding to a personal crisis-you can also talk about how those would help you excel in this role.

17. Can You Explain Why You Changed Career Paths?

Don't be thrown off by this question-just take a deep breath and explain to the hiring manager why you've made the career decisions you have. More importantly, give a few examples of how your past experience is transferable to the new role. This doesn't have to be a direct connection; in fact, it's often more impressive when a candidate can show how seemingly irrelevant experience is very relevant to the role.

18. What's Your Current Salary?

It's now illegal for some or all employers to ask you about your salary history in several cities and states, including New York City; Louisville, North Carolina; California; and Massachusetts. But no matter where you live, it can be stressful to hear this question. Don't panic-there are several possible strategies you can turn to. For example, you can deflect the question, Muse career coach Emily Liou says, with a response like: "Before discussing any salary, I'd really like to learn more about what this role entails. I've done a lot of research on [Company] and I am certain if it's the right fit, we'll be able to agree on a number that's fair and competitive to both parties." You can also reframe the question around your salary expectations or requirements (see question 38) or choose to share the number if you think it will work in your favor.

19. What Do You Like Least About Your Job?

Tread carefully here! The last thing you want to do is let your answer devolve into a rant about how terrible your current company is or how much you hate your boss or that one coworker. The easiest way to handle this question with poise is to focus on an opportunity the role you're interviewing for offers that your current job doesn't. You can keep the conversation positive and emphasize why you're so excited about the job.

Questions About You and Your Goals

Another crucial aspect of an interview? Getting to know a candidate. That's why you'll likely encounter questions about how you work, what you're looking for (in a job, a team, a company, and a manager), and what your goals are. It's a good sign if your interviewers want to make sure you'll be a good fit-or add-to the team. Use it as an opportunity!

20. What Are You Looking for in a New Position?

Hint: Ideally the same things that this position has to offer. Be specific.

21. What Type of Work Environment Do You Prefer?

Hint: Ideally one that's similar to the environment of the company you're applying to. Be specific.

22. What's Your Management Style?

The best managers are strong but flexible, and that's exactly what you want to show off in your answer. (Think something like, "While every situation and every team member requires a bit of a different strategy, I tend to approach my employee relationships as a coach...") Then share a couple of your best managerial moments, like when you grew your team from five to 15 or coached an underperforming employee to become the company's top salesperson.

23. How Would Your Boss and Coworkers Describe You?

First of all, be honest (remember, if you make it to the final round, the hiring manager will be calling your former bosses and coworkers for references!). Then try to pull out strengths and traits you haven't discussed in other aspects of the interview, such as your strong work ethic or your willingness to pitch in on other projects when needed.

24. How Do You Deal With Pressure or Stressful Situations?

Here's another question you may feel the urge to sidestep in an effort to prove you're the perfect candidate who can handle anything. But it's important not to dismiss this one (i.e. don't say "I just put my head down and push through it" or "I don't get stressed out"). Instead, talk about your go-to strategies for dealing with stress (whether it's meditating for 10 minutes every day or making sure you go for a run or keeping a super-detailed to-do list) and how you communicate and otherwise proactively try to mitigate pressure. If you can give a real example of a stressful situation you navigated successfully, all the better.

25. What Do You Like to Do Outside of Work?

Interviewers will sometimes ask about your hobbies or interests outside of work in order to get to know you a little better-to find out what you're passionate about and devote time to during your off-hours. It's another chance to let your personality shine. Be honest, but keep it professional and be mindful of answers that might make it sound like you're going to spend all your time focusing on something other than the job you're applying for.

26. Are You Planning on Having Children?

Questions about your family status, gender ("How would you handle managing a team of all men?"), nationality ("Where were you born?"), religion, or age are illegal-but they still get asked (and frequently). Of course, not always with ill intent-the interviewer might just be trying to make conversation and might not realize these are off-limits-but you should definitely tie any questions about your personal life (or anything else you think might be inappropriate) back to the job at hand. For this question, think: "You know, I'm not quite there yet. But I am very interested in the career paths at your company. Can you tell me more about that?"

27. How Do You Prioritize Your Work?

Your interviewers want to know that you can manage your time, exercise judgement, communicate, and shift gears when needed. Start by talking about whatever system you've found works for you to plan your day or week, whether it's a to-do list app you swear by or a color-coded spreadsheet. This is one where you'll definitely want to lean on a real-life example. So go on to describe how you've reacted to a last-minute request or another unexpected shift in priorities in the past, incorporating how you evaluated and decided what to do and how you communicated with your manager and/or teammates about it.

28. What Are You Passionate About?

You're not a robot programmed to do your work and then power down. You're a human, and if someone asks you this question in an interview, it's probably because they want to get to know you better. The answer can align directly with the type of work you'd be doing in that role-like if, for example, you're applying to be a graphic designer and spend all of your free time creating illustrations and data visualizations to post on Instagram.

