Here is a list of the top 50 most common interview questions and answers that are often asked at HR interviews, as well as questions and answers that are commonly asked at job interviews.
1) Tell me about yourself?
This is the most common question an interviewer will ask, and the candidate will find it hardest to answer. This question puts all the pressure on the person being interviewed, while the interviewer can take it easy.
You should be awake enough to know how to answer this question. You should start by sounding calm and sure of yourself, and then answer in a proper way. It shouldn\’t be planned out. Always keep in mind that you\’re not giving the interview to a robot, so make sure that every word you say is clear and confident.
A good way:
Look at what your interviewer is interested in.
Start with your most important achievements.
Possible Answer
\”Good morning, afternoon, or night, sir or madam.\”
First of all, I\’d like to say thanks for giving me this chance to talk about myself.
My name is Ram Kumar.
In terms of my education, I have an M.tech in finance from Mumbai Univervicty. College in Mumbai, which I got in 2010.
In 2012, I got my B.tech from M.N.I.T. NOIDA.
I went to school at DPS.
In terms of my family, I come from a middle-class background. My father works in business, and my mother takes care of the house. My brother is getting ready to work for the government.
I\’m good at C, C++, and PHP, and I\’m also very interested in HTML, CSS, ASP. Net, and SQL.
My strengths are being sure of myself, having a good attitude, and working hard.
My weakness is that I find it easy to trust everyone.
I like to watch Music channels, play volleyball, and listen to music for fun.
Possible Answer
\”Good morning/afternoon/evening, sir/madam,\” I\’d like to introduce myself. I am Sita Raman. I\’m from Delhi. Delhi University is where I got my B.Tech in IT.
When it comes to my family, there are four of us, including myself. My dad is an Engineer, and my mom is a house wife. This year, my younger sister will take her 12th CBSE board exam.
Now, about me: I\’m smart, sweet, confident, and a hard worker. I\’m a calm person, so I try to look at every problem from a good angle and keep a smile on my face, which makes me even stronger.
I won\’t hesitate to do any job that is given to me.
I like to dance, surf the Internet, play chess, listen to music, and watch the music channel. I like to read e-books on my phone and go back to my hometown when I have free time.
Thank you for giving me the chance to talk about myself.
Possible Answer
\”Good morning/afternoon/evening, sir/madam,\” I\’d like to introduce myself. I am Sita Raman. I\’m from Delhi. Delhi University is where I got my B.Tech in IT.
I have worked for top MNC companies for 5 years. In my last job, I was in charge of making a new coding platform that won an award. I can live in a place where things move quickly.
Now, I\’m looking for a chance to use my technical knowledge and creative problem-solving skills at a software company like yours that is known for being on the cutting edge.
2) Why are you applying for this job? / Why this role attract you?
The interviewer wants to know the following by asking this question:
If you know what the job is all about,
How well you might fit what they want
What do you like best about this job?
Before you answer, take your time to think of an answer that will convince the interviewer. Explain what you have to offer based on the above points.
Possible Answer
I applied for this job because my skills and experience are a great match for it. This is the kind of job I\’m looking for right now, and I\’m sure I\’ll be able to make a big difference in it.
Possible Answer
Sir, it\’s a great honour to work for a company with a good name like yours. When I read about what you were looking for, I saw that my skills fit. With this job, I can show off my technical skills and help the business grow.
3) Do you want to work extra hours or office hours only?
To answer this question, you should be very honest. Don\’t lie or make a deal just to get the job. If you have no trouble, you can answer this way:
I know that if I\’m asked to work longer hours at the company, it\’s for a good reason, so I\’m fine with it. If putting in more work means I\’m helping the company, I\’ll be glad to do it.
4) Which do you value more, the money or the work?
This is a very hard question to answer. Money should never matter more than the work. This way of thinking is healthy (at least at the time of interview).
