Interviews can feel stressful, but with the right preparation, you can walk in feeling confident and ready. Most employers ask similar types of questions to understand your skills, experience, and personality. If you prepare for these common interview questions and answers, you’ll be better equipped to perform your best and stand out from other candidates.
This guide will walk you through the most frequently asked interview questions, explain why employers ask them, and show you how to answer them with strong examples.
✅ How to Use This Guide
For each question, you’ll see:
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What the interviewer really wants to know
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How to structure your answer
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A sample answer you can adapt to your own experience
Use these as templates, not scripts. Always personalise them with your own skills, stories, and achievements.
1. “Tell me about yourself.”
Why they ask it:
This is often the first question. Employers want a quick summary of who you are professionally, not your entire life story.
How to answer:
Use a simple 3-part structure:
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Who you are (professionally)
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Your key experience or skills
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What you’re looking for now
Sample answer:
“I’m a customer service assistant with over two years’ experience working in busy retail and call centre environments. I’m used to handling customer enquiries, solving problems quickly, and keeping a positive attitude under pressure. In my last role, I consistently received good feedback and helped improve customer satisfaction scores. I’m now looking for a position where I can use my communication skills and grow in a customer-facing role.”
2. “Why do you want this job?”
Why they ask it:
Employers want to know if you’re genuinely interested in their role, not just any job.
How to answer:
Include:
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Something about the role
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Something about the company
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How it fits your goals
Sample answer:
“I want this job because it combines customer service with problem-solving, which I really enjoy. I’ve read about your company’s focus on supporting customers quickly and professionally, and that matches how I like to work. This role is also a good next step for me to build my skills in a more structured, professional environment.”
3. “What are your strengths?”
Why they ask it:
They want to see if your strengths match what the job needs.
How to answer:
Pick 2–3 strengths that are relevant to the role and give a short example for each.
Sample answer:
“One of my main strengths is communication. I’m able to explain information clearly and listen carefully to what people need. For example, in my last job I often helped customers who were confused about their orders, and I was able to calm them down and solve the issue.
I’m also very organised. I like to plan my tasks, keep track of deadlines, and make sure I complete work on time. This helped my team reduce delays and keep our daily targets on track.”
4. “What are your weaknesses?”
Why they ask it:
They’re checking if you’re honest, self-aware, and willing to improve.
How to answer:
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Mention a real (but not critical) weakness
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Explain what you’re doing to improve it
Avoid saying “I don’t have any weaknesses” or mentioning something essential to the job.
Sample answer:
“I can sometimes be a bit quiet in group meetings, especially when I’m new. I used to hold back my ideas because I wasn’t confident. But I’ve been working on this by preparing my thoughts before meetings and challenging myself to speak up at least once. It’s helped me contribute more, and I’ve become more comfortable sharing my ideas.”
5. “Why should we hire you?”
Why they ask it:
They want to see if you understand the role and can clearly explain your value.
How to answer:
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Match your skills to the job
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Focus on how you can help them
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Keep it confident but not arrogant
Sample answer:
“You should hire me because I have the skills and attitude that match this role. I have experience working directly with customers, I’m comfortable in fast-paced environments, and I’m used to meeting targets. I’m reliable, quick to learn, and I genuinely enjoy helping people, which I know is important in this position.”
6. “Tell me about a time you solved a problem.”
Why they ask it:
This is a behavioural question. Employers want to see how you behave in real situations.
How to answer:
Use the STAR method:
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Situation – What was happening?
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Task – What was your responsibility?
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Action – What did you do?
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Result – What happened in the end?
Sample answer (STAR):
“In my last job, a customer was upset because their order hadn’t arrived on time (Situation). I needed to resolve the issue and keep them as a customer (Task). I apologised, checked the order status, and saw there had been a delay with the delivery service. I explained this clearly, offered a free upgrade on their next order, and arranged for a new delivery time (Action). The customer thanked me for the support and later left positive feedback about how their complaint was handled (Result).”
7. “Describe a time you worked in a team.”
Why they ask it:
Most jobs require teamwork. They want to know if you can cooperate and communicate with others.
How to answer (again, STAR):
Sample answer:
“During a busy holiday period, our store team had to manage a much higher number of customers than usual (Situation). We needed to stay organised and support each other to keep queues moving (Task). I suggested we split roles so one person handled returns, another focused on checkout, and the rest helped customers on the floor. I volunteered to work at the till and help with quick payments (Action). As a result, we reduced waiting times and our manager praised the team for working efficiently under pressure (Result).”
8. “Where do you see yourself in 3–5 years?”
Why they ask it:
They want to see if you’re motivated and if your goals fit with the company.
How to answer:
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Show ambition but stay realistic
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Connect your future goals with the job
Sample answer:
“In the next few years, I’d like to build strong experience in this field, become really confident in my role, and take on more responsibility, possibly as a team leader. I’m keen to learn from more experienced colleagues and grow within a company where I can develop my skills over time.”
9. “Why did you leave your last job?” (or “Why are you leaving?”)
Why they ask it:
They want to check if there were any major problems and understand your motivation.
How to answer:
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Be honest but positive
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Don’t speak badly about previous employers
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Focus on what you’re moving towards, not what you’re escaping
Sample answer:
“I learned a lot in my last role, especially about customer service and working under pressure. But there were limited opportunities to grow, and I’m now looking for a role where I can develop further, take on new challenges, and progress my career.”
If you were let go or made redundant, you can say:
“My role was made redundant due to company changes. It was a difficult situation, but I’m using it as an opportunity to find a role where I can contribute and grow long-term.”
10. “What do you know about our company?”
Why they ask it:
They’re checking if you did your homework and are genuinely interested.
How to answer:
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Mention what the company does
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Include something specific (values, services, reputation, etc.)
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Connect it to why you want to work there
Sample answer:
“From what I’ve researched, your company focuses on providing high-quality services and values good customer relationships. I saw on your website that you’ve recently expanded your services, and your reviews show that customers appreciate your support. I’d be proud to work somewhere that focuses on quality and customer care.”
11. “Do you have any questions for us?”
Why they ask it:
This usually comes at the end. They want to see if you’re genuinely interested and thinking about the role.
How to answer:
Always say yes and ask 2–3 thoughtful questions. For example:
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“What does a typical day in this role look like?”
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“How do you measure success in this position?”
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“What opportunities are there for training and development?”
Avoid only asking about salary or holidays at this stage unless they bring it up.
Quick Tips to Prepare Your Own Answers
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Write your answers down
Use the examples above as templates and personalise them with your own experiences. -
Practice out loud
Saying your answers helps you sound more confident and natural. -
Use positive language
Focus on what you learned, achieved, and can bring to the role. -
Be honest
Employers appreciate genuine answers more than “perfect” ones.
Final Thoughts: Confidence Comes from Preparation
You don’t need to memorise every word, but preparing for these common interview questions and answers will help you:
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Feel more confident
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Speak more clearly
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Show your best skills and experience
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Make a strong, professional impression
