What Are the 7 Most Common Interview Questions and Answers
The seven questions you are most likely to face in any job interview, what each one tests, sample answers you can adapt, and how to prepare with the STAR method.
The seven questions you will meet most often are: tell me about yourself, why do you want this job, why should we hire you, what are your strengths, what is your weakness, tell me about a challenge you handled, and do you have any questions for us. Prepare short, true answers with examples using the STAR method.
Key facts
- The UK National Careers Service groups common interview questions into questions about the employer, about you, about your experience (such as a challenging situation or an achievement), and about your strengths, followed by your own questions. (National Careers Service, Top 10 interview questions, 2026)
- STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action and Result, and the National Careers Service recommends it for answers in interviews as well as in CVs, cover letters and applications. (National Careers Service, The STAR method, 2026)
- To prepare, the National Careers Service advises reading the job description carefully, researching the company's website, reviewing your CV and preparing examples. (National Careers Service, Interview advice, 2026)
- For video interviews, the National Careers Service advises testing your microphone and software beforehand, placing the camera at eye level and pausing at the end of each question because of the slight online delay. (National Careers Service, How to do well in video interviews, 2026)
- MIT's career office runs practice interviews in which it asks common interview questions and gives constructive feedback on the answers. (MIT Career Advising and Professional Development, Interviewing, 2026)
What are the 7 most common interview questions and answers that actually work? Almost every interview, in any field and any country, comes back to the same few questions. The UK National Careers Service groups them into questions about the employer, about you, about your experience and about your strengths, followed by your own questions at the end. If you prepare good answers to the seven questions below, you will be ready for most of what any interviewer asks.
For each question you will find what it really tests, how to structure your answer and a sample answer you can adapt. All sample answers were written for this guide; change every detail so it is true for you.
The STAR method: the key to good answers
Many interview questions ask for an example. The National Careers Service recommends the STAR method for these:
- Situation: the situation you had to deal with.
- Task: the task you were given.
- Action: the action you took.
- Result: what happened and what you learned.
Spend most of your answer on the action and the result. Keep each answer to about one or two minutes.
What are the 7 most common interview questions and answers?
1. Tell me about yourself
What it tests: whether you can give a clear, relevant summary and whether your story fits the role.
How to answer: past, present, future in under a minute. Where you have come from, what you do now and why this job is the next step. Leave out your life story.
Sample answer: I started in retail, where I found I enjoyed solving customer problems. For the past three years I have worked in customer support for a software company, looking after about 40 business accounts. I want to move into customer success, where I can help clients get more value over time, and that is why this role appeals to me.
2. Why do you want to work for us?
What it tests: genuine interest and research. The National Careers Service notes that employers ask questions like what do you know about our company to see real interest.
How to answer: mention one or two specific things about the employer and link them to your values or goals.
Sample answer: I read about your project to bring online banking to small farmers, and I like that your products serve people who are often left out. In my current role I have seen how much clear support matters to first-time users, and I want to bring that to your team.
3. Why should we hire you?
What it tests: whether you understand the job and can match yourself to it.
How to answer: pick the two or three most important needs from the advert and give evidence for each.
Sample answer: You need someone who can handle a high volume of requests without losing quality. In my current role I handle about 60 tickets a day and keep one of the highest satisfaction scores in the team. You also mention reporting, and I built the weekly support report my manager now uses.
4. What are your main strengths?
What it tests: self-awareness and fit.
How to answer: choose strengths that matter for this job and back each one with a short example.
Sample answer: My main strength is staying calm under pressure. During a system outage last year I kept customers updated every half hour and we had no formal complaints. I am also organised: I set up the shared checklist our team uses for new client setup.
5. Do you have any weaknesses?
What it tests: honesty and whether you work on yourself. The National Careers Service gives this question as an example.
How to answer: name a real, non-critical weakness and show what you are doing about it.
Sample answer: I used to take on too much and then rush at the end of the week. I now plan my week every Monday, agree priorities with my manager and say no to tasks that can wait. My deadlines have been much steadier since.
6. Tell me about a challenging situation you handled
What it tests: problem solving and how you behave under pressure. The National Careers Service lists questions like when have you faced a challenging situation, have you ever taken the initiative and have you ever failed at a task.
