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Andy applies for the job of assistant but the interview is not really a success.

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Credit: tsyhun/Shutterstock

Strong interview skills can make a huge difference when you're searching for a job. Regardless of when you had your last interview, it never hurts to brush up on those skills and prepare yourself for some common questions a hiring manager might ask you.

Career site Glassdoor believes one of the best ways for job seekers to get ready for an interview is to practice their responses to any questions that may be asked.

"Over and over again, we see some very common interview questions asked at companies for nearly all job titles," Scott Dobroski, a Glassdoor career trends analyst, told Business News Daily. "If you are aware and prepared for what is nearly always asked in any interview, you'll start the interview off on a great foot."

Glassdoor analyzed thousands of interview reviews and compiled a list of the 50 most common questions asked in interviews. Prepare for your upcoming interview by knowing how you'd respond to these questions. [See Related Story: Why Hiring Managers Really Ask These 12 Common Interview Questions]

1. What are your strengths?

2. What are your weaknesses?

3. Why are you interested in working for [company name]?

4. Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years?

5. Why do you want to leave your current company?

6. Why was there a gap in your employment between [date] and [date]?

7. What can you offer us that someone else cannot?

8. What are three things your former manager would like you to improve on?

9. Are you willing to relocate?

10. Are you willing to travel?

11. Tell me about an accomplishment you are most proud of.

12. Tell me about a time you made a mistake.

13. What is your dream job?

14. How did you hear about this position?

15. What would you look to accomplish in the first 30/60/90 days on the job?

16. Discuss your resume.

17. Discuss your educational background.

18. Describe yourself.

19. Tell me how you handled a difficult situation.

20. Why should we hire you?

21. Why are you looking for a new job?

22. Would you work holidays/weekends?

23. How would you deal with an angry or irate customer?

24. What are your salary requirements?

25. Give a time when you went above and beyond the requirements for a project.

26. Who are our competitors?

27. What was your biggest failure?

28. What motivates you?

29. What's your availability?

30. Who's your mentor?

31. Tell me about a time when you disagreed with your boss.

32. How do you handle pressure?

33. What is the name of our CEO?

34. What are your career goals?

35. What gets you up in the morning?

36. What would your direct reports say about you?

37. What were your bosses' strengths/weaknesses?

38. If I called your boss right now and asked him/her what is an area that you could improve on, what would he/she say?

39. Are you a leader or a follower?

40. What was the last book you read for fun?

41. What are your co-worker pet peeves?

42. What are your hobbies?

43. What is your favorite website?

44. What makes you uncomfortable?

45. What are some of your leadership experiences?

46. How would you fire someone?

47. What do you like the most and least about working in this industry?

48. Would you work 40+ hours a week?

49. What questions haven't I asked you?

50. What questions do you have for me?

Dobroski said hiring managers can always tell when a candidate has spent time prepping for an interview.

"Try practicing answers to these questions out loud in front of a mirror, or ask a friend or family member to listen to your answers and give feedback," he said.

"Practice is key," added Dana Leavy-Detrick, founder and chief creative scribe at Brooklyn Resume Studio. "The more comfortable you become speaking about yourself in a marketing context, the easier it will be to answer any type of interview question that comes your way."

Leavy-Detrick noted that you should prepare a few anecdotal stories that speak to your strengths, such as how you turned around a difficult situation, achieved a success or stepped up in any way.

Need more help preparing for your interview? Check out this Business News Daily guide.
Additional reporting by Chad Brooks. Some source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.

Shannon Gausepohl

Shannon Gausepohl graduated from Rowan University in 2012 with a degree in journalism. She has worked at a newspaper and in the public relations field, and is currently a staff writer at Business News Daily. Shannon is a zealous bookworm, has her blue belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu, and loves her Blue Heeler mix, Tucker.

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Strong interview skills can make a huge difference when you're searching for a job. Regardless of when you had your last interview, it never hurts to brush up on those skills and prepare yourself for some common questions a hiring manager might ask you.

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Andy applies for the job of assistant but the interview is not really a success.

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The first impression you make on the interviewer can decide the rest of the interview. It is important that you introduce yourself, shake hands, and be friendly and polite. The first question is often a "breaking the ice" (establish a rapport) type of question. Don't be surprised if the interviewer asks you something like:

How are you today?

Did you have any trouble finding us?

