21 Microsoft Word interview questions and answers
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Jobseekers love to claim competence with Microsoft Word—hiring managers know this all too well!
Sure, your candidates probably know how to create, edit and share basic documents, but are they able to cope with more challenging tasks, like mail merges or macros?
Experience with Word’s most advanced concepts won’t be necessary for all roles, though most middle-skill roles will need at least a basic understanding of the software—especially given that Word is the undisputed market leader for word processing. Because of this, employers should use a Microsoft Word test in recruitment when Word proficiency is a must for the job.
The demand for strong word processing skills is only set to grow in the years ahead, so it also makes sense for hiring managers to have a set of Microsoft Word interview questions in their arsenal.
To that end, we’ve put together 21 probing questions to put your candidates’ claims of Microsoft Word mastery to the test.
They cover three difficulty levels and a range of topics related to Word, giving you the chance to tailor your interview to the needs of your position.
Add a few of our questions to your recruitment process and use our sample answers for reference to find the best candidates for the job!
Table of contents
- 7 beginner Microsoft Word interview questions
- 7 intermediate Microsoft Word interview questions
- 7 advanced Microsoft Word interview questions
- For which roles can you use Microsoft Word interview questions?
- At which stage of the hiring process should you use Microsoft Excel interview questions?
- ✅ Use TestGorilla’s Microsoft Word interview questions to make the best hire
7 beginner Microsoft Word interview questions
Use these beginner Microsoft Word interview questions for roles that only require a basic understanding of the software.
1. What are the main purposes of Microsoft Word in a business context?
Sample answer:
Microsoft Word is a versatile and easy-to-use word processing tool that serves a variety of business purposes, such as:
- Create high-quality documents such as reports, memos, and promotional materials for internal and external use
- Check spelling, punctuation, and grammar of written content and correct mistakes
- Present information clearly and compellingly using different formatting and design features
- Create tables and charts for data visualization
- Promote collaboration using file-sharing features
2. What role do cloud services play in Microsoft Word and how can they be used?
Sample answer:
You can connect Microsoft Word with several cloud services for flexible file storage and retrieval, allowing users to access their documents from any device.
Word offers native support for Microsoft’s OneDrive cloud service and some third-party providers like Dropbox and Box. These cloud tools can be integrated from File tab → Open → Add a Place.
Documents can also be created, edited, and shared online using Word’s browser version. This free tool allows users to access Word without having to download the software. Browser storage is powered by OneDrive.
3. What are some best practices for formatting a large document in Microsoft Word?
Sample answer:
Microsoft Word has a variety of tools for making documents more presentable and easy to digest. When working with large documents, make sure to:
- Separate text into sections and subsections with clear headings
- Use consistent font and paragraph formatting
- Include a table of contents
- Add page numbers
- Use page breaks where appropriate
4. How would you share a document with someone who doesn’t have Microsoft Word?
Sample answer:
It’s still possible to share a Microsoft Word file with someone who doesn’t have the software: You just need to save the Word file in another suitable format, such as PDF or Rich Text Format.
You can also use the Share feature in the top-right corner of Word to send a link to the document in browser form via email.
5. What are the different techniques for presenting data in Microsoft Word?
Sample answer:
There are two ways to present data in Microsoft Word:
- Tables
- Charts
Tables
You can use tables in Word to present basic numerical data. To create a table, go to Insert tab → Tables section → Table button.
This gives users the option to create a new table from scratch, import a table from Microsoft Excel, or select a ready-made table from a selection of templates.
Charts
You can use charts in Word for visualizing more complex sets of data. To create a chart, go to Insert tab → Illustrations section → Chart button. This gives you several options for charts and graphs, including:
- Bar chart
- Column charts
- Pie chart
- Line graph
- Scatter graph
After selecting your chart or graph, you’re prompted to insert the data. When working with large datasets, it’s easier to create the chart in Microsoft Excel and then import it into Word.
6. What are the differences between footnotes and endnotes in Microsoft Word?
Sample answer:
Footnotes and endnotes both allow users to add additional information to a Microsoft Word document outside the main body of the text. We can find these under the References tab.
Footnotes and endnotes differ in that footnotes appear at the bottom of the specific page they’re linked to, whereas endnotes appear at the bottom of the last page of the chapter they’re linked to (or the document if there are no chapters).
7. What is a column break in Microsoft Word? How is it used?
Sample answer:
Like a page break and a section break, a column break is used to change the structural layout of text in a Microsoft Word document. Unlike the other types of break, a column break splits the document into different sections from top to bottom, i.e. into columns.
To insert a column break, place the cursor at the point in the text where you want the column to break. Then, go to Layout tab → Page Setup section → Columns button and select the type of column break you wish to add to the document.
Our intermediate Microsoft Word interview questions are perfect for positions that go beyond simple document creation and storage.
For such roles, candidates should be well-acquainted with Word and know some of the software’s more complex features.
1. How are access privileges managed in Microsoft Word?
Sample answer:
Microsoft Word has a range of tools for limiting access to documents to certain users. To configure a document’s access privileges, go to File tab → Info → Protect Document → Restrict Access → Restricted Access.
This loads the Information Rights Management (IRM) servers, from which the user can grant access to certain email addresses while removing their ability to edit, copy or print the document in the Permissions dialog box.
In addition, users can configure editing and formatting restrictions under Review tab → Protect section → Restrict Editing button. Finally, you can grant access by clicking Share in the top-right corner of the program and sending the document to selected email addresses.
2. What types of multimedia can be used in a Microsoft Word document? How are they inserted?
Sample answer:
Besides text, Microsoft Word also offers multimedia support for:
- Images
- Video
- Audio
Images
A wide range of images, including pictures, animations, and clip art, can be used in Word. To insert an image, go to Insert tab → Illustrations section → Picture button.
This gives users the option to upload an image from their local files, browse Word’s selection of in-house stock images, or search online.
Video
You can embed a video from a site like YouTube by navigating to Insert tab → Media section → Online Videos button. This prompts users to insert the video’s URL. After confirming, the video will appear in the Word document.
Audio
It’s also possible to add sound to your Word document. Go to Insert tab → Text section → Object button → Object command.
Select ‘Create from File’ and browse to find the audio file in your storage. Once selected, users can choose to embed the audio directly into the document or insert it as a link.
3. How do you view changes made to a document in Microsoft Word?
Sample answer:
When working on a document in Microsoft Word, activating the Track Changes feature under Review tab → Tracking section → Track Changes button will allow you to view edits as you make them. This is an especially useful tool when collaborating on a document.
With Track Changes enabled, deletions are marked with a strike-through, while additions are represented by an underline. Different users can make changes, which show in different colors.
In addition, you can retrieve previous versions of a document by navigating to File → Info → Version History to track changes over longer periods.
4. How do you edit PDF documents in Microsoft Word?
Sample answer:
Microsoft Word allows users to edit PDF documents by converting them to Word documents first. Afterward, they can export the newly edited document back to PDF.
To get started, go to File → Open and find the PDF file in your storage. This prompts a request to convert the PDF into a Word file. Once you accept it, you can edit the file and then reconvert it to a PDF from File → Export → Create PDF.
5. How do you secure sensitive information in a Microsoft Word document?
Sample answer:
There are several ways to protect a document in Microsoft Word, including:
- Set the document to read-only
- Use password encryption
- Restrict editing
- Restrict access
- Add a digital signature
- Mark the document as final
These features are accessible from File → Info → Protect Document. In addition, it’s good practice to back-up important files in a secondary location, such as the cloud.