But don't be afraid to talk about a hobby that's different from your day-to-day work. Bonus points if you can "take it one step further and connect how your passion would make you an excellent candidate for the role you are applying for," says Muse career coach Al Dea. Like if you're a software developer who loves to bake, you might talk about how the ability to be both creative and precise informs your approach to code.

29. What Motivates You?

Before you panic about answering what feels like a probing existential question, consider that the interviewer wants to make sure you're excited about this role at this company, and that you'll be motivated to succeed if they pick you. So think back to what has energized you in previous roles and pinpoint what made your eyes light up when you read this job description. Pick one thing, make sure it's relevant to the role and company you're interviewing for, and try to weave in a story to help illustrate your point. If you're honest, which you should be, your enthusiasm will be palpable.

30. What Are Your Pet Peeves?

Here's another one that feels like a minefield. But it'll be easier to navigate if you know why an interviewer is asking it. Most likely, they want to make sure you'll thrive at their company-and get a glimpse of how you deal with conflict. So be certain you pick something that doesn't contradict the culture and environment at this organization while still being honest. Then explain why and what you've done to address it in the past, doing your best to stay calm and composed. Since there's no need to dwell on something that annoys you, you can keep this response short and sweet.

31. How Do You Like to Be Managed?

This is another one of those questions that's about finding the right fit-both from the company's perspective and your own. Think back on what worked well for you in the past and what didn't. What did previous bosses do that motivated you and helped you succeed and grow? Pick one or two things to focus on and always articulate them with a positive framing (even if your preference comes from an experience where your manager behaved in the opposite way, phrase it as what you would want a manager to do). If you can give a positive example from a great boss, it'll make your answer even stronger.

32. Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?

If asked this question, be honest and specific about your future goals, but consider this: A hiring manager wants to know a) if you've set realistic expectations for your career, b) if you have ambition (a.k.a., this interview isn't the first time you're considering the question), and c) if the position aligns with your goals and growth. Your best bet is to think realistically about where this position could take you and answer along those lines. And if the position isn't necessarily a one-way ticket to your aspirations? It's OK to say that you're not quite sure what the future holds, but that you see this experience playing an important role in helping you make that decision.

33. What's Your Dream Job?

Along similar lines, the interviewer wants to uncover whether this position is really in line with your ultimate career goals. While "an NBA star" might get you a few laughs, a better bet is to talk about your goals and ambitions-and why this job will get you closer to them.

34. What Other Companies Are You Interviewing With?

Companies might ask you who else you're interviewing with for a few reasons. Maybe they want to see how serious you are about this role and team (or even this field) or they're trying to find out who they're competing with to hire you. On one hand, you want to express your enthusiasm for this job, but at the same time, you don't want to give the company any more leverage than it already has by telling them there's no one else in the running. Depending on where you are in your search, you can talk about applying to or interviewing for a few roles that have XYZ in common-then mention how and why this role seems like a particularly good fit.

35. What Makes You Unique?

"They genuinely want to know the answer," Dea promises. Give them a reason to pick you over other similar candidates. The key is to keep your answer relevant to the role you're applying to. So the fact that you can run a six-minute mile or crush a trivia challenge might not help you get the job (but hey, it depends on the job!). Use this opportunity to tell them something that would give you an edge over your competition for this position. To figure out what that is, you can ask some former colleagues, think back to patterns you've seen in feedback you get, or try to distill why people tend to turn to you. Focus on one or two things and don't forget to back up whatever you say with evidence.

36. What Should I Know That's Not on Your Resume?

It's a good sign if a recruiter or hiring manager is interested in more than just what's on your resume. It probably means they looked at your resume, think you might be a good fit for the role, and want to know more about you. To make this wide-open question a little more manageable, try talking about a positive trait, a story or detail that reveals a little more about you and your experience, or a mission or goal that makes you excited about this role or company.

Questions About the Job

At the end of the day, the people on the other side of the hiring process want to make sure you could take on this role. That means they might ask you logistical questions to ensure that timing and other factors are aligned, and they might have you imagine what you'd do after starting.

37. What Would Your First 30, 60, or 90 Days Look Like in This Role?

Your potential future boss (or whoever else has asked you this question) wants to know that you've done your research, given some thought to how you'd get started, and would be able to take initiative if hired. So think about what information and aspects of the company and team you'd need to familiarize yourself with and which colleagues you'd want to sit down and talk to. You can also suggest one possible starter project to show you'd be ready to hit the ground running and contribute early on. This won't necessarily be the thing you do first if you do get the job, but a good answer shows that you're thoughtful and that you care.

