Top 10 Interview Questions and Best Answers
Review the top 10 interview questions you'll most likely be asked at a job interview, plus the
best answers. Also, review the other questions you may be asked, so you're prepared to ace
the interview.
1. What is your greatest strength? - Best Answers
This is one of the questions that employers almost always ask.
When you are asked about your greatest strengths, it's important to discuss the attributes that
will qualify you for the specific job and set you apart from the other candidates.
2. What is your greatest weakness? - Best Answers
Another typical question interviewers will ask is about about your weaknesses. Do your best
to frame your answers around positive aspects of your skills and abilities as an employee.
3. Tell me about yourself. - Best Answers
Here’s how to answer questions about you without giving out too much – or too little –
personal information. Start by sharing some of your personal interests which don't relate
directly to work.
4. Why should we hire you? - Best Answers
Are you the best candidate for the job?
Be prepared to say why. Make your response a concise sales pitch that explains what you
have to offer the employer, and why you should get the job.
5. What are your salary expectations? - Best Answers
What are you looking for in terms of salary? It seems like a simple question, but your answer
can knock you out of content for the job if you overprice yourself.
Here's the best way to answer questions about salary.
6. Why are you leaving or have left your job? - Best Answers
When asked about why you are moving on, stick with the facts, be direct and focus your
interview answer on the future, especially if your leaving wasn't under the best of
circumstances.
7. Why do you want this job? - Best Answers
This question gives you an opportunity to show the interviewer what you know about the job
and the company. Be specific about what makes you a good fit for this role, and mention
aspects of the company and position that appeal to you.
8. How do you handle stress and pressure? - Best Answers
What do you do when things don’t go smoothly at work? The best way to respond to this
question is to give an example of how you have handled stress in a previous job.
9. Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it. - Best Answers
The interviewer wants to know what you do when you face a difficult decision. As with the
question about stress, be prepared to share an example of what you did in a tough situation.
10. What are your goals for the future? - Best Answers
This question is designed to find out if you’re going to stick around or move on as soon as
you find a better opportunity. Keep your answer focused on the job and the company you’re
interviewing with.
Answers:
"What is your greatest strength?" may seem like one of the easier interview questions you'll
be asked, but it is also one of the most important. The interviewer wants to know if your
strengths align with the needs of the company and the qualifications for the particular job.
Asking this question helps the employer decide whether or not you are the strongest applicant
for the position.
When you are asked questions about your strengths, it's important to discuss attributes that
will qualify you for the specific job and set you apart from the other candidates.
How to Answer What is Your Greatest Strength
The best way to respond is to describe the skills and experience that directly correlate with
the job you are applying for. Be prepared to answer by making a list of the
qualifications mentioned in the job posting. Then, make a list of your skills that match those
listed.
This list can include education or training, soft skills, hard skills, or past work experiences.
Narrow your list of skills down to 3 - 5 particularly strong skills.
Next to each skill, note a particular example of how you have used that strength in the past.
This will prepare you for when the employer asks you to elaborate on a particular strength.
Examples of the Best Answers

I have an extremely strong work ethic. When I'm working on a project, I don't want just to
meet deadlines. Rather, I prefer to complete the project well ahead of schedule. Last year, I
even earned a bonus for completing my three most recent reports one week ahead of time.

I have strong extremely strong writing skills. Having worked as a copy editor for five years, I
have a strong attention to detail when it comes to my writing. I have also written for a
variety of publications, so I know how to shape my writing style to fit the task and audience.
As a marketing assistant, I will be able to effectively write and edit press releases, and
update web content with accuracy and ease.

I am a skilled salesman with over ten years of experience. I have exceeded my sales goals
every quarter and I've earned a bonus each year since I started with my current employer.