6. How do you customize the toolbar in Microsoft Word?
Sample answer:
Customizing the Microsoft Word interface is a great way to streamline the content creation and editing process. Users can customize the:
- Quick Access Toolbar: This appears at the very top of the page in Microsoft Word and features a handful of commands for quick and easy access
- Ribbon: This is the main part of the toolbar and comprises Word’s various tabs and the functions within them
To customize the Quick Access Toolbar, go to File → Options → Quick Access Toolbar. From here, you can choose to add new commands and remove others.
To customize the ribbon, go to File → Options → Customize Ribbon. From here, you can rearrange tabs and commands, rename tabs, create new tabs, and export your customizations to share with other users or apply to other Microsoft programs.
7. How do you create a hanging indent in Microsoft Word?
Sample answer:
Users can create a hanging indent in Microsoft Word following these steps:
- Place the cursor on the text where you want to insert the hanging indent
- Go to Home tab → Paragraph section → Paragraph Settings button to pull up the Paragraph dialog box
- Under the Indentation section in the Index and spacing tab, select Hanging from the Special dropdown box
- Select OK
This creates a hanging indent, setting off the designated line by positioning it at the margin and then indenting each subsequent line of the paragraph.
7 advanced Microsoft Word interview questions
Use our advanced Microsoft Word interview questions when recruiting for positions that require a complete understanding of the program, including Word’s advanced developer controls.
1. What is Mail Merge and how is it used in Microsoft Word?
Sample answer:
Mail Merge is a powerful tool for preparing and personalizing bulk emails, letters, labels, and envelopes in Microsoft Word. It allows you to create multiple documents at once, saving you the time and effort of retyping the same document over and over.
The steps for creating a Mail Merge document are:
- Go to Mailings tab → Start Mail Merge section → Select Recipients button → Type a New List command and add all necessary addresses for the Mail Merge
- Go to Mailings tab → Start Mail Merge section → Start Mail Merge button and select the appropriate format for the Mail Merge, such as a letter
- Go to Mailings tab → Start Mail Merge section → Select Recipients button → Use Existing List command and select the mailing list you prepared in step 1
- Write the master document. Use Mailings tab → Write & Insert Fields section → Insert Merge Field button to insert relevant Mail Merge elements, such as First Name or Address Line
- Go to Mailings tab → Preview Results section → Preview Results button to check for any errors
- Once satisfied, go to Mailings tab → Finish group → Finish & Merge button and select Edit Individual Documents
- In the Merge to New Document panel, click All to create a separate document for each person on your mailing list. You can then choose to save or export the personalized documents
2. What is XML mapping and how is it performed in Microsoft Word?
Sample answer:
XML mapping is an advanced feature available in Microsoft Word that allows you to map custom data to content control boxes in a document.
For instance, if you had a data entry form with empty text boxes and drop-down menus, these fields could be populated automatically by data from a mapped custom XML file.
XML mapping in Word is accessible from the Developer tab → Mapping section → XML Mapping Pane button. Users import a custom XML file with elements matching the content controls in the document and then bind the XL file to the template content controls accordingly.
3. How do you create a data entry form in Microsoft Word?
Sample answer:
To create a fillable form in Microsoft Word, you first need to add the Developer tab to the ribbon. Go to File → Options → Customize Ribbon and tick the Developer box under the Main Tabs section.
Next, create the template for the form. You can create the template yourself using Word’s table feature or you can download a template from the internet.
Once the template is complete, you can add sections for data entry by following these steps:
- Place the cursor where you want to insert the form field
- Switch on Design Mode by following Developer tab → Controls section → Design Mode
- Insert your desired controls for data entry. These could be an empty text box, a drop-down list, or a checkbox
- Finalize the form by adding any necessary editing restrictions under Developer tab → Protect section → Restrict Editing button
- Distribute the form to peers for completion
4. What is cross-referencing, and how is it performed in Microsoft Word?
Sample answer:
Cross-referencing is a feature in Microsoft Word that allows you to link internally to other parts of a document. For instance, you might link to a chart or table that appears elsewhere in the document.
The steps for inserting a cross-reference are as follows:
- Select the point in the document where you want to add the cross-reference
- Go to Insert tab → Links section → Cross-reference button
- In the Reference type drop-down box, select the type of content you want to cross-reference to
- In the Insert reference to drop-down box, select how you want the reference to be displayed
- In the For which box, select the specific item you want to refer to
- Ensure the Insert as hyperlink box is ticked
- Click Insert
5. How do you create a custom watermark in Microsoft Word?
Sample answer:
You can create custom watermarks for your documents in Microsoft Word by following these steps:
- Go to Design tab → Watermark button → Custom Watermark command
- Select Picture watermark to upload a picture of your watermark or Text watermark to type your watermark
- Click OK. The watermark is then inserted into the document and you can edit it by double-clicking near the top of the page to open the header
6. How do you review spelling in a Microsoft Word document that has more than one language?
Sample answer:
When working with documents written in multiple languages, you can instruct the spelling review tool to skip certain parts of the text. Using this feature, you can review documents with multiple languages effectively by isolating different parts of the text and reviewing them one at a time.
To enable this feature, highlight the section of text you wish to skip and go to Review tab → Language section → Language button → Set Proofing Language command. In the Language panel, tick the Do not check spelling or grammar box.
The spelling review will skip the designated block of text. You can then change the proofing language to review other parts of the document written in a different language.
7. Is it possible to automate repetitive tasks in Microsoft Word?
Sample answer:
You can automate tasks in Microsoft Word using the Macros feature. With a macro, you can pre-record the steps needed to complete a task and then execute these all at once using a single button or keyboard command.
Here are the steps for creating and implementing a macro in Word:
- Setup the macro: Go to View tab → Macros section → Macros button → Record Macro command. Fill in information about the macro, including name, description, storage location, and assigned keyboard shortcut
- Record the macro: After closing the Record Macro panel, the macro will begin recording. Complete the action you want to automate and end the recording under View tab → Macros section → Macros button → Sop recording command
- Run the macro: The macro is now ready for use. Place the cursor over the point in the document where you want to perform the action and press the designated keyboard shortcut to run the macro
For which roles can you use Microsoft Word interview questions?
While most jobs will only require a basic understanding of Microsoft Word, in some fields it can pay dividends to have an advanced Word user on your team. Here’s a list of roles for which you should ask about Word experience during recruitment:
- Administrative assistant: From writing emails to creating schedules, administrative workers often depend on word processing tools for many aspects of their job. Their skills with programs like Word are key to maintaining organization in their company.
- Writer: Whether involved in copywriting, content marketing, or creative writing, writers spend most of their day sitting behind word processing programs like Word. Naturally, they need to be well-acquainted with their chosen software’s tools and properties.
- Editor: Sharing files, leaving comments, and applying correct formatting are all crucial parts of an editor’s job. Familiarity with Word’s different features brings greater efficiency to the editing process.
- Customer service assistant: Email remains one of the most popular ways for support teams to communicate with their customers. Word processing tools like Word have built-in features for sending customer service emails to mailing lists in bulk.
- Transcriptionist: Strong word processing skills can vastly improve performance during transcription. Knowledge of the software interface and application of automation tools will have transcriptionists working as effectively as possible.
Even outside of these roles, it’s still important to test for word processing skills. HR, marketing, law, and business management are all employment sectors that regularly draw on word processing programs like Word.
It’s also worth noting that the demand for word processing skills is only going to increase in the future. By 2030, 75% of jobs in the global economy will require advanced digital skills, of which word processing is an integral part.
Incorporating Microsoft Word assessments into your candidate selection process, therefore, will not only improve your quality of hire today, but will also future-proof your recruitment.
At which stage of the hiring process should you use Microsoft Excel interview questions?
