While every company is unique and has a different approach to interviews, each interviewer has the same goal: understand your background and qualifications to see if you’re a good fit for the open position. Although there is no way to know which questions you will be asked, there are certain questions that are almost always asked by interviewers. So before your interview, be sure that you are comfortable answering at least the top four questions below:

• 1. Tell me about yourself. (30 second profile)
• 2. Why do you want to leave your current employer?
• 3. Why do you want to work for this company?
• 4. Why do you want this position?

Other potential questions:

• 5. What skills do you bring to the job?
• 6. What qualities do you think are important for this job?
• 7. Why should we hire you over someone else?
• 8. What are your top three weaknesses?
• 9. What are your top three strengths?
• 10. Give me three words that best describe you.
• 11. What do you do in your spare time?
• 12. Give me some examples of times you’ve had to break the rules.
• 13. What are your goals for the next five years?
• 14. Explain a project where you did the analysis from beginning to end.
• 15. What was the most difficult decision you ever had to make?
• 16. What was your worst decision – one you would take back? Why?
• 17. What kinds of decisions are most difficult for you? Why?
• 18. Give an example of the last time you went against the pack on a decision.
• 19. Tell me about the most complex presentation you ever made. Why was it complex? How did you present it? How did it turn out?
• 20. Tell me about your toughest persuasive experience.
• 21. Tell me about when you set your sights on a high, demanding goal and achieved it.
• 22. Imagine we are reviewing your performance in six months. What do you think our criticism will be?
• 23. Give me examples of doing more than is required in the course of a job.
• 24. How do you handle conflict? How do you handle working with someone you dislike?
• 25. Take me through your last job:
  • What issues did you face and how did you resolve them?
  • What were your responsibilities?
  • What was your most significant contribution?
  • Why did you leave this job?
  • How would your former manager describe you?
• 26. Give two examples of how you have demonstrated the following:
  • Leadership
  • Initiative/Motivation
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Creativity/Innovation
  • Strategic Thinking/Problem Solving
  • Overcoming Obstacles
  • Priority Setting

Once you’ve practiced answering these questions, they won’t catch you off guard. The result? You’ll feel calm and confident on interview day.