38. What Are Your Salary Requirements?

The #1 rule of answering this question is doing your research on what you should be paid by using sites like Payscale and reaching out to your network. You'll likely come up with a range, and we recommend stating the highest number in that range that applies, based on your experience, education, and skills. Then make sure the hiring manager knows that you're flexible. You're communicating that you know your skills are valuable, but that you want the job and are willing to negotiate.

You can also try to deflect or delay giving a number, especially if you get this question very early in the process, by saying something like, "I was hoping to get a sense of what range/band you had in mind for this role" or, as Liou suggests, "Before discussing any salary, I'd really like to learn more about what this role entails."

39. What Do You Think We Could Do Better or Differently?

This question can really do a number on you. How do you give a meaty answer without insulting the company or, worse, the person you're speaking with? Well first, take a deep breath. Then start your response with something positive about the company or specific product you've been asked to discuss. When you're ready to give your constructive feedback, give some background on the perspective you're bringing to the table and explain why you'd make the change you're suggesting (ideally based on some past experience or other evidence). And if you end with a question, you can show them you're curious about the company or product and open to other points of view. Try: "Did you consider that approach here? I'd love to know more about your process."

40. When Can You Start?

Your goal here should be to set realistic expectations that will work for both you and the company. What exactly that sounds like will depend on your specific situation. If you're ready to start immediately-if you're unemployed, for example-you could offer to start within the week. But if you need to give notice to your current employer, don't be afraid to say so; people will understand and respect that you plan to wrap things up right. It's also legitimate to want to take a break between jobs, though you might want to say you have "previously scheduled commitments to attend to" and try to be flexible if they really need someone to start a bit sooner.

41. Are You Willing to Relocate?

While this may sound like a simple yes-or-no question, it's often a little bit more complicated than that. The simplest scenario is one where you're totally open to moving and would be willing to do so for this opportunity. But if the answer is no, or at least not right now, you can reiterate your enthusiasm for the role, briefly explain why you can't move at this time, and offer an alternative, like working remotely or out of a local office. Sometimes it's not as clear-cut, and that's OK. You can say you prefer to stay put for xyz reasons, but would be willing to consider relocating for the right opportunity.

Questions That Test You

Depending on the style of the interviewer and company, you could get some pretty quirky questions. They're often testing how you think through something on the spot. Don't panic. Take a moment to think-and remember, there's no one single correct answer or approach.

42. How Many Tennis Balls Can You Fit Into a Limousine?

1,000? 10,000? 100,000? Seriously? Well, seriously, you might get asked brain-teaser questions like these, especially in quantitative jobs. But remember that the interviewer doesn't necessarily want an exact number-they want to make sure that you understand what's being asked of you, and that you can set into motion a systematic and logical way to respond. So take a deep breath and start thinking through the math. (Yes, it's OK to ask for a pen and paper!)

43. If You Were an Animal, Which One Would You Want to Be?

Seemingly random personality-test type questions like these come up in interviews because hiring managers want to see how you can think on your feet. There's no wrong answer here, but you'll immediately gain bonus points if your answer helps you share your strengths or personality or connect with the hiring manager. Pro tip: Come up with a stalling tactic to buy yourself some thinking time, such as saying, "Now, that is a great question. I think I would have to say..."

44. Sell Me This Pen.

If you're interviewing for a sales job, your interviewer might put you on the spot to sell them a pen sitting on the table, or a legal pad, or a water bottle, or just something. The main thing they're testing you for? How you handle a high-pressure situation. So try to stay calm and confident and use your body language-making eye contact, sitting up straight, and more-to convey that you can handle this. Make sure you listen, understand your "customer's" needs, get specific about the item's features and benefits, and end strong-as though you were truly closing a deal.

Wrapping-Up Questions

When it comes time for the interview to wind down, you might have a chance to add any last thoughts and you'll almost certainly have time to ask the questions that will help you decide if this company and role might be great for you. In fact, if they don't leave time for you to ask any questions at any of your interviews, that might be a red flag in itself.

45. Is There Anything Else You'd Like Us to Know?

Just when you thought you were done, your interviewer asks you this open-ended doozy. Don't panic-it's not a trick question! You can use this as an opportunity to close out the meeting on a high note in one of two ways, Zhang says. First, if there really is something relevant that you haven't had a chance to mention, do it now. Otherwise, you can briefly summarize your qualifications. For example, Zhang says, you could say: "I think we've covered most of it, but just to summarize, it sounds like you're looking for someone who can really hit the ground running. And with my previous experience [enumerate experience here], I think I'd be a great fit."

46. Do You Have Any Questions for Us?

You probably already know that an interview isn't just a chance for a hiring manager to grill you-it's an opportunity to sniff out whether a job is the right fit from your perspective. What do you want to know about the position? The company? The department? The team? You'll cover a lot of this in the actual interview, so have a few less-common questions ready to go. We especially like questions targeted to the interviewer ("What's your favorite part about working here?") or the company's growth ("What can you tell me about your new products or plans for growth?")