It’s best to hold off on interviews until the final stages of the recruitment process. We suggest using a selection of screening assessments beforehand to identify the best talent for interview.
Here’s a rough outline for a recruitment process you could use when hiring for a role with Microsoft Word skills:
- Application: Think carefully about your job description, and make sure to emphasize the need for strong Microsoft Word skills
- Screening assessments: Invite applicants to complete a Microsoft Word skills test as well as a Culture Add test, one of our cognitive ability tests or a role-specific skills test to see if they would be a potentially good fit for the role and the company
- Resume screening: Review the applications of candidates with the strongest scores on the screening assessments, shortlisting a select number for the next stage
- Screening call: Arrange a short, informal chat with shortlisted candidates to discuss the role further and see if goals and expectations align
- Interview: Use our Microsoft Word interview questions alongside other skills-based and character-based questions to learn more about your candidates and find the most suitable person for the job
- Reference checks: Check the references of your chosen candidate and complete any other required background checks
- Job offer: Once you’re satisfied, submit a job offer!
This kind of multi-stage selection process submits candidates to a wide range of assessments, giving you a more complete picture of each person’s strengths and knowledge.
We strongly recommend using a Microsoft Word skills test during your recruitment process as this assesses candidates’ experience with the software first-hand—something that interview questions alone cannot do.
Use TestGorilla’s Microsoft Word interview questions to make the best hire
Using a selection of tailored Microsoft Word interview questions alongside a pre-employment software skills test is the best way to assess proficiency with Microsoft Word.
Make sure to balance your selection process with a range of character-based interview questions and assessments to make a hire that not only addresses the word processing needs of your business, but also adds to your company culture.
With TestGorilla, you’ll find the recruitment process to be simpler, faster, and much more effective. Get started for free today and start making better hiring decisions, faster and bias-free.
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By Jeff Gillis
Going through Google, I noticed there wasn’t any good, big, huge, mega (you get my point) lists of interview questions available that job seekers could easily use to practice for their upcoming interviews.
That’s what led me to putting together this master list of job interview questions for you!
These are all real interview questions that candidates have faced in the hot seat.
I have broken them into categories and I have also provided downloadable PDFs in two versions at the bottom of this article.
(One I made with fancy graphics you can use on your phone or iPad and the other is a stripped down version that can be easily printed out.)
My goal was to provide you with a list you could easily use for your own mock interviews with family and friends!
We also wanted to let you know that we created an amazing free cheat sheet that will give you word-for-word answers for some of the toughest interview questions you are going to face in your upcoming interview. After all, hiring managers will often ask you more generalized interview questions!
Click below to get your free PDF now:
Get Our Job Interview Questions & Answers Cheat Sheet!
FREE BONUS PDF CHEAT SHEET: Get our «Job Interview Questions & Answers PDF Cheat Sheet» that gives you «word-word sample answers to the most common job interview questions you’ll face at your next interview.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS CHEAT SHEET
Without further ado, here’s the master list!
The Interview Guys’ Master List Of 200+ Job Interview Questions
Most Common Interview Questions
1. Tell me about yourself
2. Why should we hire you?
3. What’s your greatest weakness?
4. What are your career goals?
5. What’s your greatest strength?
6. What’s your greatest accomplishment?
7. How do you handle conflict?
8. How do you handle stress?
9. What are you most proud of?
10. What are you passionate about?
11. What makes you unique?
12. How would you describe yourself?
13. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
14. Why do you want to work here?
15. Why did you leave your last job?
16. What motivates you?
17. What are you looking for in a job?
18 Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
19. What is your salary range expectation?
20. Do you have any questions for us?
Questions Focused On You
21. How do you define success?
22. Do you prefer to work alone or in groups?
23. What’s the most recent book you’ve read?
24. If you could describe yourself in two words what would they be?
25. What most turns you off in a job?
26. If you were a billionaire, what would you do with your time?
27. What are you prepared to do with an employee who refuses to be a team player?
28. If you were given the opportunity, would you take my job from me?
29. What is your ideal job?
30. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being a hard worker and 10 being smart, where would you rate yourself?
31. How would you describe your personality?
32. How do you describe you analytical skill? Good, average or bad.
33. Why are you the best person for this job?
34. What is your philosophy of selling?
35. What is the thing that frustrates you the most about work in general? Give examples.
37. Are you good at multitasking?
38. Are you self motivated/a self starter?
39. What’s an animal you most admire/relate to?
40. What do you want to accomplish?
41. What is your work style?
42. Who’s your mentor?
43. What are your hobbies and interests?
44. What is your favorite website?
45. What makes you uncomfortable?
46. On a scale of 1-10, how aggressive are you?
47. If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
48. Can you easily build rapport?
49. How do you think other people think of you?
50. What do you see yourself in 10 years, and how did you get there?
51. Do you prefer Quality or Quantity?
52. What areas need improvement?
53. Who is your biggest inspiration?
54. Do you like constant change?
55. How do you communicate when you are unsatisfied?
56. Why are you a good fit for this job?
57. What core value of the organization most resonates with you?
58. Do you find it difficult to talk to and meet new people?
59. What does integrity mean to you?
60. How will you achieve a work/life balance?
61. What is the most competitive thing you did last week that wasn’t related to work?
62. What gets you out of bed in the morning?
63. Would you say you are a person who loves to win or hates to lose?
64. What is your biggest regret?
65. Describe your personality
66. What is your management style?
67. Who is your hero?
Questions Focused On The Job
68. Are you willing to relocate for this job?
69. Will you travel for this job?
70. What interests you about this position?
71. If you were hired, how soon can you start?
72. Are you willing to travel?
73. Are you overqualified for this role?
74. Would you be willing to work nights and weekends?
75. What do you know about our company?
76. What do you know about our industry?
77. If you were asked to, would you break Union rules if directed to do so by management?
78. What’s the biggest problem you see with our company?
79. Is it okay to miss a deadline? If so, when?
80. How do you feel about working long hours?
81. Would you get bored in a year and leave us?
82. How would you deal with ambiguity in the workplace?
83. Why is diversity important in the workplace?
84. What do you think about overtime work?
85. What does customer service mean to you?
86. How long do you expect to stay with this company?
87. How would you deal with a rude employee?
88. What would you look to accomplish in the first 30 days/60 days/90 days on the job?
89. What is the name of our CEO?
90. How would you fire someone?
91. What is your desired salary?
92. What do you consider the most important qualities for this job?
93. Can you from day one, be on your own, no processes, just be told what needs to be done, and do it?
94. Describe your best day at work.
95. What you would do if the head partner gave you an assignment to do ASAP and another partner gave you another assignment to do ASAP?
96. Why should I hire you over these other candidates? (In a group interview)
97. Some people only work in [This industry] just to have a job until something better comes along. How do we know if we hire you that you will stay?
