Common interview questions and how to answer them
Interviews are more predictable than they feel. Most consist of three question types — questions about you, behavioral "tell me about a time" questions, and motivation questions — plus one closing question that candidates routinely waste. This guide covers the questions you will actually be asked, the answer structure for each type, and in-depth guides for the answers that decide offers.
About you
These open the interview and test self-awareness. Answer with framing, not autobiography.
- Tell me about yourself — present, past, future, under two minutes.
- What are your greatest strengths? — one or two, each attached to a concrete example.
- What is your greatest weakness? — a real one, plus the system you use to manage it.
- Where do you see yourself in five years? — direction and growth, honestly compatible with the role.
Behavioral ("tell me about a time...")
The core of most structured interviews. Every one of these is a STAR story — prepare six to eight and adapt.
- Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult coworker or stakeholder.
- Describe a time you failed. What did you do next?
- Tell me about a time you had to meet a tight deadline.
- Give an example of a time you persuaded someone senior to change course.
- Describe a situation where you had to make a decision with incomplete information.
Motivation and fit
These test whether you understand the role and want this job rather than any job.
- Why do you want to work here? — specifics about their work, not compliments about their brand.
- Why are you leaving your current role? — forward-looking and brief; never a complaint.
- Why should we hire you? — the two or three requirements from the posting, matched to your evidence.
- What do you know about our company? — enough research to have an opinion, not a recitation.
The answers that decide offers
- "Tell me about yourself": the answer formula
The present-past-future structure for the opener that frames your whole interview.
- The STAR method for behavioral questions
Situation, Task, Action, Result — weighted correctly, with a full worked example.
- Questions to ask the interviewer
The closing question is scored. What to ask, what to avoid, and how to match questions to the person.
- Salary negotiation scripts
Word-for-word scripts for the expectations question, the offer call, and the counter.
Before the interview
- How to write a resume: the complete guide
Every line of your resume is a potential interview question — make sure each one is defensible.
- How to write a cover letter: the complete guide
The argument your letter makes is the argument you will defend in the room.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common interview questions?
Nearly every interview includes some version of: tell me about yourself, why do you want this role, what are your strengths and weaknesses, tell me about a challenge or conflict you handled, why are you leaving your current job, and do you have questions for us.
How do I prepare for an interview?
Research the company and re-read the posting, prepare six to eight STAR stories covering conflict, failure, deadlines, and leadership, rehearse your "tell me about yourself" answer out loud, prepare five questions for the interviewer, and practice with a mock interview.
How do I answer "what is your greatest weakness"?
Name a real, work-relevant weakness that is not core to the role, then spend most of the answer on the specific system you use to manage it. Avoid disguised strengths like "I work too hard" — interviewers have heard them all.
How long should interview answers be?
Sixty to ninety seconds for most questions, up to two minutes for behavioral stories. Shorter reads as unprepared, longer costs you the interviewer's attention — practice out loud to calibrate.