What general questions might an interviewer ask?

To get the most out of the questions below, take the following steps:

  • print out the job description and highlight key phrases
  • print out your resume, cover letter, and application
    • review the ways in which the position matches up with your skills, qualifications, and experiences

Review the kinds of questions interviewers ask below.

What is your fit with our organization?

  • Why should I hire you?
  • Why should we select you over other candidates?
  • What do you know about our organization?
  • Why do you want to work for this organization/in this field?
  • What is it about this particular position or program that attracts you?
  • In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our organization?
  • What criteria are you using to evaluate an organization for which you hope to work?
  • Describe the relationship that you believe should exist between you and your supervisor.
  • In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable?
  • What questions do you have for us?

What are your plans and goals for your career?

  • What are your long range career goals?
  • When and why did you establish these goals
  • How are you preparing yourself to achieve them?
  • What specific goals, other than career goals, have you established for yourself?
  • How would you describe your ideal job after graduation?
  • What two or three things are most important to you in your job?
  • What are the most important rewards you expect in your career?
  • In what part-time or summer jobs have you been most interested?

Where do you want to live?

  • Do you have a geographical preference? Why?
  • Will you relocate?

What are your personal qualities and characteristics?

What are your qualifications and skills?

  • What qualifications do you have that make you think you’ll be successful?
  • Do you have experience working in a cross-cultural environment?
  • How skilled are you in Excel? (Lynda.com offers tutorials in Excel fundamentals)
  • How skilled are you in (name the other skills required by the role)?

What academic and college experiences have you had?

  • How has your college experience prepared you for a career?
  • What led you to choose your field of major study?
  • If you could do so, how would you plan your academic study differently? Why?
  • Do you have plans for continued study? An advanced degree?
  • What have you learned from participating in extracurricular activities?
If you would like to review or practice other typical questions, log on to

What are behavioral questions?