20 Common Interview Questions (With Example Answers)

The Questions Every Interviewer Asks

After analyzing thousands of practice sessions, we've identified the 20 questions that come up most often — regardless of industry, role, or seniority level.

For each question, we'll explain why they ask it, give you a framework for answering, and show an example answer.

1. "Tell me about yourself"

Why they ask: This is a warmup — but also a test of whether you can communicate concisely. They want your professional story in 60–90 seconds.

Framework: Present → Past → Future

1. Where you are now (current role/situation)
2. Key highlights from your background
3. Why you're here (what excites you about this opportunity)

Example answer:

"I'm a marketing coordinator at a fintech startup where I manage our content calendar and email campaigns. Before that, I studied marketing at Leeds and did a 6-month internship at a digital agency where I discovered I love data-driven campaigns. I'm excited about this role because you're scaling your B2B marketing team, and I'd love to bring what I've learned about startup marketing to a larger organization."

Common mistake: Telling your life story from childhood. Keep it professional and under 90 seconds.

2. "Why do you want this role?"

Why they ask: Are you genuinely interested, or are you applying everywhere? They want specifics about this role at this company.

Framework: Role fit + Company fit + Career fit

1. What specifically about the role excites you
2. Something specific about the company (not generic flattery)
3. How it fits your career direction

Example answer:

"I've been working in data analysis for two years and I'm ready to move into a more strategic analytics role — which is exactly what this position offers. I've been following your team's work on the open-source dashboard tool, and I'd love to contribute to that kind of product-led approach. Long term, I want to lead an analytics team, and this feels like the right step."

3. "What's your biggest weakness?"

Why they ask: Self-awareness. They don't want to hear "I'm a perfectionist" — they want genuine reflection.

Framework: Real weakness + What you've done about it

1. Name a genuine weakness (not a disguised strength)
2. Show concrete steps you've taken to improve

Example answer:

"I used to avoid delegating because I felt I could do things faster myself. That worked when I had a small workload, but as I took on more projects, I realized I was becoming a bottleneck. I've been actively working on this — I now create task briefs for anything that doesn't specifically need my skills, and I've found the results are often better because I get different perspectives."

4. "Tell me about a time you dealt with conflict"

Why they ask: Workplace conflict is inevitable. They want to know you handle it maturely.

Framework: STAR (Situation → Task → Action → Result)

Example answer:

"On a group project at university (Situation), one team member wasn't delivering their section, which was blocking the rest of us (Task). Rather than going to the lecturer or ignoring it, I had a private conversation with them and discovered they were struggling with the technical requirements (Action — step 1). I offered to pair-work on it with them for a few sessions (Action — step 2). They delivered their section on time, we got a distinction, and they actually ended up excelling in that area (Result)."

5. "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"

Why they ask: Will you stick around? Are your ambitions realistic? Do you understand the career path?

Framework: Growth within the company's domain

Example answer:

"In five years, I'd like to be leading a small team in this area — I think the combination of hands-on experience and people management is where I'd add the most value. What I've seen about your promotion structure suggests that's a realistic path here, and I'm keen to learn from the senior team in the meantime."

6–20: Quick-Fire Answers

6. "Why are you leaving your current role?"

Stay positive. Focus on what you're moving toward, not away from. Never badmouth your current employer.

7. "Describe a time you showed leadership"

Doesn't need to be a formal leadership role. Organizing a team, mentoring someone, or driving a project all count.

8. "What are your salary expectations?"

Research the range on Glassdoor/LinkedIn. Give a range, not a number: "Based on my research, I'd expect $45–55k, but I'm flexible depending on the full package."

9. "Tell me about a time you failed"

Pick a real failure. Show what you learned and what you'd do differently. The failure itself matters less than the reflection.

10. "What makes you unique?"

Don't say you're a hard worker (everyone says that). Connect a specific skill or experience combination to the role.

11. "How do you handle pressure?"

Give a specific example. Showing your process (prioritize, communicate, ask for help when needed) is better than saying "I thrive under pressure."

12. "Why should we hire you?"

Summarize the 3 things that make you the best fit. Be specific to this role.

13. "Tell me about a time you went above and beyond"

Show initiative, not just hard work. What did you do that nobody asked you to do?

14. "How do you prioritize your work?"

Describe your actual system (not theory). If you use tools, mention them.

15. "What's your management style?" (for leadership roles)

Show flexibility. Good managers adapt their style to the person and situation.

16. "Tell me about a time you disagreed with your manager"

They want professional maturity. Show you can disagree respectfully and accept decisions you don't fully agree with.

17. "What's the most challenging project you've worked on?"

Choose something recent and relevant. Show complexity, your specific contribution, and the outcome.

18. "How do you stay updated in your field?"

Mention specific sources (publications, communities, courses, podcasts). Generic answers like "I read a lot" don't impress.

19. "Do you have any questions for us?"

Always have 2–3 prepared. Ask about the team, the challenges, or the success criteria for the role. Never ask about salary/holidays at this stage.

20. "Is there anything else you'd like us to know?"

This is your closing statement. Use it to reinforce your strongest selling point or address something you haven't had the chance to mention.

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