how to answer interview essay questions

Write an A+ Interview Paper Using Our Tips and Examples

06 September, 2021

13 minutes read

Author:  Josh Carlyle

You will quickly find yourself with your back to the wall once your teacher assigns you an interview paper. Studying is often a headache by itself, and now you have to conduct interviews. Worse yet, you probably have no idea how you can do this. Luckily, we will tell you how to write an interview paper step by step in this comprehensive guide. So prepare your favorite drink and learn how to write a top-notch interview paper.

What is an Interview Paper?

An interview paper provides an expert opinion on a specific issue. In essence, it is an interview transcript inserted somewhere between the introduction and conclusion of an academic piece.

How long should it be? It depends on the topic and the length of your interview, but most papers are within the length of 2,000 – 5,000 words. What things should you consider before writing an interview paper in the first place? Let’s check them out below.

General Aspects of Writing an Interview Paper

Academic papers require you to provide arguments based on studies, research pieces, statistics, etc. But an interview paper is different – for this type of essay, you will develop assumptions around an expert’s opinion.

Let’s imagine your essay question reads the following: “Should we ban abortions?” If you write an interview paper, you should ask someone high-powered for their consideration. Let them be an executive director of the American Gynecological & Obstetrical Society.

You would reach them via email or phone or whatever communication channel you prefer and conduct an interview. Afterward, you would put all your findings on paper.

But in practice, writing an interview paper involves many more complexities and challenges, like planning, topic research , drafting, etc.

Let’s speak straight facts: nobody will reschedule their week to meet you because you need to do some homework. You’re one of the millions of students, and the local governor or a famous scientist won’t give you an interview nine times out of ten.

So you would want to target someone less busy, like professors from other faculties of your college or some researchers within your academic environment. Hunting a bigger fish is pointless unless you’re a well-established journalist working for a popular media channel. If you struggle to find someone within your college/university, you can contact people from your circle.

Writing Outline and Structure of an Interview Paper

 As you know, a typical paper consists of three parts:

• Introduction. This part includes background information, the hook, the thesis statement, and the transition.
• Body. It is the longest part of the paper consisting of several paragraphs. It should contain the actual interview.
• Conclusion. The final part summarizes the considerations and insights of your essay.

The question is: ‘where should you put an interview transcript and how do you do this?’

To answer this question, you need to come up with the interview papers format in the first place. There are several of them:

The narrative format implies that you can use either direct or indirect speech when referring to your interviewee. If you choose this path, you can stick to a 5-paragraph essay structure, retell the considerations of your interviewee, and cite their words here and there at your discretion.

You can also choose this format if you contact several people. Check what a narrative interview paper structure looks like when you reach out to several people:

• Introduction.
• Paragraph #1 – the first interviewee’s perspective.
• Paragraph #2 – the second interviewee’s opinion.
• Paragraph #3 – the third interviewee’s thoughts.
• Conclusion.

Alternatively, you can dedicate each paragraph to a particular idea of one person.

“Question and answer” will suit your needs perfectly if you interview one person. It is the simplest format used in online magazines, news reports, and other media. Your interview paper outline will look like this:

• Introduction
• Question #1 – Answer #1
• Question #2 – Answer #2
• Question #3 – Answer #3
• Question #4/5/6/etc. – Answer #4/5/6/etc.
• Interview analysis. You may include your thoughts on the subject matter.

Conversational

Conversational style is informal, and you can use either first-person or second-person narrative and follow a typical 5-paragraph paper structure. But writing interview papers in this lousy style might be perplexing, especially if you deal with this task for the first time.

We advise you to try the Q&A format because it’s the simplest one and takes the least time. Just imagine how much time your paper writing will take if you decide to interview three or five people.

How to Start an Interview Paper?

If you have no idea how to start an interview paper, choose the topic first. Selecting a topic for your interview paper is not a big deal, but you should keep in mind that you may not find appropriate interviewees for it.

Let’s imagine you want to explore whether the government should force people to get vaccines. This topic implies that you need to contact authorities. It might be a local lawyer, governor, or executive director of a local hospital. Well, the chances are these people will politely refuse to give an interview for your homework.

But if you choose to investigate how lockdown impacts intellectual workers, you can contact your friends or family members who work at home. In other words, it’s better to choose topics that reflect the experiences of ordinary people rather than the opinions of untouchable experts.

Asking people for their opinion about well-known facts like the Earth’s shape is a bad idea. You would want to choose high-profile debatable topics you can actually discuss.

Establish the Goal of Your Interview Essay

You have to establish the goal of your essay before researching the topic. For this, ask yourself: “What message should your interview essay deliver?” Sometimes, a topic of your choice might already explain the purpose of your essay.

Conduct Research

Interviewing someone implies that you should ask questions. But you will fail to do so if you know little to nothing about your topic. So read some case studies, news, articles, etc. Once you get the picture of your subject matter, you will come up with dozens of interview questions.

Get to Know Your Interviewee

A good interviewer always refers to the life and experience of their interviewee. If you’re lucky to work with someone you can read about on the Internet, find out as much information about them as possible. If your interviewee publishes any books, articles, or studies, you will better know them as well.

The more you know about the person, the more interview questions you can come up with. You can ask them whether the Internet tells their true story: “Is it true that you, Mr. Interviewee, support flat earthers?”

Draft Your Interview Questions

If you want a person to share their in-depth vision of the topic, you need to ask both open-ended and close-ended (“yes/no”) questions. However, you may struggle to prepare interview questions. Many students get stuck during this stage. To overcome this block, you need to learn some types of interview questions:

• Opinion – What do you think of this topic?
• Behavioral – What would you do in this situation?
• Experience and knowledge – What do you know about the subject?
• Background – How are you connected to the subject? What is your age, occupation, etc?
• Emotional – How do you feel about the subject?
• Sensory – What does the subject taste and feel like?

You can also think of the questions following the interviewee’s “yes” and “no” answers.

Tips for Conducting a Successful Interview

These four tips will help you conduct a productive interview on the first try:

1. Plan Your Meeting

Note that you want to interview a person in a quiet place so that nobody will distract you. This might be some cozy book store or a café. Or, you can arrange an online meeting. Make sure you have at least one hour for the interview.

2. Rehearse a bit

If you will conduct your first-ever interview, you want to practice with your friends/significant other/ family in the first place. This approach will help you identify what stage of your upcoming interview may challenge you the most.

3. Record Your Interview

You will forget about 50% of the information within an hour once you finish the interview. So don’t rely on your memory − bring a recorder instead. Why not take notes? You wouldn’t want to go red while asking your interviewee to repeat what they have just said or wait until you write down their answers.

4. Talk to Your Interviewee for a While Before You Begin

Speaking to someone you don’t know might be uncomfortable. You don’t have to attack them with your interview questions straightaway. Instead, you can exchange some casual phrases or discuss the weather. This will help you relieve stress and get comfortable with each other.

5. Explain Your Interview Protocol

It’s better to explain to your interviewee how you will conduct your interview. Tell them that you will use a recorder and introduce the discussion topic.

Interview Papers Format

In academic writing, you have to explain the purpose of your interview and introduce your interviewee in a specific “scholarly” format. The APA format interview paper has the following requirements:

• Use 12-point Times New Roman.
• Write a title page.
• Use double spacing.
• Introduce your interviewee and provide the background information – explain why this person is suitable for the interview. Mention their name and qualifications.
• Use direct quotes if you cite some facts provided by the interviewee.
• Use block quotes for citations longer than 40 words.

How to Write a Title Page?

The title of your paper must include your name, your institution, department, the course name and number, the teacher’s name, and the assignment date. The rules of writing the title page are the following:

• The title page must be numbered.
• Capitalize all major words in your title and make it bold.
• Place the title of the essay three or four lines down the top of the page.
• There must be one empty line before the student’s name.

Interview Papers Examples

If you’re searching for an interview essay example – check several samples below:

• A narrative interview essay .
• A Q&A interview format paper.
• An interview with a scientist.

Interview Papers Writing Tips

The following writing tips will help you deliver the first-class interview paper:

• Write the introduction at the end. Once you finish your essay, you will likely reconsider some ideas you had before you began. They will help you frame your interview essay with a captivating introduction and conclusion.
• Give yourself a break after finishing your final draft. This will help you look at your paper with a fresh pair of eyes once you start editing.
• Edit one type of error at a time. For example, you can reduce logical errors first and switch to grammatical mistakes afterward.
• Use an active voice. If active voice makes your sentence shorter, use it without hesitation.
• Check for any sample interview paper to decide on the interview questions. Perhaps, some pieces will spark your interest.

Writing Help by Handmadewriting

An interview paper doesn’t seem that intimidating once you learn how to write it step by step. First, you have to choose the subject that allows you to interview ordinary people rather than hard-to-reach ones. Then, you need to research your topic, conduct an interview, and write a paper.

You can get an A+ for this assignment with enough effort and dedication. But a doable task doesn’t necessarily mean that you must do it by yourself. If you have plenty of other assignments to do, you can ask our essay writers to craft an exemplary interview paper for you. For this, you can place an order on our website, and we will do all the dirty work.

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Good (and Bad) Answers to Common Interview Questions

Sample language to guide you through the process.

Nailing your interview is no game of luck. You need to prep through extensive research and practice. When you’re preparing your answers to common interview questions, you might find that crafting thoughtful answers is harder than you imagined. You want to refine your words without sounding too rehearsed.

• Whether you’re a recent grad or have been in the workforce for a couple of years, the key is to frame your past experiences into compelling narratives that speak to your skills and demonstrate your ability to do the job well.
• It’s useful to understand what components differentiate a good and bad answer to common interview questions. A good answer includes narratives or examples that are specific, clear, self-aware, relatively recent, and related to the core competencies highlighted in the job description.
• A bad answer, on the other hand, includes narratives or examples that are too personal, unprofessional, or irrelevant, overly negative, or  are a poor reflection on your character or skills.

You submitted your resume for a role that you’re excited about. Two weeks have passed and — finally — you’ve received a message: “We would love to learn more about your background and experience. Are you available for a virtual interview on any of these dates?”

• XW Xena Wang (pronounced Zenna) is an early career professional with experience in higher ed admissions, arts and culture, and nonprofits. She is passionate about supporting individuals’ personal and professional development through inclusive staff engagement projects and volunteer Board Member positions. Xena is a graduate of Swarthmore College and Harvard Extension School’s Museum Studies program.

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 7 real sample interview questions and answers.

If you’ve arrived at the interview stage, then you’ve already made a good impression with your resume and cover letter! How can you keep the positive vibes going and impress the hiring manager face to face?

The key to rocking your interview is preparation, and this guide’s here to help you along the way. Read on for the do’s and don’ts of answering seven of the most common interview questions, along with real sample responses to guide your thinking.

Common Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

The seven questions in this guide are some of the most common ones that interviewers ask. Even if you don’t get these questions exactly, you’ll likely get variations of several of them.

Typically, hiring managers will start with some open-ended questions aimed at getting to know you, your work experience, and your professional qualifications. Then they might move onto behavioral questions , which ask you to provide specific examples of accomplishments, challenges, conflicts, or even failures. Some hiring managers also like to throw in curveballs to get a sense of your personality, creativity, and ability to think on your feet.

Below you’ll find seven common interview questions, advice for answering them, and a sample response for each one. For a comprehensive list of the 100 most common interview questions, check out this guide ! For now, let’s consider one of the most common openers that interviewers use to get the conversation started.

Question 1: Tell Me About Yourself

This opener's a common icebreaker question. It’s so open-ended that everyone can think of something to say. Hiring managers often use this prompt or something like it to invite you into conversation and help ease the normal job interview anxiety.

The open-ended nature of this kind of prompt can also be challenging, though. While you can definitely think of something to say, you also want to be strategic and not say too much. Below are some pieces of advice for answering this question, as well as some tips for what not to do!

There are two important guidelines to follow when preparing to answer this question:

Tailor your answer to the job and organization.

Structure your answer in a clear way.

For the first guideline, you should highlight your skills and experiences as they relate to the job description and organization. Stick to what’s professionally relevant , and consider what qualities are essential for the new role.

To help you do this, you might rephrase the prompt as, “Tell me about yourself as I consider you for this role.” Your aim is to show the interviewer that you have the desired skill set and would bring value to the position.

As for the second point about structuring your response, you might start in the present, bring in the past, and then talk about the future. You could describe what you’re doing now and then go into what you did in your work history and education to get there. Then you could discuss where you’re aspiring to go and why (i.e., in this new job and organization).

You might bring in a specific example here if you feel it illustrates your skills. Pinpointing an important moment in time can be helpful if you tend to speak in vague or jargon-filled ways. This approach isn’t totally necessary yet, though, as you’ll have a chance to share anecdotes in response to behavioral questions.

Tailoring your response and structuring it in a clear way are important guidelines for preparing your response to the classic “Tell me about yourself” prompt. That being said, are there any mistakes to avoid here?

“Well, I swim everyday, I love musicals, and I have two cats and a French Bulldog. I’m an Aquarius, and I love long walks on the beach and candlelit dinners…”

Ok, that sample response started to veer into personal ad territory. But the point is that you shouldn’t be overly personal in your response. While you can share some insight into your personality, you mainly want to remain professionally relevant.

Not only should you avoid irrelevant and overly personal details, but you also shouldn’t go on and on about your whole life story. If you find yourself starting with, “First, I was born on a cold December night,” then you’ve rewound too far.

Keep your answer concise, clear, and structured, and consider what main qualities, or “core competencies,” the job description calls for. For instance, the sample response below is a strong one if the hiring manager’s looking for strong interpersonal skills and a positive attitude.

Sample Answer to Question 1

In this sample response, the applicant’s applying for a customer service job in a retail company. The job she seeks calls for strong interpersonal skills and an upbeat, optimistic attitude.

I’ve always loved interacting with people and feel I have strong interpersonal skills.   I studied Communications at University X, and that gave me a whole new set of skills to work with people and help them get the information and support they need. After graduating, I sought out a position on the customer experience team at Dubspot, where I’ve been working since. In this position, I communicate with dozens of customers everyday over the phone, by email, and through instant chat. I help resolve any issues with the software and lead trainings for new clients. I enjoy helping people resolve issues and aim to continue on in a customer-centric role. Since I’m passionate about the fashion industry, I’m looking to move into a customer experience in a retail, rather than software, company. I’m a huge fan of your products and am a long-time customer. I find helping people to be very gratifying, and I’m really excited to contribute my interpersonal skills and positive attitude in this role.

If the applicant wanted to add a specific example to illustrate her love of working with customers, she might say something like this:

Last week, to share one example, I got a complaint from a customer about a number of issues with the software. Sensing her frustration, I invited her to call me so we could troubleshoot over the phone and she could feel her concerns were heard. We spent 45 minutes addressing her concerns. At the end of the call, she was very happy and sent a long email thanking me for my help and attention. She even referred two new customers to the company.

Again, honing in on an anecdote can be a useful approach if you tend toward vague language, but it’s not necessarily expected at this early stage of the interview. Now let’s take a look at two more classic questions that ask about your strengths and weaknesses.

Are you ready to talk about your personal superpowers?

Question 2: What Do You Think Are Your Greatest Strengths?

If you only prepare one talking point for your interview, it should be the strengths you’d bring to the role. While the hiring manager might not ask you this exact question, she’ll probably use some variation of it, like,

• What are you good at?
• What skills would you bring to this role?
• What would you contribute here?
• What would your manager or coworkers say are your greatest strengths?

In essence, she wants to know why you think you’re qualified for the job. Below are some tips for how to prepare your answer, along with some don’ts to avoid when talking about your key strengths.

As you go through this guide, you’ll notice a common theme start to appear, and it’s this: you should tailor your answers to the job and organization at hand. Talking about your strengths is no different.

Consider what strengths the new hire should have to succeed in this role, based on the job description and your research into the company. Then consider how your own skills align, and choose to discuss the ones that match up. This way, you’re still being accurate and authentic while also targeting the job description.

You may also benefit from bringing in a specific example , even one that uses data if relevant. If you’re talking about your skill in sales, you may talk about a particular client acquisition, your numbers from last quarter, or selling in the top 10% of your peers.

Finally, choose your words carefully and  avoid cliches. Rather than talking about your people skills, for instance, you could home in on a strength like clear communication or productive collaboration. Some phrases have gotten so common that they don’t mean much, so aim for specific language and ideas that will help you stand out.

While you should tailor your answers to the job description, you shouldn't  claim competencies if you can’t back your statement up with specifics. The hiring manager may well ask you to elaborate on a strength or give an example. If you don’t have one, then your claims of being organized or creative or collaborative might ring false.

Another mistake to avoid here is highlighting too many strengths and thereby diluting your message . Picking out two to three of the most important and relevant ones is a good approach. Similarly, you probably won’t see much pay off from delving into strengths completely unrelated to the position at hand.

While lots of people might shy away from talking about their strengths, others run the risk of appearing too overconfident. Make sure you talk about your qualities in a meaningful, assured way without sounding braggy or arrogant !

Below is one sample answer to this question of, "What are your greatest strengths?"

Sample Answer to Question 2

Here’s a sample answer from someone applying for a managerial position in a restaurant. The new job wants someone who’s willing to take on a number of responsibilities.

I’d say my greatest strength is a willingness to take on a wide range of responsibilities. While I was technically a server at Solera Restaurant, I also helped plan large events, do event set-up, process payments, and bus tables. I work hard and try to contribute where I can, especially when things get busy or people seem overwhelmed. Not only does this help ease the burden on others, but I get to learn about different aspects of the industry firsthand. I support my fellow workers and get the chance to expand my skills at the same time. 

This response targets the job description by highlighting the applicant’s willingness to wear a lot of professional hats. He proves that he has his strength by talking about his duties in his last restaurant position and desire to help his coworkers.

I know you're steady, but I've also heard you're quite slow. Can you speak about this weakness a bit?

Question 3: What Would You Say Are Your Greatest Weaknesses?

If you’re not prepared to talk about your weaknesses or "growth edges," then this question could seriously trip you up in an interview. You’re focusing so much on showing that you’re the best person for the job, so how can you shift to talking about weaknesses in a strategic way?

Some variations of this traditional question might be:

• What are some areas that you need to develop?
• What are some skills areas that you could grow?
• What would your manager or coworkers say are your greatest weaknesses?

Read on for the do’s and don’ts of tackling this question.

Be honest! But also strategic. If one of the core competencies of the new job is attention to detail, for instance, I would avoid choosing that as your greatest weakness. You might subtly choose the opposite - "Sometimes I get caught up in the details and need to remind myself to step back and see the bigger picture" - or choose a weakness that wouldn’t impact your performance very much in the new job.

As with the greatest strengths question, you should prepare a specific example. You should focus not just on your weakness, but on the steps you’ve taken to overcome it. You can acknowledge the weakness, talk about what you learned from it, and expound on the steps you took the overcome it.

Just like with any of your responses, make sure to prepare for follow-up questions. Here, the hiring manager might ask how this weakness could limit your effectiveness in the new position. Be ready to speak at length about what you’re doing to learn and grow.

First off, don’t evade the question . The interviewer wants to see how you self-reflect and are honest about your weaknesses, so don’t respond with, “I don’t have any.” Similarly, don’t go with an obvious cop-out answer like, “I work too hard” or “I care too much.”

A second mistake would be to choose a weakness that would seriously inhibit your ability to succeed in the position. If the position wants someone who keeps clear records and notes, then talking about your lack of organization and poor record-keeping skills probably won’t help you get the job.

Finally, avoid playing the blame game by attributing your weakness to external factors. Don’t say that you showed this weakness due to previous job circumstances, like the work environment, your boss, or your coworkers. The interviewer wants to see that you can own your weakness and show a proactive approach to improving your skills.

Sample Answer to Question 3

Here’s one sample answer to the "Tell me about your greatest weaknesses" prompt:

I’ve struggled for a long time with public speaking. This weakness was a big challenge in college, where presentations were a major part of several of my classes. I realized early on that I needed to improve in this area, so I started by meeting with my advisor about resources for improving public speaking. We talked about techniques like challenging myself to participate at least once in every class and calming nerves with breathing. I also took a public speaking class recently that helped me improve a great deal. A couple months ago, I gave a presentation in front of about 60 students and parents, and it went really well. My nerves are still there, but I feel like I’ve come miles from where I was freshman year of college. Working on my public speaking is a skill that I actively continue to work on and try to improve.

