You have a job interview–congratulations! Now it's time to prepare. In this article, we'll share five common job interview questions and how to answer them with confidence! 

Tell me about yourself.

This is a time to talk about your values, skills, and past experiences. Tell a story about a project or event at work or school that was successful in showcasing your skills. Make a connection between your values and skills and why they make you an asset to this job. 

Answer template

I am a _____ (year in school) at _____ (name of school). I am active in _____ (insert clubs, sports, or other extracurricular activities.) Be sure to also mention if you hold a title within these activities, such as president or captain. This next part is where your research on the organization and the job description comes in handy! You want to integrate the skills they're looking for with the activities you mentioned.

Example

I am a senior at the University of Washington majoring in economics. I volunteer at the Women's Center twice a week, work part-time doing bookkeeping for Save Your Bread, and in my free time, play tennis. With a full class load, I became a master of organizing my schedule. I use a block schedule method on my digital calendar and include any task that needs to be completed each week or month. Managing my schedule in this way has taught me a lot about collaboration, clear communication, and utilizing digital software. I believe my experience and skills will be a great asset in this position.

How would your teachers or bosses describe you? 

When answering this question, you'll want to include the skills they are looking for on the job description. Again, make sure you research the organization's mission and value statements, as well as the job requirements. Use this knowledge to answer the question. 

Answer template

My boss would describe me as a _____ (job requirement skill). They would also say that I am _____ (another skill from the job description). Be sure to provide examples of when these skills have come in handy at your current job or in your extracurriculars. 

Example

My boss would describe me as a proactive team leader. They would say that I am great at anticipating the needs of our customers. This actually happened during a big event a few months ago. After a last-minute venue cancellation, I calmly booked a new venue and got to work delegating tasks to my colleague in order to make this change happen without too much inconvenience to our clients. Because of this event, my boss would also say that I am a strategic thinker!

Tell me about a time you had a problem and how you solved it.

This type of question is designed to assess your behavior and how you handle challenging situations. 

Answer template

Use the STAR method to help answer this type of question.

1. Situation (Provide context to your story, explaining where and when it took place).
2. Task (Describe what you did or needed to accomplish).
3. Action (Explain what you did in that situation).
4. Result (Share happened because of your actions).

Example

(Situation) Last semester, I was part of a group project for my history class. We were assigned to create a presentation together. (Task) A few days before the presentation, we realized that some of our information was incorrect, and our slides were not well-organized. (Action) I suggested that we meet immediately to fix the issues. I volunteered to research and correct the information while another group member reorganized the slides. We also practiced our presentation several times to ensure we were well-prepared. (Result) Our hard work paid off, and we delivered a clear and accurate presentation. Our professor praised our efforts, and we received a high grade on the project.

What do you think is your greatest weakness or area of growth?

Many people find this question to be a tricky one! Be sure to answer it honestly without naming things that may make it seem like you won't be able to accomplish the requirements of the job. The things you do name can and should be things you know are important and want to work on as you grow in your career. 

Answer template

My greatest weakness is that I _____ (a weakness you want to work on, unrelated to the needs of the job you're applying for). Because of this, I plan to _____ (what you're going to do to work through this weakness).

Example

I would say that my biggest weakness is public speaking, since I've never had the opportunity to work on this skill. This is something that I would like to improve by taking a public speaking course at a local community college. 

Do you have any questions for me?

It is essential to prepare a list of questions to ask your interviewer. This shows them that you took time to research the organization and are fully engaged in the interview. Interviews are a great way to learn if a position is a good fit for you. You are interviewing the employer as much as they are interviewing you! 

Sample questions

• What do you like most about working for this organization?
• What challenges do you foresee for the person in this position?
• Can you explain what the first 30, 60, or 90 days look like for this role?
• What training and professional development opportunities are available to employees?
• What is the hiring timeline for this position? 

Good luck on your interview! Have any questions? Text #Jobs to 33-55-77 to chat with one of our advisors. If you're using a mobile device, click here to have the text message set up for you!