Here’s the Top 10 Most Common Interview Questions and Answers

1  Tell Me About Yourself

Applying for a job at McDonald’s? The interviewer will ask you to talk about yourself.

 Applying for a job at Goldman Sachs? Same thing.

 It’s universal, and it’s difficult to provide a satisfactory answer. 

Alternative Versions of Typical Interview Questions 

Describe yourself in three words. 

 What are they actually asking?

Tell me about your professional self and how you would fit in with the company.

It’s a two-part, general interview question. Who are you as a professional? What makes you a good fit?

 

Your Three-part Answer 

(Example Based on Answers to Job Interview Questions for Graphic Designers)

RIGHT
Part One – Your Professional Persona I am a graphic designer with five years of experience in the fashion industry.  It’s good to tell the interviewer how long you’ve been working and for whom. You’re providing lots of information. How much experience you have. What kind of work environments you’ve experienced. What industry knowledge you might have.
Part Two – What Makes you Stand Out (2-4 points) I am a team leader and coordinate the work of small groups of graphic designers and copywriters (between 3-5 people). I am diligent about keeping up with the latest technology and design trends. That’s why my boss chose me to spearhead our global re-branding initiative. Here you will want to tailor your answers to the job interview question. Mention accomplishments and skills that you know are relevant and valuable. Where do you find that information? Read the job offer and research the company and people with similar positions.
Part Three – Why You’re Going to Fit While I enjoyed my previous work, it’s a dream of mine to work for your company. I admire the work you do, especially the XYZ project and the ABC project. I would like to be a part of projects like these.  Notice how the interviewee listed two of the company’s projects. The interviewee has done their homework and is familiar with the business. That tells the interviewer that this person is in tune with the company’s goals and needs.

WRONG

The story of your life Well, I was born in 1983 to Presbyterian parents in Indianapolis, Indiana. I am the second of three children. We lived in a large two-storey house with a yard, and we had a Jack Russell Terrier named Spot. When I was three, I was magnificent at coloring. I never went outside the lines in my coloring books. And that brings me to why I’m a graphic designer and want a job at your company. You are not interviewing with your biographer, and you are not on a date. While this classic job interview question is intentionally vague, the context is not. It’s a job interview – talk about the job!

While this classic job interview question is intentionally vague, the context is not. As Meg Guiseppi points out, it’s a job interview – talk about the job!

When someone asks you to tell them about yourself, you’ve been given a golden opportunity to communicate your well-rehearsed personal brand positioning statement. Keep it short (2-3 sentences), make it memorable, and generate chemistry. Give them a feel for what you’re like to work with, and how well you’ll fit their company culture.