Assuming that public speaking isn’t a major part of the new job description, this answer is a strong one to the "Tell me about your weaknesses" prompt. Notice how the applicant focuses on the proactive steps she’s taken to improve her public speaking skills. Your answer will probably look quite different, but you can similarly choose a strategic weakness and talk about what you’re doing to improve.

Why do you want this job, anyway? What makes you think you're qualified?

Question 4: Why Do You Want This Job?

This question wants you to explain why you’re pursuing the position and why you think the organization should hire you. Presumably, you’ve done some thinking about this before applying. Now it’s time to form an answer that won’t just share what you want, but will also show the manager that you’d make a great hire.

How can you answer this interview question, and what mistakes should you avoid?

This question's the perfect opportunity to showcase your enthusiasm for the new job and show why you'd excel in the role. Make sure to give specific reasons for wanting the job . Show that you don't just want any job; you want that specific job. If you have any particular connections to the company - maybe you use its products or know someone who works there - then you could bring that up here.

Of course, the interviewer wants to hire someone who's not just enthusiastic, but who's also qualified. In your answer, then, don't just talk about your  aspirations. Talk about what you could do for the organization. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the organization's mission, and show that it aligns with your own professional goals. 

You don't want to be too practical in your answer here. "Because I need money for rent, food, and Netflix," while true, isn't an ideal response.

You also don't want to be too generic or vague by saying something like, "I heard this company's an awesome place to work." Aim to be much more specific than that. 

Check out a sample response to this question below that's specific, shows enthusiasm, and incorporates both the speaker's goals and the organization's mission.

Sample Answer to Question 4

This applicant’s applying to a programming position in a start-up in the environmental sphere. The job description wants someone who’s willing to take on a range of responsibilities, cares about its environmental mission, and knows CSS, Java, and Ruby.

I’m drawn to start-ups because I’d love to be part of building a company from the ground up. I really appreciate its culture of a small, close-knit team of passionate people who are ready and willing to wear many hats. With my versatile skill set in computer programming and experience building websites, I feel my interests and skills are perfectly aligned with this position of web developer. I would use my knowledge of CSS, Java, and Ruby to build out the company website and grow our online presence. I also share this company's commitment to sustainability. I’m extremely motivated by your environmental mission and could immediately start taking steps to meet your short-term and long-term goals.

This sample response sounds honest and authentic, while also bringing in some core skills of the jobs.

Don't evade this next question about a time that you failed, but make sure to shift focus onto the personal and professional growth that followed.

Question 5: Describe a Time That You Failed

This question is a  behavioral one, because it asks you to talk about a specific example that illustrates something meaningful about you as a professional.

Some variations of this question might ask you to talk about a conflict at work, a challenge, or a behavior that negatively impacted your team. So how can you describe a failure while still leaving a positive impression of your skills and abilities?

Just like with the weaknesses prompt you read about above, you should focus on the failure as an opportunity for growth. Be honest about your past mistake, but then shift focus to talk about what you learned from it, how you changed, and what you would do differently next time. This not only shows that you’re willing to acknowledge when you mess up, but it also shows that you’re continuously seeking to improve.

Again, you should probably avoid choosing a failure or conflict that arose because you lacked a core competency of the job. Just as with all your other answers, you can be strategic about what you choose to talk about here.

While talking about failures can be uncomfortable, you shouldn’t evade the question. Nor should you speak in vague language about lacking a certain skill or knowledge. This behavioral question wants you to share a specific example, so make sure you have one to fall back on.

You also shouldn’t focus too much on the negative aspects of your example . As mentioned above, you should talk about what happened and its context, but otherwise focus on the growth and learning that came from it.

Below is a sample answer that does this well.

Sample Answer to Question 5

In this sample answer, a teacher talks about a mistake she made with a summer course she taught. Notice how she talks just as much about what she learned as about the failure itself.

The first class I taught was a four-week essay writing course for high schoolers over the summer. Due to the short-term nature of the course, I jumped right into the material without setting aside time to talk about behavioral expectations. Issues later arose, like students showing up late, talking over each other, and using cell phones in class, that could have been prevented, or at least reduced, if I’d taken the time to lay the groundwork. That course was a huge learning experience for me, and since then I always take time on the first day to discuss classroom norms. To make students feel more invested and accountable, I also elicit ideas from them on what they need from me and from each other in their ideal learning environment. That mistake in my summer class taught me a lot about the importance of proactive behavioral management. I can always loosen the reins as I go, but it’s much harder to rein them back in once they’re out.

Don't be shocked if you interviewer throws a curveball question at you, like, "If you were an animal, what animal would you be?"

Question 6: If You Were an Animal, Which One Would You Be and Why?

Ok, so chances are you won’t get this exact question. But lots of interviewers like to throw in random curveballs that shake you out of your comfort zone and call for some imagination and quick thinking.

Beyond offering a chance for some lighthearted humor and creativity, these seemingly random questions may represent one more way that interviewers try to gauge your cultural fit.

Instead of asking about your spirit animal, a hiring manager might ask what you would change about the last five years of your life, what the name of your debut album would be, or what your personal motto is. You can find more examples of curveball questions here, including some that were asked by big companies like Dropbox, Hubspot, and Whole Foods.

So is there any way you can prepare for the unpredictable? Check out the advice below, as well as a sample answer to this question.

Show your personality! Have fun with these questions. They’re opportunities to spark a connection with your interviewer and say something memorable.

You may still have the chance to tailor your answer to the job description. Someone applying to a customer service type role, for instance, might choose a dog in answer to the animal question. Dogs are loyal, friendly, and supportive, so they could link well to the job description.

If you’re totally thrown, you might buy yourself some time by saying, "That’s a great question. I’ll have to think about that for a second..."

Depending on your rapport with the interviewer, you could even ask her what her answer would be to that same question!

Don’t overthink these questions too much. They’re typically meant to be more lighthearted and fun. At the same time, don’t dismiss them as entirely silly ; some might be aiming to learn more about how you deal with unpredictability in the workplace, or instance.

In answer to the animal question specifically, you should also avoid choosing something with largely negative connotations for the sake of trying to be unique. I’d probably avoid the snakes and vultures, unless you can think of a really ironclad reasoning for going this way!

Sample Answer to Question 6

This might be a good answer for a job that calls for a lot of teamwork and collaboration. 

I’d be an elephant. They’re smart, loyal, and work well in groups. Plus, the elephant was my beloved college mascot.

Make sure to save a few great questions for the end of your interview. They could start with any of the five W's, but don't be afraid to think outside of the speech bubble.

Question 7: Do You Have Any Questions for Me?

Finally, almost all hiring manager ask this final question at the end of the interview. Even if you’ve asked questions throughout, you should have two or more good ones saved for the end.

Ask questions! You might ask about what the day-to-day is like or if the interviewer could give more insight into the culture. You could ask the interviewer to elaborate on something you discovered through your research, as this is one more way you can show the effort you put in to learn about the company.

Ask questions that show you want to know more about what you can do for the organization and are genuinely interested in learning more about the workplace and its values.

Don’t say, "No, I’m all set. All my questions have been answered.” You should absolutely ask questions at the end of your interview.

Besides declining to ask questions, another mistake would be to ask easy questions that you could easily answer through research on the website . You want to show that you’re knowledgeable about the company, so don’t ask anything too obvious, like, "So what exactly do you do here?"

A first interview might also be too early to ask about schedule, benefits, and salary . At this point, you’re trying to show the hiring manager all the value that you could bring to the role and company, so continue focusing on what you could do for them. Similarly, I’d also avoid asking when you can expect to get promoted!

Below are some possible questions to ask your interviewer. If you can think of questions in the back of your mind based on what you’ve discussed during your interview, all the better!

Sample Questions to Ask:

• Could you tell me about a typical day here at the company?
• What sort of training could I expect for the position?
• How do you evaluate performance here? Do the expectations change at all over time?
• What directions do you see the company going in in five years? Ten years?
• Could you tell me a little more about the team members I would be working with?
• How would you describe the work environment here?
• Would you say that people work more collaboratively or more independently?
• What do you love most about working here?
• What would you say are the most important qualities that the person in this position should have?
• What qualities do your best performing employees share?
• How does the organization help its employees succeed?
• What could I do to go beyond expectations in the first 30 or 60 days?
• If I were to start in the role tomorrow, what would be my first priority?
• Are there opportunities for more training or education?
• What are the next steps in the interview process?

The hiring manager might ask you all sorts of questions, but several are likely to be a variation of the common ones you see above, if not those questions themselves. You’ll talk about your strengths, weaknesses, goals, and background, all the while tailoring your answer to the job description and company mission.

You might have noticed some similar themes pop up in terms of how to prepare your responses. Below, you’ll find four steps that will help you answer just about any job interview question.

Beyond the specific questions above, let's consider some universal steps you can take to answer any interview question.

How to Answer Job Interview Questions: 4 Key Steps

Doing well in a job interview isn’t just about presenting all your strengths and skills. It’s also about strategically convincing the hiring manager that you’re the candidate she’s looking for.

So how can you be strategic about each of your interview responses? Read on for four steps that will help you answer any interview question.

Step 1: Deconstruct the Job Description

Before you interview, if not before you apply, you should take some time to understand exactly what the company is looking for. What responsibilities does the job description entail? What skills would you need to be successful in the role? What kind of person does the company hope will join its team? What does your interviewer do in the company, and what connection could you make with her?

Your mission is to show that you have the skills and experiences to contribute in the role. You want to show that you’d bring value and make a strong cultural fit. As you research the organization, you might also look for any “pain points,” or problems that it needs solved.

Once you’ve deconstructed the job description and have a thorough understanding of the role and organization, you can reflect this awareness in your answers to interview questions.

Step 2: Come Up with Specific Examples

Hiring managers often look to your past behaviors to get a sense of your future behaviors. They also want to see how your skills and experiences express themselves in concrete actions.

To prevent your answers from seeming overly vague, you should be ready with examples. To help you brainstorm, you might consider the STAR framework, which stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result.

You start by describing the situation you were in and the task that you had to do. Then you talk about  what you did and how you did it , and finally elaborate on what happened as a result of your actions. You could talk about an impact that your action had on your team or what you might improve for next time. 

To prepare for the various types of behavioral questions, you could  collect stories that have to do with a time that you succeeded, failed, faced a challenge, handled conflict, demonstrated leadership, and impacted your team in some way.

Make sure that all of your examples, even the ones that point out a conflict or mistake, are success stories. Even if you failed in some sense, you learned from it and improved for next time.

If you don’t have directly relevant professional experience, you should still root out examples from other jobs, your education, or even personal life that illustrate your qualifications.

Don't look now; you're being followed! Your interviewer's likely to follow your lead and ask follow-up questions based on your responses. 

Step 3: Prepare for Follow-Up Questions

Beyond the initial interview question, your interview may ask you to elaborate on something you said or dig deep into a certain aspect of your answer. Most interviews are more like a conversation than a question-and-answer session. Your interviewer will likely be actively listening to what you say, reflect your words back, and follow-up with a related question.

As such, your answers and examples should be substantial enough to speak at length about. As you prepare, you might imagine yourself in the shoes of the interviewer. What aspects of your answer would stick out? Which ones would be intriguing and warrant additional discussion?

Don’t expect to answer every question in one go and go on to the next. Be prepared to dig into your responses and branch into new directions .

Step 4: Customize your Answers

Finally, the theme that’s pervaded this whole guide is that you should customize your answers to the job and organization. As you prepare, consider what qualities the organization and hiring manager are looking for.

Your answers aren’t just about you and what you want. They’re also very much about the organization and what it wants.

Most hiring managers have a clear idea of the skillset and other qualities they’re looking for in a new hire. Show that you possess those core competencies in each of your answers. If you can also offer something beyond expectations, all the better!

While you should be authentic and allow your personality and goals to shine through, you should also be strategic about what you say. Everything you share could ideally go on the hiring manager’s list of reasons to hire you for the job!

What’s Next?

You’ve just considered seven of the most common job interview questions. Now check out our full list of the top 100 questions that hiring managers ask in an interview !

Beyond preparing your responses, what else can you do to get ready for interview day? Check out our top tips to help you feel prepared and confident to rock your job interview .

One of the first steps to applying for a job is putting together a great cover letter. Our cover letter template helps guide you through the writing process, step by step . Plus, you can read six samples of excellent cover letter samples for jobs ! 

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.

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How to answer essay questions for a job interview.

Some employers use essays during the job interview process to assess an applicant's writing skills and ability to communicate effectively. They also show how an applicant works under pressure and time constraints. Job interview essays are often only one or two paragraphs long and usually require you to write about subjects pertaining to that particular job. A good essay can be the difference between getting the job and the employer pursuing other candidates.

Read the essay topic or question. Make sure you completely understand what you need to write about before you begin the essay. Ask the interviewer for clarification if necessary.

Introduce the topic with a strong sentence about how much experience you have in the subject of the essay or an interesting bit of personal or professional information about the subject. This grabs the reader's attention and makes them want to read the rest of the essay. Do not write "This essay is about (blank)" or any other simple introduction.

Give an example of how you handled a situation that pertains to the subject of the essay in a previous position. Be specific about how your skills helped you overcome the situation and how you can relate that experience to the new job.

Keep the essay concise to make sure you get your point across while staying within the space provided on the page. Do not add information that does not pertain to the subject of the essay, even if it pertains to other aspects of the job.

Read the essay when you are done and revise for spelling, punctuation, grammar, clarity and length.

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Lauren Treadwell studied finance at Western Governors University and is an associate of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors. Treadwell provides content to a number of prominent organizations, including Wise Bread, FindLaw and Discover Financial. As a high school student, she offered financial literacy lessons to fellow students.

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Most Common Interview Questions (With Answers)

One of the best feelings you can have as a candidate is being contacted by a hiring manager. You’ve submitted your resume , and they are  interested in your skills and experience .

The job is only half over though. You still have to ‘stick the landing’ so to speak, and  impress during your interview .

The thought is enough to get any candidate’s heart racing and nervous at the idea that you may sound silly when you are one-on-one with the hiring manager. Luckily there is a way to ensure that you  head to your interview with confidence . Preparation.

Preparing yourself for a job interview  is crucial for getting through to the next stage of the job application process. Certain questions can stump jobseekers or catch them off guard, leaving them speechless as to what to say.

That’s why it’s a good idea to  prepare for the most common interview questions  and do plenty of research on the company and the type of job before the interview.

Use the following tips to  learn   how to answer typical interview questions  and avoid looking like a deer in headlights when you meet with a hiring manager.

How to Answer Interview Questions

Unlike when you use a  resume builder  to fill in the correct information, you won’t be able to use any interview response templates or cheat sheets. This makes the task seem even more difficult. However, there are ways to  know exactly what you should say .

While you don’t need to follow a script, practice makes perfect. If you  go over some tips and examples  of answers to interview questions, you’ll be able to improvise confidently on the spot.

Check out the following  strategies for answering interview questions  that can make it easy to say all the right things:

• Don’t rush your answer : You don’t need to start answering the second the interviewer has finished asking the question. Think about the question for several seconds and stay calm while you gather your thoughts
• Use examples to demonstrate your points:  One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is that they don’t back up their answers with examples. It’s not enough to say you’re well-organized for example – what can you mention to prove it?
• Don’t take too long : The ideal time for answering a question is 2 minutes. Of course, you won’t have a stopwatch, but you don’t need to rush. Just keep your answers brief and to the point.

Popular Job Interview Questions

There are a few  categories of questions  that interviewers love to ask candidates. How you answer can be the difference between landing a job and continuing your search.

You’ll probably be asked  about information related to :

• Salary expectations
• Your experience
• Your development
• Starting in the new company
• Your interests and personality

Some of these questions may seem like a piece of cake to prepare for. For others, you may be wondering “What are the appropriate answers for these common interview questions?”

No need to worry!

We’ll tell you  how to confidently respond to any inquiries  about your salary and experience and see to it that your job interview questions are answered correctly.

Basic Questions

Before getting into any specific questions, there’s almost always some  general information  that a hiring manager will be looking for.

They will likely ask you about your  strengths and weaknesses  as well as w hat made you interested in the company.

If you are asked anything like this, the hiring manager wants to know  what you can bring to the table  and if you are motivated to work for them.

A great example of telling the manager why they should hire you or  why you think the company is a good fit  could be the following:

1. Q: Why are you interested in this company?

A:  I’m impressed with your company’s commitment to innovation and its clear vision for the future. The culture of continuous learning and collaboration also appeals to me. I believe that working here would offer valuable opportunities for professional growth, and I’m excited about the prospect of contributing to your ongoing success.

2. Q: Why should we hire you?

A:  I believe I am the right fit for this position because of my relevant education, hands-on experience in [specific areas], and passion for [industry or company mission]. My ability to quickly adapt, learn new skills, and work well with others will enable me to contribute effectively to your team’s success from day one. I’m eager to make a positive impact and help your organization achieve its goals.

3. Q: What would you say are your strengths and weaknesses?

A:  One of my key strengths is my adaptability. I thrive in changing environments and can adjust my strategies on the fly to meet new challenges. As for weaknesses, I can sometimes overanalyze situations. To address this, I have been working on making confident decisions based on available information and then revisiting these decisions as new data becomes available.

These answers will tell them all the general information about you that they’ll want to know.

Questions Concerning Salary

The amount you want to make or expect to make is usually another topic that will be discussed during your interview. While there is a limit to asking certain questions regarding salary  depending on your state , you should  be prepared for anything .

You have to  avoid any inappropriate demands .

For example, if you are asked anything along these lines some good answers would be:

4. Q: what salary are you expecting?

A:  Based on my research, skills, and experience, I’m seeking a salary between [Appropriate salary range]. I’m open to discussion and also interested in the overall compensation package, including benefits and perks, to make a well-rounded decision.

5. Q: How significant is salary compared to other job benefits?

A:  While salary is significant, it’s not the only factor I consider. I value a comprehensive benefits package and work-life balance opportunities. A positive work environment and growth potential are also important to me.

6. Q: How flexible are your salary expectations?

A:  I’m flexible to an extent, and I understand that a compensation package includes other benefits beyond base salary, like healthcare, retirement contributions, and professional development opportunities. My priority is finding a role that is a good fit and where I can make a meaningful impact.

The important thing, in either case, is being  honest  and explaining what you think  your salary  should be and why.

Questions About Career Evolution

How you  see yourself improving  as an employee in any field is one of the most common interview questions and answers.

You’ll need to  be 100% ready  to answer any questions related to your goals and long-term career plans.

Not only having the correct answer will show that you are motivated to do well at a company and become a better employee, but you  have a clear idea of how to improve .

That always goes over really well with any manager!

Here’s what you can say if you’re asked about your  plans for your goals and improvement :

7. Q: What goals do you have for yourself?

A:  Professionally, I aim to continually grow in my role, take on increased responsibilities, and ultimately play a part in the strategic direction of the company. On a personal level, my goal is to maintain a healthy work-life balance and continue learning new skills that can enrich my life and career.

8. Q: How do you plan to achieve your goals?

A:  My plan involves continuous learning, seeking out challenges, and taking on increased responsibility over time. I intend to collaborate closely with my team and mentors to acquire new skills and insights that will assist me in reaching my career goals.

9. Q: How do you want to improve over the next year?

A:  Over the next year, I aim to enhance my leadership skills, expand my technical expertise, and develop stronger relationships with colleagues to drive both personal and team success. By actively seeking feedback and embracing new challenges, I hope to continuously grow as a professional and contribute meaningfully to the organization.

10. Q: What steps have you taken to develop professionally?

A:  I have actively pursued opportunities for professional development in my current role. This includes attending industry conferences, undergoing relevant training programs, and seeking regular feedback from my superiors and colleagues to understand areas of improvement.

11. Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

A:  I see myself evolving into a position of leadership or expertise within this field. I aim to contribute significantly to strategic decisions and project implementations, based on the skills and experiences I would have gained.

Tell the hiring manager that you know what you want to or need to work on and how  you are open to feedback  and new challenges.

Questions About Starting in the Company

Another thing that a recruiter or employer will be gauging during the interview is what kind of start you will get off to at the company.

To do so, they’ll ask you some typical questions about  how you intend to establish yourself  as a helpful coworker.

That’s a lot to plan for!

The first 8 weeks at any new job is a challenge, and that’s why you are being asked these types of questions.