Isn't this great weather we're having?

This type of question is common because the interviewer wants to put you at ease (help you relax). The best way to respond is in a short, friendly manner without going into too much detail. Here are some examples correct responses:

Common Interview Questions: First Impressions

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Examples of Incorrect Responses

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The Heart of the Interview

Once the pleasant beginnings have finished, it's time to begin the real interview. Here are a number of the most common questions that are asked during the interview. There are two examples of excellent replies given for each question. Following the examples, you will find a comment describing the type of question and important things to remember when answering that type of question.

Introductory Question

Candidate: I've just graduated from the University of Singapore with a degree in Computers. During the summers, I worked as a systems administrator for a small company to help pay for my education.

Comment: This question is meant as an introduction. Do not focus too specifically on any one area. The above question will often be used to help the interviewer choose what h/she would like to ask next. While it is important to give an overall impression of who you are, make sure to concentrate on work-related experience. Work related experience should always be the central focus of any interview (work experience is more important than education in most English-speaking countries).

Types of Positions

Interviewer: What type of position are you looking for?
Candidate: I'm interested in an entry-level (beginning) position.
Candidate: I'm looking for a position in which I can utilize my experience.
Candidate: I would like any position for which I qualify.

Comment: You should be willing to take an entry-level position in an English speaking company as most of these companies expect non-nationals to begin with such a position. In the United States, most companies provide many opportunities for growth, so don't be afraid to start from the beginning!

Comment: Make sure to leave open as many possibilities as possible. Say you are willing to take any job, once the job has been offered you can always refuse if the job does not appeal (not interest) to you.

Prior Experience

Interviewer: Can you tell me about your responsibilities at your last job?
Candidate: I advised customers on financial matters. After I consulted the customer, I completed a customer inquiry form and cataloged the information in our database. I then collaborated with colleagues to prepare the best possible package for the client. The clients were then presented with a summarized report on their financial activities that I formulated on a quarterly basis.

Comment: Notice the amount of detail necessary when you are talking about your experience. One of the most common mistakes made by foreigners when discussing their former employment is to speak too generally. The employer wants to know exactly what you did and how you did it; the more detail you can give the more the interviewer knows that you understand the type of work. Remember to vary your vocabulary when talking about your responsibilities. Also, do not begin every sentence with "I". Use the passive voice, or an introductory clause to help you add variety to your presentation

Strengths and Weaknesses

Candidate: I am an excellent communicator. People trust me and come to me for advice. One afternoon, my colleague was involved with a troublesome (difficult) customer who felt he was not being served well. I made the customer a cup of coffee and invited both my colleague and the client to my desk where we solved the problem together.

Candidate: I am a trouble shooter. When there was a problem at my last job, the manager would always ask me to solve it. Last summer, the LAN server at work crashed. The manager was desperate and called me in (requested my help) to get the LAN back online. After taking a look at the daily backup, I detected the problem and the LAN was up and running (working) within the hour.

Comment: This is not the time to be modest! Be confident and always give examples. Examples show that you are not only repeating words you have learned, but actually do possess that strength.

Candidate: I tend to spend too much time making sure the customer is satisfied. However, I began setting time-limits for myself If I noticed this happening.

Comment: This is a difficult question. You need to mention a weakness that is actually a strength. Make sure that you always mention how you try to improve the weakness.

Reasons for Seeking the Position

Candidate: I am impressed by the quality of your products. I am sure that I would be a convincing salesman because I truly believe that the Atomizer is the best product on the market today.

Comment: Prepare yourself for this question by becoming informed about the company. The more detail you can give, the better you show the interviewer that you understand the company.

Availability to Start

Interviewer: When can you begin?
Candidate: Immediately.
Candidate: As soon as you would like me to begin.

Comment: Show your willingness to work!

Show That You Know the Job

The above questions represent some of the most basic questions asked on any job interview in English. Probably the most important aspect of interviewing in English is giving detail. As a speaker of English as a second language, you might be shy about saying complicated things. However, this is absolutely necessary as the employer is looking for an employee who knows his or her job. If you provide detail, the interviewer will know that you feel comfortable in that job. Don't worry about making mistakes in English. It is much better to make simple grammar mistakes and provide detailed information about your experience than to say grammatically perfect sentences without any real content.