98. If you saw your boss stealing would you turn him in?
99. Would you be willing to start out part-time?
100. How do you see yourself fitting into the organization?
101. What would you do if you heard a coworker talk bad about about a customer?
102. Sell me this [object]
103. What would you consider your one greatest attribute as it applies to this position?
104. What makes you a bad candidate for this position?
Questions Focused On Your Past Job Experience
105. What did you like least about your last position?
106. Can you explain these gaps in your resume?
107. Can you walk us through your resume?
108. Why are you changing careers?
109. What did you hate about your last job?
110. Why is your resume so diverse?
111. What was the hardest thing you ever had to do in your prior work experience?
112. Tell me about your experience at [XYZ] company
113. Tell me about your background and how that impacted your ability as an employee?
114. What do you think your former boss?
115. Name something you wish you regret at your previous job and would do differently here.
116. Why were you let go from your last position?
117. Why are you looking for a new job?
118. Were there any unethical situations at past jobs and how did you handle this?
119. Have you ever been late for work? How do you make sure you always get to work on time?
120. Pretend I didn’t read your resume, and we just met on the street and go from there…
Behavioral & Situational Interview Questions
121. Describe a situation where you disagreed with a supervisor.
122. Tell me about a time you had a conflict at work.
123. Tell me about a situation where you had to solve a difficult problem.
124. Describe a project or idea (not necessarily your own) that was implemented primarily because of your efforts.
125. Do you feel you work well under pressure? If so, describe a time when you have done so…
126. Give me an example of a time when you motivated others.
127. Tell me about a time where you had to delegate tasks during a project
128. Give me an example of when you showed initiative and took the lead.
129. Tell me about a time when you missed an obvious solution to a problem.
130. Tell me about your proudest professional accomplishment.
131. Describe a time when your work was criticized
132. How would you feel about reporting to a person younger than you?
133. Describe a time you went above and beyond at work.
134. Tell me about the last mistake you made.
135. Describe a time when you had to give a person difficult feedback.
136. How would you deal with an angry or irate customer?
137. Describe a time you chose to not help a teammate.
138. Tell me about a time you failed
139. How would you handle a situation where you have a client who interrupt your existing interaction with a client?
140. Suppose you are working on a project with an original scope of a few months and you are told that you instead now have a few days — how would you handle it?
141. How would you communicate to team members that a deadline was approaching and they had to have their materials ready in time?
142. If your supervisor gives you a direct order that you know is against company policy how do you handle the situation?
143. Tell me a time when you had to make a quick decision without knowing all the facts.
144. Tell me a time when you had to work on a project and had someone on your team who would not cooperate. What did you do?
145. Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned.
146. Tell me about a time when you had to work with someone with whom you did not get along. How did you handle that situation.
147. How would you go about solving a problem, describe the process.
148. Tell me about a time when you went above or beyond?
149. Describe a time you disobeyed a rule
150. Describe a time when you didn’t complete a task on time or to expectations.
151. Tell me about a situation where you had to adapt quickly
152. Please explain the last time you realized you made a mistake, how did you handle it?
153. Tell me about a time when you had to work in a culturally diverse environment.
154. Tell me something you would change if you could go back and do it over.
155. Tell me about a time you provided excellent customer service
156. Tell us about a time you’ve faced a moral decision
157. Tell me about a time that a situation at work was solved because of team work?
158. If your boss was late giving you information to complete a project for a boss 2 levels up, how would you handle it?
159. Tell me a time when someone made a decision that you did not agree with and what did you do about it?
160. Tell me about a time that you jumped to an incorrect conclusion.
161. Describe a time when someone pushed your buttons continuously- and how did you handle it?
162. Tell me about a time when you struggled with meeting your goals and what did you do
163. How would you handle a situation where another employee was complaining about the job?
164. Talk about a time when you provided a creative solution to a problem
165. Tell me about a time when you had to work long hours to finish a project. How did you handle it?
166. Give an example of when someone on your team was not pulling their own weight. How did you deal with the situation?
167. Tell me about a time you were a leader and were unsuccessful.
168. Describe a time where you held a co-worker accountable for their actions.
169. Describe a situation where you didn’t particularly care for someone, but had to interact with them in a difficult situation.
170. Tell me about a time you managed a team and things didn’t work out as planned.
Questions About Leadership
171. Can you tell me about a time when you demonstrated leadership capabilities on the job?
172. Which supporting skills do you think are most important when it comes to leadership?
173. When there is a disagreement on your team, how do you handle it?
174. Tell me about the hardest decision you’ve ever made as a leader. How did you decide which course of action was best?
175. What steps do you take to make sure that projects are completed on time, on budget, and to the proper standard?
176. How would you describe your leadership style? How would your colleagues describe it?
177. Can you tell me about a time where you faced a leadership challenge? What did you do to overcome it?
178. If a team member is under performing, what steps do you take to improve their performance?
179. Have you ever taken on a leadership role voluntarily? If so, can you tell me about it?
180. Tell me about your approach to delegation.
181. Can you describe a time when you lead by example?
182. Have you ever served in a coach or mentor role? How were you able to help the other person achieve success?
183. How do you monitor a team’s performance?
184. If a team is struggling to stay motivated, what steps would you take to boost engagement?
185. When a member of your team presents you with an idea, how do you respond?
186. Which of your past managers was your favorite leader, and why?
187. Who inspires you?
188. How do you respond to constructive criticism?
189. What approach do you use when you need to deliver constructive criticism?
190. What steps do you take to measure your personal performance at work?
191. During your first days in the job, are there any changes that you try to implement immediately?
192. When starting with a new team, how do you evaluate the current state of their capabilities?
193. What do you think is most important in creating a positive culture?
194. How do you determine who gets access to professional development or training?
195. If your project became unexpectedly shorthanded, what would you do to ensure it stayed on target?
196. Tell us about a time you had to lead a meeting.
197. Describe how you motivate others
198. Are you a leader or a follower?
199. What are three qualities of leadership?
200. Describe your philosophy of leadership in a few sentences.
Brain Teasers
(A lot of these are used to see how you approach solving the problem/answering the question)
201. If you had to figure out the total number of red cars in the city of Boston, how would you go about doing that?
202. Why is a manhole round?
203. Mary’s mother has four children. The names of three of the children are April, May, and June. What is the fourth child’s name?
204. How would you get an elephant into a refrigerator?
205. If you had to get rid of one of the States in the U.S. which one would it be and why?
206. Suppose you had eight identical balls. One of them is slightly heavier and you are given a balance scale . What’s the fewest number of times you have to use the scale to find the heavier ball?
207. You have 25 horses, what is the minimum number of races you can find the top 3. In one race you can race 5 horses, and you don’t have a timer.
208. How many bottles of shampoo are produced in the world a year?
209. How many baseballs can you fit on a 747?
210. four people need to cross a bridge at night, there is only one flash light and only one person can walk on the bridge at a time. How do would you get them all across the bridge?
211. How does a toilet work?
2 PDF Versions Of This List You Can Use To Practice With
This is the PDF Version with graphics. Simply click on the image.
This is the simple version without graphics or color for easy printing. Simply click on the image above.
I hope this big list of interview questions helps your preparation!
Good luck!
FREE: Job Interview Questions & Answers PDF Cheat Sheet!
Download our «Job Interview Questions & Answers PDF Cheat Sheet» that gives you word-for-word sample answers to some of the most common interview questions including:
- What Is Your Greatest Weakness?
- What Is Your Greatest Strength?
- Tell Me About Yourself
- Why Should We Hire You?
- And more!
Click Here To Get The Job Interview Questions & Answers Cheat Sheet
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The most common job interview questions and answers in English for both experienced and inexperienced candidates
The best way to learn English interview questions and answers is to practice. These English-speaking questions & answers are basic and simple enough to be used in an interview.
Job interviews can be scary at the best of times. Even more so, if you’re a non-native speaker still learning English, it can be a truly terrifying experience. What if the interviewer uses vocabulary you’re not familiar with? How will you respond if you are asked something you haven’t practiced for with your teacher beforehand? Knowing what to say, and perhaps more importantly, what NOT to say, can work miracles for your confidence levels and allow you to show your best side when it really matters.
This article explores the most common English interview questions that you are likely to encounter while job-hunting. Underneath each question, I also include a short explanation of what the question really means and how to give the best possible answer. There are also some useful examples to show what grammatical forms you can use for each answer.
