Frequently asked questions in a job interview
- Tell us something about yourself
- Why do you want to work for us?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
- How would you describe the way you work?
- Do you prefer to work in a team or independently?
- What has been your greatest professional success and why?
- Why did you leave your last job?
1. Tell me something about yourself
Why is this being asked? The interviewer wants to get a first impression of you and see how you present yourself.
How do you answer? Structured and relevant! Start with your current job or your last position, then go into important stages of your career and explain why you are interested in this position. Keep it short and avoid overly personal details.
Example: “I currently work as a marketing manager at a medium-sized company where I am responsible for planning and implementing marketing strategies. Over the past five years, I have gained extensive experience in digital advertising and customer acquisition. What I find particularly exciting about the advertised position with you is that I can contribute and further deepen my knowledge of the automotive industry.”
2. Why do you want to work for us?
Why are you being asked this? This tests whether you have researched the company and whether your values and goals match those of the company.
How do you answer? Show that you have done your homework. Mention specific aspects of the company that appeal to you and how they align with your career goals and values.
Example: “I admire the innovation and quality that characterize your company in the automotive industry. I am particularly impressed by your commitment to the development of sustainable technologies. I want to be part of a team that shapes the future of mobility and at the same time make my contribution to the further development of innovative manufacturing technologies.”
3. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Why is this being asked? The interviewer wants to know if you are self-reflective and how you deal with your weaknesses.
How do you answer? Be honest, but strategic. List strengths that are relevant to the job and weaknesses that are not essential or that you are already working on.
Example: “One of my strengths is my ability to organize and coordinate complex projects, which has helped me a lot in my previous position. One of my weaknesses was that I initially found it difficult to delegate tasks because I wanted to make sure that everything went perfectly. However, I have learned to trust my team more and have become more efficient as a result.”
4. Where do you see yourself in five years?
Why is this being asked? They want to find out whether your long-term goals are compatible with the company's goals.
How do you answer? Show ambition, but remain realistic. Link your professional goals to the opportunities offered by the company.
Example: “In five years, I see myself in a managerial position where I will not only manage projects, but also contribute strategically to the further development of the company. I am convinced that you will give me the opportunity to develop in this direction and further expand my leadership skills.”
5. How would you describe the way you work?
Why is this being asked? The interviewer wants to understand how you manage your tasks and whether your way of working suits the company.
How do you answer? Explain whether you tend to work in a structured and methodical way or creatively and flexibly, and give examples to back up your statement.
Example: “I work in a very structured way and attach great importance to planning and organization. I use various tools to keep an overview and set priorities. In the past, this has helped me to complete projects on time and efficiently.”
6. Do you prefer to work in a team or independently?
Why is this being asked? The interviewer wants to know if you can work effectively in different working environments and which way of working suits you best.
How do you answer? Show flexibility and give examples that emphasize your ability to be successful both in a team and independently.
Example: “I really enjoy working in a team because I value the exchange of ideas and collaboration. At the same time, I am also able to manage projects independently and complete tasks on my own responsibility. In my last position, for example, I planned a project as part of a team and also supervised its implementation independently.”
7. What was your greatest professional success and why?
Why is this being asked? They want to find out what achievements are particularly important to you and how you define success.
How do you answer? Explain the context of your success, your role and the results you have achieved.
Example: “My biggest professional success was leading a project to introduce a new marketing strategy that led to a 20% increase in sales within a year. My role was to coordinate the team, develop the strategy and oversee the implementation. It was a big challenge, but the result showed that our efforts paid off.”
8. Why did you leave your last job?
Why are you being asked this? The interviewer wants to understand the reasons for your change and make sure you are changing for the right motives.
How do you answer? Be honest but positive. Focus on what you are looking for in the new position rather than saying negative things about your last job.
Example: “I left my last job because I was looking for new challenges and opportunities for professional development. Although I learned a lot and the team was great, I felt like I wanted to grow in my career and use my skills in a new environment.”
A job interview is not a one-way street. It's not just about presenting yourself in the best possible way, but also about finding out whether the company and the position suit you. With good preparation, you can present yourself confidently and convincingly.
20 Further questions for applicants
- Why did you choose your current career path?
- What motivates you to go to work every day?
- How do you deal with conflicts in the team?
- Describe a difficult situation at work and how you overcame it.
- What professional skills would you like to develop over the next few years?
- How do you keep up to date in your field?
- How do you deal with change in the workplace?
- Can you give an example of an innovative solution you have developed?
- What do you expect from a superior?
- How do you deal with difficult customers?
- Describe a mistake you have made and what you have learned from it.
- What do you do to ensure that you achieve your professional goals?
- How do you organize your work to meet deadlines?
- What was the most challenging project you have worked on?
- How do you deal with feedback?
- Why should we hire you?
- What three adjectives would you use to describe yourself?
- What experience have you gained in the industry?
- What have you learned in your career to date that would prepare you for this position?
- How would you contribute to the success of our company?
To summarize, preparing for a job interview is a mixture of self-reflection, research and practice. With the above tips and examples, you now have a solid foundation for presenting yourself confidently and convincingly. Remember: a job interview is not just a test, but also a chance to get to know the company and find out whether it really suits you. So, stay authentic, well prepared and open to new opportunities. Good luck at your next interview - you can do it!