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Common Job Interview Questions for ESL Learners

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The first impression you make on the interviewer can decide the rest of the interview. It is important that you introduce yourself, shake hands, and be friendly and polite. The first question is often a "breaking the ice" (establish a rapport) type of question.

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Andy applies for the job of assistant but the interview is not really a success.

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By Jeff Lipschultz

The number of questions that can be asked by Human Resources, the hiring manager, or other interviewer is limitless.

These are some of the most commonly asked questions and my thoughts on how to answer them in a way that makes you memorable in a positive way.

Stand Out with Your Answers to These Interview Questions

Take the time to read these questions and to have carefully thought about how you would answer each when asked. Before the opportunity, review the job description, and customize your answers to the employer and the specific opportunity.

One of the most common questions in an interview is "Tell me about yourself." Actually, it is not even a question -- it is an invitation.

Your answer to this question is your opportunity to share with the interviewer whatever you think is important about you in their hiring decision.

More importantly, it is your chance to differentiate yourself from other candidates. In most cases, the standard questions offer the same opportunity.

[MORE: How to Answer: Tell Me About Yourself (with sample answers).]

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Employers don't necessarily care to hear that you expect to climb the corporate ladder and be a supervisor.

If the job you're interviewing for is not a supervisor, they probably aren't concerned about your management skills. You can share how you've been a mentor to others and led projects with little to no supervision. That should indicate you have leadership potential.

Focus on them: In five years, you should have made a significant impact to the company's bottom line. Think about how you can achieve this in the role you're interviewing for. In technology careers, advancing your skills is important, too. You should be able to share what areas you want to strengthen in the near term (but be careful that they are not areas of expertise that the company needs now).

[MORE: How to Answer: Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years? (with sample answers).]

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This is clearly a differentiation question. What you want to tell them is: they'd be crazy not to they hire you.

Focus on them: You need to only share how you meet almost all the criteria they seek, and also have two to three additional abilities that they might not even know they need...yet. They need to know you are a candidate who can not only meet their needs now, but will also be valuable for where they want to go in the future.

Are they likely to need another skill set as they grow as a company?

Or maybe you have skills that you noticed are in another job description they are looking to fill?

You can help out with those deliverables until they find someone (or be a backup to the person they hire).

Have you been down a path already that they are currently starting? Having "lessons learned" to offer them is a very strong plus for a job candidate.

[MORE: How to Answer: Why Should We Hire You? (with sample answers).]

This is a key indicator of how interested you really are in the employer and the job. The answer to this question has two aspects:

Focus on them:

Content -- Employers want to know you feel you can fit in at the company quickly. That means not only deliverables in the job description, but also your fit with the company culture. You will likely have to do some homework to answer this one. You need to understand the reasons why others enjoy working there. Is it a great place to advance your skills, have great challenges to add to your resume, or will it allow you to grow as a professional?

Delivery -- The delivery must be genuine. If a hiring manager feels you're just "telling them want they want to hear," but don't mean it...well, the interview is over in their mind. They want to know this is not just a job and paycheck. They want to hear this is what you want to do and the best place to do it.

[MORE: How to Answer: Why Do You Want to Work Here? (with sample answers).]

This is actually a test. If you know very little, it is an indication that you are not very serious about working there.

Focus on them: Candidates who are really excited about the prospect of working there have done their homework. If you really want to stand out, learn more than what is listed on their web site.

Do some heavy research -- perhaps find some articles on the company that not many would know about. It may even come up in conversation spontaneously, and you can show them a copy of the article (I have had this happen to me).

[MORE: How to Answer: What Do You Know About Us? (with sample answers).]

Here's another opportunity to differentiate yourself. Everyone claims to be: a hard worker, good communicator, and team player.

But how many are a: problem-solver, game-changer, leader in the industry?

Be creative, and have stories to back it up. The interviewer will want to know why someone thinks you are one of these things.

Focus on them: You want to present attributes that make you sound like the go-to guy or gal wherever you work. Even the standard answers can be taken a step further to be more valuable:

Yes, they want hard workers, but most likely that's commonplace at their office. Maybe you work hard, but also help others work fewer hours (by helping them do their job better or making their jobs easier).

Good communicators are everywhere. But this doesn't mean just speaking well. It includes listening. Do you hear things that others don't? Do you understand things quickly? Can you figure out what people are trying to tell you through other clues (body language, for example)?

