The 9 Most Common Questions Asked In An Interview—How To Answer Them?

I've been in the industry for over 15 years and heard the same interview questions every time I've switched companies. I believe interviewers and recruiters need to rethink their questions and stop asking some of the pointless or irrelevant ones (questions I would never ask).
 

Instead, they should focus on important ones, like how a candidate plans to make improvements within the company.
 

As useless as these questions might seem, we can't say that out loud and still have to answer them. So it's important to know how to respond to the basic and more important ones. 
 

I've compiled a list of the most common interview questions below, and I hope that after reading this, you'll feel confident in answering them like a pro.
 

Note: These are just the usual questions. There will also be questions specific to the company or job role. Be sure to prepare for those by researching the company and understanding the position you're applying for before your interview.

In this article, we will discuss the following:
 

1. What are the most common questions asked by interviewers?
2. Poor answers majority gives
3. What are the best answers to those questions?

The Most Common Questions Asked by Interviewers and the Best Answers to Give

Without further delay, let’s look at some of the most basic and important questions asked in an interview.
 

Q1. Can you introduce yourself? OR Tell us something about yourself. 

“Tell us about yourself” is often the opening question in interviews. If you have years of experience and have faced several interviews, you probably know this is the appetiser for what’s to come. And if you're new to the job market, you can be 99.9% sure this question will come up.
 

❌ Poor Answer:

Imagine you’ve prepared for all the tough questions, but they first ask, “Tell me about yourself.” You might feel confused and start blabbing about your personal life—where you were born, your age, your family, and your hobbies.
 

For example: 

“My name is Charles John. I am 30 years old and was born in a small town, Bakewell. I have five siblings, and my parents worked hard to raise us. They invested a lot in my education and have high hopes for me. I like playing rugby and have won trophies several times.”
 

✅ Best Answer: 

When interviewers ask about yourself, they are interested in your “professional life,” not your details. According to career coach Lily Zhang from The Muse, your answer should be structured into three parts: present, past, and future.
 

Present: Start by telling the interviewer what you are currently doing professionally.
 

Example: “I have over ten years of experience in software development, currently specialising in programming languages like Python and Java. My strengths lie in problem-solving and software architecture.”
 

Past: Briefly share your experience, where you started, and any significant achievements.Example: “I started as a junior developer after earning my Computer Science degree, where I worked on backend systems. Over time, I developed full-stack skills and contributed to impactful web applications.”
 

Future: Conclude with your future goals and what you aim to achieve.
 

Example: “I plan to specialise in cloud technologies and machine learning while taking on leadership roles and contributing to innovative projects.”
 

This structure helps you present a concise and professional career summary, making a strong first impression on the interviewer.
 

Q2. How did you hear about this position?

This question might seem unimportant, but you could hear it in your interview. Employers want to know where candidates find their job postings.
 

❌ Poor Answer:

Saying you heard about the job “online” or “through a friend” is too vague. 
 

For example, if you say, “I found it online,” it doesn't provide any useful information. If you know someone at the company, don’t hide that connection just because you think it might be judged negatively.
 

✅ Best Answer:

Provide a clear and specific answer.
 

For example:

• If you see a job posting on LinkedIn, you can say, “I found this position while browsing LinkedIn.”
   
• If someone referred you, you could say, “My friend John, who works in the marketing department, told me about this job.” 
   
• If your friend doesn’t work there, mention where they found the job listing, like, “My friend saw the posting on Indeed and shared it with me.”

Q3. Why did you apply for this position? OR Why do you want to work at our company?

"Why our company?" or “Why should we hire you?” are common interview questions measuring your interest and what drew you to the job. The interviewer wants to see if you’re genuinely excited about the role and the company, not just applying randomly.
 

❌ Poor Answer:

Example: “I’m unemployed and needed a job, so I applied here just like anywhere else. You responded quickly, so I’m here to try my luck.”
 

While this may be honest, it shows you’re here by chance, not by choice. Employers want candidates who are enthusiastic about joining their team.
 

✅ Best Answer: 

Example: “I’ve admired your company for years and have always wanted to be part of it. I appreciate the friendly environment and positive work culture, as I’ve heard from employee reviews. The job description matches my skills, and I believe my passion for your company shows I’ll prioritise the work and stay long-term.”
 

Even if the company isn’t perfect, research to find reasons that align with your values. If the location is convenient, mention it—this shows reliability.
 

If you’re a freshie, you can also say, “As a fresher, I am adaptable to any environment and can adjust to the organisation’s needs. I am eager to learn, ready to face new challenges, and confident I can complete tasks on time.”
 

Q4. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Two common interview questions are, “What is your greatest strength?” and “What is your greatest weakness?” It might be better to ask, “What traits make you a good candidate for this position?” or “Tell us about a challenge you faced in a previous role. How did you resolve it?”
 