Create a plan to ensure you have answers for your interview so you are not nervous , like these:

12. Q: How will you try to establish yourself with your team?

A:  I believe in leading with empathy and understanding. I plan to establish myself by listening first to my teammates, understanding their work styles, and learning from their experiences. I’ll also make sure to share my expertise and ideas collaboratively.

13. Q: What is your plan for your first month?

A:  In my first month, I plan to familiarize myself with the company culture, goals, and team dynamics, while setting up regular check-ins with my manager to ensure alignment. I will also prioritize building relationships with key stakeholders, identifying critical projects, and establishing a 90-day action plan to contribute effectively and drive early success.

14. Q: How long before you can start contributing significantly?

A:  While the timing largely depends on the complexity of the role and the project, I’m typically able to start contributing within the first few weeks. I have a track record of quickly adapting to new environments and learning about different domains, which should enable me to become effective promptly.

15. Q: What is your strategy for your first 90 days?

A:  My strategy for the first 30 days would be to focus on learning about and understanding the company, my team, and the work we’re doing. In the next 30 days, I’d start contributing in small but meaningful ways based on my understanding. By the last 30 days, I plan to be fully engaged in the work, contributing at a higher level and potentially leading new initiatives based on the insights I’ve gained.

Personal Questions

Don’t be surprised if an employer wants to  know a bit more about you . That means they may ask about what you like to do, if you’re a sociable person or not.

For example, depending on your answers you may or may not be seen as a good fit within the company’s culture.

You’ll probably be  asked about how well you can take criticism  and what type of personality you have.

Just like you should be honest about any  gaps in your work history , our advice is, to  be honest  when you answer these types of questions.

A good answer to these types of questions would be the following:

16. Q: How do you stay organized?

A: I leverage technology tools like project management software and digital calendars to stay organized. I also believe in the power of lists – having a clear, written set of tasks helps me manage my time effectively. Regular reviews of my tasks and priorities ensure I’m focused on the most important things.

17. Q: How would your friends describe you?

A:  My friends would likely describe me as reliable, motivated, and compassionate. I’m someone they can count on when they need help, and I constantly strive to better myself while being empathetic to the needs and feelings of those around me. They might also mention my sense of humor, as I believe laughter is vital to maintaining positive relationships and outlooks in life.

18. Q: What is a major challenge you’ve faced, and how did you handle it?

A:  A few years ago, I was part of a project team that encountered significant roadblocks due to sudden regulatory changes. I took the initiative to understand the new regulations, gather information, and propose a new project approach. We restructured our plans, and despite the challenges, we delivered the project successfully .

19. Q: What is your ideal work environment?

A:  My ideal work environment is a collaborative and supportive space that fosters innovation and creativity. I thrive in an atmosphere where open communication and continuous learning are encouraged.

20. Q: How do you handle feedback and criticism?

A:  I view feedback and criticism as essential tools for personal and professional growth. I actively seek constructive feedback and use it to improve my performance. While it can be challenging to hear criticism, I strive to approach it with an open mind and see it as an opportunity for improvement.

By staying brief, confident, and honest you can answer the most common questions in any job interview without breaking a sweat. With enough preparation, you’ll  easily remember every key point  that you should touch on.

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How to Answer 30 Popular Scholarship Interview Questions

What’s covered:.

• Getting To Know You Questions
• Questions About the Opportunity

Closing Remarks

Enter the collegevine scholarships.

When applying for college scholarships, you may be invited to interview if you make it past the initial screening round. The interview may feel nerve-wracking, but being offered one is great news!

Not sure how to prepare? Here are 30 popular scholarship interview questions and example answers to help you to think about your responses. Use these examples as a stepping stone for brainstorming and drafting your own unique responses. You can apply this same formula to many other scholarship interview questions as well.

Getting to Know You Questions

1. tell us about yourself..

This is the most popular among all scholarship interview questions. It’s often used to “warm up” the interviewee. It’s also a very general question that can cause those unprepared to answer to ramble or waffle in their response.

A good answer is concise, provides a brief bio, and highlights why you’re the right person for the scholarship. Use your answer as an opportunity to spotlight the achievements, personality traits, skills, and experiences that make you an ideal candidate for the scholarship.

Example: I’m a sophomore at Carlsbad High School. I’ve been passionate about technology and its impact on human life since my early childhood days. Over the past few years, with the help of my parents and teachers, I managed to explore this passion by taking extra courses in programming languages such as C++, Android app development, and graphic design. My hobby is to help fellow students with their Android apps and program games for them.

See more examples in our guide about responding to “tell me about yourself” in college interviews .

2. Were you involved in any activities at school or in your community?

Interviewers use this question to better know an interviewee’s interests outside of their application and gain an understanding of their involvement at school and in the greater community.

This interview question is great for students with leadership roles, providing them an opportunity to talk about their experiences and involvement in clubs or sports. It’s also a chance to talk about how you contribute to your community or help people in need.

Example: I’m the editor of our school newspaper. As an editor, I manage other students who write articles for the paper and come up with topic ideas. Additionally, I’m a member of the swim team and volunteer at the historical society. I enjoy having a balance between physical, intellectual, and community activities because they keep me active in different ways.

3. Tell us about your greatest strength and greatest weakness.

Interviewers love this question, as it allows them to judge your self-awareness, honesty, and interest in personal growth. When talking about your strengths, prioritize quality over quantity and focus on two or three attributes that are relevant to the scholarship. Stories are more memorable than generalizations, so share examples of how you demonstrate your best characteristics.

It can help to reframe the second half of this question—instead of thinking of areas of weakness, they’re opportunities for improvement. No one is perfect, but you’re conscious of the areas in which you struggle and are taking steps to improve. It’s especially important to avoid cliches when responding to this question; you don’t want to be the 1,000th student to answer “I’m a perfectionist.”

Example: My greatest strength is that I can prioritize what needs to be done first today and which tasks can wait until tomorrow. Because of this, I’m efficient with my time management and able to succeed in both school and extracurricular activities. However, my greatest weakness is that I can become too focused on one task and forget about other assignments or projects which need attention. I’ve been working on this by setting reminders in my calendar throughout the day.

4. Tell us something about yourself that no one else knows.

This is another question designed to allow the interviewer to better get to know you and while it’s a personal question, it’s important to avoid sharing anything too personal or sensitive. Focus on something unique and interesting about yourself—such as an accomplishment, hobby, talent, interest, or experience—that makes you stand out from other applicants.

Example: I am proficient in sign language. This has always been a passion of mine and I wish to work with children in a clinical setting who are deaf or hard of hearing one day. I have studied sign language throughout high school and I plan to continue learning at university so that I can interact with these children without any language barrier.

5. How would you describe yourself?

This question allows interviewers to get to know you better as a person, understand how you perceive yourself, and gain further insight into your personality. Highlight the traits that are relevant to the scholarship and call attention to any relevant skills. This question is a great opportunity for students who might not have extracurricular activities related to the scholarship but have qualities that align with the scholarship.

Example: I believe my positive attitude and ability to work in a team environment contribute to my character. In my part-time job, I lead a team of baristas at my local café. The role is equal parts delegating tasks and ensuring customer satisfaction. My enthusiasm for coffee and my ability to operate in a collaborative environment left an impression of optimism on both my coworkers and customers. Regulars have even acknowledged that they visit my café specifically because of the happy atmosphere I create.

6. What are your biggest accomplishments?

This question allows interviewers to learn about your achievements while also gaining insight into your ability to set goals and achieve them. It’s a great chance for you to brag about yourself a little bit as well.

Bring up something that makes you stand out from other students, especially if it’s related to the scholarship you’re applying for! Whether it’s winning awards or competitions, being president of an organization, graduating at the top of your class, or anything else that enhances your application.

The STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) Method provides a great structure for responding to this question: provide specific details about the situation, the task or challenges you faced, the actions you took, and the results you achieved.

Example: I noticed that my high school created a lot of food waste, so I helped implement a composting program that used students’ leftovers as fertilizer for the school garden. We faced a lot of pushback at first from the school board, as they weren’t familiar with the environmental benefits of composting. After speaking at three board meetings, I was given permission to start the program. Our cafeteria was recognized by the food services director who wanted to take this idea and implement it system-wide. My team and I were then given special permission to start a “Garden Club” where we could continue to grow fresh vegetables for our peers. Since then, five additional high schools have followed suit.

7. Describe your biggest mistake.

How you respond to this question informs interviewers about your ability to take responsibility for your actions and how you learn from your mistakes. Rather than trying to appear perfect, use this opportunity to show that you can own up to your errors, learn from them, and take steps to ensure you don’t repeat them. Here, again, the STAR Method provides an outline for composing a strong answer.

Example: In my sophomore year of high school, my brother and I switched schools. My brother has always been the outgoing one and never had trouble making friends, so I failed to recognize that he was actually going through a hard transition. I had gotten so busy with my new activities that I didn’t read too much into his increased moodiness and time spent alone in his room. It was only when we got into an argument that he revealed how lonely he’d been feeling. Now, I make it a point to be more sensitive to the feelings of my friends and family, and to try to check in more regularly. I actually now have a weekly scheduled hangout with my brother where we go on a random adventure and talk about life. Last week, we went geocaching!

8. Tell me about your leadership experience.

Interviewers use this question to gauge how you build and maintain relationships, how you work with others, and how you motivate them to get something done. Highlight a time when you had to lead a team or group and how you inspired them to achieve a goal. Remember stories are more memorable than statements, so paint a detailed picture and avoid generalizations.

Example: As one of the co-presidents for my high school’s Amnesty International club , I organized and supervised the organization of all meetings and events that we attend to raise awareness about social justice topics such as refugees or endangered species. When I first joined the group, it was relatively inactive and focused mostly on letter-writing campaigns. However, in the wake of George Floyd, I rallied the group to become more involved with the Black Lives Matter movement. We attended events and reached out to local politicians to call attention to racial inequality in our community. This experience has taught me how to effectively manage a team, rally a diverse group around an issue, and organize efforts to effect change.

Do you have enough leadership experience to get accepted to your top school? Calculate your chances for free now .

9. What is your favorite book and why?

This question is asking you to show your personality and interests. It aims to get a sense of who you are so they can determine if you would be a good fit for the scholarship. Share a book that you enjoy, are comfortable talking about, is substantive enough that you can explain its importance, and aligns with your interests and passions.

Avoid choosing a book that you think will impress your interviewer—it can come off as insincere.

Example: My favorite book is Finding You by Lydia Albano. The main character, Isla, is sold into slavery, and at first, she hopes that someone from her past will come to rescue her. She doesn’t think she can escape because she’s small and not very strong. But in the end, she actually winds up saving a bunch of other girls when she creates an escape plan for them. I like this book because I would also like to work to end human trafficking. Like Isla, sometimes I feel like I can’t do anything to help, but she gives me the courage to try.

10. What subject is your favorite in school?

This is another question where you want to show your personality more than just listing off random facts about yourself. You should choose a subject that relates to the scholarship and/or one you are passionate about. You can mention how this subject makes you excited, why it’s important for you to study it, etc. Your answer demonstrates your interest in learning and in taking your education further.

Example: My favorite subject is history because I find it interesting to study how people interacted with one another over time. It’s refreshing seeing different perspectives of different cultures and studying significant historical figures. I hope to one day become a lawyer, and I know that studying history will give me the perspective, research experience, and writing skills needed to succeed.

11. What is your dream job?

This question allows the interviewer to gain a better understanding of your goals and ambitions. The position doesn’t need to be overly specific but should reflect the skills and responsibilities you hope to use. It also should tie in with the scholarship.

Example: My dream job is to work in the media industry as a producer or editor. I am passionate about sharing people’s stories and would love to brainstorm ways that we could create more awareness through reporting. This career would allow me to use my creativity to positively influence others.

12. What is a meaningful experience or class you’ve had in school?

This is a more advanced version of the question asking you about your favorite subject. Its intent is to learn how coursework has shaped your interests and shown you new perspectives on certain topics.

Example: In my senior year of high school, I took a course on Media and Society. I specifically recall the final essay assignment where we had to compare two different media elements. Analyzing the portrayal of women in video game advertisements was my topic for this project. At first, I was really nervous about the topic; would I offend some friends within my gaming circle? I didn’t want to seem like an overly sensitive female gamer. But, doing the research provided me with a better understanding of how women are often objectified in advertising, and after talking to my friends, they ended up being really supportive of my project and we have since become more aware of the kinds of media we’re consuming.

13. Who do you look up to? Who is your role model?

The expectation of this question is to see which qualities you admire, what inspires you, and who has shaped your interests or helped you become who you are today. This could be a public figure, teacher, mentor, family member, friend—really anyone. Your answer should demonstrate your values and align with the values of the scholarship.

Example: I admire Amelia Earhart because she was a women’s rights activist and broke social barriers by being the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. She was able to pursue what she wanted despite harsh criticism, which helps me feel more empowered to follow my own dreams.

14. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

This is a question to learn about your future aspirations and goals. It’s also an opportunity to show the scholarship committee that you are ready for college and beyond. You want your answer to demonstrate that you have a plan moving forward; it doesn’t have to be super specific or set in stone, but you should have an idea of what you hope to achieve. You’ll also want to speak to how the scholarship fits into your future goals.

Example: In five years, I plan to have graduated college with a degree in economics and have landed a job in financial planning where I can put both my analytical and people skills to work. I’m passionate about helping people make informed financial decisions and meeting their personal goals and this scholarship will help me gain the education I need to pursue a career in the field.

15. How do you define failure?

This question is meant to see how you respond when faced with a challenge and gain insight into your problem-solving skills. It is important not to simply say that failure means giving up, as this will show that you lack initiative and drive. The best way to answer this question is by using personal experience, demonstrating what you learned from it and how you’ve used the lessons for self-improvement.

Example: I define failure as a missed opportunity. When I first began to play rugby during my freshman year of high school, I quickly realized that our team was not very strong. At times, it felt like we were bound to lose every game. But rather than letting this bring me down, I saw the season as a chance for me to try my hardest and become an impact player on the field. As the years went by, I continued to improve and our team grew closer together. Our losses began to transform into opportunities for growth, and by senior year, I was nominated captain. I had done everything in my power to make sure my teammates succeeded—even though it meant that on the scoreboard we would inevitably lose more than we won.

16. How do you manage stress?

This question seeks to determine how you deal with difficult situations. It’s common for students to respond that they like to focus on what is happening in the present moment, but this answer will show that you do not have a strategy for coping with stressors. A better way to answer would be by mentioning a specific skill or habit that you have developed over time. Make your answer memorable by citing a specific example of a stressful time and how you handled it.

Example: Last fall I was feeling particularly taxed—I was taking two AP courses, studying for the SAT, playing varsity soccer, and preparing to apply to college. I felt a lot of pressure to get everything done and it was overwhelming. I’m a very organized person, and when I have a lot of work to do, I break it down into manageable tasks. Seeing everything that needs to be done in one sitting can be exasperating for me, but if I give myself smaller goals to meet each day then it all becomes more manageable.

17. Tell me about a time you overcame adversity.

Interviewers ask this question for a variety of reasons, including learning about your problem-solving, creative thinking, and resourcefulness. It’s also a chance to gauge your resilience and determination. A strong answer highlights something that was difficult for you, the steps you took to meet the challenge, and how the experience would help you handle adversity you might face in the future. People remember details, so be specific.

Example: Many of my friends love playing sports and were busy much of the year with after-school practices. Unfortunately, I’m not particularly athletic. I tried out for the football team but failed to make it because I didn’t have enough experience. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I decided to join the swim team and began training with one of the best swimmers in school. She allowed me to shadow her until she felt that my technique was on par with the rest of her team. By the end of my sophomore year, I qualified for state-level tournaments!

18. What motivates you?

This question is usually asked to see what motivates you to do your best, but more importantly, provides you with a chance to show off the positive aspects of your personality. Your answers should focus on something that aligns with the scholarship—was there something that jumped off the screen/page when you read about it? Equally important to what you say is how you say it; make sure your answer is positive and enthusiastic.

Example: Curiosity is my main motivator. I love learning new things, and I am constantly trying to figure out how things work—I attended a JAVA camp last summer just to learn more about how video games are designed. This scholarship will allow me to further explore coding and help satiate my natural curiosity.

19. Tell me about a time when you didn’t agree with an authority’s decision.

This question aims to gain insight into how you think through tough situations and is a test of your maturity. The interviewer wants to know if you are able to provide constructive feedback and what your approach would be when taking a stand against an unpopular decision.

Example: I was extremely disappointed when the school board decided not to purchase new science textbooks for our school library. While it made sense to save money, I decided that I needed to write a letter about my concerns. By explaining how this would impact the students’ discovery of new ideas and knowledge, I was able to convince my classmates to join me in signing an online petition. Luckily, they agreed with my perspective and the school board changed their decision.

20. Tell me about a time when you went above and beyond on a task.

This question is meant to see your dedication, motivation, and work ethic. A good answer will highlight a specific attribute you want to call attention to and use an example of a time you went beyond what was required to convey that attribute. While it’s tempting to talk about a big accomplishment, it’s important the story also focuses on a time you did more than you needed to. As always, include a specific example!

Example: Over the past two years, I’ve worked in my hometown library. While I always make sure that each day’s work gets done in a timely manner, I also try to go the extra mile. If someone comes in looking for help with an assignment, if possible, I stay late with them until everything is complete. It’s super fulfilling. I even had one of the students I’ve helped come in to tell me she’d improved her math grade from a C to a B+!

21. How would you describe a good school environment?

This is a question that allows you to visualize your ideal environment, and what your priorities would be if you were in charge. It’s also a way for interviewers to learn about your personality and preferences. If an interviewer asks this question, it may mean that they are trying to figure out if you would fit into the scholarship’s culture.

Example: I think the most important thing about school is being able to personalize your learning. I’m looking for a place where I can learn the specifics of my field, but also have the freedom to pursue different ways of learning. For example, in my Spanish class, we were learning about language and identity, and we had to write a paper analyzing the specific works we studied at the end. I asked my teacher if I could instead write a personal paper about my experiences with language and identity while incorporating the works. This reflection was super meaningful to me as a Mexican-American student. I want to attend a school where this sort of academic freedom is the norm.

22. Tell me about a personal achievement that makes you proud.

This question is meant to see what makes you proud in life and how you define success. Answering this question provides an excellent opportunity to brag about a big accomplishment and spotlight scholarship-related qualities, like perseverance and problem-solving. Make sure to credit those who helped you along the way and share what you learned from the experience. Let the interviewer know that you’re setting the bar high, not just coasting along.

Example: During my senior year, I helped plan out our high school’s first mock trial event. The debate team had been around since my freshman year, but they never considered a mock trial until my graduating year. I wanted to make a good first impression on the debate team since I intended to become team captain. To show my commitment, I volunteered to be a co-lead coordinator for our team which meant I helped recruit participants, organized our plan of action, and was one of the main points of contact for our group before and during the mock trial. Thanks to the efforts of everyone, the competition turned out to be a huge success, and it helped our high school stand out as one of the top debate schools in the Midwest. After that, I was asked to become the captain of the debate team.

23. Describe your personality in three words.

The interviewer is looking for a glimpse of your personality, to understand how you view yourself, and to see if you’re a good fit for the scholarship. Make sure to concentrate on your unique talents and skills in your response and avoid jargon along with irrelevant and pretentious words.

Example: I would say that I am resourceful, creative, and proactive. I have a way of finding solutions to problems, even when the answer isn’t clear. I believe in tackling challenges head-on and am willing to think outside of the box for solutions.

24. How do you start a project?

This question is meant to determine your process for getting something done. The interviewer wants to know if you are organized or just jumping into things.

Example: I start by making a list of all the things that need to be done. Then, I research everything there is on this topic to make sure that the project is feasible. Once I am satisfied with my amount of knowledge, I make an outline for myself before I begin anything else.

25. How did you choose your major?

Interviewers use this question to learn about your passions and interests. When answering, try to align your major to the scholarship. Highlight the attributes of the major you’re excited about but steer clear of talking about money. For example, engineering might be a lucrative major, but talking about it isn’t likely to score you any points. As always, specific examples and stories are more compelling than generalizations.