Being a good team player is expected, too. But what does this really mean? Getting along with everyone? That's not hard to do if you're a nice person. Pulling your weight in the office? Again, expected. What have you done, beyond your job description, that saved the team from a disaster or helped them make an impossible deadline? Have you won an award for this?

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What is your greatest strength / greatest weakness?

Your greatest strength is something they need.

Don't choose something irrelevant to the job or the employer, like your skill in sudoku (unless sudoku expertise is a requirement for this job).

Focus on them: You have many strengths, but pick the one they need help with the most. Is it your expertise in a particular skill? Is it your ability to turn low-performing teams into high performers? Share something that makes them think they need to hire you...right now.

I hate the "greatest weakness" question. Everyone knows it's a trap, and everyone knows the candidate is going to say something trite (popular example: "I'm a perfectionist"). When you give a real answer, you are being genuine. You are admitting you have some growth opportunities and are not perfect. But you can include that you already have a plan to overcome this weakness through training or practice.

Some people even insert a little humor in their answer- "I wish I was better at tennis." You can, too, if you feel like the interviewer has a sense of humor. But, be sure to quickly follow with a serious answer. Showing you have a lighter side is usually a good thing.

[MORE: How to Answer: What Is Your Greatest Strength? (with sample answers) and How to Answer: What Is Your Greatest Weakness? (with sample answers).]

Be careful about this question for several reasons:

It doesn't mean that you have "landed the job." They may be just checking to add that to their notes. You must keep your guard up until you are in your car and driving away from the interview.

If you are currently employed, you should be honest about the start date and show professionalism. You should tell them you would have to discuss a transition with your current company to see if they require a two-week notice (or some other timing). If you currently have a critical role, your potential new employer would expect a transition period.

If you can start right away (and they know you are not currently employed), you certainly can say you're able to start tomorrow. Sense of urgency and excitement about starting work at the new company is always a good thing.

[MORE: How to Answer: When Can You Start? (with sample answers).]

You may have found the opportunity through research on ideal jobs where you can make the most impact and hope to grow professionally.

I would also hope you looked for companies that you feel meet your standards for corporate culture, investment in employees, successful business model (or perhaps giving back to community), and any other aspects you feel are important to you.

Make sure you can go into a little detail on what you found in your research.

The "job" may have found you. In that case, you can say you were contacted by HR or a recruiter who felt you were a good fit. But don't leave it there.

You should still mention you did your homework and verified that this is right for you -- as a potential contributor to the company's success, and as a good match for what you're looking for in an employer.

[MORE: How to Answer: How Did You Find This Job? (with sample answers).]

There should be a heartfelt answer on this one. Your gut should be giving you the answer.

Although, if the reason is about money, location, work schedule, benefits, and other factors not tied to actual role, you may want to think a little more about your answer. None of those reasons are important to the hiring manager.

Focus on them: They want to hear that this job is exactly what you've been thinking about as a next step in your career.

Of course, the follow-up question they'll ask is: How so?

Be prepared to answer that with your rationale for how this job meets your professional needs and how you can contribute at your highest potential while in this role. People want to feel like their work means something. There is nothing wrong with sharing that feeling in a thoughtful way.

[MORE: How to Answer: Why Do You Want This Job? (with sample answers).]

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Why do you want to leave your current job?

This can be a deal-breaker question.

Obviously, if you say you hate your current boss or company, the interviewer will naturally believe you will hate them eventually.

And, if you say, your current compensation or role is below your standards, they will again assume the worst.

Although these may be legitimate reasons to leave a job, there must be other reasons, too.

Your current company or department may have become unstable (hopefully the interviewer's company is very stable).

Your current employer may not be able to offer you any professional growth (the interviewer's should be able to do this).

Do you see a pattern here? Highlight a reason that the hiring manager cannot be concerned about.

Of course, if you have an issue that is very important to you that could be a deal-breaker (like company culture), you can mention it. Just be prepared for them to take one extreme or the other. For example, maybe you only want to work for companies that buy from vendors in your home country. The hiring manager will let you know if their company does this. And if they don't, I guess the interview is over.

[MORE: How to Answer: Why You Want to Leave Your Current Job? (with sample answers).]

This is a tough one.

Typically, you should not quit a job until you have accepted another job.

