Ten common interview questions and how to approach them

Preparing for job interviews

An interview is a two-way conversation to see if the work, team, and your skills are a good match. Most questions fall into predictable categories. You do not need memorized scripts; you need clear, honest examples from your experience.

1. "Tell me about yourself."

Keep your answer focused on work (60–90 seconds). Mention your background, your main strengths, and why you are excited about this specific opportunity. Avoid your entire life history.

2. "Why are you interested in this role?"

Connect your skills directly to the job description. Mention one or two things you noticed about the company or the work that match what you enjoy doing.

3. "What are your greatest strengths?"

Choose two strengths directly relevant to the role (e.g., reliability, attention to detail, de-escalating customer conflict, organizing schedules). Back each with a one-sentence real example.

4. "What is an area you are working to improve?"

Choose a real, non-fatal skill you are actively improving (e.g., public speaking, learning advanced spreadsheet formulas). Explain what step you took recently to build that skill.

5. "Describe a time you handled a difficult situation or customer."

Use the STAR structure (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Focus on keeping calm, listening carefully, and finding a practical solution that solved the issue.

6. "How do you handle deadlines or competing priorities?"

Explain how you organize your day: making a clear list, communicating early if a delay arises, and checking in with supervisors or teammates when priorities shift.

7. "Tell me about a time you made a mistake at work."

Employers ask this to test accountability. Pick a genuine mistake, explain how you owned it immediately, corrected the issue, and what process change you made so it didn't happen again.

8. "Why did you leave (or why are you leaving) your last position?"

Keep it positive, truthful, and brief. Focus on looking for growth, scheduling needs, or company restructuring. Never criticize previous managers or colleagues.

9. "What are your salary expectations?"

Research typical pay ranges beforehand. If the job posting includes a range (mandatory in California and widely practiced in Oregon), state that a rate within that range aligned with your experience is reasonable.

10. "Do you have any questions for us?"

Always have 2–3 questions ready:

• "What does a typical day look like in this role?"
• "What would success look like in the first 90 days?"
• "What do teammates appreciate most about working here?"