A good interview answer is short, specific and about the job. Employers ask many of the same questions, so you can prepare for them ahead of time. The best answers use real stories with numbers and show what you can do for the employer.
Below are 13 common job interview questions with tips and a sample answer for each, a free builder for the most common question, and a plan for getting ready. The sample answers come from jobs such as retail, nursing, customer service and warehouse work.
AdvertisementThe people, employers and numbers in these answers are fictional examples. Replace them with your own true stories.
13 Common Interview Questions and Sample Answers
Quick jump: Tell me about yourselfWhy this jobWhy hire youStrengthWeaknessAccomplishmentLeaving your jobDifficult situationMotivationMistakeFive yearsSalaryYour questionsFree interview answer builder
1. Tell me about yourself
How to answer: Keep it to two minutes or less. Indeed suggests present, past and future: your current role and a recent win, relevant earlier experience, and why this job is the next step. Tie it to the job posting and do not repeat your resume point by point.
Sample answer:
Before this, I built my skills on the sales floor, where my sales rose 20% in two years. Sharing clear numbers with my manager each month taught me to adjust quickly.
Next, I want to bring that same friendly, steady work to your store, because helping people feel good about their purchase is what I enjoy most.
2. Why do you want this job?
How to answer: Show that you know the employer and the role. Name one or two things about the job that match your strengths, and keep the answer about what you can offer, not only what you want.
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3. Why should we hire you?
How to answer: Indeed says to focus on the employer: show how you meet their criteria and add two or three qualities they may not know they need. Connect your past results to their needs.
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4. What is your greatest strength?
How to answer: Choose the strength that helps the employer most, not your strongest trait overall. Indeed recommends three parts: name the strength, give proof and explain why it matters for the job.
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5. What is your greatest weakness?
How to answer: Pick a real, small weakness that does not block the job, and show what you are doing about it. Do not pick a strength in disguise, and avoid a weakness the job depends on. (Our suggestion; the sources I reviewed do not cover this question.)
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6. Tell me about an accomplishment you are proud of
How to answer: Indeed advises picking a recent accomplishment that shows you can succeed in the role. Use the STAR method and finish with a number.
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7. Why are you leaving your current job?
How to answer: Indeed says to keep the tone neutral or positive and never criticize your former manager or company. Reasons such as growth, a change of field or a move are easier for an employer to accept.
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8. Tell me about a time you handled a difficult customer or coworker
How to answer: This is a behavioral question, so use the STAR method. MIT suggests spending about 20% on the situation, 10% on the task, 60% on your actions and 10% on the result, and using I statements so the interviewer can see your own skills.
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9. What motivates you?
How to answer: Employers want to know whether you are self-motivated. Indeed advises an honest, thoughtful answer, such as setting deadlines and breaking projects into smaller tasks.
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10. Tell me about a mistake you made
How to answer: Choose a real mistake with a small cost, say what you did to fix it and what you changed. Indeed says you can discuss a negative result if you show how you handled it. (Our suggestion for the structure.)
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11. Where do you see yourself in five years?
How to answer: Show that you want to grow with the employer. Name a realistic next step in the same field, and tie it to what you will learn and offer along the way. (Our suggestion; the sources I reviewed do not cover this question.)
Sample answer:
12. What are your salary expectations?
How to answer: Research typical pay for the job in your area before the interview. Give a range, say it is open to discussion, and keep the focus on the value you bring. (Our suggestion; check pay data for your area.)
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13. Do you have any questions for us?
How to answer: Always say yes. Prepare two or three questions about the team, the goals of the role and how success is measured. Do not ask about pay or time off first.
Sample answer:
Free Interview Answer Builder: Tell Me About Yourself
Step 1. Which job are you interviewing for?
Step 2. What do you want to lead with?
Step 3. Tap the lines to add. Three to five is plenty.
Step 4. Click any text in the answer below and type or modify to make it yours.
Replace every detail with your own true information, then say it out loud. Aim for two minutes or less, and use only numbers you can explain.
I am a retail salesperson with 6 years of experience helping about 80 customers a day find the right products. Right now, I work in a busy home goods store, where I keep a 4.8 out of 5 customer rating.
I am a registered nurse with 7 years of experience on a busy medical-surgical unit. Right now, I care for 5 to 6 patients a shift, and patient satisfaction on my unit rose from 86% to 94% in 18 months.
I am a customer service representative with 7 years of experience handling about 60 calls a day. Right now, I work for a utility company, where I solve 92% of customer issues on the first call.
Before this, I built my skills in similar roles, where my results rose 20% in two years. Sharing clear numbers with my manager each month taught me to adjust quickly.
Before this, I worked on busy teams and learned that clear handoffs keep everyone on track. Training 4 new coworkers a year showed me how much I enjoy helping others grow.
Before this, I learned to stay calm and listen first. A checklist I built cut repeat work by 25% and saved my team 5 hours a week.
Customers rate my service 4.8 out of 5 on average.
About 200 customers are served on a typical shift, with 99% accuracy.
A team of 6 new hires has learned the work with my training.
Knowing more than 500 products helps me find the right item in minutes.
About 40 questions reach me each day, and each gets an answer within 24 hours.