I pride myself on my customer service skills and my ability to resolve what could be difficult
situations. With five years of experience as a customer service associate, I have learned to
effectively understand and resolve customer issues. On a related note, I also have strong
communication skills, which helps me work well with customers, team members, and
executives. I am known for being an effective team member with a talent for giving
presentations.
Answers to Avoid
This is not the time to be humble. While you do not want to exaggerate your strengths, you
should be comfortable articulating what makes you an ideal candidate. Creating a list of your
strengths (as they relate to the job) will help you answer this question with confidence.
On the other hand, you do not want to answer this question with a laundry list of vague
strengths. Stay focused on a couple key strengths that relate directly to the position and the
company. A focused, relevant answer with one or two examples will impress your
interviewer.
There are several different ways to answer when you're asked during a job interview what
your greatest weakness is. You can mention skills that aren't critical for the job, skills you
have improved on, or turn a negative into a positive.
How to Answer What is Your Greatest Weakness
Even though the question is about weaknesses, your answer should always be framed around
positive aspects of your skills and abilities as an employee.
Discuss Non-Essential Skills
One approach to answering this question is to analyze the key skills and strengths required
for the position you are interviewing for and then come up with an honest shortcoming which
is not essential for success in that job.
For example, if you are applying for a nursing job, you might share that you are not
particularly adept at conducting group presentations.
In this case it will be critical to underscore your strength in one-on-one communication with
patients, while providing an example of your difficulty with presentations to large groups.
Mention Skills You Have Improved
Another option is to discuss skills that you have improved upon during your previous job, so
you are showing the interviewer that you can make improvements when necessary. You can
sketch for employers your initial level of functioning, discuss the steps you have taken to
improve this area, and then reference your current, improved level of skill.
If you use this strategy be sure not to mention anything that you improved upon that is related
to the job for which you are interviewing.
You don't want your qualifications for the job to be questioned.
Turn a Negative into a Positive
Another option is try to turn a negative into a positive. For example, a sense of urgency to get
projects completed or wanting to triple-check every item in a spreadsheet can be turned into a
strength i.e. you are a candidate who will make sure that the project is done on time and your
work will be close to perfect.
Note that the term "weakness" isn't used in the sample answers - you always want to focus on
the positive when interviewing.
Examples of the Best Answers

When I'm working on a project, I don't want just to meet deadlines. Rather, I prefer to
complete the project well ahead of schedule.

Being organized wasn't my strongest point, but I implemented a time management system
that really helped my organization skills.

I like to make sure that my work is perfect, so I tend to perhaps spend a little too much time
checking it. However, I've come to a good balance by setting up a system to ensure
everything is done correctly the first time.

I used to wait until the last minute to set appointments for the coming week, but I realized
that scheduling in advance makes much more sense.

Sometimes, I spend more time than necessary on a task, or take on tasks personally that
could easily be delegated to someone else. Although I've never missed a deadline, it is still
an effort for me to know when to move on to the next task, and to be confident when
assigning others work.

I had difficulty with calculus during college, but I persevered with tutoring assistance and
extra effort and completed 2 levels with a B minus average.

I used to like to work on one project to its completion before starting on another, but I've
learned to work on many projects at the same time, and I think it allows me to be more
creative and effective in each one.

I've learned to make my perfectionism work to my advantage. I have become proficient at
meeting deadlines, and with my attention to detail, I know my work is accurate.