Example: My father is a doctor and my mother is a nurse, but when they were young, they were both teachers. They taught me that education is the foundation for everything, so I’ve always taken school seriously, and I especially enjoyed my science classes. I initially didn’t want to go into healthcare because I didn’t want to just “follow in the footsteps” of my parents, but after shadowing a doctor for a day, I realized that the field was right for me since it combines education with helping others. I don’t want to be a doctor or nurse like my parents, but I hope to be a biomedical engineer to help build innovative technologies and be a lifelong learner.

Questions About The Opportunity

While scholarship interviews will largely be about you, it’s common for them to also ask about the opportunity itself. Take a proactive approach and prepare yourself to answer questions about the scholarship.

26. Why did you choose to apply for this scholarship?

This question is designed to gauge your interest in the scholarship and your fit with it. Share specifics of what excites you about the scholarship and how it aligns with your college and future goals. Keep your answer positive and focus on the best aspects of the scholarship.

Example: I chose to apply to the Davis-Putter Scholarship because I’ve always been passionate about political activism. Throughout high school, I was active in the fight for women’s rights, particularly reproductive rights. I organized an event at the state capital in support of women’s rights, coordinated a letter-writing campaign at my school to encourage our local elected officials, and created and distributed a list of candidates coming up for election and their stances on women’s rights issues. I’m excited to use this scholarship to learn more about the causes I’m passionate about, meet other organizers, and help make the world a fairer, more equitable place.

27. Why should you be the one to receive this scholarship?

It’s sometimes easier to reposition this question to what makes you unique. Scholarships can receive hundreds, even thousands, of applications—so what makes you stand out and more deserving than other applicants? This is your chance to make a case for yourself and show the interviewer why you’re the right person for the award; link it to your passions, tie it to your skills, and show the positive effect the funds will have.

Example: I am applying for this scholarship because I believe my work ethic and determination make me an excellent candidate. Last year, I helped organize the high school student council’s first blood drive in our county, which was a big success with a 100% participation rate and inspired me to do more community-focused work. This scholarship will help me acquire the education I need to pursue a career in public service.

28. How will you use the scholarship money?

This question is to make sure the scholarship will go to good use. The interviewer wants to know if you are serious about the scholarship application and will represent the scholarship sponsor in a positive light. Have a budget prepared and highlight how you’ll use the funds to further your education. If you don’t have a plan, it will be difficult for the scholarship to believe that this scholarship will be beneficial to either party.

Example: I would use this money toward my bachelor’s degree in sociology with a specialization in gerontology. Furthermore, I would use this opportunity to shadow a gerontologist and volunteer at a nursing home so that I could gain more insight into this field. Having this scholarship would allow me to worry less about finding a paid job to fund unpaid internships or shadowing opportunities and would allow me to focus more on my studies.

How you end an interview can have an enormous influence on your odds of winning an award. The goal is to leave your interviewer confident in your personality, skills, qualifications, and fit for the scholarship.

29. What questions do you have for me?

The interviewer is looking for you to display interest in the program by asking questions. Your response should be tailored to your particular interests and any concerns that you may have had throughout this interview. This is also a great chance to engage your interviewer with questions focused on their experience with the scholarship.

Examples: What was your favorite part of the scholarship program? What characteristics, goals, or accomplishments of the scholarship are you most proud of? What do students say is the best part of this program? What are the former scholarship recipients doing now, particularly those in the fields I’m interested in?

30. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

It is crucial to show the interviewer that you are serious about this program. This question gives you an opportunity to make any additional points or highlight anything that you may have not covered in your response beforehand. If you have something relevant to share that didn’t come up naturally in the interview, this is the time to mention it.

Example: I believe that I am an ideal candidate for this program because my educational background, passions, and future plans align with what this program has to offer. I am excited to be a part of this program and I look forward to hearing from you.

CollegeVine provides a quarterly, no-essay scholarship of $2,000. To sign up, all you have to do is create a free account, which allows you to see your chances of acceptance at 1,600+ schools, get your essays reviewed by a peer, ask questions in our community forum, and more. If you already have an account, just make sure your chancing profile is filled out.

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How To Answer MBA Interview Essay Questions

Nov 1, 2023

Harvard Business School’s Post-Interview Reflection

Mit sloan’s interview essays, chicago booth’s pre-interview video essay, yale som’s pre-interview quote, make sure you succeed in any mba interview.

UPDATE : This article was originally posted on November 22, 2018. It has been updated with 2023/24 information and tips below. 

After spending months fine-tuning your MBA application essays, you’ve finally received that long-awaited interview invitation — only to discover that now you need to write more essays!

Though not all schools utilize interview essays – essays that are required only of candidates invited to interview – they have become increasingly popular in recent years. With more and more competitive candidates applying every year, elite MBA programs are always looking for new ways to distinguish the “admits” from the “dings.” 

Though they may seem small and relatively unimportant at first, MBA interview essays are an important element of your overall application and should be carefully crafted. That’s why we’re sharing our top tips on how to approach and write your own MBA interview essays . By following these tips, you can ensure you stand out and land a spot at your dream school. 

Harvard’s post-interview reflection is perhaps the most well-known example of an MBA interview essay. Now with a suggested word limit, this open-ended question must be answered by all candidates that are selected to interview at HBS . 

As part of the application process, you will be required to complete a Post-Interview Reflection. Here are a few details:

• The Post-Interview Reflection is not intended to be another formal essay. Think of it instead as a reflection after a meeting.
• We will be much more generous in our reaction to typos and grammatical errors than we will be with pre-packaged responses. Reflections that give any indication that they were produced before you had the interview will raise a flag for us.
• We do not expect you to solicit or receive any outside assistance with this exercise.
• Your Post-Interview Reflection is due within 24 hours of the conclusion of your interview. Let the interview soak in a little bit…no need to start writing your reflection right at the conclusion of your interview.
• There is a word guidance of 300-450 words for the Post-Interview Reflection.

How to approach your answer

Since you only have 24 hours after your interview to prepare the essay, you might be tempted to write out your answer in advance and then make small adjustments later on. 

I personally love HBS’ admissions process because the school is incredibly clear and transparent about its expectations. For your essay, they couldn’t make it clearer that a pre-packaged answer will hurt your application: 

“ We will be much more generous in our reaction to typos and grammatical errors than we will be with pre-packaged responses. Reflections that give any indication that they were produced before you had the interview will raise a flag for us. ”

That’s because the Post-Interview Reflection (PIR) works best when it’s just that – a reflection on how your interview with the school actually went . 

Though we’re sure you diligently prepared for your big day , interviews have a way of going a little differently than expected. 

Last year, for example, our client Nathalia’s interview was so focused on her new international job that she only later realized she’d never told her interviewer her reasons for wanting to attend Harvard. In her PIR, she was able to address this topic, as well as a few other points mentioned in the interview that she wanted to further expand/clarify upon. 

This approach helped Nathalia get into HBS. 

As such, the best strategy for your PIR is to do your best on interview day and then calmly assess your performance afterward. After reflecting, you should consider including the following elements in your PIR: 

• A brief thank you for the opportunity to interview
• Any points you feel are relevant but were not able to discuss in the interview
• Any “mistakes” you’d like to correct or additional points you’d like to add
• How you feel you can contribute to the HBS community (if you were not able to mention this)
• Anything you learned about HBS during the interview or during your campus visit (if you interviewed in Cambridge)
• A closing paragraph that reinforces why you are so passionate about attending HBS. 

Essentially, after reading your PIR, the admissions committee at HBS should be convinced that you deeply reflected on your interview and your place in the HBS community, demonstrating you are exactly the type of candidate they are looking for!

Finally, though the HBS admissions committee states that they are more understanding of spelling and grammar errors, try to run your essay through software like Grammarly to avoid any unnecessary mistakes. 

Photo courtesy of @mitsloan on Instagram

MIT Sloan has also long required candidates who are called to interview to submit an additional essay. This year, MIT Sloan’s interview question is as follows:

REQUIRED QUESTION #1 (DIVERSITY)

The mission of the MIT Sloan School of Management is to develop principled, innovative leaders who improve the world and generate ideas that advance management practice. We believe that a commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and well-being is a key component of both principled leadership and sound management practice.

In 250 words or less, please describe a time when you contributed toward making a work environment or organization more welcoming, inclusive, and diverse.

At MIT, diversity is a core value . This means that at Sloan, you’ll constantly interact with people who think and act differently than you do. 

Succeeding in such an environment requires a great deal of adaptability and flexibility, as well as a willingness to learn from those who are different. This type of environment, however, is not for everyone, which is why MIT seeks to gauge how you respond to diversity in this essay. 

We suggest you start by considering the brand you are presenting to MIT and examine which examples about diversity you can share that will add value to the stories you told in your cover letter and video. Then, make sure you narrow this list down to your single best story . In a 250-word essay , you won’t have time to fully explore multiple examples, so limit yourself to one killer story. 

REQUIRED QUESTION #2 (DATA)

We are interested in learning more about how you make data-driven decisions and communicate results. Please select one of the following prompts to respond to. 

• Please select an existing data visualization and in 250 words or less explain why it matters to you. The data visualization should be uploaded as a PDF. Examples may come from current events, a business analysis, or personal research (e.g. climate change, COVID maps, etc).
• In 250 words to less, please describe a recent data-driven decision you had to make, and include one slide presenting your analysis. The slide may include a data visualization example and should present data used in a professional context. Your slide must be uploaded as a PDF.

Considering how short the MIT application is, you should also use this as another opportunity to add something new to your application. 

With this question, MIT seeks to understand how you are able to use data to make important decisions. MIT states that this example should come from data used in a professional context, so keep this in mind. When designing your slide, remember that you’re being judged on how you present the information visually, not on the data itself.

In your essay, make sure to explain how you analyzed the data and used it to make a decision . If you are not able to show how you applied the insights gained from the data you presented in a clear, concrete way, you may want to consider a different approach.  If you don’t have a job that requires you to use data on a regular basis, question 1 would be a better fit for you. If you do use data frequently at work, question 1 may still be a good option, but showing a real and measurable way in which you used data to make a decision is an excellent way to show the adcom you possess a great fit with their program. 

TOP TIP: Make sure not to share confidential information. If you need to “sanitize” the data, this is acceptable. 

Photo courtesy of @chicagobooth on Instagram

For several years running, Booth has asked candidates who move to the next application phase to submit additional materials before the interview. Like last year, you’ll need to submit your response in video format. 

Please submit a video response to one of the following two prompts:

• Tell us about something new you learned recently that shifted your worldview. How did it influence your behavior and/or actions?
• What is something you wish people knew about you, but you’re not sure that they do?

Please note the following:

• The length of the video response should be no more than 60 seconds.
• You will not be evaluated on the styling and editing of the recording, only the content of your submission. 
• Feel free to record the video with a cellphone, computer, or other video recording device. 

The most important task is first considering which prompts you will choose from each category , especially considering there is space for repeating themes. 

When looking at each category, choose the question that is both easiest to answer and that allows you to shed light on a new element of your profile. If you’ve already mentioned community service in one question, for example, perhaps avoid repeating community service as the theme in other answers.

Most importantly, consider what you want Booth to learn about you . Booth’s application – like its curriculum – is incredibly flexible , but it does mean that you can end up repeating themes from your essays unless you’re very careful and strategic in how you use each and every word the interview essays give you. 

Then, after choosing your best stories, use a condensed version of the STAR methodology to walk your reader through what your example is before ending with a final lesson or takeaway. 

TOP TIP : Start your video script by simply writing out the story and then refining the content/length. In our experience, applicants can comfortably speak 160-180 words in 60 seconds. You may also want to review some of these best practices to ensure you’re ready for your video debut. 

This is the first year that Yale SOM has asked candidates to send additional information when they are called to interview, though their format is highly unusual compared to the other business schools. 

Please submit a quote that has a special meaning or resonates with you. We ask that you submit this no later than 24 hours prior to your interview day.

Considering Yale SOM’s focus on values (after all, their essay question does ask you for the greatest commitment you’ve ever made), we see this as one more opportunity for you to demonstrate what motivates and drives your actions to Yale. 

Since they specifically did not ask for an essay along with the quote, we would imagine that the quote will factor into your admissions interview. Likely, the admissions committee will ask you why you chose the quote you did, so think carefully about how you would approach the quote in this context. 

As such, think about the story you might be able to connect to this quote and carefully consider how this story will add value to your profile. For example, if you volunteer, you may want to choose a quote that one of the people you helped said to you, as this can unlock the possibility to dive deeper into your extracurricular activities. 

Though you might not be practicing for your interviews, your competitors are. When you’re competing at such an elite level (and top MBA programs are about as elite as it gets), practice is the only way to get the edge you need. 

Working with highly-trained professionals, like our team of interview experts, can also be an excellent step to include in your interview process. 

• Maybe you don’t know where to start preparing.  
• Maybe you ramble on and lose your focus while answering. 
• Maybe you’re concerned about making errors, discussing your strengths, or addressing weaknesses.
• Maybe you’ve downloaded interview guides or have spent hours reading interview report forums—but still have questions and doubts. 

Our interview prep and practice service focuses on helping you determine what to highlight in your interview depending on the program while using appropriate, impact-driven language without being artificial, or worse, robotic. We also help you choose (and perfect) culturally appropriate examples based on the schools you’re interviewing for. 

As our former client Helena said:

 “ My husband and I applied for an MBA at INSEAD this year. We knew it would not be easy since we had a very small window, were applying in the 3rd round and only wanted this specific school. 

Ellin helped us with the preparations for the interviews and she really helped me organize my story, but the most special aspect was how Ellin inspired me to be more confident during the interviews. I would definitely recommend her to anyone interested in applying for an MBA! ” 

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8 Examples of How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself”

By Biron Clark

Published: November 16, 2023

In this article, I’m going to walk you through steps and examples of how to answer the “Tell me about yourself” interview question to impress employers and get more job offers . We’ll also cover the  costly mistakes you NEED to avoid if you want to pass this question. 

Here’s exactly what you’re going to get:

• The most-recommended method of how to answer “tell me about yourself”
• 8 examples of good answers to “tell me about yourself” for various industries
• A shorter, newer method for experienced candidates
• How to practice your answer to make sure you’re 100% ready for the interview

Let’s get started…

Why Do Interviewers Ask “Tell Me About Yourself”

“Can you tell me about yourself ?” is a common interview question that’s generally delivered as an icebreaker or pathfinder question, right at the start of an interview. It can catch you off your guard because it may seem vague, broad, and somewhat tricky. Honestly though, understanding a bit more about why interviewers ask this question (which is often framed as a command) will give you a clear insight into how to answer.

Interviewers ask this question to ease you out of those introductory jitters (that you both feel) and into the nitty-gritty of why you’re there. It’s their way of establishing a direction for the interview because it shows them how you summarize your experience and show its relevance to the job you’re applying for, which in turn tells them what to ask next. Trust me though, your answer needs to be relevant, the interviewer is likely not asking whether you’re a dog or a cat person but rather what background, skills, qualifications and experiences brought you to this interview today. 

Watch: How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself?”

Different ways of asking the same question.

I mentioned how this question can sometimes be framed as a command, i.e: “tell me about yourself,” and so on. There are numerous ways this question might be framed, but all express the same intention on the part of the interviewer, so they should all be answered the same way. Common variants include:

• “Take me through your resume.”
• “Tell me about your background”
• “Describe yourself.”
•   “Can you tell me more about why you’re here?”
• “What brings you here today?”

When it comes to describing yourself, you may wonder where to start, how personal to be, and how far to get into it. “Describe yourself” certainly feels a little more personal than the rest. For insight into how to answer that variant, Read This Article .

How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” in an Interview:

1. choose the right starting point for your story (important).

Your goal when answering, “tell me about yourself,” is to give a brief, concise walkthrough of your career story that will show off relevant pieces of experience. You want to start at a point in the past (like how you began working in this field), and end up in your current situation. So the first thing to decide is where you’ll begin the story… If you’re a recent graduate: Start with the fact that you just graduated, and explain why you chose this career path or field of area of study.  

For example, you might start your answer like this:

“I graduated with my degree in Economics two months ago. I chose that field of study because I’ve always been interested in finance and money, and a couple of family members told me it leads to great career options, too.”

If you have 1-8 years of experience, start with the moment you graduated and walk them through your employment experience since then.

Here’s an example of how you’d start your interview answer in this situation:

“I graduated with my degree in Industrial Engineering six years ago and immediately went to work for a small design firm in Chicago. Since then, I’ve…”

And if you have 8-20+ years of experience, you can start with a mid-point in your career. This will keep your answer from getting too long.

For example, if you’re a manager, you could start with how you first became a manager. If you’ve been working for 25 years but have only been a sales professional for 12 years, you could begin with how you got started in sales.

Here is an example of how to begin your answer to “tell me about yourself” as a very experienced candidate:

“I first started managing people twelve years ago, when I was promoted from Customer Service Associate to Customer Service Supervisor. Since then, I’ve…”

2. Highlight Impressive Experience and Accomplishments

As you tell your career story, explain key accomplishments you’ve achieved, work you’ve done, skills you’ve learned, and key career moves you’ve made.

• Were you promoted? That’s always a great sign and worth mentioning.
• Did you accomplish something significant like solving a big problem for your last employer?  That’s great to mention, too.
• Did you build new skills or overcome challenges? Get specific! Tell details.

But random impressive facts aren’t enough. You should be thinking about how this ties in with the company you’re talking to.

• You should always research the company before going into the interview . Study their job description in particular so you know what skills THEY care most about.
• What does this particular job involve? Is there a lot of leadership? Talk about your experiences leading (no matter how small!), how it went, and what you learned.
• Does the job involve a high level of technical skill? Talk about how you learned and advanced in that area through each step of your career!
• You need to “tailor” your answer for, “tell me about yourself,” for their job description and their needs. Try to talk about experiences and qualifications that are relevant to this job you’ve applied for.

3. Conclude by Explaining Your Current Situation

Finally, the best way to finish your story is to bring them up to speed on your current situation. Why you wanted to apply for their job , what you’re looking to do next, etc.

For example you might end your answer by saying:

“…and that’s why I wanted to interview with your firm. This position seems like a great opportunity to advance those skills I just talked about, and continue building my career and challenging myself”.

4. Keep Your Answer Work-Related

When employers ask, “tell me about yourself,” in an interview, they usually want to hear about you as a professional. So the safest approach is to keep your answer work-related and share your career story, rather than personal details. You can show more personality as the interview goes on, but it’s risky to share too much personal info when answering, “tell me about yourself.” It could lead to your answer getting too long, or it could cause you to leave out important professional information that the interviewer was looking to know!

5. Be Concise When Answering (2 Minutes or Less!)

When they say “tell me about yourself,” it’s going to be tempting to give a long-winded answer. It’s such an open-ended question. And we covered a lot above, but there’s something just as important as any of that. You need to be concise.  Your communication and ability to stay on track with your answer are two things they are watching closely. The interviewer wants to see that you can tell your story from Point A (the beginning) to Point B (the end) without getting sidetracked, distracted, or scattered. Because it tells them how you’ll communicate as an employee… when there’s a problem, when there’s a disagreement, or when you simply need to share your knowledge or opinion. If you take this answer beyond 2 minutes you are shooting yourself in the foot. In fact, below 90 seconds is ideal. Practice at home with a timer! That’s why I recommend choosing a starting point based on your experience (Step 1 above)… because if you have 25 years of experience and you start at the moment you graduated from college, your answer will be too long.

“Tell Me About Yourself” Example Answers:

Now that we’ve covered the key steps to answering, “tell me about yourself,” let’s look at some full answer examples to this interview question .

Example Answer for Experienced Candidates:

“I graduated with a Business degree in 2010, and was offered an account management position at a telecommunications company I had interned with. I loved working with customers and managing and growing my accounts, but the industry we were in just wasn’t very appealing to me. After that, I stayed a full year and learned a ton about how to build and manage accounts successfully and  I ended up becoming a top performer in my group before leaving. I left at the 1-year-mark to pursue a very similar position within an industry I’m much more excited about- healthcare. I’ve been at this healthcare startup space for 2 years with this company and I feel ready to take my career to the next level so that’s why I’m currently looking for a new opportunity.”

That first example showed you how to answer “tell me about yourself” for experienced job seekers (at least a few years of experience). Now let’s look at an example for entry-level job seekers and job seekers with no experience .

Example Answer With No Experience:

“I graduated with a degree in Engineering two months ago. I chose that field of study because I’ve always been interested in math and physics , and a couple of family members told me it leads to great career options. One of my key accomplishments during my academic career was speaking at a conference on the topic of energy-efficient window design, based on research I had done for one of my senior-level classes. This led to an internship that I just wrapped up, so I’m actively looking for a full-time position now.”

