Introduction
You’re going to be nervous for the interview, but remember to demonstrate confidence through good posture, a warm smile, engaging eye contact, and a firm handshake. First impressions can set the tone for the rest of the interview, so be ready to make a positive one!
Develop your elevator pitch
An ‘elevator pitch’ is a 30-second professional introduction that tells your story. It touches on your past, present, and future. It’s a great way to answer the “Tell me about yourself” question. Highlight your background, skills, attributes, and finish with what led you to the position. Learn to craft yours:
Common questions
General
- Tell me about yourself.
- Walk me through your resume.
- Why do you want to work at this company?
- Why are you the best candidate for this job?
- What are your greatest strengths? Weaknesses?
- Why are you interested in this particular job?
- What are your long-term career goals?
- How has your education prepared you for this role?
- What motivates you?
Skills & Experience
- How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?
- How do you stay organized?
- How do you prioritize your work?
- How do you handle conflicts within a team?
- How does your previous experience relate to this job?
- How do you use problem solving skills to face challenges?
- What is your leadership style?
- How has your background prepared you for working with a diverse population?
Behavioral
- Describe a recent written project or presentation you worked on.
- Describe a time when you spoke up even though it was unpopular.
- Tell me about a situation where you had to solve a difficult problem.
- Describe a time when you led by example.
- Tell me about a time you had to keep your cool under pressure.
- Discuss a time when collaboration in the workplace resulted in an innovation.
Scenario
- How would you respond to a situation where you realize you made a serious error at work?
- What would you do if an angry and dissatisfied customer confronted you? How would you resolve their concern?
- What would you do if a manager asked you to perform a task you’ve never done before?
- You notice a colleague acting inappropriately in the workplace, specifically toward a coworker. What action do you take?
Find additional interview questions at Big Interview. You can filter by competency, industry and role.
Prepare stories
Employers often ask candidates for examples of their skills and experience. The S.T.A.R. method provides a framework to help you outline your key points and respond in an organized, concise, and effective manner.
- Share the Situation or context
- Highlight the Task involved
- Describe the Actions you took
- Include the Results
By preparing examples of you at your best, you’ll demonstrate your competencies for the job.
Questions for employers
Employers will ask what questions you have for them at the conclusion of the interview. This is an opportunity to gain vital information and show the employer that you’re curious and engaged. For example:
- “What do you like most about working here?”
- “What is something the previous person did that would be valuable for me to do as well?”
- “What would a typical day for me look like in this role?”
- “How would you describe the work environment here?“
- What’s the performance review process like here? How often would I be formally reviewed?
- What metrics or goals will my performance be evaluated against?
- What are the most immediate projects that I would take on?
- “Should I be hired, what can I do between now and then to best prepare?”
Your questions also provide insight into your values and interests. Check out our guide for more examples of questions to ask employers.