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Part 1: TOP 8 English interview questions
1. Tell us a bit about yourself.
This is the most common question and it is often asked at the very beginning. It’s very important to ask this question well. You need to express your profile information shortly and show your skills, work experience as well as results you got before.
So, you’ve got a goldfish called Pebbles and you once met Serena Williams? Interesting stuff, but not really what they’re looking for. This is where you want to give a concise, factual overview of your educational and professional history.
Where did you go to college/university? What did you study? Have you taken any relevant postgraduate qualifications? How long have you been working in this field? What is your job role? Keep it short and stick to the facts. You’ll have an opportunity to tell them how wonderful you are later.
Sample answer:
- Past simple: I completed a postgraduate diploma in journalism.
- Present perfect continuous: I’ve been working professionally as an engineer for six years.
2. Why are you interested in working for this company?
Of course, the honest answer may be, “I need to pay my rent and I’m hoping to buy a 72″ plasma TV.” But this is no time for honesty. The interviewer wants to hear that you’re an ambitious go-getter who is enthusiastic about learning new things and genuinely passionate about this field of work.
The key phrase here is a new challenge. You should let the interviewer know that you’re so good at your current job that you’re looking for something that will give you a chance to really push yourself. But, remember not to sound too boastful. It’s also a good idea to do plenty of research about the company before the interview and explain exactly why you think it would be a great company to work for.
Sample answer:
- Present simple: I am fascinated by this area of work and hope to build on my existing knowledge.
- Present continuous: I’m looking for a new challenge that will allow me to develop professionally.
3. What has been your greatest achievement?
Remember to keep it professional here. You may hold the record for the greatest number of hot dogs eaten in ten minutes, but your prospective employer wants to hear about what you have accomplished in your professional life. Think about academic achievements, big projects you’ve worked on, commendations from previous employers, or moments when you have reached particular milestones in your professional life. Don’t explain the what, but explain WHY it was so important to you or your company.
Sample answer:
Past simple: I managed a team of seven people to complete one of the largest projects my former employer had undertaken.
My company was featured on the national news for a project that I led.
4. What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
This question is quite a tricky one. There is a fine line between criticizing yourself too much and sounding boastful. When talking about your weaknesses, focus on how you have overcome those weaknesses to become a better employee. This way you’re sneakily talking about strengths without sounding too big-headed.
For example, if you’re a naturally disorganized person, tell the interviewer how you devised a system to organize all of your workloads as efficiently and clearly as possible. Or maybe one of your weaknesses is a lack of experience in a certain area of work? Tell the interviewer how you are enthusiastic about plugging that gap by working more in this area.
Sample answer:
Used to/no longer do: I used to have problems organizing my workload until I came up with a system for clearly categorizing all my tasks.
Present perfect with “always”: I’ve always been very good at communicating ideas to people.
5. What did you like best and least about your last job?
You may have hated your last job and everyone who worked there, but this is not the place to reveal that. Prospective employers want to hear positivity and good vibes from you. So remember to focus on work-related aspects that you enjoyed; for example, you could say you enjoyed the opportunity to learn from more experienced employees and the supportive environment created by the managers.
When talking about what you liked least, use it as an opportunity to show how enthusiastic you are about new challenges you would face in the new job (see question two). For example, talk about how you would have liked to work on more varied projects or to have been given more responsibility. This will make you sound ambitious and proactive.
Sample answer:
Past simple: I really enjoyed working with such experienced colleagues. They taught me so much.
Would have + past participle: I would have loved to work on bigger projects that pushed my abilities more.
6. Give an example of a problem you faced at your last job and how you solved it.
This is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for to show the interviewer you really know the job inside and out. Give concrete, real-life examples of when you’ve used your skills to solve a problem. Try to focus on something which shows you as resourceful (creative and flexible), dynamic (proactive and engaging), and full of initiative (actionable and self-driven).
If you are applying for a job in the same industry you work in now, feel free to use technical language to explain the problem and the solution. If it’s a different industry, remember that your interviewer may not know what you’re talking about; so instead use common everyday terms to explain what you did.
Sample answer:
Past simple: I worked out a way of reducing waiting times for our customers.
I analyzed the problems with the ordering system and came up with a better alternative.
7. What would you like to be doing five years from now?
Ambition is a key requirement of any employee. If your prospective boss thinks you want to be successful, then he or she will presume you’re going to work pretty hard. So, what should you say here? Well, these questions depend on the role you are applying for and the opportunities for career progression.
Is this a corporate job where you can see a clear line from your lowly position to the chief executive within ten years? Or is it more of a technical job where progressing means acquiring more skills and knowledge so you can work in more fields? It’s best to have a good idea about this before you start the interview. Make sure you’re confident about what opportunities are available to you and be realistic! Saying you want your boss’s job within five years may sound a little arrogant if you’re applying for a relatively junior position.
Sample answer:
Would like to have + past participle: I would like to have worked on much bigger projects and perhaps be leading a team.
Would like to + be + verb-ing: I would like to be working more in a managerial role.
8. Would you rather be in charge of a project or work as part of a team?
Is there a correct answer here? Or is this a bit of a trick question? Even if the job to which you’re applying is a managerial role, there will always be times when you have to work equally with other people. On the other hand, if you’re working as part of a team there will be times when you’re expected to take charge and show leadership. So… the ideal answer is: both
How can you say this without sounding dishonest? The best way to approach this is to talk about the benefits of both roles. For example, being able to communicate your vision to others is a rewarding part of being in charge of a project, while exchanging ideas with colleagues and learning new things is a great part of working as part of a team. Remember to stress that you have at least some experience in both roles.
Sample answer:
Advantages and disadvantages: The advantages of being in charge of a project are…
Comparing and contrasting: However, working as part of a team is also rewarding because…
Part 2: Tips for the English interview
Tip 1: Use short specific English words and phrases
To better prepare for the English interview, first, you need to memorize some specific English words and phrases for the interview. In this way, you can communicate with the interviewer fluently.
Just keep your sentence short. If you speak long sentences, you might be overwhelmed during your expression, in particular when you are a little bit nervous. But if you are really bad at spoken English, you need to improve your English speaking skills first.
Tip 2: Visit the official website of the company
Visiting the company’s website will help you understand the core values better. Maybe you think it’s not important enough. Actually, European and American companies attach great importance to the core values. They want to hire people who agree with their company culture. In this way, employees can go together with the company for a long time.
Tip 3: Simulate the interview situation
After preparing the questions in English, you can try to answer the questions as in the interview. You can also face a mirror and pay attention to your facial expressions until you can speak out what you think with a smile and relax.
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Conclusion
Have you got the tips for the English-speaking interview? Just prepare these questions and answers. If you want to practice and improve your English interview skills, you can also book a lesson with our italki English tutors. And if you have any questions about this article, you can also contact us.
Job interviews are a key part of the hiring process. They can also be incredibly nerve-wracking! The best way to calm any pre-interview jitters is to prepare well-crafted responses to the major questions coming your way.
While you can’t predict exactly what the hiring manager will ask you, you can come up with answers to the most common questions. This guide contains the top 100 questions that hiring managers ask in a job interview.
Before getting to the list, let’s consider why it’s so important to prepare for job interview questions, rather than just winging it.
Why Should You Prepare for Job Interview Questions?
Interviews are important; there’s no getting around that. They’re often your first opportunity to communicate directly with a hiring manager and advocate for yourself as the best person for the job.
While some interviews are more conversational than others, none of them feel like the most natural social dynamic. The interviewer’s going to ask you some open-ended, some specific questions about your skills and experiences, and you should be prepared to answer them in a strategic way. The last thing you want to do is go blank or start rambling about your childhood dog.