Possible Answer
\”Money is always important, but what\’s most important to me is my work.\”
Possible Answer
\”I would say that work is more important than money. If we work hard and reach our company\’s goals, money will come naturally.\”
Possible Answer
\”Work is more important to me than money. Working just for money might not make me happy if I don\’t like what I\’m doing. Work keeps me busy and productive, so money comes naturally.\”
Possible Answer
\”Money probably doesn\’t mean as much to me as it does to anyone else. It\’s important and necessary for us to live and do well, but it\’s not my main motivation. I believe that money is a reward for hard work.\”
5) How much do you know about this organization?
You should know everything about the company where you\’re going for an interview, so look into its history, current structure, and way of doing things. Check the company\’s website, as well as its Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and LinkedIn pages, to find out what you need to know.
Possible Answer
We all know that it is one of the infrastructure companies in India that is growing the fastest. The best thing is that the employee has the best facilities. People are proud to work for your company because it gives its employees all the help they need to do their jobs well. This company has a good working environment. It has also reached the other parts of the world. And I was looking for this kind of business.
Possible Answer
We all know that this company is the best development company in India. I was happy to see that your employees talk about how great it is to work for your company on your website. So many people seem to hate where they work these days, for one reason or another. It\’s great to see that your employees are proud to talk about how much they love their jobs and company.
6) Why did you leave your last job?
With this question, you should be very careful. Don\’t bad-mouth other employers or say things like \”I need more money.\” You can say the following instead:
Sir, it\’s for your job. I learned a lot at my last job, but now I want to try something new to expand my horizons and learn new skills.
7) Why should we hire you?
Tell what your qualifications are and what makes you different.
Possible Answer
\”I think everyone has to start somewhere. I need a chance to show what I can do, and I think your company is the right place to do it. I want to be a part of your growth, and I will do my best.\”
Possible Answer
\”As a new employee, I need a chance to show what I can do. If I work for your company, I\’ll do everything I can to help it grow. No one is born with experience, and if you hire me, your company will give me professional experience.\”
Possible Answer
\”Sir, as a new employee, I have theoretical knowledge, but I need a place to use it in the real world. I promise to work hard for the good of the company. As a new employee, I don\’t have any ideas about how a company works, which will help me fit in quickly.
Possible Answer
\”I have a lot of experience in that field (your field of expertise), and I think my skills will be a big help to your company as it continues to strive for excellence.\”
8) What are your salary expectations?
Don\’t ask for your exact salary. Instead, show how much you care about the job itself.
Possible Answer
I\’m more interested in the role than the pay, and based on my experience, I expect to be paid enough for this role. As you also know, living costs are high in Mumbai.
Possible Answer
I don\’t care about salary because I\’m new to the job. My main goal is to learn and get more experience. Since your company has a good name, I\’ll just accept that the salary you offer is the best in the business.
Possible Answer
I haven\’t given it much thought yet. I\’m more interested in finding out what this job I\’m applying for needs from me.
9) If we hire you, how long do you think you would work for us?
Dont answer too fast and give any duration.
Possible Answer
\”I\’ll do my best to help your company grow. As long as I have career growth, job satisfaction, respect, and a safe place to work, I don\’t need to change companies.\”
Possible Answer
\”I\’ll work for the company as long as my presence helps the company and I have enough chances to grow professionally and financially.\”
Possible Answer
\”Everyone wants a bright future, a healthy work environment, a good salary, and job satisfaction. I\’m pretty sure your company gives all of those things, so I don\’t need to change companies.\”
Possible Answer
\”I\’ll work for the company as long as my presence helps both the company and me at the same time. That way, your company will get good results and I\’ll be able to improve my skills.\”
10) On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate yourself?
Possible Answer
I\’ll give myself an 8 out of 10 because I don\’t want to think that I could have done more. This thought will make you want to learn about the things. I really appreciate you giving me this great chance.
Possible Answer
How I answer this question will depend on a few things. I give myself an 8 for hard work because I think we should always be able to improve our skills, which will make us want to learn new things. I would give myself a 9 when it comes to creativity. I have made banners and brochures for clients in the past, and they liked them. When it comes to patience, I\’ll give myself a 6 because I\’m just starting out in my field. Just like in your personal life, you need more patience in your work life if you have more experience. Because of this, senior management probably looks more patient than entry-level or even middle-level employees in most companies. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would give myself an 8.
