12 interview questions

Here are some of the most popular interview questions to help you recruit or prepare for an interview.

1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
You seek a concise summary showing why they are perfect for the job. Ideally, the candidate will start with a few achievements or experiences and conclude by stating how that experience has positioned them for this specific job.

2. What do you know about the company? This shows what the candidate knows about the company and how serious they are about the position. For example, they can talk about why you were drawn to the mission or why you believe in their approach.

3. Why do you want this job? Look for how they might be an excellent fit for the role. Look for skillsets and mindset drivers.

4. Why should we hire you? A bit like question 3, but here you are looking for the candidate to show confidence. How do they sell themselves, and how do they think they will fit into the culture?

5. What are your professional strengths? When answering this question, the candidate should share their true strengths and not the standard stock response.

6. What do you consider to be your weaknesses? By asking this question, you are looking at their self-awareness. Identify something that they struggle with but that their working to improve.

7. What is your most outstanding professional achievement? This is where you look for them to discuss a track record of outstanding results in past jobs. Sharing an experience where they have accomplished something unique is the perfect way to answer this question.

8. Where do you see yourself in five years? When answering this question, you are looking for the candidate, to be honest about their future goals and want to know if they’ve set realistic expectations for their career.

9. What do you think we could do better or differently? You know that you don’t just know your company’s background but that they’ll be able to think critically about it and bring new ideas.

10. What do you like to do outside of work? Here you are looking to get some more insight into their personality and that they can share what they enjoy doing on the weekends.

11. Why are you leaving your current job? Do they bag their last employer? Are they professional. Were they let go? Is this role a better fit for them than the previous one?

12. Do you have any questions for us? This is their chance to ask questions to see if the job is the right fit for them. A good question could be “What is your favourite thing about working here?”