To excel in your interview, you should prepare your responses to common interview questions. With enough mock interview practice leading up to the real thing, you can make sure your answers sound natural and leave an excellent impression.
For more on how to answer common interview questions, check out our guide with tips and sample responses! For now, let’s go over how this list of 100 questions is sorted into categories.
How Does This List Work?
No interviewer’s going to ask you 100 questions in a row unless they possess King Joffrey levels of cruelty. However, they might sample a few questions from each of the below categories to get a full sense of your skills and experiences. There are five categories of questions in this list: traditional, behavioral, cultural fit, logistical, and curveballs.
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Traditional questions are the ones with which you might already be familiar. They tend to be open-ended and ask about your background, goals, and work style.
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Behavioral questions are some of the trickiest, because they ask you to provide specific examples that illustrate an achievement, a learning experience, or even a failure.
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Cultural fit questions are also common, and they’re particularly important for organizations that place high value in workplace culture. These may feel more personal or creative, but your answers should still be tailored to the organization at hand.
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Logistical questions tend to focus on your work history, how long you plan to stay, and salary expectations.
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Curveball questions are the random ones that you might expect during an icebreaker on your first day of summer camp. Don’t dismiss these questions as unimportant, though, as they’re an opportunity to let your personality shine through. Curveball questions can also be another way that the manager gauges cultural fit.
You’ll find 99 questions sorted into these five categories. As for the special 100th question? That one’s at the end of the list, and it’s a virtually universal question that every interviewee must be prepared to answer!
Before getting to that final essential question, plus some extra tips on how to prepare, let’s start in with some of the most common traditional job interview questions.
The «tell me about yourself» prompt is an old classic, like apple pie at Thanksgiving. Don’t be surprised if your interviewer brings it to the table.
Traditional Questions: Who Are You? What Are Your Qualifications for the Job?
The questions in this category are fairly common interview questions that interviewers have been asking for years. They’re often some of the first questions in an interview that get the conversational ball rolling as the interviewer explores your professional skills, attitudes, and experiences.
Check out the traditional job interview questions below, and then scroll down for some tips on how to prepare for these types of questions.
Common Traditional Job Interview Questions
1. Tell me about yourself.
2. What do you consider to be your greatest professional strengths?
3. What would you say are your weaknesses?
4. Why do you want this job?
5. Why should we hire you?
6. What would you contribute to this job?
7. If you had a personal mission statement, what would it be?
8. If you had to describe yourself in one word, what would it be?
9. What do you feel makes you unique?
10. What do you find motivating?
11. How do you define and measure success?
12. Where do you see yourself in five years?
13. How does this position fit in with the career path you see for yourself?
14. Would you consider yourself a big-picture person or a detail-oriented person?
15. What are some of your hobbies?
16. What were some responsibilities in your previous job?
17. What’s your work style like?
18. What were some of your favorite things to do in your last position?
19. What were some of your least favorite things to do in your last job?
20. What would your manager say are your best strengths?
21. What would your manager say are areas that you need to develop more?
22. How do you make decisions?
23. What could you contribute to make this company better?
24. What are you looking for in your next position?
25. What’s your style of management?
26. Can you describe the best boss you ever had?
27. Can you describe the worst boss you ever had?
28. How do you manage your time?
29. What are you looking for regarding career development?
30. What’s a goal you have for self-improvement in the next year?
31. How has your education gotten you ready for your career?
32. If you got this job, what would some of your goals be?
33. How do you keep yourself organized?
34. Do you prefer working in a team or alone?
Tips for Answering Traditional Questions
As you can see, traditional questions tend to ask about your skills and what you would bring to the job. While some of the questions may sound more personal, like “tell me about yourself” or “what makes you unique?” they’re all openers to advocate for your professional qualifications.
Your answers, therefore, should be tailored to the job and organization. A common mistake is to talk only about your own goals and what you’re looking for in a new job. While a hiring manager does want to see your motivations and passions, she’s also concerned with making a successful hire. She needs to see not just what you want, but what you could do for her organization.
As you prepare your responses, then, you should consider the job description and what the company seeks. If one of the core competencies, or main skills, of the job is teamwork and collaboration, then you probably shouldn’t start talking about how much you prefer to work alone. You should bring in the core competencies of the job in your responses, albeit in a natural-sounding way.
In addition to tailoring your responses, a second tip for answering these questions is bringing in specific examples. Who doesn’t like to hear a good story? Even if the question doesn’t ask for a specific example, you could often benefit from sharing one, especially if you’re someone who tends to drift into vague language. To make your answers more concrete, you could pinpoint particular instances from your past.
The next category, behavioral questions, explicitly asks you to bring in specific examples. Unless you’re a pro at thinking on your feet, these can be some of the most difficult questions to answer on the spot. Luckily, you’ll be prepared with your examples before you walk in the door!
Interviewers ask behavioral questions so that you’ll give specific examples of times that you succeeded, handled conflict, or, like this tired corkscrew, went above and beyond the call of duty.
Behavioral Questions: How Do You Act on the Job?
As someone who struggles to come up with a specific example when put on the spot, I think behavioral questions are pretty much the worst. At the same time, they’re also super common. Chances are, you’ll get asked a bunch of behavioral questions in your job interview.
Hiring managers don’t just want to hear abstract ideas about your work ethic or skills. They want to hear about specific times when you achieved something, managed conflict, or bounced back after a failure.
One rationale for these questions is that past behavior indicates future behavior. By gaining a sense of what you’ve done in the past, the hiring manager has a clearer vision of how you’ll perform in the future.
The other reason behind these questions is that behavioral questions and answers are simply more interesting. They call for specific stories, and these stories make your candidacy more memorable and colorful. You want to leave a great impression, and intriguing anecdotes are one way to accomplish this.
Below you’ll find some common examples of behavioral questions, followed by some tips for answering them.
Common Behavioral Questions
35. Can you describe a time you demonstrated leadership?
36. Can you speak to a time that you had to handle criticism of your work?
37. Tell me about a time when your workload was especially heavy and how you dealt with it.
38. What would you do if you were asked to take on more assignments than you could conceivably finish by the expected deadlines?
39. Can you give me an example of a time you had to follow a policy with which you didn’t agree?
40. Tell me about a time you went above and beyond expectations at work.
41. Have you ever worked on a time when someone was not pulling his weight? What did you do?
42. Have you ever had trouble working with a manager?
43. Can you tell me about a time your boss disagreed with something you did? How did you deal with it?
44. How do you handle difficult customers?
45. How do you deal with stressful situations?
46. Have you ever had to deal with a coworker who put you down at work? What did you do?
47. Can you tell me about a time that you faced a difficult situation with a colleague?
48. Give me an example of a time that you failed.
49. Have you ever had to give someone tough feedback? How did you go about that?
50. Have you ever gone against official policy or directives? Why? What were the results?
51. Can you give me an example of a challenge or conflict you faced at work? Describe how you handled it.
Tips for Answering Behavioral Questions
As you can see, behavioral questions explicitly ask you to give specific examples. Your mission, then? To highlight success stories that show you possess some of the core competencies the interviewer is looking for.
Just as all your answers should be tailored to the job at hand, so too should your examples be chosen based on the job description and organization. If problem-solving is a big part of the prospective job, then choose an example, if possible, that demonstrates your problem-solving skills.
Similarly, if you’re asked to provide a failure, don’t choose a story where you failed because you lack one of the core competencies. If the position wants you to be highly organized, don’t go on and on about your problems with organization. In fact, you could subtly highlight the opposite; maybe there was a time you failed to look at the big picture because you were too concerned with details of organization, and you’ve since learned how to balance the two.