Bonus Questions

Looking for more interview questions? Check out these lists of questions (and example answers!) for different types of interviews.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Your Ultimate Guide to Answering the Most Common Interview Questions

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Wouldn't it be great if you knew exactly what questions a hiring manager would be asking you in your next job interview? We can't read minds, unfortunately, but we'll give you the next best thing: a list of more than 40 of the most commonly asked interview questions, along with advice for answering them all.

# data[].attributes.body
Questions you might be asked in an interview

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Interview questions and styles may change from business to business; however, some questions are commonly known to be asked at interview.

Overall, what the interview questions are trying to do is a few things:

See if you have the skills and experience to conduct the job on offer

Check your enthusiasm, motivation and interest for the job

See whether you will blend in with the working environment, style and teams

So, to help you prepare for your next interview here are the 10 most frequently asked interview questions you need to know:

This is usually the first question asked in an interview as it lets the interviewer know a little bit about you.

It is important that you deliver a confident answer to this, so it is advised that you rehearse before the interview.

Make sure that you identify areas that reflect the job you are being interviewed for and show your enthusiasm, this can display the interviewer how you are well suited to the job. Also, try and include some of the achievements you feel are important.

When answering this question, it is important that you respond to relevant skills and strengths that make you suited to the job.

Doing research beforehand can help prepare an answer to this question. By studying the job advert and person specification, it can help you think about the requirements that make you relevant and appropriate for the job role.

Try not to be too critical when answering this question. Instead, pick one of your weaknesses and try to turn it into a positive.

For example, you could be a perfectionist, which means that you sometimes take longer on tasks, but you make sure that they are completed to a high quality. It is essential to make a negative into a positive as it doesn't make you appear overly critical and shows you can reflect on your own performance.

Whatever the situation was from your previous job, you should always answer this question with a positive and enthusiastic response. If the reason for leaving your last job was redundancy, then you should talk about how your company had to restructure, instead of focusing on your own personal situation.

Under no circumstances should you criticise your previous employer, as this will appear unprofessional.

Answer this question with a response that highlights why you would be a good candidate for the job and how enthusiastic you are about it.

Ensure that you show an interest in the job sector and understand the company and their ethos, and show how your skills match their requirements.

Give Me An Example Of A Difficult Situation/Task At Work And How You Dealt With It

This is often asked so that you can express situations in which you used problem-solving and communication skills to help resolve the situation. It is suggested that you identify a situation that you assisted in settling through showing emotional intelligence.

Tell Me About An Achievement You Are Proud Of

This question gives you the opportunity to show how past achievements will benefit the business. It is suggested that you only include personal achievements if they are highly impressive or prestigious. Otherwise, try and identify a time where you achieved a good sale or something relevant to the job role.

For the more experienced candidates looking for higher level roles, e.g. Sales Director Jobs the answer should focus on closely related areas of sales achievements and executive decisions. For example, your answer should mention the driving of an increase in sales or building a successful sales team regionally and globally - what did you achieve and how? Success stories are essential!

The reason for this question being asked is because the employer wants to understand how long you intend to stay for. Reassure them by explaining how the job role fits your career plan, as this will display your long-term commitment to the company.

What Are Your Expectations Of The Salary?

The salary is typically discussed when the job is offered, so, if possible, try and avoid bringing this up in the interview. However, if the interviewer asks this question just give a real but wide salary range that you are happy to negotiate and emphasise that you feel the salary will not be an issue if you decide to work with each together.

You could also give examples of previous pay and benefits; by saying "in my last role my salary was" "the benefits/bonuses included meant my pay reached...." this helps the interviewer see the scale to which they can negotiate on too.

What Do You Know About The Organisation?

It is critical that you show you have done some prior research on the company before the interview. Looking into areas such as the company structure, finances, customers, products and services, competitors and market trends as these are the key areas.

You need to show you have a thorough understanding of what the company is about and how they work. If not, it will look like you have no interest in working for the company.

Managing Director of Personal Career Management, Corinne Mills, is the author of the UK's number one best-selling CV book "You're Hired! How to write a brilliant CV". To find out more about how working with a career coach can help you to perform well at an interview you can contact them on 01753 888 995 or fill in their online contact form to find out more.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Most Frequently Asked Interview Questions - Telegraph Jobs

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Interview questions and styles may change from business to business; however, some questions are commonly known to be asked at interview.

# data[].attributes.body
Very useful.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Classic CV Template - Careers Advice - jobs.ac.uk

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Either of the two formats outlined below can be used for any application for many jobs including managerial, professional, administration... #jobsacuk

# data[].attributes.body
Do's and don'ts

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Classic CV Guidelines - Careers Advice - jobs.ac.uk

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Either of the two formats outlined below can be used for any application for many jobs including managerial, professional, administration... #jobsacuk