11) What are your achievements in life?
You might also be asked, \”What are your biggest accomplishments?\” What do you feel most proud of?
You should only talk about things you\’ve done at work. Try to pick something you\’ve done recently.
Possible Answer
\”Winning the Manager of the Year award last year was probably the best thing I\’ve done in my career so far.\”
Possible Answer
\”Getting over my fear of failing is my biggest accomplishment. It gives me a full sense of living and makes me more confident.\”
Possible Answer
\”When I was working as a website manager for an entertainment outlet, my team was under a lot of stress and the website was having trouble, so I had to come up with a plan to get more people to visit.
12) What do you want to do with your life?
Your answer should be based in reality and make sense.
Possible Answer
\”My short-term goal is to work for a well-known company like yours where I can learn and improve my technical skills.
My long-term goal is for the company to be at the top, and I want to be one of the people who made that happen.\”
Possible Answer
\”My goal is to do well in life so that my family can be proud of me.\”
13) What are your strengths?
Even if your strength has nothing to do with business, you should always find a way to connect it to work and talk about the good things about it.
Possible Answer
My main strength is being able to take on challenges on my own. I am always proactive in what I do, which keeps my mind active and on task.
Possible Answer
I\’m smart and careful, which I think are my best qualities. I think it\’s important in any job to think about every step and pay attention to detail.
Possible Answer
I\’m very good at managing my time, and I\’m also organised, quick, and proud of how well I do my work.
Possible Answer
I always know how important time is, and I\’m always able to come up with new ideas. I also listen to what other people have to say.
Possible Answer
My ability to stay focused on my work is my best quality. Because I\’m not easily distracted, I do very well at what I do.
Possible Answer
My confidence is my biggest strength. I\’m also hardworking, self-motivated, and have a positive outlook on my career and life. If I have a problem, I see it as a chance to show what I can do.
14) What are your weaknesses?
Everyone has weaknesses, so don\’t spend too much time on this when answering this question. This question is usually asked to see how honest you are with yourself. Say one or two minor weaknesses and try to explain how it works. (Avoid saying \”I work too hard,\” which is a common answer.) Don\’t pretend you don\’t have weaknesses and don\’t avoid answering the question.
Possible Answer
You can say, \”I used to be very unorganised. I\’d forget homework and birthdays all the time. But I came up with a computerised system of to-do lists and reminders that keeps me on top of everything.
Possible Answer
\”I\’m an honest person, and when someone asks me for help, I can\’t say no.\”
15) What are your hobbies?
What you like and what you do for fun are totally up to you, but you should always explain your answer.
For Example:
I like to dance, surf the Internet, play chess, listen to music, and watch the news. When I have free time, I like to read news on my phone and go back to my hometown. Thank you for letting me introduce myself.
16) Tell me how you would be helpful to this group.
When answering this question, don\’t just say that you are hardworking, dedicated, on time, etc. These are not assets; they are responsibilities that management wants. Of course, these are positive words that mean a lot to you and the company. In fact, these qualities will make you an asset to the company after you\’ve had some experience.
Possible Answer
\”To be an asset to a company, we have to be on time, work hard, adapt quickly to our surroundings, and have a good attitude at work. I have all of these qualities, so I will be an asset to this company.\”
Possible Answer
\”Since I\’m new, I\’ll be passionate about my work, and if I get the chance, I\’ll be ready to try out different parts of the industry\’s work, and I\’ll always be loyal to the company.\”
Possible Answer
\”I\’m very good at what I do at ABC company. I have won a lot of awards and certificates from the places I have worked. I\’m a good worker because I can handle stress well and don\’t need much help.\”
17) If the company asked, would you lie?
You should answer this question in a way that doesn\’t hurt anyone\’s feelings.
Possible Answer
\”It depends on the situation. If my lie helps the company and helps a lot of people, then I will tell a lie.\”
Possible Answer
\”Most likely, I would say no if I were lying. But if my lie continues to help thousands of people and has no effect on other people, I will agree to it. If my one lie leads to a lot of success and happiness without hurting other people\’s rights, then I expect to do this.\”
18) Are you also looking for work at other places?
