Here Are The Most Commonly Asked Interview Questions You Can Expect To Be Asked In Your Interview And Advice On How You Can Craft Effective Responses
Know these popular interview questions and answers.
Too many job seekers stumble through interviews as if the questions asked are coming out of left field. But many interview questions are to be expected. Need some job interview tips? Monster has you covered. Study this list of popular and frequently asked interview questions and answers ahead of time so you’ll be ready to answer them with confidence.
Who Was The Most Difficult Person You Ever Worked With
Approach this question with an abundance of caution. Youre going to be working with a lot of people in your new role, and you wont get along with everyone. But youll still need to work together productively.
The who here isnt importantand no matter what, do not give a specific name. Rather, the interviewer wants to know how you managed to work with this person despite the difficulty. After all, if you worked through a challenging work relationship in the past, you can do it again. Dont be petty and be sure to end on a positive note.
I had a challenging lab partner last year. He was disorganized, and we kept missing deadlines because he didnt update me on his progress. Eventually, I insisted on weekly, in-person check-ins to stay on track. He found it annoying at first, but we got the work done, and in the end, we walked away on good terms.
What Makes You Unique
Employers often ask this question to identify why you might be more qualified than other candidates theyre interviewing. To answer, focus on why hiring you would benefit the employer. Since you dont know the other applicants, it can be challenging to think about your answer in relation to them. Addressing why your background makes you a good fit lets employers know why your traits and qualifications make you a strong candidate.
To help you prepare this answer consider the following:
Example answer:”What makes me unique is my ability to meet and exceed deadlines. In my previous role, my manager consistently praised me for completing my projects efficiently with a high level of quality. This allowed me to take on additional responsibilities and eventually led to a promotion.”
Read more: Interview Question: What Makes You Unique?
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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 youre ready to start immediatelyif youre unemployed, for exampleyou could offer to start within the week. But if you need to give notice to your current employer, dont be afraid to say so people will understand and respect that you plan to wrap things up right. Its 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.
In Five Minutes Could You Explain Something To Me That Is Complicated But You Know Well
This is a much better test of intelligence than a college GPA, and it’s also a great gauge of a candidate’s passion and charisma outside of their core job responsibilities. Candidates who are passionate and knowledgeable about something — and can convey that well — are more likely to be enthusiastic and influential at work.
A good answer to this question:
The “something” in this question doesn’t have to be work-related — it can be a hobby, a sports team, something technical … anything, really. Good responses will tell you how well your candidate comprehends complex subjects and that they can articulate that subject to someone who doesn’t know much about it.
Explanations that use analogies also make good answers, especially if it’s a topic that is filled with industry jargon. This shows that the candidate can solve problems by drawing comparisons to things that are more universally understood.
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What Are Your Greatest Weaknesses
It can feel awkward to discuss your weaknesses in an environment where youre expected to focus on your accomplishments. However, when answered correctly, sharing your weaknesses shows that you are self-aware with an interest in continued growth and learningtraits that are extremely attractive to many employers. Consider using this formula for your response:
1. Select an actual weakness that is honest but professionally relevant:”Im naturally shy…
2. Add context:”…From high school and into my early professional interactions, it sometimes prevented me from speaking up…
3. Provide a specific example:”…After being a part of a workgroup that didnt meet our strategic goals two quarters in a row, I knew I owed it to my team and myself to confidently share my ideas…
4. Explain how you overcame or are working to overcome it:”…I joined an improv acting class. Its fun and has really helped me overcome my shyness. I learned practical skills around leading discussions and sharing diverse perspectives. Now, in group settings, I always start conversations with the quieter folks. I know exactly how they feel, and people can be amazing once they start talking.
Read more: Interview Question: What Are Your Greatest Weaknesses?
Question: How Do You Explain Your Gap In Employment
Ive dedicated a whole article to this topic . 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 dont 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 were working on.
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Why Did You Change Your Career Path
If you recently changed your career path, the interviewer is sure to ask about it.
Dont worry – theres nothing wrong with this.
A lot of people go through a career change. Some even do it several times in their lifetime!
As long as youre good at what you do, no one cares if you were a pediatrician in one year, and a professional chef in another.
When asked this question, all you have to do is answer truthfully. Explain how your old job just wasnt for you, and how the job youre applying for is so much more interesting.
Possible answers:
- Sample Answer
I realized that being a doctor is not for me. While I did enjoy my 3 years in med school, the 6 year study period was too much.
I wanted to start making money and help out my family way before that, so I dropped out of university and started taking online courses in accounting.
At this point, Im pretty good at it, having done 2 internships so far in and .
- Sample Answer 2
Simply because I enjoy doing sales much more than accounting. After 5 years of working as an accountant for Firm X, I decided I wanted to try something new.
I asked my boss at the time to let me transition to the sales team, and I ended up liking it AND being pretty good at it.
What Kind Of Work Environment Do You Perform Best In
Hopefully, your truthful answer to this question will line up with the type of environment at the company youre applying to. The interviewer is trying to see whether or not youd be able to stay at the company for a long timethey dont want to have to find a replacement for you in one month because you cant stand hearing background noise.
But dont change your answer based on the environment of the company just because its what you think they want to hear. Instead, explain how youll be able to adapt to the environment if its different from what youre used to.
For example, if you work best in a quiet environment with very few distractions but youre applying to a fast-paced company with lots of chatty employees, describe the steps youd take to make sure you get your work done . Hint: Read Deep Work by Cal Newport. Itll give you some great techniques for managing distractions!