As you know by now, you should tailor your responses, but don’t just tell the interviewer what you think she wants to hear or choose a cop-out answer, like “I work too hard” or “I care too much.” You still want to be authentic and true to yourself.
The best way to ace these behavioral questions is to show up with a few prepared success stories in your mental suitcase. Perhaps you can pack four or five that relate to the most common questions — a time you showed leadership, a challenge you faced, a story about teamwork, an example of problem solving, and an instance of failure.
One final tip about that “describe a time that you failed” prompt — don’t focus too much on failure. Be honest about the failure, but show how you saw it as a learning opportunity. Talk about how you acknowledged, addressed, and grew from your mistake. Your attitude toward setbacks may be just as important as the story you share.
Now that you have a sense of those tricky behavioral questions and how to prepare for them, let’s look at the next major category: questions that aim to gauge your cultural fit.
Maybe your ideal workplace values teamwork, innovation, or indoor climbing walls. Let the interviewer know what draws you to its culture.
Cultural Fit Questions: Do You Share Our Values?
Organizational culture has always been important for employees, and today it seems to be even more so. Many private companies, in particular, pay a ton of attention to workplace values and the happiness levels of employees. Good morale and workplace perks can improve individual performance, retention, and teamwork, as well as prevent workplace conflict.
Many hiring managers, therefore, will ask interview questions aimed at gaining a sense of your cultural fit. Check out some of the questions below, and then read on for a few tips on how to prepare for them.
Common Cultural Fit Questions
52. What does teamwork mean to you?
53. What three qualities do you look for in a workplace?
54. How would you deal with a coworker you don’t get along with?
55. How well would you say you adapt to change?
56. What are you passionate about?
57. Describe your ideal company culture. What four or five characteristics does it have?
58. Who inspires you and why?
59. What motivates you to come into work everyday?
60. What was it like working at your last company?
61. What are some of your workplace values?
62. Do you prefer a more structured work environment or one where you can be more entrepreneurial?
63. What personality types would you say you work best with?
64. What are some activities you like to do outside of work, and how do they benefit your day-to-day job?
65. What would your friends tell me about you?
Tips for Answering Cultural Fit Questions
As you can see, a lot of these cultural fit questions focus on workplace values. They also bring out soft skills, like communication, flexibility, motivation, passion, and outside interests.
While these questions are opportunities to let your personality shine through, don’t forget that you’re in a job interview. You still want to customize your answers to the organization, and the best way to do this is to research its culture online and, if possible, by speaking to its employees. The company website’s a great resource, as well as sites like LinkedIn and Glassdoor. If you know any people who work there, definitely reach out and ask them about their experiences.
These cultural fit questions work two ways. The manager wants to see how you’d fit in, but you also want to make sure the culture aligns with your values and work style. Make sure it’s the sort of place you’d like to work and could be successful. Find out about values, and, if you share them, reflect this understanding and alignment in your responses.
Logistical questions might ask about a gap in employment or a career change, such as, «Going from a dog walker to a NASA astronaut seems like a big change. Could you speak on that a bit?»
Logistical Questions: Employment History and Salary Expectations
Logistical questions tend to be straightforward. They might ask about details on your resume, your professional goals, or your salary expectations. Some of these questions, especially about salary, may show up later in the hiring process, like in a second interview.
You should be prepared to discuss them, though, just in case. Below are some common questions that fall into this logistical category.
Common Logistical Questions
66. You worked at your last company for a long time. Will it be difficult moving to a new firm?
67. Why have you changed jobs so often over the past few years?
68. If you got this job, how long would you plan to stay with us?
69. What did you earn at your last job?
70. What are your salary expectations?
71. Why do you have a gap in your job history?
72. Why do you think you can lead a team without any previous managerial experience?
73. Why do you want to join our company?
74. Why do you want to move from an academic field to the business world (or vice versa)?
75. Why should we give you the job over other applicants?
76. Would you jump ship if you received another offer?
77. What other companies are you applying to?
78. Why did you freelance for a long period of time?
79. What caused you to leave your last position?
80. Why do you want to leave your current position?
81. Why did you take a job that seems unrelated to your career path?
Tips for Answering Logistical Questions
While you may have already talked about your skills and experiences, these logistical questions will get you talking specifically about your professional history. Be prepared to speak on your last job, its responsibilities, and your reasons for applying elsewhere.
If you have any gaps in employment or are making a career change, you should also be ready to speak on that. As for salary, interviewers may save this question for later in the hiring process, like a second interview. You shouldn’t be dishonest about what you’ve made in the past, but you may decline to share by saying that the two jobs are so different, you don’t feel your last salary applies to the current situation.
If you’re just not sure, do some research on the company website and sites like Payscale and Glassdoor to see what you could expect from a comparable position. I’ve found these sites sometimes have such a big range it’s hard to be sure, but you can look at the available information and then decide what’s a reasonable range for you.
Again, as you should in all your responses, make sure to communicate your enthusiasm for the position and commitment to the organization should you be hired.
Finally, let’s consider the fifth category of questions, the curveballs.
Don’t get thrown by random questions, like, «If you were a vacation, would you be a camping trip, a group tour, or a luxury spa?» Actually, maybe that one’s from a Buzzfeed quiz.
Curveball Questions: The Odd and Unexpected
We’ve reached the quirky curveball questions. Like they sound, these questions run the gambit of total randomness. They tend to be odd and imaginative, and are mainly asked to gain a sense of your personality and ability to think on your feet. Of course, if you’ve already prepared for the right ones, then you won’t have to think on your feet!
Some questions aim to root out your entrepreneurial qualities or vision. Others seek to see how you self-reflect and make decisions. Others, well — it’s hard to say what some of these are getting at. That’s why I decided to call them curveballs!
Check out some potential curveball questions below, along with ten real-life examples that interviewers from big companies, like Dropbox and Trader Joe’s have asked prospective employees. Then check out some tips on how to prepare for the unexpected!
Potential Curveball Questions
82. If you could live your life over again from the beginning, what’s one thing that you would change?
83. If you could be an animal, which one would you be and why?
84. If you could relive the last 10 years of your life, what would you do differently?
85. If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?
86. What’s one new thing you taught yourself in the last year?
87. What would the name of your app be?
88. You have two minutes. Teach me something.
89. Why do people climb mountains?
90. From Space Exploration Technologies: When a hot dog expands, in which direction does it split and why?
91. From Whole Foods Market: Would you rather fight 1 horse-sized duck, or 100 duck-sized horses?
92. From Dropbox: If you’re the CEO, what are the first three things you check about the business when you wake up?
93. From Urban Outfitters: What would the name of your debut album be?
94. From J.W. Business Acquisitions: How would you sell hot cocoa in Florida?
95. From Hubspot: If I gave you $40,000 to start a business, what would you start?
96. From Trader Joe’s: What would you do if you found a penguin in the freezer?
97. From Boston Consulting Group: If you were a brand, what would be your motto?
98. From Delta Air Lines: How many basketballs would fit in this room?
99. From Uniqlo: If you had $2,000, how would you double it in 24 hours?
Source of questions 90-99: Glassdoor.com
Tips for Answering Curveballs
Is it possible to prepare for the unpredictable? Sure, to some extent. While you may not know exactly what questions you’ll get asked, you can hone your skills of thinking on your feet.
Improv actors, for example, don’t just get up on stage and see what happens. They keep their imaginations active and flexible with improv activities. You might similarly try a rapid-fire question and answer practice session to see what you come up with. You should find that your answers come easier and more creative the more you warm up.