However, life doesn't always allow that to happen. Did you quit because you couldn't spend enough time looking for your next job? Perhaps the company you worked for was close to shutting down and you didn't want to waste valuable time waiting for the last day of operation.

Certainly, there are common reasons that are understood as necessity:

Had to move to a new location for various reasons.

Family or health reasons.

Unbearable work conditions (careful here, as already discussed).

The key to answering this question is to keep it short. Don't feel the need to expand your answer to include a lot of details.

[MORE: After You Quit, How to Answer: Why Did You Leave Your Last Job (with sample answers).]

This is another danger zone. This is not the time for defending yourself with a long story about you being the victim.

If you made a mistake, you are going to have to try to minimize the severity of the situation.

An argument with a boss could be described as a difference in opinion. Not following orders because your moral compass told you not to could be described as "taking the high road."

Just be careful not to cast blame on others. Consider including a "silver lining." Did you learn a lot from the experience and now possess knowledge that will mitigate the chances of this happening again?

[MORE: After Being Fired, How to Answer: Whey Did You Leave Your Job (with sample answers).]

Laid off is not fired: If you were part of a layoff, this is different from being fired. It was likely a financial decision by management, and you were part of a group that was targeted as part of budget cuts. Layoffs are typically not personal -- they are just business. Hiring managers know this (and likely have been involved in one at some point in their careers).

[MORE: If You Were Laid Off, You Weren't Fired!.]

I've dedicated a whole article to this topic (with 5 options to fill that gap). The bottom line is you should make sure to paint a picture that you were productive, improving yourself, helping family, or something constructive.

Hiring managers don't want to hear that you felt it was time for a "long-awaited break from the rat-race." Or "time to recharge your batteries." The first thought that will pop into their heads: When is your next break coming? Probably in the middle of a big project we're working on.

[MORE: Long-Term Unemployed? 5 Options to Bridge that Employment Gap and How to Answer What About that Employment Gap?]

My simple advice is: yes, you had better have questions.

When I hired people to work on my teams in the past, I expected interviewees to have questions.

This is your chance to "interview the interviewer." In essence, to learn about the company, the role, the corporate culture, the manager's leadership style, and a host of other important things.

Candidates who are genuinely interested in the opportunity, ask these types of questions. Those who don't ask questions give the impression they're "just kicking the tires" or not really too concerned about getting the job.

When given the floor to ask questions, you should realize the interview is not over yet. Good candidates know this is another time to shine.

It is imperative that you ask questions that do three things:

1. Show you did some research about the company.

2. Mention something else (related, but interesting) about you.

3. Will have an interesting answer or prompt a good discussion.

Close by asking if they have any concerns.

You may not get a chance to address shortcomings in a follow-up interview -- it is imperative to understand what was missing from the discussion while still in the interview.

After you have had a chance to ask your questions, you will want to validate that you are an ideal candidate for the job. To do this, you should probe into the minds of the interviewers and see if there are any concerns they have about you.

The key question to do this can be along the lines of:

"After discussing this job, I feel as if I would be a perfect fit for it. I'm curious to know if there is anything I said or DID NOT say that would make you believe otherwise."

The answer you get to this question may open the door to mentioning something you did not get to talk about during the interview or clarify any potential misconception over something that was covered.

{MORE: 50+ Good Questions for You to Ask Them in Your Job Interview and 45 Questions You Should NOT Ask in a Job Interview.]

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Bottom Line

Even the "boring, standard questions" can have unique and useful answers. You should think hard about how you can differentiate yourself from others every step of the way during the interview.

More Help with Successful Job Interviews

As some of you know from reading my free Job-Hunt interviewing guide -- Successful Job Interviewing: What Job Candidates Need to Know -- I recommend building a checklist of key experiences and attributes you want to cover and find opportunities to present them during the interview. The "Standard Questions" are often times those moments.

In developing your answers to the typical questions, focus on stories rather than simply stated facts. Read my post The Secret to Job Interview Success for details on how to choose and structure those stories.
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About the author...

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By Jeff Lipschultz The number of questions that can be asked by Human Resources, the hiring manager, or other interviewer is limitless. These are some of the most commonly asked questions and my thoughts on how to answer them in a way that makes you memorable in a positive way.

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Credit: tsyhun/Shutterstock

Strong interview skills can make a huge difference when you're searching for a job. Regardless of when you had your last interview, it never hurts to brush up on those skills and prepare yourself for some common questions a hiring manager might ask you.