This question has a very specific goal. The interviewer wants to know if the candidate admits that he has applied to other places or gives a canned answer, or what the candidate thinks about their company.
You shouldn\’t say that you haven\’t applied to other companies, but you can say that –
As you know, I want to work as a software developer. Besides your company, I have also applied to ABC company and 123 company. This answer is more specific.
19) How did you hear about our company?
The interviewer shouldn\’t lie when answering these kinds of questions, because they are smart and can tell if you are lying.
For Example
Several websites on the web tell me about your company.
20. What do you think success means?
Possible Answer
Working with a group of people to make a company more profitable is a success for me if I feel like I\’m making a difference.
Possible Answer
If I can make someone smile and feel good, I\’ve done my job well.
21. Describe yourself in one word?
This question is asked to see how spontaneous and able to explain the candidate is. If he uses a word, he must be able to explain that word and also describe himself in terms of that word.
These are all good words. You can use them, but be careful how you use them to judge.
Original, real, logical, amazing, focused, interested, active, quick, well-balanced, an achiever, etc.
22. What is the difference between confidence and overconfidence?
There is a small difference between confidence and overconfidence. Confidence is based on facts and knowledge, while overconfidence is based on guesswork. Saying \”Yes, I can do this work\” is self-confidence, but saying \”Only I can do this work\” is overconfidence.
Or, you can say that confidence is the feeling that you are the right person for the job, while overconfidence is the idea that you are the only person who is right for the job.
23. What\’s the difference between working smart and working hard?
Here\’s what makes smart work different from hard work:
Smart work and hard work go hand in hand. We can\’t be smart workers if we don\’t work hard. Smart work comes from hard work, so to be a smart worker, everyone has to specialise in his or her work. This means that we all have to work hard to do smart work.
So, hard work makes you more accurate, and smart work makes you both more accurate and more efficient.
24. Imagine that you have enough money right now to retire. Would you?
If you say \”Yes,\”
you will definitely FAIL.
You could say:
\”I don\’t think so, sir. I\’m a professional and I love what I do, so there\’s no way I\’d quit. Yes, it\’s possible I\’d take a break to spend time with my family.\”
25) Don\’t you think you have too many skills for this job?
This is just a trap set by the interviewer to see how much you brag.
So, be careful how you answer this question, and don\’t even hint to the interviewer that you are overqualified, even though you are.
This answer is good:
\”I think I\’m qualified for this job because I\’m just starting out and still have a lot to learn. I think qualification isn\’t just about what you know or how well you do in the classroom; it\’s also about what you know and how you learn in the real world. When I have more hands-on experience, I\’ll think I\’m just well-qualified, not overqualified. Because you can always learn more.\”
26) Do you have any blind spot?
It\’s a trick question, so don\’t say what your real flaws are. Instead, try to show that you work well with others.
For instance:
\”I think everyone has blind spots, including me. That\’s why I believe in teamwork, because when you work together, you can point out other people\’s blind spots, and they will do the same for you.\”
\”Don\’t say that failure is a blind spot. Failure isn\’t something you can\’t see.\”
27) How do you handle stress, pressure, and anxiety?
It\’s a common interview question to see how you deal with stress and pressure on the job.
Possible Answer
I like to work according to a plan and finish my work on time. I always react to situations, not to stress, so I can handle the situation and not feel stressed.
Possible Answer 2
I go to the gym and work out often to relieve stress. I think that physical activity is a great way to do this.
28) What is the disappointment in your life?
This question is meant to find out what kinds of situations make you feel uncomfortable and disappointed. When you answer, don\’t just talk about how disappointed you are; instead, talk about what you learned from that situation.
Possible Answer :
\”The worst thing that has happened to me so far was when someone stole my laptop and I lost all my important files. I remember that I had to work hard for the next 10 days to make sure I turned in all my work on time.
Possible Answer :
If you\’ve never been let down in your life, you\’re lucky.
\”Sir, I don\’t think I\’ve been in something like this before.\”
29) What makes you angry?