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Do You Consider Yourself A Team Player
UX designers typically collaborate with a range of professionals, including web developers, product managers, and UI designers. The interviewer wants to ensure that you can work with individuals in various departments to make a project successful. Your response can highlight your communication and active listening skills. Mention how you conclude a project with other professionals.
Example: “At Ray company, I collaborated with web developers and UI designers to ensure the success of my projects. My team experienced defective chatbots, making the software difficult to operate during the design process. I suggested we include smarter AI systems that enable chatbots to learn relevant and useful responses for customers. After the project, I recognized my team members’ contribution by sending e-mails to thank them.”
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Why Do You Want To Work For This Company
You may have selected a particular job because you need a paycheck, or it may be your dream job. Regardless, acing this question is easy. Read the company’s website and discover things that resonate with you. You might be interviewing for a fast food job at a place you love to eat, and it’s ok to tell the hiring manager that! Maybe you have the chance to work for a company whose mission statement affects you personally. Perhaps you’ve admired the financial success of the company, and you’d like to be part of a successful enterprise with room for advancement this shows that you have ambition and you’re invested in the success of your workplace.
Prepare For The Interview
You don’t need to memorize an answer, but do take the time to consider how you’ll respond. The more you prepare, the more confident you’ll feel during a job interview.
When you’re not sure what to expect during an interview, also take time to review this refresher on how job interviews work, and these tips on how to prepare to ace your job interview.
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Why Do You Want This Job
What They Want to Know: Why did you apply for this position? What do you find most interesting about the job and the organization? With this question, the employer wants to know why you think this job is a match for your career objectives. Take the time to describe how your qualifications are a match for the job. The more you can show you’re qualified, the easier it will be to get hired.
From the time my appendix burst as a kid and I spent a week in the hospital, Ive wanted to be a nurse preferably here at James Memorial. Although I went away for nursing school, Im eager to move back home and care for our local community now that Ive become a licensed RN.
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Describe Your Dream Job
Three words describe how you should answer this question: relevance, relevance, relevance.
But that doesn’t mean you have to make up an answer. You can learn something from every job. You can develop skills in every job. Work backward: Identify things about the job you’re interviewing for that will help you if you do land your dream job someday, and then describe how those things apply to what you hope to someday do.
And don’t be afraid to admit that you might someday move on, whether to join another company or — better — to start your own business. Employers no longer expect “forever” employees.
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What Do You Consider To Be Your Weaknesses
What your interviewer is really trying to do with this questionbeyond identifying any major red flagsis to gauge your self-awareness and honesty. So, I cant meet a deadline to save my life is not an optionbut neither is Nothing! Im perfect! Strike a balance by thinking of something that you struggle with but that youre working to improve. For example, maybe youve never been strong at public speaking, but youve recently volunteered to run meetings to help you get more comfortable when addressing a crowd.
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Behavior And Discipline Questions
35. Is it the childcare facilityâs job to provide discipline?
Answer: Sometimes, yes. When parents are not present, it is the responsibility of the adult in charge. It should be carried out following facility policies and state and federal laws. Positive reinforcement of good behavior is certainly preferable, and only non-aggressive options like timeouts should ever be used if a child needs punishment.
36. How do you handle inappropriate language in the classroom?
Answer: First, I consult any policies or procedures the daycare has. In the first instance, I will tell them that their language is inappropriate and must not be used. If the child continues, I will apply the daycareâs disciplinary guidelines. If it continues, I will follow up with the parents and management as required.
37. What do you do if a child doesnât want to participate in an activity?
Answer: First, I will try to explain why it is important and motivate them to join in. If it is an isolated incident, I will consider if they can do an alternate task. If it is a chronic problem, both the daycare and the parents will be notified in case the child has any behavioral issues or learning difficulties.
38. How would you intervene in a physical altercation between children?
39. How do you respond to a child bullying another?
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Question: Why Do You Want To Work Here
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 youre just telling them want they want to hear, but dont mean itwell, 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.
The Best Job Interview Questions To Ask Candidates
How lucky are you, and why? How many times heavier than a mouse is an elephant? How many square feet of pizza are consumed in the United States each year?
Hiring managers have heard about using these “curveball” questions to identify the best candidates. Fortunately, for intelligent and qualified candidates everywhere, studies have found that the brainteaser interview questions made famous by Silicon Valley and Wall Street are just as silly as they sound.
But when you’re interviewing people to join your team, you have to get creative. After all, there’s only so much that questions like “What’s your biggest weakness?” and “Are you a team player?” reveal about who your candidates truly are.
To help give you some ideas for the next time you’re meeting with a job candidate, here are some of the best job interview questions to ask, and good answers to each question.
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What Single Project Or Task Would You Consider Your Most Significant Career Accomplishment To Date
Lou Adler, author of The Essential Guide for Hiring & Getting Hired and Hire With Your Head, spent 10 years searching for the single best interview question that will reveal whether to hire or not hire a candidate — and this was the one.
A good answer to this question:
Candidates’ answers will tell you about their prior success and sense of ownership. A great answer will show they are confident in their work and professional choices while being humble enough to show they care about the company’s success. For example, if a candidate built a sales or marketing campaign they’re particularly proud of, listen for them to explain how the business benefited from it. Did it help the company sign a major client?
What Are Your Pet Peeves
Heres another one that feels like a minefield. But itll be easier to navigate if you know why an interviewer is asking it. Most likely, they want to make sure youll thrive at their companyand get a glimpse of how you deal with conflict. So be certain you pick something that doesnt contradict the culture and environment at this organization while still being honest. Then explain why and what youve done to address it in the past, doing your best to stay calm and composed. Since theres no need to dwell on something that annoys you, you can keep this response short and sweet.
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