Most job interviews use the same core questions. Below are 15 of the most common, with short, natural sample answers you can adapt. Use them as models for structure and phrasing, then put in your own facts.
Questions about you
1. Tell me about yourself.
"I'm a customer support lead with five years' experience in software. I currently manage a team of four, and last year we cut our average reply time in half. I'm now looking for a role where I can work more on improving the product itself."
We cover this one in depth in how to answer 'Tell me about yourself'.
2. What are your strengths?
"I'm good at staying organised when things get busy. In my last role, I handled up to 30 orders a day for three different clients, and I never missed a delivery date."
Pick one or two strengths and give proof. A list of five adjectives sounds empty.
3. What is your biggest weakness?
"I used to find it hard to say no, so I'd take on too much. Now I check my workload before I agree to new tasks, and I tell my manager early if something has to move."
Choose a real weakness that won't stop you doing the job, and show what you are doing about it.
4. How would your colleagues describe you?
"I think they'd say I'm calm and easy to work with. My manager once told me I'm the person people come to when a project gets stressful."
5. What are you most proud of in your career?
"Last year I led the move to a new booking system. It took four months, and we did it without any downtime for customers."
Questions about the job and company
6. Why do you want to work here?
"I've used your app for two years, so I know the product well. I also like that you're expanding into Asia, and I'd love to be part of that growth."
Mention something specific. "It's a great company" could be said about anyone.
7. Why are you leaving your current job?
"I've learned a lot there, but there's limited room to grow into management. I'm looking for a role where I can lead a team."
Stay positive. Talk about what you are moving towards.
8. Why should we hire you?
"You need someone who can manage several clients at once and communicate clearly. That's exactly what I've done for the past three years, and I can start adding value quickly."
9. Where do you see yourself in five years?
"I'd like to be leading projects and mentoring newer team members. I'd love to grow with one company rather than move around, which is why this role appeals to me."
10. What are your salary expectations?
"Based on my research and experience, I'm looking for something in the range of [your range]. But I'm open to discussing the full package."
Research the typical range for the role and location before the interview, and give a range rather than one number.
Questions about how you work
11. Tell me about a challenge you faced and how you dealt with it.
"A key supplier went out of business two weeks before a launch. I contacted three other suppliers the same day, found one that could deliver in time, and kept the client updated every few days. We launched on schedule."
For this kind of question, use a simple story: the situation, what you did, and the result.
12. Tell me about a time you disagreed with a colleague.
"A colleague wanted to launch a campaign before we'd tested it. I suggested we test with a small group first. We agreed on a one-week test, found a problem with the sign-up form, and fixed it before the full launch."
Show that you disagreed politely and focused on the result, not on who was right. See also how to disagree politely at work.
13. How do you handle pressure or tight deadlines?
"I break the work into small steps and do the most important part first. If I can see a deadline is at risk, I say so early so we can plan around it."
14. Do you prefer working alone or in a team?
"I enjoy both. I like focused time to do detailed work, but I get my best ideas from talking things through with the team."
15. Do you have any questions for us?
Always say yes. "No, I think you've covered everything" can sound like you are not interested. See the list of good questions below.
Phrases to buy time
You don't need to answer instantly. A short pause sounds thoughtful, not weak. These phrases give you a few seconds to think.
- "That's a good question. Let me think for a moment."
- "Can I take a second to think about that?"
- "Let me think of the best example."
- "Just to make sure I understand: do you mean in my current role, or in general?"
- "Sorry, could you repeat the question?"
If you lose your way mid-answer, say "Sorry, let me start that again" or "To put it more simply..." Interviewers don't mind. They mind rambling more than a short restart.
Questions to ask the interviewer
Ask two or three. Good questions show you are thinking about doing the job, not just getting it.
- "What would a typical day look like in this role?"
- "What would success look like in the first three months?"
- "What are the biggest challenges the team is facing right now?"
- "How does the team usually work together? Mostly in person or remote?"
- "What do you enjoy most about working here?"
- "What are the next steps in the process?"
Avoid asking about holidays or salary in a first interview unless they bring it up.
Common English mistakes in interviews
| Instead of | Say |
|---|---|
| "I have 5 years experience." | "I have five years' experience." / "I have five years of experience." |
| "I am working here since 2021." | "I've been working here since 2021." |
| "I am responsible of sales." | "I'm responsible for sales." |
| "I did a mistake." | "I made a mistake." |
| "I want to improve my knowledges." | "I want to build my knowledge." |
| "Yes" (and nothing else) | "Yes, for example..." Always add a reason or example. |
How to prepare
- Choose the eight or ten questions most likely for your role.
- Write bullet-point notes for each, including one real example or number.
- Say each answer out loud several times. Reading notes silently is not the same as speaking them.
- Practise over a few days, not all the night before. Short, spaced sessions help you remember better than one long cram.
If you want a tool to rehearse with, our guide to the best app for job interview English compares options, and the best apps for nervous English speakers page helps if interviews make you anxious.
Practise this with Katie AI
Katie AI can run a mock interview with you out loud, using the questions for your role. It corrects every sentence, explains why, and remembers your earlier answers so you can improve them over several sessions.