You should always answer this question in a way that fits both who you are and how you want to be managed.
\”Sir, I\’m not a person with a short fuse, but I get a little annoyed when someone bothers me at work for no good reason. Even though I\’m usually a calm person, when I get angry, I try to put that anger into my work.
30. What was the most difficult decision you have made in your past life?
This question is asked to see how good you are at making decisions. The interviewer wants to know how you decide what to do when things are hard.
Possible Answer
After I finished high school, it was hard to decide whether to go to college or get a job. I chose to get a job because getting trained is better than getting educated, and it was also what people wanted at the time.
Possible Answer
My hardest choice was to go to B.tech. I come from a middle-class family, and my father didn\’t want me to go, but I talked him into it, and now he is very happy.
Possible Answer
Before, I had to decide whether to join a group of employees who were protesting something or stay out of it. I ended up being a mediator between our immediate supervisor and employees, and I\’m glad I did, because everything worked out well and there were no more problems at work.
31. How did you know about this position/ vacancy?
Just tell the source where you heard about the job. If the interviewer asks what you know about the job or what interests you most about it, tell them where you heard about it.
Then you can add:
I\’ve carefully read both the job description and the person specification, so I know exactly what this role requires of me.
32. What makes you get out of bed in the morning?
My promise is to learn something new and help someone in need. This gives me the satisfaction of knowing that I am making a difference in someone\’s life.
33. Which book do you like best?
This question is asked to find out what kinds of books you like to read. The interviewer wants to know if you would fit in with the company\’s culture.
Answer this question based on what you know about the book. Only name books you\’ve actually read, and choose one by a well-known author that your interviewer is likely familiar with.
34. You said that surfing the Internet is your hobby. Which site do you surf mostly?
It\’s up to you which sites you visit the most, but when answering this question, only mention sites that are related to your job. Don\’t mention social networking sites or other sites that have nothing to do with your job.
35. What was the worst thing you ever did?
When you answer this question, you should choose a story that is true and doesn\’t have too many mistakes.
You should talk about the mistake, but you also need to show the interviewer that you won\’t do it again.
For instance:
I think the worst mistake I ever made at work was in my first job, which was about five years ago. A more senior member of the team seemed to dislike me right away, and one day she was especially rude to me in front of other coworkers.
Later, I was talking to one of those coworkers who I thought was trying to comfort me. I was angry and hurt, so I made the mistake of letting out my feelings and telling her what I thought of the woman in question. I was shocked to find out that she told everyone what I had said, which didn\’t help my relationship with the team member who was giving me trouble.
I decided to have a quiet talk with this woman to find out what her problem was with me and see if we could put it behind us. It turned out that it wasn\’t personal; she was just upset that a friend of hers had also been interviewed for my job and was turned down. Once we talked about it, she changed her behaviour, and we got along well after that. But I learned a lot from the situation.
36. Do you have any reference?
You can only say YES or NO to this question. If you know anyone from that company, say YES; otherwise, say NO.
37. What do you do when a customer is upset or angry?
Possible Answer 1
I\’d try to figure out exactly what was wrong and see if there was anything I could do to fix it.
Possible Answer 2
I would ask the customer what was wrong and listen carefully. Then, I would do my best to solve the problem. If it wasn\’t related to my job, I would talk to someone who could help him right away.
38. How do you deal with an angry or irritated customer?
Possible Answer
I\’d try to figure out exactly what was wrong and see if there was anything I could do to fix it.
Possible Answer
I would ask the customer what was wrong and listen carefully. Then, I would do my best to solve the problem. If it wasn\’t related to my job, I would talk to someone who could help him right away.
39. What do you fear the most?
Possible Answer
Public speaking used to be hard for me. I would get nervous and hesitate when giving presentations, so I started going to public speaking seminars to get better. Now, I still get nervous before pitches, but I know how to stay calm and do the job right.
Possible Answer
Since this is my first job and I\’ve never worked before, you might think that my lack of experience is my weakness. But I disagree. I am confident and I learn quickly. I promise that I will do my job without any preconceived ideas about how I feel.