How to answer: use STAR. Be specific about your own actions.
Sample answer: Situation: a key client threatened to leave after repeated billing errors. Task: I had to keep the account. Action: I called the client, listed every error, worked with finance to fix them within a week and set up a monthly check. Result: the client stayed, renewed for two more years and later referred another company to us.
7. Do you have any questions for us?
What it tests: interest and preparation. The National Careers Service notes you usually get time at the end for your own questions.
How to answer: always ask one or two. The National Careers Service suggests questions such as what is it like to work here, what does a typical day involve, how do you see the company developing over the next few years and will there be any training opportunities.
Sample answer: What would success look like in this role after the first six months? And what training do new team members receive?
Common interview questions and answers: quick reference
| Question | What it tests | Answer shape |
|---|---|---|
| Tell me about yourself | Clear, relevant summary | Past, present, future |
| Why do you want to work for us? | Research and interest | Specific fact plus your goal |
| Why should we hire you? | Fit for the role | Two needs, two pieces of evidence |
| What are your strengths? | Self-awareness | Strength plus example |
| What is your weakness? | Honesty, growth | Real weakness plus action |
| A challenge you handled | Problem solving | STAR |
| Questions for us? | Interest, preparation | One or two thoughtful questions |
More example interview questions and answers
Once you have the seven core answers, these follow-up questions are easy to prepare. The short answers below were written for this guide as models.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Show ambition that fits the job. For example: I want to become an expert in this field and, over time, lead a small team. This role would give me the base I need to get there.
Why are you leaving your current job?
Stay positive and never criticise your employer. For example: I have learned a lot, but I want more responsibility for client accounts, and that is not possible in my current team.
Tell me about a time you worked in a team
Use STAR, and make your own part clear. Say what the team achieved and what you did to help.
Have you ever failed at a task?
The National Careers Service lists this question. Choose a real but recoverable mistake. Explain what went wrong, what you did to fix it and what you now do differently.
What do you do in your spare time?
The National Careers Service includes questions about hobbies. Answer briefly and honestly, and if you can, mention something that shows energy, discipline or curiosity.
What are your salary expectations?
Research the usual pay for the role and place first. Give a range you would accept and say you are open to discussing the whole package.
How do you handle pressure?
Give a short example of a busy period and the steps you took: planning, prioritising and asking for help when needed.
First impressions and body language
Arrive or log in a few minutes early. Dress one step smarter than the people who work there. Greet the interviewer by name, smile and sit up straight. Listen to the whole question before you answer. If you need a moment to think, it is fine to say so. Keep eye contact; on video, look at the camera. These small things help the interviewer focus on your answers rather than your nerves.
Common mistakes
- Not researching the employer before the interview.
- Giving long answers with no clear example.
- Talking only about the team and never about your own actions.
- Criticising a past employer.
- Having no questions at the end.
- Memorising answers word for word, so they sound rehearsed.
After the interview
Send a short thank you message the same day if that is common in your country or field. Thank the interviewer for their time, mention one thing you enjoyed discussing and say you look forward to hearing from them. Then write down the questions you were asked and how you answered. If you are not offered the job, ask politely for feedback. Each interview makes the next one easier.
Example: turning nerves into a plan
This example was written for this guide and is not about a real person. Amir had three interviews without an offer. He asked a careers adviser for help, and they found his answers were long and vague. He wrote STAR examples for the five main requirements in each advert, practised the seven core questions out loud and timed himself to two minutes. At his next interview he felt calmer, gave clear examples and asked two good questions at the end. He received an offer a week later.
How to prepare
The National Careers Service advises reading the job description carefully, researching the company's website, looking over your CV or application and preparing examples. A simple plan:
- List the five most important requirements in the advert.
- Write one STAR example for each.
- Prepare your answers to the seven questions above.
- Practise out loud, ideally with someone who can give feedback. MIT's careers office, for example, runs practice interviews with common questions and constructive feedback; many colleges and public career services offer the same.
- Prepare two questions to ask the employer.
Video and phone interviews
For video interviews, the National Careers Service advises testing your microphone and the software in advance, choosing a background without distractions, placing the camera at eye level, speaking clearly and not too fast, and pausing at the end of each question because of the slight delay online. Look at the camera rather than the screen to keep eye contact. For phone interviews, find a quiet place, keep your CV and notes in front of you and smile while you speak: it changes your voice.