Stand Out by “Tailoring” Your Answer to the Company

The end of your interview answer is a big opportunity to customize your answer for the company and job you’re interviewing for. When you talk about what you’re looking to do next in your career, try to mention whatever you see this company providing for your career (leadership, technical challenges, exposure to new areas, etc.) That shows them why you’re excited about their job, which will help you get hired! (I explain more about why this is true here ). Before we move on to more tips and a HUGE mistake to avoid, here’s one more example interview answer for this question.

Shorter Method for How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” (For Experienced Candidates Only)

The method I gave you above is the standard way most recruiters recommend answering “tell me about yourself.”  It’s how I coached job seekers to answer this question for years. There’s another way you can answer, though… and it has some benefits. I’ll explain…Many experts have pointed out that if the interviewer wanted your career story, they could have looked at your resume or your LinkedIn , or asked a question like, “can you walk me through your background?” So there’s another approach for answering, “tell me about yourself,” that skips the career story and just cuts right to the chase: Why you’re awesome and why they should hire you !

Let’s look at 2 word-for-word templates that accomplish this.

After this, you’ll have two proven methods for answering, “tell me about yourself” in interviews, and in the next section, I’ll reveal how to decide which method is best for YOU.

Example answer if you’re job searching while employed:

“Well, I’m currently working at XYZ Company and I specialize in doing ___. The reason I applied for this job is I saw ___ on the job description and I think I would be able to help you ___ and ___. One of my key accomplishments in my current role was helping my employer do ___, and I’m confident I can help your team get similar results here.”

Example answer template if unemployed:

“In my most recent position at XYZ Company, I specialized in doing ___. The reason I applied for this job is I saw ___ on the job description and I think I would be able to help you ___ and ___. One of my key accomplishments in my last role for XYZ Company was helping them  ___, and I’m confident I can help your team get similar results here.”

Which Method Should You Use for Your Answer?

If you have work experience, both options we’ve covered are very good, and it really depends on what you feel most comfortable with. Choose the one you like best. They’re both excellent ways to answer the question, so don’t stress over it! However, if you are entry-level and have no work experience… or internships at the very least…  then I would go back to the top of this article and use the first, 5-step method for answering, “tell me about yourself.”

This second method we just covered is really best if you want to give a unique, concise answer and you have some relevant work experience to share in the interview!

“Tell Me About Yourself” Example Answers For Different Industries:

Healthcare:.

“After being licensed six years ago, I immediately entered a busy E.R. setting where I progressed to the point of triaging as many as 50 patients a shift. I’m skilled in patient record-keeping, stabilizing incoming patients, diagnosing injuries, administering meds, doing stitches, starting I.V.s, setting bones and offering emotional support to family members behind the scenes. I’ve adapted to the pressure but feel that, in the long term, I’d be better suited to a slower-paced environment with more focus on establishing lasting patient relationships. I’m ready to take on this post in your busy day clinic and believe that my advanced patient triage skills, along with my empathic nature, would be a great benefit to your team.”

This works because:   This answer outlines your qualifications and extensive background in incoming patient care, triage, diagnosing and record-keeping. Your honesty about long term goals is appreciated. The answer shows how your skills have progressed since you were licensed, and it inspires confidence in your ability to handle a hands-on post at a busy clinic.

Service Industry:

“Having spent eight years in the food and beverage industry, I progressed from head waiter to front of house manager four years ago. I’ve held so many posts in the industry, from runner to waiter to head waiter to manager, but my dedication to quality service has never changed. I believe in knowing my product and process inside and out, uplifting my team members and demonstrating focused positivity throughout. It’s easy to fall into the temper trap when things get busy, but I prefer to knuckle down, smile and get it done. I want my customers to come back for more!”

This works because: This answer makes an impact because of how your personality shines through. The service industry is incredibly stressful, but it’s refreshing to know that you have a proactive, positive attitude to stressful situations, backed up with strong product knowledge and professionalism.

“I’m an accredited software engineer and systems integrator with more than ten years of active development experience. I’m proficient in Ruby, Python, Java, C++ and a wide range of associated languages and frameworks. I’m a team player, and I love bouncing ideas off my colleagues and engaging with diverse perspectives. I like to stay abreast of the latest tech and I’m wildly competitive when it comes to troubleshooting. I’ve also got an eye for detail and clean design and I’m dedicated to delivering a seamless, streamlined experience to the end-user.”

This works because: From this answer, it’s clear that you’re accredited and boast a diversified programming portfolio with plenty of experience in the field. It’s noted that you’re a team player, as teamwork is essential when developing and managing systems for a busy tech enterprise. And your attitude to problem solving, as being competitive will help you find fast and effective solutions.

“I’ve been a retail cosmetic artist and sales assistant for six years and I’m passionate about making clients feel utterly gorgeous! I have a strong knowledge of retail processes, including stock-take, merchandising and sales targeting. If I have to describe my stand-out quality it’s that I love to build up the team, make my colleagues smile and get them motivated to break targets for our department. Above all though, the customer comes first and I’m dedicated to building brand and store loyalty in the customer.”

  This works because: From this answer, it’s obvious you know retail like the back of your hand and that you take pride in breaking targets and boosting the team morale. Your positivity shines through, and you highlight your passion for making clients feel special.

Practice Your Answer Before the Interview

As a final tip – make sure you go practice everything you plan on saying when the interviewer asks, “what can you tell me about yourself?” Nothing comes out perfect the first time, and you don’t want to appear nervous and stumble when they ask.  So I’d recommend grabbing a piece of paper and writing down the key points you want to talk about in your answer. I like to write them in bullet format. Then, use your smartphone’s voice recorder app to record a few practice answers and see how you sound. Don’t look at your notes as you give your answer. The idea is to try to remember what you want to talk about without reading off the paper. Then glance at the paper AFTER to make sure you covered everything. Keep practicing until you can give a smooth answer without forgetting anything important.

Note: If you’re having a phone interview , you can use notes/bullet points to help guide you through your answer. Nobody can see you on the phone, so take advantage!

About the Author

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30 Situational Interview Questions & How to Answer Them (+ Sample Responses)

• Julia Mlcuchova , 
• Updated May 16, 2024 12 min read

Situational interview questions can be pretty tricky to answer, since you're expected to think on your feet and think fast.

These questions often throw candidates into hypothetical scenarios that require quick thinking and creative problem-solving.

Moreover, they are designed to peel back the layers of rehearsed answers, revealing how you handle challenges and unexpected situations . 

Feeling the stress-levels rising already? That's understandable, but unnecessary!

While it might seem impossible to prepare for such unpredictable questions, there is a tried-and-true method that can help you deliver your answers with confidence.

Piqued your interest? If so, keep on reading and discover: 

• What are situational interview questions;
• 30 situational interview questions examples ;
• How to answer situational interview questions;
• And 3 detailed sample responses .

Table of Contents

Click on a section to skip

What is a situational interview

What are situational interview questions, 30 situational interview questions examples, how to answer situational interview questions, tips on how to prepare for situational interview questions, how not to answer situational interview questions, key takeaways: situational interview questions.

In short, during a situational interview, the job candidate is asked to explain how s/he would deal with specific work scenarios . This type of interview helps recruiters figure out how a candidate might perform on the job by seeing how they think through problems and deal with challenges in real time. 

But what makes the situational interview such a hot commodity? 

Basically,  it's popular among recruiters because it goes beyond what's written on your resume . 

Let us explain: Your resume is succinct and concise, which means that you need to be very selective about the information you include. While you have enough space to showcase all your proudest achievements and results, you don't really get the chance to go into much detail on how exactly you got there. And this means that the recruiters can’t see how you approach problems and what attitude you have when faced with challenges. 

And asking situational interview questions allows them to see just that!

In other words, a situational interview is like a test run to see how you might perform in the real world , focusing on practical skills and real-life problem solving rather than just what you say you can do.

Situational interview vs. behavioral interview

One can’t simply talk about the situational interview without mentioning its twin – the behavioral interview . 

These two job interview methods are quite similar, so much so that people sometimes use the terms interchangeably. 

But while both of these interview styles force you to demonstrate your skills and know-how on specific work scenarios, there is one key difference : 

• Behavioral interview: This approach focuses on your real past experiences. Behavioral questions prompt you to demonstrate your skills by presenting situations you've actually dealt with in real life. For example, a question probing your conflict resolution skills can look like this: “Tell me about a time you had an interpersonal conflict at work.”
• Situational interview: The situational approach examines how you would act in hypothetical future scenarios. For instance, our conflict resolution question could go something like this: “How would you deal with an interpersonal conflict at work?”

On a superficial level the difference between the two might seem too little to matter. But if you're a career changer or a fresh graduate , you'd quickly see why the situational interview questions are a much better alternative. 

Well, you can hardly talk about the experiences you don't have, right? But what you can do is discuss future hypothetical scenarios based on your intuition, skills, and logic. 

Heading to a job interview?

Practice answering the most common interview questions for your job position using AI.

Well, when we talk about job interviews, there are certain questions everybody expects to hear, such as “ Why are you interested in this position? ” , “ Where do you see yourself in 5 years? ” or “ Why are you looking for a new job? ”  

And while your answers to these questions reveal your enthusiasm for the role, your career goals, and your motivation respectively, they don't provide much insight into what's going on in your head when faced with problems in the workplace.

That's why the formulation of situational questions typically revolves around “what if” scenarios that could actually happen to you in your new role. 

For example, the interviewer might ask, “What steps would you take if you were given a project with a very tight deadline?" or “How would you communicate negative feedback to your team?”

Apart from specific industry knowledge , suítuational questions can shine light on your soft skills :

• Ability to think on your feet. Do you have the right approach for handling the pressures and responsibilities of the job? 
• Your problem solving skills . How good are you at analyzing, prioritizing, and decision-making? 
• Your creativity and adaptability. And, how quickly can you come up with a potential solution to an unusual problem?

Below, you'll find 30 examples of situational interview questions (You can't accuse us of being stingy!) that might come your way during the job interview rounds.

Additionally, you'll find the specific skill each question probes in the brackets.

Please, keep in mind that the precise wording of these questions may differ from company to company. 

• What would you do if a client made a complaint about your work? (Feedback Reception Question)
• How would you react if halfway through a major project, the core objectives were changed by management? (Adaptability Question)
• If you were leading a team that seemed demotivated, what strategies would you use to boost morale? (Leadership Question)
• If you had to choose between meeting a project deadline with a compromised product or delaying delivery to ensure quality, what would you do? (Decision-making Question) 
• How would you handle a situation where you need to communicate a last-minute change in project direction to a team that is not on-site? (Communication Skills Question)
• How would you manage a scenario where an important client demands a service or product adjustment that is not currently feasible? (Customer Service Question)
• How would you lead a project with team members who are more experienced than you in the subject matter? (Leadership Question) 
• How would you prioritize your tasks if you find yourself with multiple high-priority assignments due on the same day? (Time Management Question)
• A new employee has joined your team. What do you do to make them feel welcome? (Leadership Question)
•  Imagine you have conflicting deadlines for two equally important projects. How would you decide which to prioritize? (Decision-making Question)
• Imagine you're leading a critical project that is running behind schedule. How would you handle the pressure? (Stress Management Question)
• Imagine you need to explain a new, complex software tool to a team that isn't tech-savvy. How would you go about it? (Communication Skills Question)
• If you found yourself in a disagreement with a colleague about a project approach, how would you handle it? (Conflict Resolution Question) 
•  How would you organize your time if you're having a busy week? (Time Management Question)
• How would you approach a situation where you have to work closely with someone whose work ethic is vastly different from yours? (Communication Skills Question)
• Walk me through how you solve a prevailing issue with your manager. (Communication Skills Question)  
• Imagine you must choose between investing in new technology or upgrading existing systems with a limited budget. How would you make your decision? (Decision-making Question)
• What would you do if you discovered a critical flaw in a product that's about to launch? (Problem-solving Question)
• How would you react if you discovered that one of your colleagues acts against the company values? (Communication Question)
• How would you ensure smooth cooperation between different departments? (Teamwork Question)
• Imagine that you discovered an opportunity for improvement in a process that's not within your direct responsibility? (Initiative Question)
•  What would you do if your team members constantly ignored your input? (Communication Question)
• How would you respond to a customer complaint you believe is unwarranted? (Customer Service Question)
• How would you handle a situation where you need to mediate a conflict between two key team members who are crucial for the project's success? (Conflict Resolution Question) 
• Imagine you're leading a project and your team expresses doubts about the plan. How would you address their concerns? (Leadership Question)
• Suppose during a project review, you notice data that suggests a potential problem no one else has seen. How would you handle this situation? (Critical Thinking Question)
• You're presented with two competing proposals for a new project. Both have potential but also significant risks. How would you evaluate and decide which proposal to go with? (Critical Thinking Question) 
• Imagine that you'd be asked to do something you've never done before. How would you handle that? (Adaptability Question)
• If you noticed a team member feeling excluded and their contributions diminishing as a result, what steps would you take to involve them more into the team dynamic? (Teamwork Question)
• Imagine you're taking over a team that has been underperforming. What initial steps would you take to assess the situation and begin turning around the team's performance? (Leadership Question )

Because workplaces and job roles are so diverse, employers can craft countless unique scenarios to test your problem-solving skills, adaptability, teamwork, leadership, and other crucial competencies. 

Still, there's a way to deliver your answer clearly and persuasively no matter the question – by following the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). 

Let us walk you through the S-T-A-R method step by step: 

Firstly, start by setting the scene. If the situational interview question was quite vague, you've got a chance to fill in the blanks! Mention where this hypothetical situation is happening and the circumstances from which this situation arose.

Secondly, you should explain what exactly is the problem you're dealing with. Talk about what responsibilities would be on your shoulders and what would be the general expectations from you. And, of course, make sure to mention skills and duties that directly relate to the job position you're trying to fill . 

Thirdly, you talk about the concrete actions you'd take to fix the problem. Remember that this part is the heart of your answer! And the recruiters want to see the thought processes that lead to your actions.

And lastly, finish your response by talking about the outcomes your actions would bring. Think about how the company would benefit from your solution. Focus on showcasing how your actions lead to success in this hypothetical scenario.

With that being said, we’ll have a look at how you can put the theory into practice!

Example #1: Leadership question

Situational interview question: Imagine you're taking over a team that has been underperforming. What initial steps would you take to assess the situation and begin turning around the team's performance?

Sample answer:

“ [Situation] Well, let’s say that the team’s low performance has been impacting project delivery times for quite some time. [Task] In that case, my main task would be to assess the underlying issues that are causing the poor performance and plan out steps to eliminate them. [Action] I would begin by holding individual meetings with each team member to understand their challenges and motivations. Then, I’d organize a team workshop so we can all be involved and establish clear and achievable milestones. I would also introduce ongoing feedback loops that would encourage open communication. [Result] As a result, I’d expect to see improvements in team morale and engagement within the first few months. And then, an increase in productivity and quality of work should follow suit.”

Example #2: Feedback Reception Question

Situational interview question: What would you do if a client made a complaint about your work? 

“ [Situation] Let’s say that we’ve recently completed a project and everything seemed fine. But then the client tells me they’re not happy with some parts of it. [Task] As a project manager, my responsibility is to listen to the client’s concerns and fix the problem to keep a good relationship with them. [Action] First, I’d let the client know I heard their complaint and that I take it seriously. After our talk, I’d meet with my team to see if we can make the changes the client wants. All this time I’d keep the client updated about what we’re doing to fix things. [Result] By handling the problem this way, I’d show the client that we care about doing things right and keeping them happy. This could help fix any issues with our relationship. And we’d make sure that they’ll want to work with us again.”

Example #3: Decision-making question

Situational interview question: Imagine you have conflicting deadlines for two equally important projects. How would you decide which to prioritize?  

“ [Situation] Right, let’s say I’m in a situation where I’m responsible for two big projects at the same time, and both are due soon. [Task] In that case, I need to figure out which project to focus on first and not let the other one fall behind. [Action] First, I would look at both projects to see if there are any parts that absolutely must be done right away. I’d also talk to the people I’m working with and the clients to see if there’s any flexibility with the deadlines. Then, I’d check which project might have a bigger impact on our company if it’s delayed. After gathering all this information, I’d make a plan to work efficiently on both projects. [Result] As a result, I’d manage both projects without letting either of them slip through the cracks.”

You can't know exactly which situational interview questions you'll be asked.

Which is why you should never underestimate the power of good preparation. 

Once you've received your job interview invitation, you can start doing these 4 things:

• Review the job posting. Although you don't know for certain what the questions will be, you can take an educated guess. Hint: The requirements outlined in the job ad are a dead giveaway of what the employer cares about. 
• Look for examples of situational interview questions. Basically, you're doing it right now. Do as much research as possible! Because going into job interviews blindly is simply nonsensical. 
• Revisit pivotal moments and challenges of your career. While it's true that situational questions usually involve hypothetical scenarios, that doesn't mean you can't talk about the things you've already achieved! For example, you can preface your response by mentioning that your answer is informed by real-life experience. 
• Rehearse your answer out loud. No, no, don't raise your eyebrows just yet! Going over your answers in your mind in one thing. But spending an extensive period of time talking out loud can be more exhausting than you'd think. Especially in a nerve-inducing setting like a job interview. And practice is key!

Don't get intimidated by the unknown! Instead, get familiar with it by diligent research and practice. 

A well-rounded job interview preparation isn't just about knowing what to say, but also about knowing what NOT to say. We advise you to avoid the following: 

• Don't say “I don't know.” You might as well just throw in the towel! These questions are meant to test your adaptability and attitude towards challenges. Keep that in mind.
• Don't be vague. Instead, go into detail on the steps you take in each scenario. The more specific, the better!
• Don't be hasty with your answer. It's OK to give yourself some time to think. It's better to take a few seconds to check in with yourself instead of blurting out something that doesn't make sense. But that doesn't mean that you should sit there in silence for 5 torturous minutes. 
• Don't panic. Yes, we know that it's difficult to stay cool, calm, and collected in a situation where you don't hold the wheel. But just take a deep breath and focus! Plus, practicing can make you feel more prepared and in control.

To sum it all up, situational interview questions are meant to probe how you would deal with workplace problems in real life. 

Situational interviews focus on hypothetical scenarios to assess how a candidate might perform on the job, giving insight into their problem-solving and decision-making skills.

Though these questions can be difficult to predict, following the STAR method allows you to give your answers the structure and clarity they need to impress the hiring manager. 

Here is a simple how-to: 

• Firstly, make sure you understand the question.
• Provide context of the Situation.  
• Continue by defining the Task ahead.
• Outline what Action you'd take to solve the issue.
• Finally, round up your answer by mentioning the desirable Results.

Julia has recently joined Kickresume as a career writer. From helping people with their English to get admitted to the uni of their dreams to advising them on how to succeed in the job market. It would seem that her career is on a steadfast trajectory. Julia holds a degree in Anglophone studies from Metropolitan University in Prague, where she also resides. Apart from creative writing and languages, she takes a keen interest in literature and theatre.

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How to Write a Good Answer to Exam Essay Questions

Last Updated: March 17, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Tristen Bonacci . Tristen Bonacci is a Licensed English Teacher with more than 20 years of experience. Tristen has taught in both the United States and overseas. She specializes in teaching in a secondary education environment and sharing wisdom with others, no matter the environment. Tristen holds a BA in English Literature from The University of Colorado and an MEd from The University of Phoenix. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 645,668 times.

Answering essay questions on an exam can be difficult and stressful, which can make it hard to provide a good answer. However, you can improve your ability to answer essay questions by learning how to understand the questions, form an answer, and stay focused. Developing your ability to give excellent answers on essay exams will take time and effort, but you can learn some good essay question practices and start improving your answers.