40) Explain the difference between group and team?
Here\’s the difference between a group and a team:
The only difference between a group and a team is unity. A group is a group of people who stand together without a purpose or goal. A team is a group of people who work together to achieve a goal.
41) If you don\’t get this job, what will you do?
Possible Answer
I have high hopes that I\’ll be chosen, but if I don\’t, I\’ll keep looking for another job in the same field that fits my goals and schedule.
Possible Answer
If I don\’t get this job, I\’ll use it as a chance to think about my weaknesses and try to get better at them for the next chance that comes along.
42. What does success mean to you?
The word \”success\” means that a goal or purpose has been met.
43. Would you like to relocate or travel for the company?
First, you need to understand the point of this question. A fresh candidate shouldn\’t say \”yes\” right away, because that will only show how badly you want the job.
Possible Answer
I will definitely think about travelling if the chance is right, useful, and possible. I don\’t think I\’ll have any trouble with the travelling.
Possible Answer
Yes, it was a part of growing up. My father was in the military, so we moved around a lot because he was posted in different parts of the country. I prefer my city because it\’s where I was born and where all my friends and family are, but I\’m also fine with moving.
44. What makes you happy?
I\’m happy when I finish what I set out to do, when I reach my goals, and when I\’m on vacation with my family and friends.
45. Is there anything which makes you different from other candidates?
You should start by saying that you don\’t know what the other candidate\’s strengths are and that you\’re sure some impressive people will apply for this job.
Possible Answer
Even though I don\’t know the other people you\’re interviewing for this job, I\’m sure there are a lot of talented people who want it. Because of my background and my ability to solve problems, I thought I was a strong candidate for this job.
Possible Answer
I know that success isn\’t always guaranteed, but there is still hope, and I never lose faith, whether I succeed or not. I think this makes me stand out from all the other candidates.
Possible Answer
In my last job, I made a project that clients said was very creative. I think my technical skills set me apart from all the other candidates.
46. What are the three most important things to you in a job?
Possible Answer
I think the three most important things in a job are being honest, being loyal, and working hard to reach the goal set by my team.
Possible Answer
I think that the three most important things in a job are professionalism, growth, and a good balance between work and life.
47. What are your expectations from the company?
Even though this answer is objective and can be different for different people, you should be positive and not say too much about the company, which might make the interviewer think you are exaggerating. In short, be honest and accurate.
For Example
I\’ve always wanted to work for a company that makes the office feel like home and gives me the chance to learn and improve my skills so I can be a better professional in the future.
48. How would you rate me as an interviewer on a scale of one to ten?
Possible Answer
Sir, I don\’t know how to rate you as an interviewer, but I won\’t let you down. As an interviewer, you did your job well, so I could give you 10 out of 10. Instead, I\’ll give you 9 out of 10 because we should always be able to improve our skills, which will make us want to learn more. Thank you so much for giving me this great chance.
Possible Answer
Thank you for giving me this chance, but I\’m not the right person to rate you. It\’s clear that your position is highly regarded, and the fact that you were chosen to go through this process shows how good you are at your job. But if I had to give you an honest answer, I\’d say 9/10, because no one is perfect and there\’s always room for improvement.
49. Who is your role model, and what have you learned from that person?
You should think of people who are good at the things you admire most.
For Example
My Father is my role model. Whenever I\’m feeling down, he helps me push myself and keeps me on the right track by scolding me when I do something wrong. He is everything to me, and I\’m still inspired by how he handles every problem in every situation.
50) Do you want to ask me something?
Now it\’s your turn. If you get the chance, you could ask questions like:
Possible Answer
Thank you for giving me this chance. Based on how I\’ve done so far, if I get picked, what do I need to do to improve, and if I don\’t get picked, how can I do better in the future?
Possible Answer
First of all, I want to thank you for being so polite and friendly to me during the session, which made it easy for me to say what I wanted to say. Can you please tell me what qualities you are looking for in freshers like us? If I get the job, I want to know what I should work on before I start working for your company. If I don\’t get the job, your feedback will help me in my next interview.