Interview Example Questions

Questions relating to the new job / company:

  • Why do you want this job?
  • What qualities do you think will be required for this job?
  • What / how do you feel you can contribute?
  • Why do you want to work for this company?
  • What do you know about this company?
  • What interests you about our product (or service)?
  • What can we (the new company) offer that your previous company cannot offer?
  • You have not done this sort of job before. How will you cope / succeed?
  • Why should we employ you?
  • How long do you think it would be before you were making a significant contribution to the team/company?
  • How ambitious are you?
  • What do you like and dislike about the job we are discussing?
  • What are you looking for in a new job?
  • What would you like to avoid in your next job?
  • You may be over qualified for this position?
  • Are you prepared to relocate?
  • Are you willing to travel?
  • What level of salary are you looking for now?

Questions relating to your current / previous job:

  • How much does your last job resemble the one you are applying for?
  • What are the differences?
  • What do you think of the last company you worked for?
  • Why did you join your previous company?
  • Did they live up to your expectations?
  • Why are you leaving now?
  • Explain the organisational structure in your last company and how you fitted into it?
  • What did you think of your manager/supervisor?
  • How did you get on with your previous manager/supervisor, co-workers and subordinates?
  • What did you do on a day to day basis?
  • Did you increase sales or profits in your last job?
  • Have you reduced costs at your last company?
  • Did you feel you progressed satisfactorily in your last job?
  • What problems did you encounter in your last job?
  • What elements of your last role challenged you?
  • What are your current salary expectations?

Career related questions:

  • Why did you choose a career in …?
  • Why are you changing careers?
  • What are your career goals?
  • How long have you been looking for a new job?
  • Do you prefer to work in a small, medium or large company?
  • What would your ideal job be?
  • Are you considering any other positions at the moment?
  • If you have changed jobs a lot you may be asked how long you would stay in the new job.
  • Have you ever been fired?
  • How often are you off sick?
  • What will your referees say about you?

Questions relating to you:

  • How would you describe yourself?
  • How would others describe you?
  • Do you consider yourself successful?
  • What was your greatest success?
  • How did you achieve it?
  • What has been your biggest failure?
  • How could you improve yourself?
  • Are you a leader?
  • How do you handle criticism?
  • What sort of manager are you?
  • What makes a good manager?
  • Do you work well with others?
  • Do you need other people around to stimulate you or are you self-motivated?
  • Are you accepted into a team quickly?
  • Can you act on your own initiative?
  • How do you run a meeting?
  • What motivates you?
  • What management style gets the best results out of you?
  • Do you know how to motivate other people?
  • Are you competitive?
  • Are you aggressive?
  • What do you dislike doing?
  • Do you feel you are ready to take on greater responsibilities?
  • Can you work under pressure?
  • How many hours are you prepared to work?
  • Do you mind working for someone older than yourself? Younger than you? Of the opposite sex?
  • What interests do you have outside work?

Questions you could ask:

  • Why is this position available?
  • What exactly will I be doing should I be accepted for the position?
  • What is a typical day like for someone in a similar position to the one I am applying for?
  • Could you break the position into specific functions?
  • Could you explain the company structure?
  • Tell me about your style of management and the reporting structure within the company
  • Will there be a probation period for this position? How long?
  • Will you encourage further training?
  • How will you measure my performance? How often?
  • What is the vision / what are the growth plans for this department?
  • Could you tell me about the team and how they work together?
  • What are the opportunities in this role over the next 3-5 years?
  • What is it about the company that keeps you working here?
  • Where have other people who have done this position in the past progressed?
  • How would you describe your management style?
  • How would you describe the team / culture?
  • What is the most challenging aspect I would face in the role?
  • What would you expect from me in my first week/month?