Understanding the Question

• Analyze: Explain the what, where, who, when, why, and how. Include pros and cons, strengths and weaknesses, etc.
• Compare: Discuss the similarities and differences between two or more things. Don't forget to explain why the comparison is useful.
• Contrast: Discuss how two or more things are different or distinguish between them. Don't forget to explain why the contrast is useful.
• Define: State what something means, does, achieves, etc.
• Describe: List characteristics or traits of something. You may also need to summarize something, such as an essay prompt that asks "Describe the major events that led to the American Revolution."
• Discuss: This is more analytical. You usually begin by describing something and then present arguments for or against it. You may need to analyze the advantages or disadvantages of your subject.
• Evaluate: Offer the pros and cons, positives and negatives for a subject. You may be asked to evaluate a statement for logical support, or evaluate an argument for weaknesses.
• Explain: Explain why or how something happened, or justify your position on something.
• Prove: Usually reserved for more scientific or objective essays. You may be asked to include evidence and research to build a case for a specific position or set of hypotheses.
• Summarize: Usually, this means to list the major ideas or themes of a subject. It could also ask you to present the main ideas in order to then fully discuss them. Most essay questions will not ask for pure summary without anything else.

• Raise your hand and wait for your teacher to come over to you or approach your teacher’s desk to ask your question. This way you will be less likely to disrupt other test takers.

Forming Your Response

• Take a moment to consider your organization before you start writing your answer. What information should come first, second, third, etc.?
• In many cases, the traditional 5-paragraph essay structure works well. Start with an introductory paragraph, use 3 paragraphs in the body of the article to explain different points, and finish with a concluding paragraph.
• It can also be really helpful to draft a quick outline of your essay before you start writing.

• You may want to make a list of facts and figures that you want to include in your essay answer. That way you can refer to this list as you write your answer.
• It's best to write down all the important key topics or ideas before you get started composing your answer. That way, you can check back to make sure you haven't missed anything.

• For example, imagine that your essay question asks: "Should the FIFA World Cup be awarded to countries with human rights violations? Explain and support your answer."
• You might restate this as "Countries with human rights violations should not be awarded the FIFA World Cup because this rewards a nation's poor treatment of its citizens." This will be the thesis that you support with examples and explanation.

• For example, whether you argue that the FIFA World Cup should or should not be awarded to countries with human rights violations, you will want to address the opposing side's argument. However, it needs to be clear where your essay stands about the matter.
• Often, essay questions end up saying things along the lines of "There are many similarities and differences between X and Y." This does not offer a clear position and can result in a bad grade.

• If you are required to write your answer by hand, then take care to make your writing legible and neat. Some professors may deduct points if they cannot read what you have written.

Staying Calm and Focused

• If you get to a point during the exam where you feel too anxious to focus, put down your pencil (or take your hands off of the keyboard), close your eyes, and take a deep breath. Stretch your arms and imagine that you are somewhere pleasant for a few moments. When you have completed this brief exercise, open up your eyes and resume the exam.

• For example, if the exam period is one hour long and you have to answer three questions in that time frame, then you should plan to spend no more than 20 minutes on each question.
• Look at the weight of the questions, if applicable. For example, if there are five 10-point short-answers and a 50-point essay, plan to spend more time on the essay because it is worth significantly more. Don't get stuck spending so much time on the short-answers that you don't have time to develop a complex essay.

• This strategy is even more important if the exam has multiple essay questions. If you take too much time on the first question, then you may not have enough time to answer the other questions on the exam.

• If you feel like you are straying away from the question, reread the question and review any notes that you made to help guide you. After you get refocused, then continue writing your answer.
• Try to allow yourself enough time to go back and tighten up connections between your points. A few well-placed transitions can really bump up your grade.

Community Q&A

• If you are worried about running out of time, put your watch in front of you where you can see it. Just try not to focus on it too much. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If you need more practice, make up your own questions or even look at some practice questions online! Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

• Look up relevant quotes if your exam is open notes. Use references from books or class to back up your answers.
• Make sure your sentences flow together and that you don't repeat the same thing twice!

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.linnbenton.edu/student-services/library-tutoring-testing/learning-center/academic-coaching/documents/Strategies%20For%20Answering%20Essay%20Questions.pdf
• ↑ https://www.ius.edu/writing-center/files/answering-essay-questions.pdf
• ↑ https://success.uark.edu/get-help/student-resources/short-answer-essays.php

About This Article

To write a good answer to an exam essay question, read the question carefully to find what it's asking, and follow the instructions for the essay closely. Begin your essay by rephrasing the question into a statement with your answer in the statement. Include supplemental facts and figures if necessary, or do textual analysis from a provided piece to support your argument. Make sure your writing is clear and to the point, and don't include extra information unless it supports your argument. For tips from our academic reviewer on understanding essay questions and dealing with testing nerves, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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• 10 Most Common Job Interview Questions and Answers

• Study Abroad

Job interviews can feel exciting and startling. It's like trying to solve a puzzle about yourself while hoping to impress the person asking the questions. But don't worry! We're here to help you figure it out. By learning how to answer the most common interview questions, you'll feel more confident and ready to show off your skills to potential employers.

Imagine your job interview as a big opportunity to tell your story. You're the main character, and the interviewer wants to know all about you. But sometimes, it's hard to find the right words. That's where we come in! We'll break down the top 10 questions you might get asked and give you tips on answering them. You'll be ready to shine in any interview with a little practice!

Nothing less than thorough preparation is needed to sail through the interview smoothly; hence, you must be aware of all the important questions you might be asked.

An interviewer expects nothing but the best candidate for the role. With the advent of technology, all the required information to ace a job interview is available at your fingertips. Effectively, you are expected to have gone through the important questions.

How to Prepare for the Job Interview Questions and Answers?

A thorough preparation includes knowing the “Whys” of a question and the “Hows” of answering it. Hence, we have curated this blog on 10 important job interview questions and answers, where each question has 4 subsections –

Why is this question asked, Tips on – How to approach that particular question, A sample answer for the question to give you a reference point, And finally, 2-3 additional links to help you prepare for the answer. Let’s get started!!

1. What are your strengths?

Why is this question asked?

The question evaluates your aptitude for the vacancy. Your response to this question will help the interviewer understand if your strengths align with the company’s requirements for the job. For instance, let’s say you have a Master's in Finance; a good answer would showcase your proficiency with financial tools and techniques. Also, the interviewer is looking for an answer that shows that you’re both self-aware and confident.

Tips on how to answer this question:

This question is easy if approached diligently. The ideal answer would be to include the unique abilities that make you stand out as a candidate for the job. Make sure you back your talents with specific examples.

In giving examples to justify the “What are your strengths” answer, the following should be considered:

• Your greatest strength is usually the specific aptitude required for the position.
• Your strengths set you apart from other candidates.
• Your excellent communication skills are demonstrated in the response.

GOOD ANSWER:

I have a strong work ethic and excellent writing skills. When working on a project, I don’t just try to meet the deadlines. I make sure that my work is completed way ahead of schedule. During my stint at my earlier job, I was awarded a bonus for completing two important projects one week ahead.

I have a strong attention to detail when it comes to my writing skills. Having worked as a content writer for around three years, I have experience writing for various publications, where I had to follow their strict deadlines while making sure that my work was up to the mark.

1. https://uptowork.com/blog/what-are-your-strengths 2. https://www.thebalance.com/what-is-your-greatest-strength-2061282  

2. What are your weaknesses?

Recruiters prefer hiring professionals who are always ready to learn new aspects and improve their aptitude. You shouldn’t deny having real weaknesses. But make sure that the weaknesses you mention don’t interfere with the responsibilities of the job in question.

Also, while mentioning your weaknesses, include details on how you’re taking steps to correct those weaknesses.

You should demonstrate honesty during the interview session by not being shy about admitting your weaknesses. Make sure the mentioned weakness provides no serious drawback to the target position.

Don’t: Never tell an interviewer,” I have no weaknesses.”It is a sign of dishonesty and may be why you may not get selected. Recruiters have stringent rules on dishonesty.

Most interviewers are interested in you demonstrating the ability and zeal to minimize your weaknesses. It is all about self-improvement!

Mention activities you may have taken to become a better you.

I believe I have issues with telling a “no” to people. Hence, when my supervisors give me work, even though I already have my hands full, I tend to take up extra projects, which has affected my efficiency a few times. When this happened, I quickly analysed the situation and made efforts the next time to take on a few projects at a time and give it my best. I found out that, with a few projects in my hand, I could complete the projects faster.

• https://uptowork.com/blog/what-is-your-greatest-weakness
• https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-best-way-to-answer-whats-your-biggest-weakness

3. Why are you interested in working for us?

When interviewing prospective employees, employers are eager to determine which candidates really want the job and would invest genuine effort in bettering the company and which just want a job, any job, regardless of what the position entails.

This question requires a perfect grasp of the company’s mission and services. You will need to diligently research the activities of the organization and use it to provide a suitable answer during the interview session. The quality of your response will be determined by your knowledge of the company. The “About Us” section of the employer’s website would contain valuable information.

Also, make sure you explore the company’s LinkedIn page. You can request information about job requirements by connecting with an HR representative from the company. This will help you to prepare better for the interview.

An appropriate response should showcase an appreciable knowledge of the organization. This implies you must research to identify specific reasons for wanting to work for the company.

Not only is your company’s work environment challenging, but also there are opportunities that I am excited to start working on. The products that your company develops are one of a kind, and as I am a product developer myself, it excites me to work in such a dynamic environment. The skills I am bringing to the table will be a perfect match for the job role you’re offering. Also, your company culture is amazing, and I love how all your efforts are centred around the betterment of the community.

• https://biginterview.com/blog/2013/03/why-do-you-want-to-work-here.html
• https://www.thebalance.com/why-do-you-want-to-work-here-2061292

4.What can you offer us that someone else can’t?

The question helps the recruiter identify your confidence level, and whether you have the required skills to make you a good fit for the job. Your humility level will be determined through this question.

List your strengths and explain to the interviewer why that makes you a perfect fit for the position. Mentioning unique attributes instead of general attributes would also help you stand out in the recruitment process.

“Avoid sounding too cliche”, says Lisa Baker-King, a San Antonio-based business consultant. Avoid enumerating skills that are common to all professionals, such as, “I’m great with people,” “I have a strong work ethic,” or “I have a great attitude,” she says.

Throughout my career, I have always tried to diversify my skills. Though I have an engineering background, I have tried to expand my skills by learning whatever interests me throughout the course of my professional journey. For example, I was fascinated by digital marketing and went ahead and learnt it. Hence, while developing products, I not only have the technical ability to develop them, but I also have the knack to market the developed products so that they reach the right kind of customers and clients. I believe this is a unique skill set I am bringing to the table.

• https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/job-interview-question-what-can-you-do-other-candidates-cant

5.Tell me about an accomplishment you are most proud of.

The interviewer wants to comprehend the applicant's skills by asking this question. The interests and accomplishments of the candidate revealed during the interview will help the interviewer determine if the applicant will add value to the company.

Ensure you provide specific examples of events that were challenging and how you successfully resolved them. Come up with a few good examples beforehand that highlight your profile and make you look like a better fit for the job.

The accomplishment you choose to describe also gives the interviewer a sense of your background, values, and interests. This will help the interviewer determine if your personal values align with those of the company.

When I was posted in Canada for a while, I was apprehensive as it was my first time abroad. It took me a while to adjust to the people, the culture and the new assignment I was working on. But I took it as a challenge, gave it my best efforts and achieved a positive outcome. My supervisors extended my stay in Canada for a few more months as they felt I could achieve even more for the company. The fact that I went out of my comfort zone and reached new heights makes me extremely proud of this achievement.

1. https://www.livecareer.com/interview/questions/tell-me-about-an-accomplishment-you-are-most-proud-of 2. https://biginterview.com/blog/2017/04/greatest-accomplishment-question.html

6. Tell me about a time you made a mistake.

This question seeks to see how you react to negative circumstances. This helps the company ascertain your maturity level and versatility.

The first thing to do is to maintain a high level of confidence in telling your story. Ensure you mention lessons learned from every tough situation and how it has shaped you into a better person.

Mention how you –

• Don’t give up ever.
• Are responsible for your actions instead of blaming other people.
• Demonstrate the attributes of a winner in the tests of life

When I got promoted to a managerial post at my earlier company, I tried to do everything by myself, from handling day-to-day operations to making big sales calls. Unfortunately, that didn’t go as planned, and I wasn’t performing to my full potential. I was always busy with something or the other and couldn’t focus on the major tasks at hand. Later, I realized my mistake and started delegating tasks effectively.

• https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/how-to-answer-job-interview-question-when-did-do-something-wrong-0922
• https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-rules-that-guarantee-youll-nail-the-answer-to-tell-me-about-a-time-you-made-a-mistake

7. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?

This question is widely asked in several interviews with major multinationals. By asking you this question, the interviewer wants to figure out your short-term and long-term goals, which in turn will determine the length of time you can be expected to stay there.

Frame your response so that the interviewer feels that you value this job and that receiving this job will be instrumental in terms of your career growth. Make sure your response portrays an appreciable degree of honesty. Also, don’t be vague while answering this question, as the interviewer might think you’re not that invested in the position.

The following tips will guide you in your response:

• Outline a Career Path
• Showcase Your Interest in This Job
• Mention Your Career Improvement Plan

Well, I’m excited to be handling the marketing side of a few products in your company. In a few years, I would like to see myself heading the marketing campaigns of not just one product but many diverse products in your company, hence increasing the outreach of the products. I would love to expand to other verticals and see myself as an expert in product marketing and brand management.

• https://resources.biginterview.com/interview-questions-answers/where-do-you-see-yourself-five-years/

8. Describe yourself.

Describing yourself will help the interviewer determine if you fit the company's work culture and are a good fit for the position. What you think about yourself is also valuable to the employer since it creates a first impression of your personality.

Be frank with your answer. The job description can be a perfect guide for your response and answer, showcasing how you’re the right fit for the job. The recruiter seeks honesty, so be straightforward with your answer. Also, mention your achievements and how they were possible because of your unique strengths. You can also talk about your likes and dislikes, but make sure you avoid any sensitive topics.

I’m a creative thinker, as I like to explore alternative solutions to problems. My optimistic nature has helped me overcome tough times, as I never give up, no matter how tough situations get. But that doesn’t mean I am unrealistic. I know to draw that line between what is possible and what is not and, accordingly, take action. My colleagues would describe me as a great team player, as I always put the team’s interests first. I have also helped my team bond well with a lot of team-building activities. With these qualities, I would fit in easily with your work culture.

1. https://www.thebalance.com/job-interview-question-how-would-you-describe-yourself-2064058

9.Tell me how you handled a difficult situation.

The question helps the interviewer evaluate your response to tricky or uneasy questions. This, in turn, will help them foresee how you will handle unexpected challenges in the future.

Your answer should radiate problem-solving skills that can impress the interviewer.

Remember to discuss your critical thinking abilities and your techniques for managing problems. Also, mention an example where you had to handle a difficult situation and how you tactfully resolved it.

The first thing I do when a difficult situation arises is that I acknowledge that there is a problem which we have to get through. For example, when the software development of our new product was stalled because there were a lot of unexpected bugs in it, I knew that I needed to step up as my team relied on me. I coordinated with the team, which managed to get the schedule back on track. We were able to successfully troubleshoot the issues and solve the problems within a very short time and without completely burning out our team. I could do that by proposing and implementing testing protocols at every stage of the development process. The final result was such that we were able to launch a near-perfect finished product which hardly received any customer complaints.

• https://www.livecareer.com/interview/questions/tell-me-how-you-handled-a-difficult-situation
• https://www.thebalance.com/job-interview-question-how-did-you-handle-a-challenge-2061243

10. Why should we hire you?

The interviewer wants you to convince him why you are the perfect fit for the job. This question seeks to squeeze out valuable information about the personality of the candidate applying for the position.

Convince the interviewer by telling him about –

• Your ability to carry out quality work and have noteworthy outcomes.
• Your exceptional teamwork aptitude which will make the organization better.
• Your multidisciplinary and unique skills make you the perfect applicant for the job.

Give examples of all the points mentioned above. Also, talk about the benefits of recruiting you and how it would be a worthy decision for the company.

I have top-notch technical skills and believe I would be an asset to the company. My skill set is a good mixture of excellent programming skills backed up with good management skills. But this hasn’t deterred me from learning new skills. I have been constantly honing my skills by doing MOOCs and attending workshops. This is why I feel I would be an excellent team player in both contributing to the team technically, as well as managing the dynamics of the team. In this company, where developing a technically sound product is as important as communicating with the clients, I believe I can bring the apt skills to the table. Hence, I seem to be a perfect match for your requirements.

• https://biginterview.com/blog/2013/04/why-should-we-hire-you.html
• https://www.thebalance.com/why-should-we-hire-you-best-answers-2061261

As you can observe, getting ready for an interview demands comprehensive research and effort. It's certainly not something to take lightly.

Ensure you allocate sufficient time to concentrate on crafting your responses. Avoid the error of memorizing answers as it can come across as insincere, and interviewers can easily discern it.

Instead, familiarize yourself with the principles underlying each question and rehearse a few times with friends, mentors, or in front of a mirror.

Pro Tip: Record your answers and listen to them. This way, you will know where you are fumbling and can improve in the right areas.

Best of luck with your interview!

Please let us know in the comment section below how your interview went!

10 Common Job Interview Questions – And How To Deal With Them

Seasoned interviewers frequently start with the question, “So, tell me about yourself?” The question seems to hold a particular challenge for many job seekers because it is so open-ended – and you should be prepared to answer it by talking about your skillset while avoiding your life history. 

Many other questions will come up which help to showcase your suitability for a specific job. After all, this is what good interviewers want to uncover: What value do you bring to the table? What’s in it for them? And that’s what you should be talking about.

10 Interview Questions 

Some job interviewers are better trained and skilled than others, and you might want to avoid a company that tries to recruit a business analyst with the question: What is your favorite karaoke song? Or: Name seven uses for a paperclip.

(On a side note, even those seemingly “weird” questions have a purpose, but that’s another topic) 

So, let’s get to the questions that will showcase your skills. All these questions require preparation, some introspection, and the ability to think on your feet. If you know your CV backward, have researched the company and studied the position description thoroughly, and have built up a stockpile of examples and statistics to support your achievements, you should be confident of a winning narrative. 

• “Tell us about a challenging project you’ve worked on and how you overcame obstacles.”

The “STAR” technique is useful here (and elsewhere):

• Situation: start by describing the situation, giving necessary – but concise – details
• Task: describe your role and responsibilities in the situation, and any collaboration, if relevant
• Action: describe what action you took to address the problem 
• Result: what was the outcome? 

The STAR technique should be used to answer any question requiring you to tell a story about your behavioral response to a situation. Have a few of these (real) situations prepared in your mind, and tell your story with confidence and enthusiasm. Relate your story to the job at hand, if possible.

• “ What skills and experiences make you a good fit for this position?”

This is where your knowledge of the company (gleaned from online research and talking to current employees and customers, if possible) comes in handy. Use the job description for which you’re applying to prepare your story. 

One of the golden rules of good writing, which applies equally to good storytelling, is “Show, don’t tell”. Showing illustrates, telling merely states. You need to paint a picture for your interviewer by relating real examples using numbers and feelings.

• “How do you handle tight deadlines and multiple priorities?”

Behind this question is an assessment of your response to pressure and stress, and your use of time management and organizational skills. Have some illustrative examples to show how you’ve remained calm under pressure. Remember that in today’s world of work you don’t score points by boasting that to accomplish the task you worked overtime, all weekend, and throughout your annual vacation – even though this may sometimes be expected!

• “Describe a situation where you had to resolve a conflict within a team.”

If you’ve had no experience with such a situation, you may have to address the question hypothetically, but that doesn’t prevent you from preparing an answer. You could, for example, relate a situation you observed and how you might have handled it differently. It’s a sign of emotional intelligence that you can manage workplace conflict fairly and impartially by being proactive, creating a healthy workplace environment, and focusing on individual and team objectives and achievements.

• “What do you consider your biggest professional achievement?”

The job interview is not the time to be humble. Your chosen example should be significant, and supported by numbers – what was the measurable impact on the business? If it is relevant, relate this achievement to what you could bring to this organization, if employed.

• “How do you stay updated with industry trends and developments?”

Continuous Professional Development is a given in today’s rapidly evolving world. Branson said that a company that stands still will soon be forgotten. It’s the same with people. 

• “Can you walk us through your approach to problem-solving?”

You should have learned these techniques in Management 101. You may touch on some theories and methods (Root Cause Analysis, 5-Whys, lateral thinking, design thinking, etc.), but giving an example of how you approached and solved a real problem would be much more powerful. 

• “What interests you about our company and this role specifically?”