Adapting your answers to the job
The same seven questions come up everywhere, but the best answers change with each job. Before every interview, reread the advert and adjust your examples. For a sales role, lead with results and targets. For a care role, lead with patience and safety. For a technical role, lead with something you built or fixed. For a leadership role, lead with how you helped a team improve. Your story stays true; only the emphasis changes. This is what turns a good set of answers into a strong interview.
Answers for first-time job seekers
If you have little work experience, draw your examples from study, volunteering, sport, part-time jobs and family responsibilities. A group project, a club you helped run or a fundraiser you organised can all answer questions about teamwork, challenges and achievements. Use the STAR method in the same way. Interviewers for entry-level roles know you are new; they want to see how you think, how you learn and how you treat people.
Building your own answer bank
Keep a simple document with your best examples, each written in STAR form. Add to it whenever you finish a project, solve a problem or receive praise at work. Before an interview, choose the five or six examples that fit the job best. Over time, this answer bank becomes one of your most useful career tools. It also helps when you update your CV and write cover letters, because the same examples work everywhere.
Checklist for interview day
- I know the job title, the interviewer's name and the time.
- I have read the advert and the company website again.
- I have my seven core answers and five STAR examples ready.
- I have two questions to ask.
- My equipment is tested, or my route is planned.
- I have a copy of my CV in front of me.
Handling a question you did not expect
Even with good preparation, some questions will surprise you. Stay calm. Repeat the question in your own words to check you understood it, and take a few seconds to think. If it asks for an example, pick the closest one from your answer bank and use STAR. If you truly do not know the answer to a technical question, say so honestly and explain how you would find out. Interviewers often care more about how you handle the unknown than about a perfect answer. A calm, honest reply leaves a better impression than a rushed guess.
Remember too that an interview is a conversation, not a test with one right answer. The interviewer wants you to do well, because they need to fill the job. Treat each question as a chance to show how you think and work.
Finally, look after yourself the day before. Get a good night's sleep, eat properly and plan to arrive or log in early. A rested mind recalls examples more easily and stays calmer under pressure than a tired one. Lay out your clothes, documents and notes the night before, so the morning is simple and you can focus on the conversation ahead.
Live on Dev Global Jobs
Right now there are 201,713 open jobs on Dev Global Jobs (live count, 23 October 2026). Practise your answers with the interview preparation tool, and make sure your CV supports your examples with the CV builder.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 7 most common interview questions and answers to prepare?
Tell me about yourself, why do you want to work for us, why should we hire you, what are your strengths, what is your weakness, tell me about a challenge you handled, and do you have any questions for us. Prepare short, true answers with examples.
How long should an interview answer be?
Usually one to two minutes. Long enough for a clear example, short enough to keep the conversation moving. Use the STAR method to stay focused.
What is the STAR method?
Situation, Task, Action, Result. The UK National Careers Service recommends it for answering questions that ask for an example, and also for CVs, cover letters and applications.
What weakness should I give in a job interview?
A real but non-critical weakness, with what you are doing to improve it. Avoid fake weaknesses such as being a perfectionist, and avoid anything central to the job.
Where can I find job interview questions and answers for my field?
Start with the seven core questions here, then add role-specific technical questions from the job advert. Careers services and professional bodies often publish field-specific lists.
Should I ask questions at the end of an interview?
Yes. Ask one or two thoughtful questions, such as what a typical day involves or what training is offered. It shows interest and preparation.
Sources
- Top 10 interview questions, National Careers Service (UK). Accessed 3 October 2026.
- The STAR method, National Careers Service (UK). Accessed 3 October 2026.
- Interview advice, National Careers Service (UK). Accessed 3 October 2026.
- How to do well in video interviews, National Careers Service (UK). Accessed 3 October 2026.
- Interviewing, MIT Career Advising and Professional Development. Accessed 3 October 2026.
Source: Dev Global Jobs, updated 23 October 2026.
Dev Global Jobs Editorial Team
The Dev Global Jobs Editorial Team writes and updates our guides on jobs, CVs, visas, salaries and careers abroad. We check every fact against official and trusted sources, name those sources in the post and correct errors as soon as readers report them.
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