What Do Job Interviews Ask? 15 Common Questions and How to Answer
15 common interview questions with what each one measures, answer structures, examples and a practice plan for the big day.
You're waiting outside the interview room, reviewing your resume for the tenth time. Then the interviewer says, “Tell me a little about yourself,” and your mind goes blank. The problem isn't that you lack ability. It's that you haven't prepared answers to the questions that get asked almost everywhere. This article collects 15 common questions, what the interviewer really wants to learn from each, and answer structures you can adapt right away.
Why the same old questions matter
Popular questions aren't asked because interviewers are lazy. They help compare many candidates on the same standard. Each question measures something, such as self-awareness, commitment to the role and how you solve problems. If you know what is being measured, your answers become much more focused.
Group 1: Opening questions
1. “Tell me about yourself”
What it measures: your ability to summarise yourself. Structure: present (what you do now) → past (one or two standout results) → future (why this role interests you), about one to two minutes. Go deeper in How to answer “Tell me about yourself”.
2. “Why do you want to work here?”
What it measures: whether you did your homework. Mention something specific, such as a product, a new customer segment the company is pursuing, or values that match yours, instead of “because it's a big company.”
3. “Why did you leave your last job?”
What it measures: attitude. Answer positively and forward-looking, for example, “I want broader responsibility in X, which this role offers.” Never criticise your previous company.
Group 2: Behavioural questions
4. “Tell me about the hardest problem you faced at work”
Use STAR: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Focus on the Action, what you did, and close with a measurable result. See the full method in Answering interview questions with STAR.
5. “What are your strengths?”
Pick two or three that match the job ad, each with one example, such as: “I communicate well across departments. During a system migration, I coordinated IT and Sales so we launched on schedule.”
6. “What is your weakness?”
Choose a real weakness that isn't core to the job, and explain how you're working on it. Avoid canned answers like “I work too hard.” See more in How to answer “What is your weakness?”.
7. “Can you work under pressure?”
Don't just say “yes.” Describe a real tight deadline, how you prioritised, and the result.
8. “Have you ever had a conflict with a colleague?”
What it measures: maturity. Tell a story where you listened, found common ground and kept the work moving, not one where you won.
Group 3: Future and terms
9. “Where do you see yourself in five years?”
Answer with the skills and scope you want to grow into, linked to paths inside the company, rather than a title you want.
10. “What salary do you expect?”
Research the market range first, then answer with a range and a reason. Read more in How to negotiate your salary.
11. “When can you start?”
Answer honestly, counting the notice period in your current contract. Respecting your old employer shows you'll respect the new one too.
Group 4: Deciding questions at the end
12. “Why should we hire you?”
Summarise three things: matching skills, proven results, and what you would do in your first period in the role.
13. “What do you know about our company?”
Prepare from the website, recent news and the main products, then say why that makes you interested.
14. “How do you handle negative feedback?”
Share a real time you were criticised, what you did next and how you improved, to show a growth mindset.
15. “Do you have any questions for us?”
Always have some, for example, “What does success look like in the first 90 days of this role?” Find more ideas in What to ask at the end of an interview.
Good answers don't come from memorising. They come from knowing what a question measures, then telling your real story to the point.
Common mistakes
- Memorising answers word for word until you sound like you're reading a script
- Using the same example for every question
- Answering for more than two minutes without a conclusion
- Saying only “we,” so the interviewer can't tell what you did yourself
How to start preparing
- Read the job ad and underline 3 to 5 core skills
- Write 5 or 6 real work stories in STAR format so they can answer several questions
- Draft all 15 answers as bullets, not full sentences
- Practise out loud and record yourself
- Practise with a real questioner through Interview Lab, or book a Mentor on Plants.work for a mock interview
When you're ready, look for roles that fit you on Plants.work Jobs, and use these 15 questions as a checklist before every interview.