Sample employment interview questions (10 common questions and answers)

After creating a perfect resume and passing the first step, it's time to face the final challenge:

Your job interview.

During the interview, the interviewers will ask you questions to get an overview of your personality and see if you are the right person for the job.

After reading this article, we intend to cover common interview questions and answers and make you well-informed. Of course, you are not necessarily going to be asked all these questions in every job interview, and you should look at this article as a guide. So, stay with us until the end of this article so that you can prepare for the interview by asking yourself these questions.

Common job interview questions

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

The employer asks this question to understand better your skills and achievements and why you think you are a good fit for the job. This question seems very simple, but many people need help to answer this question correctly.

Also, know that you should not talk about your issues because employers are more interested in learning about your work history than anything else.

Below are the things that you can use to talk about yourself in the best way.

• Start your conversation with a simple introduction.

• Talk about your education and the job skills you have. You can mention the formal education, training courses, or certifications you have received.

• Introduce some of your work experiences and state which fields you have worked in. Describe what role you played in the team and how you contributed to the development and growth of the projects.

• Describe the specific abilities and skills you have acquired during your work experience. This can include programming languages, software, analytical tools, and any technical or personal skills related to your desired job.

• State if you have been able to work in a team environment or manage group projects.

• Briefly state how your experience, expertise, and skills can help the team and company in question improve.

2. Why did you decide to apply for this position?

The interviewers want to gauge your passion for the position through this question. Because, anyway, job performance is directly related to job satisfaction. The more satisfied and happy you are with your role in the company, the more productive you will be.

When asked this question, your answer should include two things:

• What motivated you to apply for this position?

• Why this company? Have you heard of them before?

  Example: I am interested in this company and position because of a strong fit between my values and goals and your organization's work philosophy. I have always been looking for an opportunity to apply my technical capabilities in international trade and market development, and your company is very suitable for this purpose. Reading your job advertisement and researching the company, I found that you are a thriving organization looking to develop new technologies and sustainable improvements. This was important to me because, as a specialist in international relations and marketing, I wanted an organization that would take me to new challenges and allowed me to work with an experienced and expert team. In addition, your organizational culture and focus on cooperation, innovation, and sustainable development are admirable. I have been looking for an opportunity to work in a positive, inspiring, and supportive environment, and this company can fully provide these possibilities.

In short, all aspects of this position suit my abilities and spirit, and I look forward to working with you.

3. Talk about your strengths

This common job interview question lets you discuss your soft and hard skills, mention your personality traits and competencies, and relate them to the desired job position.

Example: One of my strengths is effective communication and interaction skills. In a project at a previous job position, I was responsible for communicating with clients and financiers. Using strong communication skills, I could communicate effectively with them and understand their needs and desires correctly. This increased the trust of the customers in the company and improved their satisfaction. Also, I helped capitalists with correct recommendations and guidance in improving the use of the company's products. This experience shows that my communication and interactive abilities can effectively establish effective communication with your customers.

4. What is your biggest weakness?

Naturally, talking about weaknesses is uncomfortable for you, especially in an environment like a job interview where everyone likes to talk more about their strengths and successes. In choosing your shortcomings, choosing the points that are normal and can be improved is better. However, speaking correctly about your weaknesses shows you are self-aware and willing to fix the points. You are interested in weakness and self-promotion at work. Remember to always start your conversation by stating the fault and then tell the actions you will take to fix them; By doing this, you end your exchange positively.

Example: One of the weaknesses that I see in myself is the weakness of communicating in front of a large crowd. Sometimes, when facing a large group of people in the team or with clients, I feel insecure and may need clarification on whether I have communicated my message correctly. But I have participated in communication and negotiation skills courses to improve and eliminate this weakness. Also, by practicing and focusing on this skill, I have worked in smaller teams and on various projects to gain enough confidence to face large crowds gradually.

5. Why should we hire you?

This common question from the set of job interview questions may scare you, but keep in mind that interviewers ask this question to give you another chance to explain why you are the best candidate; Your answer should include your skills and experience and your fit with the company's organizational culture.

Example: Considering my education, industrial engineering experience, and work experience in a similar company, I can be helpful and practical for your organization. I have robust data analysis, process optimization, and project management skills. Also, I am very interested in new technologies and management methods, and I am constantly learning and updating myself. On the other hand, I have become thoroughly familiar with your organization, and it can significantly impact your organization's performance and promotion.

6. What is your expected salary?

Interviewers usually ask this common job interview question to ensure that your expected salary aligns with the amount they consider for the position. They assume you do not know the job's salary range if you say an amount lower or higher than the prevailing labor market rate. So, read about the typical salary range, especially in your skill area.

Example: My expected salary for this job is between 6 and 8 million tomans, which is a regular rate considering my experience and skills; however, I am flexible.

7. Do you have any questions for us?

This is one of the most important questions to ask during an interview because it allows you to open up about any topics yet to be discussed and show the interviewers how excited you are about the position. And you are keen.

Example: Can you elaborate on this role's most critical challenges or priorities?

Are there training and professional development opportunities for employees at your company?

How does your company use the abilities and potential of each employee to grow and improve in the organization?

8. What makes you interested in this job?

Like previous employment interview questions, interviewers ask this question to make sure you understand the job position well or not; They also allow you to highlight the skills related to this job and want to know if you can face new challenges.

Example: I'm interested in this job because it matches my career interests and skills. Considering my experience in (name of related field) and using my technical and analytical skills, I can perform well in this job.

9. In the next five years, where do you see yourself?

This question can help employers to understand whether the company's goals and career path are in line with your personal development goals; To answer this question, you should mention the ideas you have for your personal development, the roles you would like to participate in, and the things you want to do.

Example: In the next five years, I see myself in a position where I work as a successful project manager in international communication. Considering my experience in this field and my specialized knowledge, I plan to take on more significant international projects and play a role in their success. Of course, everything I said depends on my will and effort now.

10. How do you manage your stress?

You may think this is a perverse question, but it is not. Employers ask this question to understand your work stress; Employers are interested in hiring people who react to focus constructively. Your answer to this common job interview question shows your personal growth.

Example: When working on an extensive and stressful project, one of the ways that help reduce my stress is prioritizing and planning carefully. By prioritizing my tasks and having a regular daily schedule, I can speed things up and reduce the stress associated with time constraints. I spend my free time doing sports, reading, and with my family and friends. These activities energize and relax me and help me present the best version of myself in the workplace.

Last word

In the article above, we examined ten examples of typical job interview questions you may be asked and gave examples to understand them better. Also, if you want to know the types of resumes and write your resume in the best possible way for different job positions, refer to the article on types of resumes.