A recruiter’s head is on the block if they recommend a bad “corporate fit”. During the interview, they assess whether you share the mission and values of the organization you hope to join. Your role is to have done enough homework to reflect to the interviewer your understanding of what that mission and value system is.

• “How do you adapt to changes in technology or work processes?”

Such a key question these days. Are you up to speed with AI for everything, Big Data, coding, Apple Vision Pro, chiplets – the list changes weekly! Darwin was right when he said survival is not about strength or intelligence; it’s about being responsive to change.

• “Do you have any questions for us about the company or this position?”

Whatever you do, prepare at least three questions for the interviewer at the end. It’s your opportunity to make sure that this job is for you. These questions can be about the work itself (Will my role change in the next six months?); about the team (Who will I collaborate with? In which departments?); about your boss and his role (How long have you been with the company? What do you like about it?); and about the culture (How do you measure and reward performance?). 

You don’t want to ask questions about salary, starting date, health insurance, or leave policy at this point in the process. You haven’t got the job yet.

Final Thoughts

First impressions count. Be yourself, certainly, but be the best version of yourself. 

EU students get personal guidance from the EU Career Services when preparing CVs and ensuring they’re interview-ready. To find out more about EU Business School, and how we prepare our students for career success, click here .

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Career Expert Reveals The Best Way To Answer The Most Important Job Interview Question

It's a question that often causes anxiety in job seekers, but it doesn't have to be if you approach it with confidence and preparation..

Written on May 14, 2024

Preparing for a job interview can be quite a nerve-wracking experience, especially when you're trying to prepare for the questions that could potentially catch you off guard or require you to think on your feet. 

In a TikTok video, a career expert named Hanna Goefft revealed the best way to respond to a common job interview question that often stumps candidates but is probably one of the biggest reasons a person would get hired.

Goefft explained the best way to answer a common and important job interview question.

"Tell me why you're interested in this position?" is a question that most job seekers can guarantee will be asked during a job interview, and it's crucial to have a well-prepared and genuine response ready. It is a simple question, but it can end up tripping some candidates up and, therefore, costing them an opportunity to either get hired or be considered for a second interview.

Hanna explained that she would teach viewers and prospective job seekers how to answer that question in a way that would blow the socks off of any hiring manager or recruiter. She pointed out that the answer needs to demonstrate an understanding of the role in the company, which means making sure you've read the job description thoroughly and familiarized yourself with how the company operates.

@hannagetshired If you’re looking for a job I can almost guarantee you’re going to hear this interview question #interview #interviewquestions #interviewtips #interviewprep #interviewadvice #jobsearch #jobsearchtips #jobsearchhelp #jobseeker #findajob #gethired #getajob #gethiredjobsearchtips #techjob #jobsintech ♬ original sound - hanna gets hired

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"You need to sound sincerely interested even if the biggest reason you want to work there is obviously the paycheck," Goefft said. "You can't say that in an interview." 

Having enthusiasm for the role that you've applied to and are interviewing for will show the hiring manager that you plan on sticking around for the long haul. They won't have to put in any effort to hire someone after you because you plan on being there for quite some time. Make sure you're not only sounding enthusiastic about the role but also about the company .

"Connect your answer to your career trajectory," she continued. "Why does this role connect you to what you enjoy doing and get to where you want to be going? That said, don't make it seem like this job is just a stepping stone to get you somewhere else."

She provided an example of the best type of answer to give to this interview question.

Reenacting a scenario in which a job candidate would need to answer the question, Goefft began: "I'm really excited about this Marketing Manager opportunity because I believe it offers the perfect balance of strategic thinking and hands-on execution, allowing me to contribute to what I understand to be a really important area of the business strategy and also leverage my past experience and acquisition marketing."

Goefft made sure to emphasize how proud and excited she would be to have a role and position within the company and that she was extremely motivated and driven by the opportunities for growth that the position would be able to bring her. 

You want to keep your answer succinct while conveying enthusiasm and a real passion for the tasks and responsibilities that the position and company require of you.

RELATED: Tech Exec Shares The Reality Of Why Employers Want 'Years Of Experience' For Entry-Level Jobs When It's Impossible To Accomplish

Unfortunately, many job seekers have admitted that the hiring process has become a bit convoluted over the years. 

According to a 2022 survey from hiring software company Greenhouse, via VOX , 60% of job seekers were "unimpressed by time-consuming recruitment processes ." 

In an interview with CNBC , Holly Lee, a former recruiting leader at Amazon, Meta, and Google, explained that there's one interview mistake that people often make, and it’s "hands down, the number one reason" people tank a job interview . 

"People are either overconfident and think that their resumes speak for themselves, that they only need to provide a vague, short answer, or don’t take the proper time to reflect on how, exactly, their work is benefitting a company’s bottom line — the who, what, when, where and why of it all," Lee told the news outlet.

A job interview doesn't have to be a source of anxiety and panic. 

If you walk in prepared with confidence and a positive attitude, you can turn it into either a rewarding learning experience or the exciting possibility of getting hired. 

RELATED: Hiring Manager Pushes Woman To Text Her Current Boss That She’s Resigning On The Spot During Her Interview — ‘Is This A Red Flag?’

Nia Tipton is a Chicago-based entertainment, news, and lifestyle writer whose work delves into modern-day issues and experiences.

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Common Job Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

T here's only one thing standing between you and the job that you want: your answers to common interview questions. When you know how to answer interview questions in a way that impresses the hiring team, then your chances of being extended an offer are much higher.

Below is a list of 29 interview questions and answers. The suggested answers are meant to inspire your personalized approach to addressing these popular questions, weaving in the details that are specific to your own career background and skill set .

• Tell me about yourself.
• How did you find out about the position?
• Why are you looking for a new job?
• Why do you want to work here?
• What interests you about this job?
• What motivated you to apply for this role?
• What kind of impact do you hope to have in your next role?
• What do you find the most stressful about this type of role?
• Have you used our product/service?
• How would you improve our product/service?
• What's your greatest strength?
• What's your greatest weakness?
• What do you hope to learn and contribute in your next role?
• What would you do in the first 30, 60 and 90 days on the job?
• What professional achievement are you most proud of?
• Do you consider yourself to be a team player? Why or why not?
• What would former co-workers say about working with you?
• What annoys me most about working with others?
• How would you describe your work style?
• What type of manager do you work best with?
• What type of work environment do you thrive in?
• Where do you see your career in three to five years?
• Tell me about a major challenge you’ve faced at work and how you overcame it.
• Tell me about a failure you experienced and how you handled it.
• Is there anything we should know about you that's not on your resume?
• There’s a gap in your employment history – why?
• Why should we hire you?
• What salary range are you looking for?
• Do you have any questions for us?

1. Tell Me About Yourself

While this may sound like an open-ended question that you can answer however you like, don't let its simplicity fool you into disclosures that are too casual and personal. The interviewer is trying to get a sense of what kind of person you are and what you value to determine your level of professionalism and how well you would fit on the team.

How to Answer "Tell Me About Yourself"

You might start by focusing on who you are as a professional, since this is a job interview, after all. Tell a bit about your educational and career background and some key facts about your job history. While it's OK (and perhaps expected) to share something that's a little bit personal and unique to you, be careful about what exactly you reveal here. Think in terms of sharing one of your key hobbies or interests outside of work – for example, playing volleyball, cooking or volunteering . Be cautious about revealing details about your age or family status that some employers may be unintentionally biased against.

Trackable Raw Html : core careers article sidebar - The Step-by-Step Guide to Career Success

2. How Did You Find Out About the Position?

The employer is trying to see if one of their marketing methods reached you, or if you found out about the job through some other way.

How to Answer "How Did You Find Out About the Position?"

Whether you learned of the opening from a colleague, online or through a job ad, share the method with the interviewer. You may get brownie points if you happened to have learned about the job from the company's website. If you took extra time to learn about the organization while applying, be sure to mention it.

3. Why Are You Looking for a New Job?

If you already have a job and are conducting a job search, the interviewer might be naturally curious as to what has prompted your desire for change.

How to Answer "Why Are You Looking for a New Job?"

Be careful here, as revealing a dissatisfaction with your current company, boss, or co-workers could serve as a red flag for the hiring team. Instead of complaining about grievances you may have about your current position, focus your answer on your desire for greater opportunities and career growth .

For example, you might say: “While I’ve been excited about the opportunities I’ve had in my current position, I’m looking for a company that I can move to the next level with. I am very invested in this industry and want to be with a key industry player to further my career growth.”

4. Why Do You Want to Work Here?

Hiring managers use this question to try to gauge a candidate's motives for seeking the opportunity. While your primary reason for applying may be financially motivated, this would not be the emphasis to share during the interview.

How to Answer "Why Do You Want to Work Here?"

Think of other reasons you chose to throw your hat in the ring at the specific organization. Maybe you like the company's culture that you read about online, or maybe you've heard from current employees that they love their jobs. If so, spend some time figuring out the best words to use to explain that.

Another good answer could tie back to your career interests. For example, if you're a marketer applying for an entry-level marketing position, you might focus on sharing what it is about the company that makes you feel this would be the right place to develop your career skills in your field.

5. What Interests You About This Job?

This question may seem tricky, since you may feel you don't know enough yet about the job as simply a candidate and not a hired hand. But you can prepare for this query in advance by doing some due diligence before your interview.

How to Answer "What Interests You About This Job?"

Spend at least an hour reviewing the details of the company's job description and determining how to draw links between what the manager wants and the talents you bring to the table. You might even bring a printout of the job description to the interview to refer to specific language as you answer this question. Point out to your interviewer that you have been thinking a lot about the specific needs of the position and how your background and experiences make you the right fit for it.

6. What Motivated You to Apply for This Role?

Early in the interview, you may be asked about why you felt drawn to the position. If the question is phrased to determine your motivation for applying to the role, the interviewer may be trying to determine whether your interest in the role is more self-serving or if it stems from a desire to tackle tough industry challenges that can help the company.

How to Answer "What Motivated You To Apply for This Role?"

A smart way to answer this question is to focus on the latter. Sure, you likely have multiple reasons for wanting the job, but highlight the ones that the company cares about, such as making an impact and helping the team reach their goals, emphasizing that your interest in the company itself was a motivating factor.

You might say something like: “At this point in my career, I have a ton of energy to solve complex problems, and our industry is at an exciting time for this. I chose to apply to your company specifically because of your industry-leading role, plus I love what I’ve heard about your culture.”

7. What Kind of Impact Do You Hope to Have in Your Next Role?

Hiring teams want to know what candidates can do for them, and this impact question gives you the perfect opportunity to impress them with your drive.

How to Answer "What Kind of Impact Do You Hope to Have in Your Next Role?"

The specific type of impact you emphasize will depend on the specific industry or job you’re applying to. But in general, you can stress that you want to build on the skills you bring to the table and that you hope to leverage your experience from your last position to help the company achieve its goals.

For example: “One of my biggest goals that I plan to achieve with my next employer is to take all of my learnings from my career to date to create something big. The first part of my career has been about understanding as much as I can about the industry, and now I finally feel like I’m in the perfect place to have a significant impact in whatever key projects I’m working on.”

8. What Do You Find the Most Stressful About This Type of Role?

This is another potential minefield that you should answer with care, rather than off the cuff. Interviewers are looking for examples that suggest you handle stress well. Your goal is to show that you do know how to manage stressful situations with grace.

How to Answer "What Do You Find the Most Stressful About This Type of Role?"

A winning response might be: “It’s true that this role can be stressful, and I’ve certainly dealt with my share of it in previous positions. If I had to say what the biggest stressor is, I’d pinpoint timing issues. I’m a stickler for meeting deadlines and delivering to my team what I say I will – so when it comes to crunch time, I feel the pressure until I’ve crossed the finish line.”

9. Have You Used Our Product/Service?

You don't want to be caught off guard by this question having not tried out the product or service that you would be working with.

How to Answer "Have You Used Our Product/Service?"

Knowing that this is a common interview question, you would be wise to give the company's tools a test drive prior to your interview, if at all possible. When trying it out, take notes about your experience and share specifics during your interview.

10. How Would You Improve Our Product/Service?

The employer wants to know specifics on the previous question and likely wants to gauge how you give constructive feedback.

How to Answer "How Would You Improve Our Product/Service?"

It takes a bit of diplomacy to navigate your response here, since you don't want to imply with your answer that the product or service is substandard. By coming up with a good idea here – for example, for an additional feature or other bells and whistles that customers might enjoy – you could earn points with the interviewers for your creativity.

11. What's Your Greatest Strength?

The challenge of answering the standard "greatest strength" question is that you want to strike the right balance between sounding confident but not arrogant.

How to Answer "What Your Greatest Strength?"

The strength that you share need not be related directly to the position that you're applying for, but should be clearly tied to an attribute that the specific employer would value.

For example, highlighting your effectiveness working with teams and groups is something that would come in handy in most jobs, so this would be a good choice to share if it's true for you.

12. What's Your Greatest Weakness?

The best answer to this has changed over time. While the go-to response used to be to choose an area that shows your tendency to "care too much" about your job, this response has been overused. If you try it, you may receive pushback from a savvy interviewer who wants you to share a true weakness.

How to Answer "What's Your Greatest Weakness?"

An effective approach is to share something legitimate that isn't your top strength – but also share some concrete ways that you are working on improving in that area.

13. What Do You Hope to Learn and Contribute in Your Next Role?

This question is a variation of the “impact” question, but it’s more targeted at whether you value learning and development, and the contribution you see yourself making in the role, as opposed to what you hope to personally accomplish. Employers are looking for new hires who are eager to learn and be of service to the company.

How to Answer "What Do You Hope to Learn and Contribute in Your Next Role?"

You could say: “I’m always interested in learning new things about our industry, particularly in relation to my own role and self-improvement to help my team. I’m hoping to learn and ultimately master the job, and beyond that, to stay current and keep learning so I can continue to bring value. That way, I can maximize my contribution in my department and eventually, across the company.”

14. What Would You Do in the First 30, 60 and 90 Days on the Job?

Active listening will come in handy here. This common interview question may be hard to prepare for in advance, since details that you learn during the interview itself about the employer's priorities may help you formulate a better, more specific answer.

How to Answer "What Would You Do in the First 30, 60 and 90 Days on the Job?"

If you need a refresher about any points that your interviewers have raised in terms of their priorities, or if they haven't shared them yet, it's fair to ask for clarification before you begin answering. Knowing what the hiring manager cares most about is key to how you should frame your plan for what you would do during your initial months in the position.

15. What Professional Achievement Are You Most Proud Of?

While you may actually consider saving someone's life as a lifeguard in high school to be your proudest moment on the job, don't take this question literally unless you are actually interviewing to be a lifeguard.

How to Answer "What Professional Achievement Are You Most Proud Of?"

The correct approach to describing your greatest professional achievement is to hone in on the position that you're applying for and find a relevant experience in your past career arsenal to showcase something that the hiring manager would hope to find in an employee. An equally smart strategy is to focus on a general accomplishment that would impress any employer, such as creating a tactic to increase your department's productivity.

16. Do You Consider Yourself to Be a Team Player? Why or Why Not?

Be careful here, as interpreting this question too literally can backfire on you. Companies are asking this question because teamwork is essential, on some level, in most roles – even those where you’re primarily an individual contributor. If you don’t consider yourself a team player and prefer to work on your own, it’s best to be diplomatic in how you explain this. Stating your preference is one thing, but flat out saying that you aren’t a team player will backfire and give you a red flag from most interviewers.

How to Answer "Do You Consider Yourself to Be a Team Player?"

If you truly hate teamwork and want to be upfront about it, try stating something along these lines: “I’m honestly an amazing individual contributor since in this role, focus is so important – but I also understand and very much value partnership and collaboration. I’m a team player when it helps everyone achieve our goals, and I’m also very self-motivated to work individually as needed.”

17. What Would Former Co-Workers Say About You?

When asking this question, the hiring committee is trying to gain a sense of your personality, work style and how well you work with others.

How to Answer "What Would Former Co-Workers Say About You?"

While not every past colleague may have reacted to you in the same way, focus on finding commonalities in how people have perceived your best assets. If it is in fact true, then you can't go wrong with indicating that past co-workers and bosses have found you to be a dependable, trustworthy, conscientious and deadline-driven team player.

18. What Annoys You Most About Working With Others?

A variation of the “teamwork” question, this tricky question requires finesse. The employer may be hoping to hear about your pet peeves, or what triggers you the most about your past colleagues – but resist the urge to dish on this. As tempting as it may be to replay your worst work relationship ever, pointing out how annoying this collaboration was, this approach would be a big mistake.

How to Answer "What Annoys You Most About Working With Others?"

Instead, take the high road and keep your answer more general. You might say: “There are always personalities to deal with at work – nobody’s perfect and everyone has their own way of doing things. Sure, co-workers can be annoying sometimes, but I try to notice if I feel annoyed and think about where the other person is coming from. For example, the thing that used to annoy me the most was the way some colleagues didn’t use punctuation in their written communications, like emails, which made the message sound unfriendly. I later realized, though, that this is just a style preference of mine, and it didn’t necessarily reflect any negative intentions from the person who wrote the message."

19. How Would You Describe Your Work Style?

Anyone considering hiring you may want to gain a basic understanding of what your work style is, so that they can determine whether that style will be a fit for the position. Work styles that many employers value are collaborative, team-oriented, detail-oriented, conscientious and supportive

How to Answer "How Would You Describe Your Work Style?"

There are no right or wrong answers here, though if you know something in advance about the types of qualities that this particular employer or company values, then that can help inform your response. For example, if you’re applying for a sales position, it’s more important to emphasize that you’re an energetic go-getter with people skills than if you have a work-from-home job as a graphic designer that you can do independently on your own schedule, where the work style of detail-oriented conscientiousness may be more valued by the hiring team.

20. What Type of Manager Do You Work Best With?

This is a very difficult question to answer when it’s being asked by a potential new boss whose working style you don’t yet know. The best approach here is to keep your comments general, so that you don’t end up describing the opposite of who the interviewer is. Another smart strategy is to express your flexibility in working with a wide range of personalities and management styles.

How to Answer "What Type of Manager Do You Work Best With?"

You might say: “I’ve been fortunate to work with a many different types of managers, and knock on wood, but I’ve gotten along with all of them so far! I value managers who communicate about their needs and the needs of their department, so that I can do my best to help them reach their goals. Beyond that, I think it takes time to adjust to a manager’s style, and I’m happy to work with my manager to create a productive partnership.”

21. What Type of Work Environment Do You Thrive In?

Much like the “type of manager” question, candidates need to step carefully when answering this one in an interview. If you end up describing the opposite work environment than the company offers, then you’ve just talked yourself out of the job. To avoid this, it’s best to frame your answer around flexibility. If you’re offered the job, then you can always explore specific setups and preferences then.

How to Answer "What Type of Work Environment Do You Thrive In?"

If it’s early in your interview process, an open-ended response is a safe bet: “I’ve worked in many different settings, and lots of different company cultures. I’ve found that as long as I have a supportive team and manager, and work that I love, the setting isn’t a deal breaker. I do love what I’ve learned about your company’s culture and work environment, though, and I think I would be a great fit.”

22. Where Do You See Your Career in 3-5 Years?

This question requires some diplomacy, since indicating that you see yourself in the hiring manager's position might not be well-taken. It would also, in most cases, be a faux pas to share your dream of launching a startup, particularly if it's in a different field altogether from the job for which you are currently interviewing.

How to Answer "Where Do You See Your Career in a Few Years?"

A more prudent answer would be to emphasize a vision of yourself making an impact in your industry and mentoring more junior members of your team as you move up the ladder.

23. Tell Me About a Major Challenge You’ve Faced at Work and How You Overcame It

Like with most interview questions, it’s important to tread carefully and phrase your answers in a positive way. This is particularly true with a question like this one that requires addressing difficulties. Your goal should be to share an experience that showcases your ability to persevere and move beyond obstacles without revealing details that could paint you or your colleagues in a negative light.

How to Answer "Tell Me About a Major Challenge You've Faced at Work and How You Overcame It"

While your answer will be unique to your experience, here’s a sample of how to strike this balance: “I once was faced with the challenging situation of needing to generate a key deliverable to the company’s top client in a tight timeframe that made it impossible for me to do everything I wanted. I solved this by recruiting some co-workers from a different department to lend a hand so that we could create the best product possible under the circumstances, and we ended up impressing both my boss and the client.”