As an undergrad, I used to leave assignments until the last minute, but with the workload of
graduate school, I learned to schedule my time very effectively.
Interviewers will sometimes start an interview with an open-ended question like "Tell me
about yourself." It's a way to break the ice and make you feel more comfortable during the
interview process. It's also a way for the hiring manager to get insight into your personality to
help determine if you're a good fit for the job.
Sharing too much or too little information isn't a good idea. The interviewer doesn't want to
know everything about you, but disclosing too little can make him or her wonder why you
aren't more open.
How to Answer the Tell Me About Yourself Interview Question
Although it might be tempting to share a list of your most compelling qualifications for the
job at hand, a more low-key approach will probably help you to develop a personal rapport
with your interviewer.
Try starting out by sharing some personal interests which don't relate directly to your work.
Examples might include a hobby which you are passionate about like quilting, astronomy,
chess, choral singing, golf, skiing, tennis, or antiquing.
Interests like long distance running or yoga which help to represent your healthy, energetic
side are worth mentioning. Pursuits like being an avid reader or solving crossword puzzles or
brain teasers will help to showcase your intellectual leaning. Interests like golf, tennis, and
gourmet food might have some value if you would be entertaining clients in your new job.
Volunteer work will demonstrate the seriousness of your character and commitment to the
welfare of your community. Interactive roles like PTA volunteer, museum tour guide,
fundraiser, or chair of a social club will help show your comfort with engaging others.
Transition to Professional from Personal
After sharing a few interesting personal aspects of your background, you can transition to
sharing some key professional skills that would help you to add value if you were hired for
your target job. Consider using phrases like "In addition to those interests and passions, my
professional life is a huge part of who I am, so I'd like to talk a bit about some of the
strengths which I would bring to this job."
Share Your Expertise
Be ready to share three or four of the personal qualities, skills and/or areas of expertise which
would help you to excel in the job for which you are interviewing. Ultimately, you will want
to share several other strengths before the interview is over.
Make a list of your strengths before you go into the interview, so you know what you will
share. Look at the job description and match it with your skills. Then share the top few skills
which make you an ideal candidate for the job.
However, be careful not to overwhelm the interviewer with too much information. After
mentioning three or four strengths, you might mention that you have several other assets
which you would like to discuss as the interview unfolds.
At first, you should only mention the asset and allude only briefly to some proof of how you
have tapped it to your advantage. For example, you might say that you love to give
presentations and that has helped you to generate lots of leads at sales dinners for prospective
clients.
Later in the interview, you will want to be more specific and detailed in discussing situations,
interventions and results flowing from your strengths.
Avoid Politics and Controversy
Typically, you would steer clear of controversial topics like politics or religion. It's important
to avoid any references to topics that would cause concern about your ethics, character,
productivity, or work ethic. You also don't need to share personal information about your
family.
There is no need to discuss spouses, partners, children, or any other strictly personal
information. Here are some of the things you should never say during a job interview
No matter how great the job interview goes, there’s always that one question that stops you
short. What are you looking for in terms of salary? Such a straightforward question and yet,
the answer is so complex.
How to Answer Interview Questions About Your Salary Expectations
You want to aim high, but what if you put yourself out of salary range? On the other hand, if
your target compensation is too low, you leave the employer room to go even lower and you
could end up miserable.
Worse, you don’t want to decide before you even know what the job is, as you do when asked
to disclose a salary on an application.
While there may be no right answer, there is a way to think about the question and get what
you want. Here’s how.
Do You Have to Answer Questions About Salary?
As difficult as it may be to answer the question, it’s more difficult not to - especially on an
electronic job application.
Try and skip the question and you can’t move on to the next page, and the field only accepts a
number. That is when the exact number is important.
If you are in an interview, you could try to skirt around the question with a broad answer,
such as: “My salary expectations are in line with my experience and qualifications.” Or “If
this is the right job for me, I am sure we can come to an agreement on salary.” But the
recruiter or interviewer will likely be looking for a number, so come prepared with a target
salary figure or at least a range in mind.
That means prepare for every interview, even over the phone. If you are caught off guard,
without something in mind, you could lowball yourself or seem confused.
How Do You Determine Your Salary Expectations?
Depending on how much you want the job, your individual needs and circumstances, you can
figure out a number to offer with confidence. If it is a lateral move in your industry, you
probably have a sense of average salaries. Unless your last company was known in the
industry for its low salaries, assume that your current salary is in line with market
expectations.
What would you consider a fair raise from your current employer? That could be a good lowend starting point. Or ratchet up your current pay by as much as 15% to 20%, which gives
you incentive to switch companies and is still within reasonable range for your industry and
level of experience. Remember, only offer a number that you will accept and be able to live
with.
If you are moving to a position with more responsibility or in a different industry, it helps to
do some research on the position and its value in the career market.
Researching Salary Expectations
There are many websites that offer salary averages and estimates. Sites like Salary.com,
Payscale.com and Indeed.com all offer comparable data, but if you have time to look at more
than one source you may get a better perspective of range.
You can also input a variety of job titles to see if the averages change significantly. The
problem with some salary sites is that job titles may vary from company to company. If it is
possible instead get a sense of salary based on job responsibilities, you can come up with a
more accurate number. Also remember to narrow your research to your region. Salaries for a
job in Austin, Texas, may be different than those in New York, for example.
If the research seems off, go with your gut. Remember, you don’t want to confront a hirer
with unreasonable expectations. But you also want a salary you can live with. If that’s not
there, the job is not right for you.