As with all your other answers, you might be able to tailor your responses to the job. For instance, if you get asked about what kind of animal you would be, you could choose one that’s associated with leadership, like a lion, cleverness, like a monkey, or strong work ethic, like an ant, depending on what the job’s looking for.
At the same time, try not to overthink these too much. They’re more lighthearted and chances to reveal your personality and sense of humor. And if you find your mind totally goes blank, you could try to buy a little extra time with the old trick of, “That’s a great question. I’ll have to think about that for a second…”
Now that you’ve read over 99 common interview questions in the five major categories, let’s take a look at the final question that almost every interviewer asks at the end of your meeting.
Even if your interviewer doesn’t ask you any of the previous 99 questions, you can be pretty sure that she’ll ask you this next one!
Final Crucial Job Interview Question
Finally, you’ve made it to the end of the list and have seen 99 of the most common traditional, behavioral, cultural fit, logistical, and curveball questions that might come your way in the job interview. But we promised you 100 questions, and saved the nearly universal question for last.
This question is an absolute must for your interview preparation. Almost every interviewer asks it, and there’s definitely a way that you can answer it wrong. Here it is:
100. Do you have any questions for me?
Tips for the Final Question
This final question’s not a particularly hard one, but it is very important. The biggest mistake you could make here is to say, “Nope!” The answer to this question should always be yes, and you should have at least two thoughtful questions to ask your interviewer.
You may be sick of reading about how your answers should be tailored to the job and organization at hand, so I’ll just say it one last time: your questions should be tailored to the job and organization at hand (sorry).
Your questions are one more opportunity to show your interest and enthusiasm. You can show that you’ve researched the organization and have a strong understanding of its culture and mission. Don’t ask questions that can be easily answered with a Google search. Similarly, don’t ask ones that you just talked about ten minutes before.
What you already know about the company can inform your questions, though, as it shows you’ve done some digging. You might say, «I saw on your website that one of your long-term goals is xxx. Could you tell me about some of the specific steps you’ll be taking in the next few months to work toward this?»
You could ask about a typical day in the office, what your team members would be like, or what qualities the company values most in its employees. For more suggestions on questions to ask at the end of your interview, check out this question and answer guide.
So there you have it, one hundred of the most common questions that get asked in job interviews. In closing, let’s go over the key pieces of advice to remember as you prepare to rock your job interview.
Here’s one piece of advice: Do your preparation before you get to the interview!
Preparing for Interview Questions: Final Words of Advice
Interviews can be an intimidating hurdle in the hiring process, but believe it or not, they can also be exciting! They’re your opportunity to speak with your next potential manager and teammate, learn more about an organization, and show that you’re the best person for the job.
With enough preparation, you can give succinct, thoughtful responses to any interview question. While you may not be able to completely eliminate all the unknowns, you can definitely reduce them considerably. As you consider how you would answer the above questions, make sure you keep these four main guidelines in mind.
Research the Job, Organization, and Your Interviewer
In order to give a good interview, you must be knowledgeable about the job you’re applying for and the organization you wish to join. This knowledge will help you prepare tailored responses and present yourself as the best candidate for the job.
You should thoroughly read the job description and learn about the organization from its website. You might read about it in news articles or reach out to current or former employees for their views. Once you have a clearer understanding of the job and workplace culture, you can start to analyze your own skillset to see how it matches up. This process of deconstructing the job description is an important step in customizing your answers, as you’ll read below.
Beyond researching the job and company, you should see also seek to learn more about your interviewer. You might track the person down on LinkedIn or via a bio on the company’s website. You might discover a shared interest or personal connection that could spark conversation, whether you bring it up explicitly or not.
I have a friend who learned that his next interviewer grew up on a military base in Georgia. When he interviewed, my friend used a bunch of military-related metaphors when describing his ideal management style. Apparently, his interviewer loved it, and my friend got the job.
You don’t want to creep out your interviewer by repeating her LinkedIn profile back to her, but you might discover a shared interest and work it into the conversation. In addition to showing your enthusiasm for the job and organization, making a personal connection with your interviewer can never hurt!
Collect Your Success Stories
Have you ever heard the phrase, «Show, don’t tell»? It means that you should give specific, illustrative examples and avoid vague, abstract language. It’s a good rule for improving your writing, and it’s a good rule for improving your interview answers, too.
Anyone can talk about how detail-oriented they are, but only people who actually possess this quality can share specific examples. Not only will anecdotes prove what you say about yourself, but they’ll also be more memorable to the interviewer.
As you read above, behavioral questions are all the rage these days. Interviewers want to get beyond the basics and dig into your past behaviors and experiences. They want to learn about how you’ve met a challenge, handled conflict, or interacted with your team in the past to get a clearer vision of how you’ll behave in the new role.
To answer these questions, you should be prepared with a few tried-and-true «success stories» from your past. These may come from your past job, or, if you’re new to the workforce, from your education or perhaps volunteer work.
You should be prepared to speak on some common themes, such as a time that you showed leadership, solved a problem, collaborated with your peers, faced a challenge, handled stress and pressure, or resolved conflict. As for the questions that ask about conflict or failure, try to choose an example that you learned. Frame it less as a failure and more as an opportunity for growth and improvement.
Consider the context of your examples, like what led up to them and what the ramifications were. The interviewer may very well ask follow-up questions, so you should prepare to speak at length about your stories. This brings us to the next point, preparing for follow-up questions.
The interviewer may be happy to follow your lead once the conversation gets flowing. Prepare for follow-up questions on your responses.
Prepare for Follow-Up Questions
An interview’s not an interrogation. Most interviews aren’t just going to shoot one question at you after another with nothing more than a nod in response to your answers. While the questions are important, the interviewer is also seeking to have a conversation and get to know you in a relatively brief period of time.
Just as you can expect from any conversation, you’ll probably get follow-up questions based on your responses. Your interviewer might ask you to give some more detail or provide some more context. If you talked about a challenge at work, the interviewer might ask what situations you think led up to that challenge or what changes in procedure you’ve made since.
Once you’ve prepared your responses, consider what the interviewer might ask as a follow-up. What details could you elaborate on? How could your response branch into a related, but distinct direction? Just as you don’t want to sound too rehearsed, you don’t want your responses to be so tightly structured that you can’t add additional ideas and details. If you find you have little to say about one of your success stories, then consider choosing one with a bit more substance.
Customize All of Your Answers
As you read in the tips above, you can try to customize just about every one of your responses to the job at hand. Focus on your skills as they relate to the job description.
In other words, what you say should not just be about you. It should also very much be about them.
In most circumstances, the interviewer wants to make sure her next new hire possesses certain core competencies. Figure out what those core competencies are, and then reflect them in your responses. On the flip side, you might leave out other skills that aren’t relevant. Highlight the ones that are most important in this particular context.
Even if you don’t have direct experience, you can show that you have skills that would transfer well to the role. By highlighting your transferable skills, you can show that you’d be successful in the new role, with or without previous experience.
This idea of tailoring your answers to the job and organization is pretty much the fundamental overriding principle of all your interview prep. Aim to be knowledgeable, specific, and prepared to speak at length about what makes you the best person for the job!
What’s Next?
We’ve picked out the top interview questions to help you prepare your best answers. Check out this guide with tips and sample answers to the most common job interview questions.
What else can you do to rock your job interview? Check out this guide with tips for acing your interview, from picking out your power outfit to following up with a personalized message.
Are you on the job hunt? This guide will help you write an excellent cover letter with a step-by-step template and six free cover letter samples.
Have friends who also need help with test prep? Share this article!
About the Author
Rebecca graduated with her Master’s in Adolescent Counseling from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has years of teaching and college counseling experience and is passionate about helping students achieve their goals and improve their well-being. She graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University and scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT.