List of interview questions

In this article we list some of the main interview questions that you may be asked at an interview. These interview questions relate to almost any type of job. Please note that an interviewer may also ask questions that relate to the specific position that you are applying for.

You are welcome to print out this list for your own personal use - this can prove useful if you are getting a friend or colleague to run through our list of interview questions with you. They should mix up the questions - you can't rely on the interviewer asking the questions in the order we have listed them.

For our suggestions on how to best answer the various interview questions listed below please see our article entitled answering interview questions. The more time you spend on interview practice the better your chances of securing the new position you desire.

List of interview questions relating to the new job / company

1. Why do you want this job?
2. What qualities do you think will be required for this job?
3. What can you contribute?
4. Why do you want to work for this company?
5. What do you know about this company?
6. What interests you about our product (or service)?
7. What can we (the new company) offer that your previous company cannot offer?
8. You have not done this sort of job before. How will you cope/succeed?
9. Why should we employ you?
10. How long do you think it would be before you were making a significant contribution to the team/company?
11. How ambitious are you?
12. Would you compete for my job?
13. What do you like and dislike about the job we are discussing?
14. What are you looking for in a new job?
15. What would you like to avoid in your next job?
16. Are you too old for this job? [Shouldn't be asked in countries with age discrimination legislation.]
17. Are you too young for this job? [Shouldn't be asked in countries with age discrimination legislation.]
18. You may be over qualified for this position?
19. Are you prepared to relocate?
20. Are you willing to travel?
21. What level of salary are you looking for now?

List of interview questions relating to your current / previous job

1. How much does your last job resemble the one you are applying for?
2. What are the differences?
3. What do you think of the last company you worked for?
4. Why did you join your previous company?
5. Did they live up to your expectations?
6. Why are you leaving now?
7. Explain the organizational structure in your last company and how you fitted into it?
8. What did you think of your manager / supervisor?
9. How did you get on with your previous manager / supervisor, co-workers and the people you manage?
10. What did you do on a day to day basis?
11. Did you increase sales or profits in your last job?
12. Have you reduced costs at your last company?
13. Did you feel you progressed satisfactorily in your last job?
14. What problems did you encounter in your last job?
15. What annoyed you about your last job?
16. What did you earn in your last job?

Career related interview questions

1. Why did you choose a career in ...?
2. Why are you changing careers?
3. What are your career goals?
4. How long have you been looking for a new job?
5. Do you prefer to work in a small, medium or large company?
6. What would your ideal job be?
7. Are you considering any other positions at the moment?
8. If you have changed jobs a lot you may be asked how long you would stay in the new job.
9. Have you ever been fired?
10. How often are you off sick?
11. What will your referees say about you?

List of interview questions relating to you

1. How would you describe yourself?
2. How would others describe you?
3. Do you consider yourself successful?
4. What was your greatest success?
5. How did you achieve it?
6. What has been your biggest failure?
7. How could you improve yourself?
8. Are you a leader?
9. How do you handle criticism?
10. What sort of manager are you?
11. What makes a good manager?
12. Do you work well with others? Or are you a loner?
13. Do you need other people around to stimulate you or are you self-motivated?
14. Are you accepted into a team quickly?
15. Can you act on your own initiative?
16. How do you run a meeting?
17. What motivates you?
18. What management style gets the best results out of you?
19. Do you know how to motivate other people?
20. Are you competitive?
21. Are you aggressive?
22. What do you dislike doing?
23. Do you feel you are ready to take on greater responsibilities?
24. Can you work under pressure?
25. How many hours are you prepared to work?
26. Do you mind working for someone older than yourself? Younger than you? Of the opposite sex?
27. What interests do you have outside work?

Next page: Answering interview questions

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• Introduction
• General tips / advice
• List of interview questions
• Answering interview questions
• Good interview questions
• Top interview questions and answers
• Example interview questions
• Typical interview questions
• Job interview questions
• How to get a big pay rise
• Psychometric tests
• Questions to ask the interviewer
• Group interview tests
• Panel interviews
• Interview body language
• Interview problems
• Interview question what are your strong points
• Interview question not meeting deadlines