Day 23: The Top Interview Questions You Should Be Ready For

Interviews can be nerve-wracking, but being well-prepared for common interview questions can significantly reduce anxiety and set you up for success. The questions you’ll face will vary depending on the job and industry, but many interviews share common themes. Preparing your answers in advance will ensure you respond with confidence and precision, helping you leave a strong, lasting impression.

1. “Tell me about yourself.”

This question is often the interview opener, and while it may seem simple, it’s an opportunity to set the tone for the rest of the conversation. Avoid giving a long-winded or personal history. Instead, focus on a concise professional summary that aligns with the role you’re applying for.

Best Practices:

• Start with your current role or your most recent job.
• Highlight major accomplishments or skills that are relevant to the job you’re interviewing for.
• Conclude by briefly explaining why you’re excited about this opportunity.

Example: “I’ve spent the last five years honing my skills in digital marketing at XYZ Agency, where I’ve led campaigns for top clients like ABC Corp, resulting in a 30% increase in client engagement. I’m passionate about data-driven strategies, and I’m particularly drawn to your company’s innovative approach to integrated marketing solutions. I’m excited about the opportunity to bring my experience and creativity to your team.”

Action Tip: Write out a 60-90 second pitch that summarizes your career and directly connects it to the role you’re applying for. Practice delivering it until it feels natural.

2. “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”

When talking about your strengths, aim for qualities that directly benefit the role. Instead of vague answers like “I’m a hard worker,” choose specific attributes backed by examples. When discussing weaknesses, it’s important to be honest but avoid deal-breakers. Frame your weakness as an area you’re actively improving.

Best Practices:

• For strengths, select 2-3 skills that are crucial for the role and give examples of how you’ve applied them.
• For weaknesses, choose something real but manageable, then explain the steps you’re taking to improve.

Example: “My greatest strength is my ability to lead and manage cross-functional teams. For instance, in my previous role, I successfully led a project that brought together teams from marketing, sales, and engineering, and we exceeded our goals by 15%. As for a weakness, I’ve sometimes found it challenging to delegate because I like being hands-on with projects. However, I’ve been working on improving this by developing my delegation skills and trusting my team more.”

Action Tip: Identify 2-3 strengths with real-life examples and pick one weakness that shows self-awareness and personal growth.

3. “Why do you want to work here?”

This question is your chance to demonstrate that you’ve done your homework on the company and to show how well your values and skills align with the company’s goals. Don’t give a generic answer like “I need a job.” Instead, link your personal and professional goals with the company’s mission, culture, and vision.

Best Practices:

• Reference specific aspects of the company, such as their values, work culture, or recent projects.
• Connect the company’s goals with your own career objectives.

Example: “I’ve been following your company for some time and am impressed by your commitment to sustainability in product development. My background in eco-friendly product design aligns with your focus on reducing environmental impact, and I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute to your innovative projects.”

Action Tip: Research the company thoroughly—look at their website, press releases, and recent news. Tailor your answer to show genuine interest.

4. “Tell me about a time you faced a challenge at work.”

This is a classic behavioral interview question. Employers want to hear how you approach and resolve problems, so your answer should reflect strong problem-solving and adaptability skills. Choose an example that highlights your resourcefulness and resilience, not just a routine problem.

Best Practices:

• Describe a challenging situation (use the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result).
• Focus on the steps you took to resolve the issue and the positive outcome.

Example: “In my previous role as a project manager, we were hit with an unexpected software bug two days before a major product launch (Situation). I coordinated with the engineering team to identify and fix the issue, working late nights (Task). I kept the client informed throughout and proposed a contingency plan (Action). As a result, we resolved the bug on time and launched successfully without any major glitches (Result).”

Action Tip: Prepare at least 2-3 examples of challenges you’ve faced, using the STAR method to structure your responses.

Action Summary

• Craft a Concise Professional Summary: Focus on your current role, major accomplishments, and why you’re excited about the opportunity.
• Highlight Specific Strengths: Choose 2-3 strengths relevant to the role and back them with real-life examples.
• Frame Weaknesses Positively: Be honest about your weaknesses but show how you’re actively improving them.
• Research the Company: Tailor your answers to reflect the company’s values, culture, and recent projects.
• Use the STAR Method: Structure your responses to behavioral questions using Situation, Task, Action, and Result.

If you are more of a audio - visual person and would rather like to see / listen to this, check out my video on youtube (it is a 12-15 minute video)

If you want to learn a little more about how you can create this magic, please feel free to get in touch with me. You may want to check out my course: "Unlocking the Secrets to Getting that Dream Job"??

Crafted with the 6 Step Career G.R.O.W.T.H Framework, this course has 6 Sections, 14 Modules, 85+ lectures, 15 hours of Video lectures, 30+ PDF Downloadable resources & 4 Mega PDF Resource Bundles to help you get going!

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About the Author: Visvanathan Sambasivam

I am a corporate professional, having worked as a Marketing / Consumer Insights professional in various Indian and Global MNCs for the last 30 years, with a passion for mentoring, teaching, and coaching; with a vision of helping 1 million people in their personal and professional growth.

I write regularly on LinkedIn & Facebook and have mentored many people in their professional journey.