24. Tell Me About a Failure You Experienced at Work and How You Handled It

Like the challenge question above, it can be tricky to talk about professional failures and career disappointments. But many employers will understandably want to know how you react in less than optimum circumstances, so you should be prepared to address the question of failure during your interview.

How to Answer "Tell Me About a Failure and How You Handled It"

When discussing missteps, always plan to end on a positive note. And avoid oversharing personal details to make your point; keep it professional and top-level rather than going into the nitty-gritty about the failure.

Here’s a possible response, which you can tailor to your own circumstances: “At my last job, my teammate’s department had been relying on my department to collaborate on a goal they had developed independently of me. I had initially agreed to help out, but quickly realized that doing so would jeopardize my own department’s deliverables to the CEO that week, so I had to pull out of the collaboration before we’d really gotten started. This felt like a failure on my part since I wished I had pushed back initially about my limited bandwidth rather than agreeing on working together. I apologized to my colleague and she understood when I explained about my own deadlines."

25. Is There Anything We Should Know About You That’s Not on Your Resume?

Again, speak carefully here … This question represents an opportunity to share something personal about yourself and make a connection with the hiring team, but avoid letting it all hang out. Managers use this question as a “get to know you,” and it’s a bit of a wild card since it’s very open ended. Your best approach is to stick with fairly neutral topics rather than go out on a limb.

How to Answer "Is There Anything We Should Know About You That's Not on Your Resume?"

While your answer will be very individual based on your own interests, you might share something about either a work achievement that you haven’t had a chance to share yet, and/or a hobby or interest that helps the hiring team see you as a well-rounded person.

Try something like this: “One thing I wanted to be sure to share is that I just joined the Marketer’s Alliance and volunteered for a committee – that just happened so it’s not on my resume yet. Also, I’m a huge gardener. I love to spend time on the weekends rebooting in the garden so that I come back fresh and ready to go, and I find it gives me great balance.”

26. There’s a Gap in Your Employment History – Why?

Astute managers will scrutinize your resume to see if you have a consecutive employment history, and will quickly pinpoint any gaps. If you have a gap in your resume, you need to prepare in advance to explain why you weren’t working for that period of time.

How to Explain Gaps in Employment:

Honesty is the best policy here, and many employers will understand that in times when the job market is tight, some candidates may have gaps in their work history. It helps if you can add some things that you did during your break from employment that facilitated your career goals, such as any volunteer work, education or training that you may have done.

A sample answer: During that period, my entire company faced layoffs, and we had short notice about the fact. I quickly set to work on my job search and landed a position pretty quickly, but it’s true there’s a small gap in my employment history because of that. During the time that I was job hunting, I also took an online course on [add industry topic] to learn a new skill that would help in my next position.

27. Why Should We Hire You?

You should be prepared to respond to this classic interview query no matter what type of position you're applying for, so it's a good idea to prepare and practice your response to it.

How to Answer "Why Should We Hire You?"

If this question comes early in the meeting, use it as a chance to hit on the most relevant points of your experience and skill set, pointing out how well your background fits with the job requirements. If it arrives toward the end of the interview, then take the opportunity to recap the highlights of what you would bring to the company, as well as how you would leverage your abilities to solve the employer's biggest problems.

28. What Are Your Salary Expectations?

If this is your initial interview, err on the side of caution with this question by avoiding specifics. A smart tactic is to switch the question around and ask if a salary band has been identified for the job based on your experience level and location.

Some hiring teams save the most anxiety-producing topic for last: money. Some managers may be hoping that you’ll share numbers based on your prior salary, even though you aren’t obligated to do this – and it’s best to avoid doing so too early in the interview process. You’ll have more leverage as a candidate if you can get the employer to share the job’s salary band first. Otherwise, any number you put out there might end up either too low, pigeonholing you at a lower range than might have been offered, or too high, which might convince the hiring team that they can’t afford you.

How to Answer "What Are Your Salary Expectations?"

An answer like this can help you keep your options open, and hopefully lead to the manager being the first one to share a salary number: “That’s a great question, and I’m hoping you can help guide me on this one. Is it possible to share the range for this position?”

If they won’t share, stay guarded and try to wrap up the discussion by saying something like, “I understand. I’d like to keep this question open to learn more about the job and your needs, and revisit it later in the process.”

29. Do You Have Any Questions for Us?

While you may feel like wrapping up the interview experience as soon as possible, answering with, "No, I think you've covered everything!" won't impress most hiring managers. Instead, you should come prepared to ask some standard questions of the interviewers, which shows that you're interested in learning as much as you can about the position and company.

Some strong questions to ask include:

• What is your favorite thing about working here?
• What are the three biggest challenges that I would face in the position if I'm hired?
• Would I be working directly with you, and what are the other key departments that I'd be working with?
• What is the company culture like, and what do employees like most about it?

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I've Been Offered Every Job I've Interviewed For. Here Are 5 Questions I Ask Interviewers. Career consultant Kendal Lindstrom says these five questions are the winning formula for landing the role.

By Tim Paradis May 9, 2024

Key Takeaways

• Kendal Lindstrom started a career-change consultancy after struggling to change jobs.
• She shared her strategy for acing job interviews, which includes having five key questions ready.
• They focus on areas such as company culture, team dynamics, and the employer's long-term plans.

This article originally appeared on Business Insider .

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kendal Lindstrom, 25, who lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. She runs a career-change consulting firm named Doux and works in tech. She recently posted a TikTok about five questions she has ready for a job interview. Lindstrom says she believes asking at least some of these questions is why she's always landed a role she interviewed for. The following has been edited for brevity and clarity.

I started Doux because I never liked to be put in a box in terms of my career. Coming out of college, I thought, "I just want to be known as the girl in fashion." I was so wrong. But I didn't know how to pivot into a new industry . It took me two years of connecting, trying, and failing. I found the framework of what Doux is now by failing.

After working in fashion, I got myself into medical sales. I then switched to tech because that's where my passions lie. It took me two years to go from fashion to medical sales. But from the day I decided I wanted to be a tech consultant, it only took me three weeks to get my offer letter.

The difference was I knew how to write my résumé. I knew how to become the candidate that they needed.

My formula is to map your résumé to the career you're going to, not the career you've been in. To get to my current job, I created a résumé that was unstoppable.

Usually, I tell my clients to reach out to the hiring manager. In this case, the hiring manager got to me within minutes of me submitting my résumé. The interview process was extensive, but, like I always tell my clients, it's about follow-ups.

I followed up three times because they had great candidates. But I needed to stay in front, and I needed to be the person they chose.

I had the drive

It's funny when I look back and talk to the executives who hired me. They're like: "You had no business being in tech. You had nothing on your résumé that told us that you would do a good job in this. But the way you presented yourself, it was a no-brainer to hire you because we knew you would get it." So, it's often more how you're presenting yourself in a professional realm rather than what you're saying to answer the questions.

I had drive, and that's what they were looking for. They were looking for someone young to grow with the company. If they wanted someone young, they weren't going to get all the experience in the software that they needed. But I was eager to learn, and however many hours outside work that took, I was willing to do it. I really drove home that it doesn't stop at 5 p.m. My job stops when my job is done.

Each day after work, I spent 30 minutes reading a training book my company had given me. Then, I tried to apply the knowledge for 30 minutes. The next day, I would get time on my boss's calendar and say: "This is what I learned yesterday. Tell me how you have seen this applied in scenarios with a client."

It took me about a year to really digest everything. It was tough, but it came down to whether I was willing to ask questions when I needed help rather than having too much pride and not asking anyone.

I've done a lot of interviews for my age because I kept my options open no matter where I was in my career. I've never wanted to be stagnant. So I have done upwards of 10 or 11 interviews, and I've never been told no because my goal was to make an employer feel like I had their best interests at heart and I wanted to be part of their company, which meant I needed to sell myself as a solution. And it's more about the questions you ask than the answers you get.

I have pretty thick skin

When I worked in medical sales — or even with some of the comments on my TikTok — so much was about my image. I was like, "What does my blonde hair have to do with the knowledge that I have?" Not that it ever hurt my feelings because I have pretty thick skin. In any industry, there will be people who would want to discredit someone's abilities because of how they look. But at the end of the day, I can use my brain to where people are like, "We need to listen to you."

@kendallindstrom it's more about the questions you ask than the answers you get. people want to talk about themselves. #interviewquestions #jobinterview #resume #careerchange #womeninbusines ♬ original sound - DOUX | CAREER CHANGE MGMT

Some of the comments on my TikTok have been so far off the mark. At the time of my interviews for my current job, I didn't have a website, and my social media wasn't publicly available. So, I got the job because of the things I said and the questions I asked, and not because of my appearance.

These are my five key questions:

What's the company culture like?

The first thing I tell people to ask is about company culture. That's a big one. It's such a make-it-or-break-it for enjoying your job. I wanted my audience to know that asking about it is so important because if you're miserable in your job, you're only setting yourself up to fail.

What's the lowdown on my predecessor?

The second one is, "What did the person who held this role before me do that was appreciated but not required based on the job description?" I suggest this one because I want my audience to put themselves in the role already. It's an assumptive selling tactic. I always say go into the interview and sell yourself.

I asked that question one time — "What are you going to miss most about this person?" — and the interviewer said, "Oh, they got Starbucks all the time." And I was like, "Great, I guess we'll be getting Starbucks for the office all the time."

What do my colleagues require?

The third question was, "How can I best suit the needs of my direct counterparts?" That came from wanting to understand — in the most professional way — the team you're walking into. It helps me understand and identify how I would fit into the team.

I've seen teams before where they just don't get along. But you don't know that until you sit down on the first day. And at that point, it's already too late. You're either leaving, or you've got to deal with this until you can figure out another job.

How successful is the team?

No. 4 is what the current state of the department is in reference to the bottom line. That has to do with asking about sales, of course, but I'm also asking: "Am I walking into a failing department? Are you expecting me to turn things around? Are you expecting me to just take the blame for something that's already failing? Or are you guys seeing numbers you've never seen before and need more people?" And, if so, "What did you do to see those numbers?"

What does the company's future look like?

My fifth question is my favorite. It's, "What's the company's three-year, five-year, and 10-year plan?" I love this one because I've never walked into a job and thought, "I'm only going to be here for one year," or "I'm only doing this to collect a paycheck." I always say, "Think like the CEO." I never want to go into a job and strive to just be an associate. That's just where you start.

All you really need — or maybe have time for — is one of these questions. So many people on my TikTok said, "That is too many questions. You're so high maintenance." I was like, "Just use one of them, and they'll be blown away." Because you're starting a whole other conversation that doesn't have to do with their questions for you. These are just concepts that I hope people can take with them as they go — little nuggets — to nail these interviews.

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I've been offered every job I've interviewed for. Here are 5 questions I ask interviewers.

• Kendal Lindstrom started a career-change consultancy after struggling to change jobs.
• She shared her strategy for acing job interviews , which includes having five key questions ready.
• They focus on areas such as company culture, team dynamics, and the employer's long-term plans.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kendal Lindstrom, 25, who lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. She runs a career-change consulting firm named Doux and works in tech. She recently posted a TikTok about five questions she has ready for a job interview. Lindstrom says she believes asking at least some of these questions is why she's always landed a role she interviewed for. The following has been edited for brevity and clarity.

I started Doux because I never liked to be put in a box in terms of my career. Coming out of college, I thought, "I just want to be known as the girl in fashion." I was so wrong. But I didn't know how to pivot into a new industry . It took me two years of connecting, trying, and failing. I found the framework of what Doux is now by failing.

After working in fashion, I got myself into medical sales. I then switched to tech because that's where my passions lie. It took me two years to go from fashion to medical sales. But from the day I decided I wanted to be a tech consultant, it only took me three weeks to get my offer letter.

The difference was I knew how to write my résumé. I knew how to become the candidate that they needed.

My formula is to map your résumé to the career you're going to, not the career you've been in. To get to my current job, I created a résumé that was unstoppable.

Usually, I tell my clients to reach out to the hiring manager. In this case, the hiring manager got to me within minutes of me submitting my résumé. The interview process was extensive, but, like I always tell my clients, it's about follow-ups.

I followed up three times because they had great candidates. But I needed to stay in front, and I needed to be the person they chose.

I had the drive

It's funny when I look back and talk to the executives who hired me. They're like: "You had no business being in tech. You had nothing on your résumé that told us that you would do a good job in this. But the way you presented yourself, it was a no-brainer to hire you because we knew you would get it." So, it's often more how you're presenting yourself in a professional realm rather than what you're saying to answer the questions.

I had drive, and that's what they were looking for. They were looking for someone young to grow with the company. If they wanted someone young, they weren't going to get all the experience in the software that they needed. But I was eager to learn, and however many hours outside work that took, I was willing to do it. I really drove home that it doesn't stop at 5 p.m. My job stops when my job is done.

Each day after work, I spent 30 minutes reading a training book my company had given me. Then, I tried to apply the knowledge for 30 minutes. The next day, I would get time on my boss's calendar and say: "This is what I learned yesterday. Tell me how you have seen this applied in scenarios with a client."

It took me about a year to really digest everything. It was tough, but it came down to whether I was willing to ask questions when I needed help rather than having too much pride and not asking anyone.

Related stories

I've done a lot of interviews for my age because I kept my options open no matter where I was in my career. I've never wanted to be stagnant. So I have done upwards of 10 or 11 interviews, and I've never been told no because my goal was to make an employer feel like I had their best interests at heart and I wanted to be part of their company, which meant I needed to sell myself as a solution. And it's more about the questions you ask than the answers you get.

I have pretty thick skin

When I worked in medical sales — or even with some of the comments on my TikTok — so much was about my image. I was like, "What does my blonde hair have to do with the knowledge that I have?" Not that it ever hurt my feelings because I have pretty thick skin. In any industry, there will be people who would want to discredit someone's abilities because of how they look. But at the end of the day, I can use my brain to where people are like, "We need to listen to you."

@kendallindstrom it’s more about the questions you ask than the answers you get. people want to talk about themselves. #interviewquestions #jobinterview #resume #careerchange #womeninbusines ♬ original sound - DOUX | CAREER CHANGE MGMT

Some of the comments on my TikTok have been so far off the mark. At the time of my interviews for my current job, I didn't have a website, and my social media wasn't publicly available. So, I got the job because of the things I said and the questions I asked, and not because of my appearance.

These are my five key questions:

What's the company culture like?

The first thing I tell people to ask is about company culture. That's a big one. It's such a make-it-or-break-it for enjoying your job. I wanted my audience to know that asking about it is so important because if you're miserable in your job, you're only setting yourself up to fail.

What's the lowdown on my predecessor?

The second one is, "What did the person who held this role before me do that was appreciated but not required based on the job description?" I suggest this one because I want my audience to put themselves in the role already. It's an assumptive selling tactic. I always say go into the interview and sell yourself.

I asked that question one time — "What are you going to miss most about this person?" — and the interviewer said, "Oh, they got Starbucks all the time." And I was like, "Great, I guess we'll be getting Starbucks for the office all the time."

What do my colleagues require?

The third question was, "How can I best suit the needs of my direct counterparts?" That came from wanting to understand — in the most professional way — the team you're walking into. It helps me understand and identify how I would fit into the team.

I've seen teams before where they just don't get along. But you don't know that until you sit down on the first day. And at that point, it's already too late. You're either leaving, or you've got to deal with this until you can figure out another job.

How successful is the team?

No. 4 is what the current state of the department is in reference to the bottom line. That has to do with asking about sales, of course, but I'm also asking: "Am I walking into a failing department? Are you expecting me to turn things around? Are you expecting me to just take the blame for something that's already failing? Or are you guys seeing numbers you've never seen before and need more people?" And, if so, "What did you do to see those numbers?"

What does the company's future look like?

My fifth question is my favorite. It's, "What's the company's three-year, five-year, and 10-year plan?" I love this one because I've never walked into a job and thought, "I'm only going to be here for one year," or "I'm only doing this to collect a paycheck." I always say, "Think like the CEO." I never want to go into a job and strive to just be an associate. That's just where you start.

All you really need — or maybe have time for — is one of these questions. So many people on my TikTok said, "That is too many questions. You're so high maintenance." I was like, "Just use one of them, and they'll be blown away." Because you're starting a whole other conversation that doesn't have to do with their questions for you. These are just concepts that I hope people can take with them as they go — little nuggets — to nail these interviews.

Watch: Marketing leaders from Amazon, LinkedIn, Lego Group and more tell Insider what pandemic-fueled business changes are likely to stick around

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More From Forbes

Answering 'tell me about a time you failed' in a job interview.

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Describing a failure can be a tricky in an interview.

Interviewing for a new job can be draining and stressful, especially when the interviewer asks tricky questions. Among the hardest questions to answer can be “tell me about a time you failed.” Just when you’re trying to present yourself in your best light, the interviewer is seemingly undermining your efforts.

Figuring out how to answer this question effectively is especially important. The job market is super challenging right now—and it’s also super stressful. But when you know how to answer the toughest questions, you set yourself apart, reduce your anxiety and increase your chances of success .

Why Interviewers Ask About Failure

Perhaps the biggest mystery about this question is why interviews ask about failure at all. Why is this an important question that’s included in interviews? And what are organizations looking for when they asak you about failure?

Smart employers know there will always be times when performance isn’t perfect. And great cultures reward appropriate risk taking—because it drives innovation and growth. And these conditions mean that some failure will be part of the work experience.

They want to know how you’ll handle it, whether you can learn from it and if you can bounce back when you encounter friction, frustration or setbacks.

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Google chrome gets second emergency update in a week as new exploit confirmed, metallica makes history with their new no 1 single, how interviewers ask about failure.

So, what are the different potential versions of this question?

You should listen for a few different ways potential employers will ask the question—so you can reinforce the right themes no matter how it comes across. They may ask,

• Tell me about a time you failed.
• Share an example of a time when you weren’t hitting the mark.
• Tell me when your work didn’t measure up.
• What was a time when things didn’t go as you had planned?
• How do you handle failure?
• What do you do when you’re frustrated?
• How do you work through failures?
• Tell me about a time when you struggled, and how you handled it.
• Describe a time when you had to pivot.
• What was a time when you had to change course because things weren’t working out?

No matter how the interviewer asks, be ready with themes that you want to emphasize—so you can be clear about your answer while you also connect it with their specific question.

Stay calm and professional when you describe a time you failed.

How to Answer an Interview Question About Failure

So how should someone answer 'tell me about a time you failed' in an interview? And what are key points, words or themes that should be included in the response?

Essentially, interviewers want to hear four things.

• First, they want to know how you handle failure. You’ll want to be sure to communicate that you’re self-aware—and also willing to be honest and admit mistakes. You will also need to answer in a way that shows you’re not overly negative—and that you can keep your cool in tough situations.
• Next, they want to know that you learn from failure and that you are able to not only reflect, but take action to continuously improve. Share how you consider your performance (but don’t obsess), and how you have adjusted your approach to do better next time.
• Also, they want to know you have the capability to be resilient and persevere . You’ll want to communicate that you are able to realize you’ve missed the mark, take action and stay optimistic. They will want to know you can bounce back and stay focused on the future.
• And finally, interviewers want to know you’re a team player. You’ll need to take responsibility for your failures and own your missteps—and avoid blaming others or throwing team members under the bus.

When you’re answering, be thorough, but also concise. Answer with four points: First share the situation and your role. Second, talk about what went wrong. Third, share what you learned. Fourth, talk about the adjustments you plan to make for next time. Put the emphasis on how your reflection helped you move forward and how you’re able to adjust, adapt and improve.

Use words like “reflection,” “taking responsibility,” “taking ownership,” “learning,” “improvement,” “teamwork,” “adapt,” “move forward” and “do better.”

Be clear and transparent about what didn’t work well, but also avoid going into unnecessary detail. Also avoid getting emotional. Instead, remain calm and professional.

Succeeding in Your Interview

Most people—71% according to survey by The Harris Poll conducted for Bloomberg —find the job search process to be complicated. In addition, 69% say they suffer mental and emotional effects of the job search including fatigue (84%), stress (77%), anxiety (75%) and frustration (46%), according to a survey by Monster ,

If you’re finding it tough, you’re not alone. But also know that you can reduce the negative toll the process takes by being ready for the most likely questions and boosting your confidence to answer effectively.

You’ll feel the pressure to perform brilliantly in your interview—but ironically when you can articulate times when things didn’t go well, you can shine in comparison to other candidates and get the job .

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