Career site Glassdoor believes one of the best ways for job seekers to get ready for an interview is to practice their responses to any questions that may be asked.

"Over and over again, we see some very common interview questions asked at companies for nearly all job titles," Scott Dobroski, a Glassdoor career trends analyst, told Business News Daily. "If you are aware and prepared for what is nearly always asked in any interview, you'll start the interview off on a great foot."

Glassdoor analyzed thousands of interview reviews and compiled a list of the 50 most common questions asked in interviews. Prepare for your upcoming interview by knowing how you'd respond to these questions. [See Related Story: Why Hiring Managers Really Ask These 12 Common Interview Questions]

1. What are your strengths?

2. What are your weaknesses?

3. Why are you interested in working for [company name]?

4. Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years?

5. Why do you want to leave your current company?

6. Why was there a gap in your employment between [date] and [date]?

7. What can you offer us that someone else cannot?

8. What are three things your former manager would like you to improve on?

9. Are you willing to relocate?

10. Are you willing to travel?

11. Tell me about an accomplishment you are most proud of.

12. Tell me about a time you made a mistake.

13. What is your dream job?

14. How did you hear about this position?

15. What would you look to accomplish in the first 30/60/90 days on the job?

16. Discuss your resume.

17. Discuss your educational background.

18. Describe yourself.

19. Tell me how you handled a difficult situation.

20. Why should we hire you?

21. Why are you looking for a new job?

22. Would you work holidays/weekends?

23. How would you deal with an angry or irate customer?

24. What are your salary requirements?

25. Give a time when you went above and beyond the requirements for a project.

26. Who are our competitors?

27. What was your biggest failure?

28. What motivates you?

29. What's your availability?

30. Who's your mentor?

31. Tell me about a time when you disagreed with your boss.

32. How do you handle pressure?

33. What is the name of our CEO?

34. What are your career goals?

35. What gets you up in the morning?

36. What would your direct reports say about you?

37. What were your bosses' strengths/weaknesses?

38. If I called your boss right now and asked him/her what is an area that you could improve on, what would he/she say?

39. Are you a leader or a follower?

40. What was the last book you read for fun?

41. What are your co-worker pet peeves?

42. What are your hobbies?

43. What is your favorite website?

44. What makes you uncomfortable?

45. What are some of your leadership experiences?

46. How would you fire someone?

47. What do you like the most and least about working in this industry?

48. Would you work 40+ hours a week?

49. What questions haven't I asked you?

50. What questions do you have for me?

Dobroski said hiring managers can always tell when a candidate has spent time prepping for an interview.

"Try practicing answers to these questions out loud in front of a mirror, or ask a friend or family member to listen to your answers and give feedback," he said.

"Practice is key," added Dana Leavy-Detrick, founder and chief creative scribe at Brooklyn Resume Studio. "The more comfortable you become speaking about yourself in a marketing context, the easier it will be to answer any type of interview question that comes your way."

Leavy-Detrick noted that you should prepare a few anecdotal stories that speak to your strengths, such as how you turned around a difficult situation, achieved a success or stepped up in any way.

Need more help preparing for your interview? Check out this Business News Daily guide.
Additional reporting by Chad Brooks. Some source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.

Shannon Gausepohl

Shannon Gausepohl graduated from Rowan University in 2012 with a degree in journalism. She has worked at a newspaper and in the public relations field, and is currently a staff writer at Business News Daily. Shannon is a zealous bookworm, has her blue belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu, and loves her Blue Heeler mix, Tucker.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Strong interview skills can make a huge difference when you're searching for a job. Regardless of when you had your last interview, it never hurts to brush up on those skills and prepare yourself for some common questions a hiring manager might ask you.

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Start studying Job interview. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Andy applies for the job of assistant but the interview is not really a success.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The first impression you make on the interviewer can decide the rest of the interview. It is important that you introduce yourself, shake hands, and be friendly and polite. The first question is often a "breaking the ice" (establish a rapport) type of question. Don't be surprised if the interviewer asks you something like:

How are you today?

Did you have any trouble finding us?

Isn't this great weather we're having?