About 25 customer concerns a month are resolved, and 90% of those customers leave satisfied.
A 98% on-time record for 3 years means my shifts stay covered.
Daily huddles with my team keep every shift on the same plan.
Microsoft 365, Google Workspace and point-of-sale systems keep my work organized.
A shelf-count change I proposed saved about $12,000 a year in lost goods.
This job is the natural next step, because it uses my strongest skills in a place where they matter.
I would be glad to bring that same steady work to your team.
Next, I want to bring that same steady, friendly work to your team, and I can start within 3 weeks.
To save your answer: press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac) and choose Save as PDF. Only the answer prints. To copy it, select the text inside the answer and press Ctrl+C or Cmd+C.
Which Starting Point Fits You?
| Your job | Builder choice | What to highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Retail or sales | Retail salesperson | Customer ratings, sales growth and product knowledge |
| Nursing or health care | Registered nurse | Patient satisfaction, safety and teamwork |
| Call center or service desk | Customer service representative | First-call resolution, satisfaction and speed |
The STAR Method for Behavioral Questions
| Part | What to say | Share of your answer (MIT) |
|---|---|---|
| Situation | The context, in just enough detail for the interviewer to follow | About 20% |
| Task | The responsibility you took on or the goal you had | About 10% |
| Action | What you personally did, using I | About 60% |
| Result | The outcome, with a number if you can, and what you learned | About 10% |
The percentages are a guide from MIT’s career office, not a strict rule. Most of your answer should be about what you did.
How to Prepare in 7 Steps
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Read the posting and note the top 3 skills the employer wants |
| 2 | Research the employer: what it does, who it serves and recent news |
| 3 | Write 3 to 5 stories with numbers, using the STAR method (MIT) |
| 4 | Draft your tell me about yourself answer: present, past, future (Indeed) |
| 5 | Prepare 2 or 3 questions to ask the interviewer |
| 6 | Practice out loud, then trim any answer that runs long |
| 7 | Plan your travel or test your video link, and bring copies of your resume |
Weak vs Stronger Answers
| Weak answer | Stronger answer |
|---|---|
| I am a hard worker. | I filled about 400 orders a shift with 99.5% accuracy. |
| We handled it as a team. | I led the weekly count and trained 3 coworkers. |
| My old boss was terrible. | I am ready for more responsibility and a chance to lead. |
| I do not have any weaknesses. | I used to take on too many tasks, so I started a shared task list. |
| No, I do not have any questions. | What would a strong first 90 days look like for this role? |
Mistakes to Avoid
- Repeating your resume. Add stories and numbers it cannot show.
- Rambling. Keep tell me about yourself to two minutes or less.
- Using only we. Say what you personally did.
- Criticizing a past employer. Keep every answer neutral or positive.
- Memorizing a script. Practice the main points instead.
- Having no questions. Bring two or three for the interviewer.
Interview Prep Checklist
Tick each item as you finish. You are ready when the counter reaches 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common job interview questions?
Employers often ask tell me about yourself, why you want the job, why they should hire you, your strengths and weaknesses, an accomplishment you are proud of and why you are leaving your current job. This page gives 13 questions with sample answers.
How long should my answers be?
Indeed advises two minutes or less for tell me about yourself. For most other questions, aim for 30 seconds to 2 minutes (our suggestion), and give more detail if the interviewer asks.
What is the STAR method?
STAR stands for situation, task, action and result. MIT’s career office says to spend the most time on your actions, about 60%, and to highlight quantifiable results.
How many stories should I prepare?
MIT suggests preparing 3 to 5 stories in a bulleted outline. One story can answer several questions, such as a difficult customer, a team win or a mistake you fixed.
Should I memorize my answers?
No. MIT warns that scripting your stories can limit how well you adapt and can sound unnatural. Practice the key points and numbers, and say them in your own words.
Should I use I or we?
Use I when you describe your own actions. MIT notes that we statements can make it hard for the employer to see your specific skills.
How do I answer if I am leaving my job?
Keep it neutral or positive, as Indeed advises. Talk about growth, a change of field or a move, and never criticize your boss or employer.
What should I do if I do not know the answer?
Take a breath, repeat the question in your own words and think for a few seconds. If you have not faced the exact situation, describe a similar one and what you would do (our suggestion).
What questions should I ask the interviewer?
Ask about the team, the goals of the role, how success is measured and what the first 90 days look like. Save pay and time off for later in the process unless the interviewer brings them up (our suggestion).
Do I need a different answer for every job?
Your stories can stay the same, but change the examples and skills to match the posting. Always tie your answer to the job description, as Indeed advises.
Conclusion
Good interview answers come from good preparation. Pick 3 to 5 true stories with numbers, practice them out loud and tie each one to the job. Use the builder above to write your answer to the first question today.
Related Reading
- Cashier interview questions and answers
- Caregiver interview questions and answers
- Department store interview questions and answers
- Laborer interview questions and answers
Sources: MIT Career Advising and Professional Development, Using the STAR method for your next behavioral interview; Indeed Career Guide, Interview Question: Tell Me About Yourself; Indeed Career Guide, Smart Answers to Interview Questions. The sample answers, people, employers and numbers are fictional.