Top 10 Interview Questions
What's on this Page?
- The top 10 interview questions you're likely to hear in your next interview
- Links to pages with categories for the interview questions
- Other helpful links to pages about interviewing
Here are the top 10 interview questions you're likely to hear in your next interview!
Think interviewing isn't that big of a deal? Think again! When it comes to getting a job first impressions are the difference between landing that perfect job and spending your days searching the unemployment ads.
Your interview is your employer's first impression of you. They will see for the first time what you look like, how confident you are, and how capable you seem to be. Your interviewer will have to make a judgement of you based on information he gleaned in a very short time.
Many people think that if they just go into their interview and answer questions honestly then their employer will get a good impression of them. That approach does work for people who are naturally confident and think quickly on their feet. But for most of us, a little planning goes a long way toward creating that first impression! That's why we check out these top 10 interview questions!
This page will give you links to questions that interviewers might ask, and ideas for job interview answers you can give them. If you're like most people, then spending a few minutes thinking through a question ahead of time will not only help you feel much more confident, but also give a much more positive picture of you to your interviewer.
For example, could you answer the question, "Tell what is your greatest strength and your greatest weakness" off the top of your head without thinking it through first? I think I would mumble and stumble around a bit if I hadn't first thought about it. For most people, their greatest strength and their greatest weakness are the same, or at least closely related.
For example, I used to work as a cashier at a restaurant. My greatest strength is that I related well to the customers. I like to joke around with them and really make a connection. But when the restaurant was busy that strength became my greatest weakness because it made me slower then the other cashiers and other customers in line would get upset that I was taking so long.
Then, when you're finished telling your greatest weakness, tell how you compensate for it. We all have weaknesses right? But if we're aware of them then we can take steps to make the weakness less noticeable. I would notice how long the line was getting and force myself to keep the chat to a minimum while other customers were waiting.
Of course different employers will ask different questions in their interviews based on a number of factors including what job you're seeking, the personality of the employer, and the nature of your interview itself. But most employers will stick to a pretty basic overall format for their interview.
And now what you've been waiting for... The top 10 interview questions you're likely to hear at your next interview!
#1: Work History
Your future employer will want to know about your previous jobs for two reasons. Your job record itself will tell them if you are a reliable worker. If you haven't held down a job for longer than 6 months (and you're older than 18) then that usually tells your employer something about you. If you have a good reason for it (for example, your spouse is in the military and has to move around a lot) then now is the time to let them know.
Second, your employer will ask you questions about your experiences at your previous jobs. That will tell her several other things about you. Which leads us to...
#2 Job performance
This category is related to the previous one. This is the second reason your employer wants to know about your previous jobs. How did you respond to pressure in your previous job? How did you respond to criticism? How did you motivate people to accept and implement your ideas?
There's more top 10 interview questions below the picture... keep going!
#3 Career goals
This is a good thing for an employer to know so they can know what to expect in terms of your longevity in the position. In other words, how long do you intend to stay? Is this job a stepping stone to some better job? Is this job a summer job before you begin school? Why do you want the job? What kinds of goals would you be accomplishing by getting this job?
#4 Self-Assessment
This category can be a tricky one. You should certainly spend some time thinking about yourself before you head into the interview room. Most employers will ask you questions about yourself. What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses? What adjectives would you use to describe yourself? What kinds of things do you feel confident doing? What frustrates you?
#5 Motivation
Most jobs require you to work with other people. Part of working with other people is getting them to do what you want. This might be a simple as convincing them that jazz music playing softly in the background in the office will help everyone be more productive, or as complicated as getting them to accept your proposal to reorganize the corporate structure. One of the biggest predictors of success in a team setting is your ability to motivate others to see things your way. Your employer will want to know if you have this valuable skill.
#6 Leadership
Although this skill is related to the motivation skill, it also has several other components involved. Leading other people is a complicated and nuanced skill that requires experience and charisma, as well as empathy and courage. If you have this skill your employer will want to know it!
#7 Presentation Skills
Not all, but many job require some presentation skills. This involves both written and oral presentation. Are you terrified of standing up in front of others? Are you able to write a professional looking proposal?
#8 Flexibility
Nearly every job on the plant requires some kind of flexibility. Whether or not we like it we live in a changing world and we have to learn to change with it. Will you be able to keep yourself updated technologically? Will you be able to change your planned event at the last minute because of unexpected circumstances?
#9 Self Development
Many employers expect their employees to be constantly bettering themselves. Is this something you want for yourself? You should. None of us are perfect and it can only help the world if we are in constant pursuit of being better than we are. Your employer will want to know what your goals are for self development in relation to the job.
#10 Loyalty
It is a competitive world and some jobs require that you have a certain loyalty to your job and the company you work for. Whether it's not leaking certain secrets to a competitor, or not jumping ship at the first shiny opportunity that comes your way employers want to know that you will be relatively loyal to them.
That's it for the top 10 interview questions. Here are some more pages to check out though.
Interview Questions you shouldn't have to answer
State and federal laws have outlined many questions employers are not allowed to ask. On top of the top 10 interview questions, it wouldn't hurt to brush up on some of these before your interview. For example, if your employer is asking you pointed questions about whether or not you are planning to have a baby anytime soon (because that would be inconvenient for the company) then it's likely you won't want to be working for them anyway.
Interview Tips
These top 10 interview questions will help you know what to say at your interview, but you should also check out my job interview tips so you know how to act and what to wear. Making a first impression is important, but job interview answers will only get you so far. You want to look striking and act confident as well!
If you are having trouble getting a job you might try doing some self-improvement. What kind of a person is an employer looking for? For more information check out the self-improvement page.
If you want to write a thank you letter after your interview (recommended) then check out this page: writing an interview thank you letter.
If you still don't feel prepared, don't be afraid to go over the top 10 interview questions again. The more prepared you feel, the more confident you'll be when you interview.
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