This type of question is common because the interviewer wants to put you at ease (help you relax). The best way to respond is in a short, friendly manner without going into too much detail. Here are some examples correct responses:

Common Interview Questions: First Impressions

OR

OR

Examples of Incorrect Responses

OR

OR

The Heart of the Interview

Once the pleasant beginnings have finished, it's time to begin the real interview. Here are a number of the most common questions that are asked during the interview. There are two examples of excellent replies given for each question. Following the examples, you will find a comment describing the type of question and important things to remember when answering that type of question.

Introductory Question

Candidate: I've just graduated from the University of Singapore with a degree in Computers. During the summers, I worked as a systems administrator for a small company to help pay for my education.

Comment: This question is meant as an introduction. Do not focus too specifically on any one area. The above question will often be used to help the interviewer choose what h/she would like to ask next. While it is important to give an overall impression of who you are, make sure to concentrate on work-related experience. Work related experience should always be the central focus of any interview (work experience is more important than education in most English-speaking countries).

Types of Positions

Interviewer: What type of position are you looking for?
Candidate: I'm interested in an entry-level (beginning) position.
Candidate: I'm looking for a position in which I can utilize my experience.
Candidate: I would like any position for which I qualify.

Comment: You should be willing to take an entry-level position in an English speaking company as most of these companies expect non-nationals to begin with such a position. In the United States, most companies provide many opportunities for growth, so don't be afraid to start from the beginning!

Comment: Make sure to leave open as many possibilities as possible. Say you are willing to take any job, once the job has been offered you can always refuse if the job does not appeal (not interest) to you.

Prior Experience

Interviewer: Can you tell me about your responsibilities at your last job?
Candidate: I advised customers on financial matters. After I consulted the customer, I completed a customer inquiry form and cataloged the information in our database. I then collaborated with colleagues to prepare the best possible package for the client. The clients were then presented with a summarized report on their financial activities that I formulated on a quarterly basis.

Comment: Notice the amount of detail necessary when you are talking about your experience. One of the most common mistakes made by foreigners when discussing their former employment is to speak too generally. The employer wants to know exactly what you did and how you did it; the more detail you can give the more the interviewer knows that you understand the type of work. Remember to vary your vocabulary when talking about your responsibilities. Also, do not begin every sentence with "I". Use the passive voice, or an introductory clause to help you add variety to your presentation

Strengths and Weaknesses

Candidate: I am an excellent communicator. People trust me and come to me for advice. One afternoon, my colleague was involved with a troublesome (difficult) customer who felt he was not being served well. I made the customer a cup of coffee and invited both my colleague and the client to my desk where we solved the problem together.

Candidate: I am a trouble shooter. When there was a problem at my last job, the manager would always ask me to solve it. Last summer, the LAN server at work crashed. The manager was desperate and called me in (requested my help) to get the LAN back online. After taking a look at the daily backup, I detected the problem and the LAN was up and running (working) within the hour.

Comment: This is not the time to be modest! Be confident and always give examples. Examples show that you are not only repeating words you have learned, but actually do possess that strength.

Candidate: I tend to spend too much time making sure the customer is satisfied. However, I began setting time-limits for myself If I noticed this happening.

Comment: This is a difficult question. You need to mention a weakness that is actually a strength. Make sure that you always mention how you try to improve the weakness.

Reasons for Seeking the Position

Candidate: I am impressed by the quality of your products. I am sure that I would be a convincing salesman because I truly believe that the Atomizer is the best product on the market today.

Comment: Prepare yourself for this question by becoming informed about the company. The more detail you can give, the better you show the interviewer that you understand the company.

Availability to Start

Interviewer: When can you begin?
Candidate: Immediately.
Candidate: As soon as you would like me to begin.

Comment: Show your willingness to work!

Show That You Know the Job

The above questions represent some of the most basic questions asked on any job interview in English. Probably the most important aspect of interviewing in English is giving detail. As a speaker of English as a second language, you might be shy about saying complicated things. However, this is absolutely necessary as the employer is looking for an employee who knows his or her job. If you provide detail, the interviewer will know that you feel comfortable in that job. Don't worry about making mistakes in English. It is much better to make simple grammar mistakes and provide detailed information about your experience than to say grammatically perfect sentences without any real content.

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Common Job Interview Questions for ESL Learners

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The first impression you make on the interviewer can decide the rest of the interview. It is important that you introduce yourself, shake hands, and be friendly and polite. The first question is often a "breaking the ice" (establish a rapport) type of question.