However, you should still be ready for the traditional questions.
 

❌ Poor Answer:

Avoid mentioning strengths that are irrelevant to the job or professional life.
 

For Example:

“I am very good at cooking.” This response aligns with your skill or strength that doesn’t relate to the job and fails to showcase your relevant skills.
 

Similarly, don’t mention weaknesses that could hurt your chances, whether they are true or not.
 

For Example:

“I lack time management” or “I get exhausted easily.”
 

These responses can reflect poorly on you, showing you might not be reliable or a long-term employee.
 

✅ Best Answer: 

Your strengths should align with the job or professional life, highlighting qualities that boost your chances of getting hired.
 

For example:

• "I’m always dedicated and fully committed to my work."
• "I enjoy learning new things that can benefit my work."
• "I try not to make mistakes, but if I do, I learn from them quickly instead of stressing over it."

When discussing weaknesses, you can either politely decline to answer or offer a response that shows a positive side.
 

For example: 

• "I get so focused on finishing tasks early that I sometimes overlook other things." (Shows commitment to work)
• "I easily get attached to places I work at." (Indicates long-term dedication)
• "I’m friendly but not overly talkative. I prefer to keep things professional." (Shows you contribute to a healthy work environment.)

Q7. Why are you changing jobs?

It is a tricky question, so be careful. Whether your reason is positive or negative, avoid speaking badly about your previous company, as it could give a bad impression.
 

❌ Poor Answer:

Even if you had a bad experience, never criticise your past employer. 
 

For example:

"My previous company had a toxic environment and was rude about deadlines."
 

It makes you seem negative and unprofessional.
 

✅ Best Answer: 

Instead, give a positive reason for leaving. Even if it’s not entirely true, focus on growth or logistics. 
 

For example:

• "My last company was great, but I wanted to develop new skills."
• "The environment was nice, but the long commute was tough."

These answers show professionalism and focus on growth without badmouthing your past job.
 

Q8. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Some interviewers may ask this question, so it’s important to think carefully about your response.
 

❌ Poor Answer:

A humorous reply like, “Sitting in your chair,” might sound confident, but most interviewers will see it as overconfidence. It can lead to tricky follow-up questions like, “What makes you think you can reach that level so quickly?” or “What have you done so far to achieve that?” These questions could throw you off and make you seem unprepared.
 

✅ Best Answer: 

There’s no perfect answer, but being honest and genuine is key.
 

For example:

• “I see myself continuing to do what I love while learning new skills and growing in my role.”
• It shows commitment, passion for your work, and the drive to keep improving. It also suggests that you’ll stay motivated in the long run.

Q9. Do you have any questions for me?

Many people get confused by this question, which usually comes at the end of the interview. You might think the interview is over and respond without thinking.
 

❌ Poor Answer:

The most common answer people give is “No.”
 

A “No” suggests that you’re not interested, paying attention, or thinking you already know everything, which is unlikely. This response leaves a poor impression on the interviewer.
 

✅ Best Answer: 

There are many good questions you can ask to show your interest. For example:

• "Can you share the pay range for this position?"
• "Is there a probation period?"
• "How did my interview go?"
• "What’s the work environment like?"
• "What tasks would you expect me to focus on?"
• "What are the company’s policies?"
• "If I get hired, when would I start?"

You can also ask field-specific questions, like:

• "How old is the codebase?"
• "How many people are on the team?"
• "What technologies or tools does the team currently use?"
• "What is the typical workflow or process for completing tasks?"
• "How does the team handle communication and collaboration?"
• "Are there opportunities for professional development or training?"
• "What challenges does the team currently face?"
• "How do you measure success in this role?"
• "Can you tell me about the team structure and dynamics?"

You can ask anything that you are curious about, that concerns you, or that will help you in the future. It shows you are truly interested in learning about and working for the company. These questions show that you're interested in how the team works and your role, helping you better understand the work environment.
 

Reminder: 

All the questions mentioned above are common ones that many interviewers ask, but other questions come up, too, such as:

• “What is the difference between confidence and overconfidence?”
• “Besides work, what are your hobbies?”

You can answer these questions honestly based on what you know.

For example: 

To explain the difference between confidence and overconfidence, you might say: 
 

"Overconfidence is when a person believes they can do a task without properly assessing it first. Conversely, confidence comes from understanding and believing you can complete the task."
 

Be careful when discussing your hobbies. If you’re applying for a medical-related job, avoid mentioning hobbies like playing football, video games, or hanging out with friends. Instead, focus on interests that relate to the job, such as:
 

• Reading medical articles
• Watching medical videos on social media
• Staying active with fitness, yoga, or gym workouts
• Cooking healthy meals
   

These hobbies show that you are engaged in activities relevant to your field.