Common Interview Questions

Common interview questions tend to follow the same pattern in almost every interview. Employers want to know who you are, what you have done and why you want this particular job. This guide covers seven questions you are likely to face and gives a practical way to answer each one.

How to answer common interview questions

Before anything else, start with the job ad because employers ask questions to check how your experience matches the duties and skills they have listed. Keep each answer to one or two minutes. For questions about past experience, use the STAR method: describe the situation, the task, the action you took and the result. Prepare two or three real examples from previous roles that you can adapt to different questions.

What are the seven most common interview questions and answers?

These common job interview questions come up across industries, from retail to corporate roles, and each one tests something specific.

Tell me about yourself

Though it’s technically not a question, interviewers use this to see how you summarise your career. Give a short overview covering your current role, relevant past experience and why you applied for this one. Skip personal details unrelated to the job and keep it to about a minute.

Why do you want this job?

This checks whether you have researched the employer and understand the role. Refer to something specific, such as a project, a company value or a duty from the job ad, and explain how it fits your skills or goals.

What are your strengths?

Choose two strengths that match the position and back each with an example. Saying you are organised means little on its own. Explaining how you managed a busy roster or reduced errors on a project shows the strength in action.

What is your biggest weakness?

This is one of the most common interview questions, which interviewers use to check for honesty and self-awareness. Name a real but manageable weakness, then explain what you have done to improve it, such as a course, a new system or feedback from a manager. Avoid answers that disguise a strength as a flaw.

Tell me about a time you handled a challenge

This is where the STAR method applies directly. Pick an example with a clear outcome, such as resolving a customer complaint or meeting a tight deadline, and spend most of your answer on what you did and what changed as a result.

Why are you leaving your current role?

Keep the answer positive and forward-looking. Focus on what you want next, such as more responsibility or a new skill area, rather than criticising a current employer or colleagues.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Employers want to know whether the role fits your direction. Describe realistic growth linked to the position, such as taking on more responsibility or building a specialty, without suggesting the job is only a stepping stone.

Practising these common interview questions and answers out loud before the day helps you refine your wording and keep responses clear.

Find your next interview at CareerOne

Preparing answers is easier when you know which role you are preparing for. CareerOne lists current vacancies across industries and locations, with filters to narrow your search to jobs that match your skills and experience. Once you have an interview lined up, you can watch our video on common interview questions to hear how strong answers sound. If a question ever feels out of bounds, we also guide you through intrusive job interview questions to explain what employers should and should not ask.

Check out the career advice hub for more on interviews, resumes and job searching. Start your search today and find a role worth preparing for.