10 interview questions you will almost certainly be asked, and how to answer them
Most first-round interviews draw from the same small set of questions. Here is what each one is really asking, and a simple way to answer it well.
By Yeem Team ·
Interviews feel unpredictable, but most first rounds draw from the same small set of questions. Each one is really asking something underneath the words. Once you know what that is, you can prepare an honest answer instead of a memorised speech.
Do not learn answers by heart. Interviewers can hear it, and you will freeze if the question comes in a slightly different form. Instead, know the two or three points you want to make for each, and practise saying them out loud in different ways.
1. "Tell me about yourself."
What they are asking: Can you give a short, relevant summary of who you are?
This is not a request for your life story or a reading of your resume. Aim for about a minute, in three parts: where you are now, what you have done that is relevant, and why you are interested in this role.
I have just finished my BBA in Pune. During college I ran sales for our college fest and did a two-month internship with a local real estate firm, where I handled about 30 calls a day. I enjoyed talking to customers far more than I expected, which is why this sales role caught my attention.
2. "Why do you want to work here?"
What they are asking: Have you done any homework, or are you applying everywhere?
Spend twenty minutes on the company's website and social media before the interview. Mention one or two specific things, such as who their customers are, something they launched, or the way they describe their work, and connect them to what you want to do.
3. "What are your strengths?"
What they are asking: Do you know what you are good at, and can you prove it?
Pick two strengths that matter for this job and give a short example for each. "I am hardworking" means little on its own. "I am reliable: in my internship I was the one trusted to send the daily report, and I did not miss a day in two months" is far more convincing.
4. "What is your biggest weakness?"
What they are asking: Are you honest, and do you try to improve?
Avoid the fake weakness, like "I am a perfectionist". Choose a real one that will not stop you doing this job, and explain what you are doing about it.
I used to find it hard to speak up in large groups. I joined our college debate club for that reason, and while it is still not my favourite thing, I now present in team meetings without much trouble.
5. "Tell me about a time you faced a problem and solved it."
What they are asking: How do you think and act when things go wrong?
Use a simple shape: the situation, what you did, and how it turned out. Keep the focus on your own actions, even if it was a team effort. Short and specific beats long and dramatic.
6. "Where do you see yourself in five years?"
What they are asking: Will you stay long enough to be worth training, and are you ambitious in a way that fits?
You do not need a fixed plan. Say what you want to have learned and the kind of responsibility you hope to take on. "I would like to be someone the team relies on, and ideally leading a small group" works for most roles.
7. "Why should we hire you?"
What they are asking: Can you connect your strengths to our needs?
Summarise, in three or four lines, why you fit this particular role. Use what you learned from the job description: they need X, you have shown Y.
8. "What are your salary expectations?"
What they are asking: Are we in the same range?
Research typical pay for the role and city before the interview by asking seniors, friends in similar roles or checking job portals. If you are asked early, you can say you are open and would like to understand the role better first. If they press, give a reasonable range, not a single number.
9. "Why did you leave, or why are you leaving, your last job?"
What they are asking: Will you speak badly about us one day too?
Stay positive and brief. Focus on what you are moving towards, not what you are escaping. "I have learned a lot there and I am looking for a role with more customer contact" is enough. Never criticise a former employer or manager.
10. "Do you have any questions for us?"
What they are asking: Are you genuinely interested?
Always have two or three ready. Good ones include:
- What does a typical week look like in this role?
- What would success look like in the first three months?
- How does the team usually work together?
Avoid asking only about leave and salary at this stage. Those conversations come later.
The day before
Re-read the job description and your own resume, since anything on it can come up. Check the route or the video link, keep a copy of your resume handy, and plan to be ready ten minutes early.
After the interview, a short thank-you message by email is a small touch that very few candidates bother with. It costs you two minutes and is often remembered.