6 Common Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

Practicing interview questions before D-day gives you a chance to prepare and potentially boost your confidence. Use these common interview questions to practice and land your dream job.

For some people, the interview session is the most overwhelming part of a job application. Although there are no exact right or wrong answers when it comes to interview questions, there are still some things that you need to pay attention to.

It’s essential to answer interview questions in a concise manner. This confidence can be a game changer in your job application process. According to Indeed, a clear answer highlights your communication skills, demonstrates your confidence, and you can clearly display your skills and qualifications for the position.

To become more confident in a job interview, practice answering common interview questions. Here are some of the most common interview questions and how to answer them.

Tell me about yourself

This question is usually given as a starter to provide you with a chance to explain your background. Give a brief explanation about yourself without repeating what’s written on your CV and resume. You can also highlight your achievements related to the position you’re applying for. Keep your explanation concise and relevant.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

This question is aimed to test your confidence and confirm whether your personality and quality are suitable with the organization. They also ask about your weaknesses to see if you are open to criticism and improvement.

To answer this question, you must tailor your answer to the job description of the position you’re applying for. Only mention the skills that you have, followed by short examples to back up your statements. Furthermore, mention your weaknesses by focusing on skills you’re still trying to improve. Show that you’re trying to overcome it.

Why did you quit your previous job?

It’s tempting to answer this question by explaining the negative traits of your previous position, but this will only make you look bad as an individual. Instead, you need to focus on looking forward. For instance, explain that you are seeking new experience, challenge, or career advancement and that the company you’re applying to now is the place fitting for your professional growth.

How do you keep up with stress and work pressure?

It’s not a secret that some positions are demanding and can be stressful at times. In answering this question, you shouldn’t exaggerate your stress tolerance, or that you never feel pressured at work. This is not going to make you more desirable to hire.

Instead, you can elaborate on your previous experience with tough work and how you overcame it. Focus on how you’re able to stay calm and keep the condition under control to remain professional.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

This question is aimed to find out about your commitment and motivation with the company. You need to be honest and specific in answering this question. Elaborate on your goal, and emphasize how you see yourself advancing in the position you’re applying to. Keep your goals realistic and relevant to your field.

Why should we hire you?

According to Forbes, it’s important to understand that you need to keep the company in mind when answering this question. The company wants to know how your presence in the team can benefit them. Thus, you need to tailor your answer to the company’s needs, goals, challenges, and struggles.

Finally, it’s important to remember that no matter what the questions are, approach them with the company in mind. Understand that throughout the interview, the hiring managers are thinking with a What’s In It For Me (WIIFM) mindset. Thus, rather than directly explaining why you deserve the position, focus on what you can do to help the company achieve its goals. Additionally, do practice but never memorize your questions-and-answers set. This will make your interview session more natural.

This article is updated on 7 May 2025.

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