We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Education

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are Typical Interview Questions?

By Lily Ruha
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 3,643
Share

Typical interview questions are designed to determine an applicant’s suitability for the specific employment duties and work environment in a company. The questions usually address the applicant’s characteristics, experience and goals, while simultaneously gauging his interest in and understanding of the employer’s objectives. Adequate preparation for a job interview involves anticipating possible interview questions and reflecting on the answers in advance.

One of the most typical interview questions requires the applicant to describe himself and may be phrased in the form of a statement: “Tell me a little bit about yourself.” The intent is to gain insight into the candidate’s personality, character, experience, goals and professionalism. This is the candidate’s opportunity to describe his academic and work achievements and goals, as well as explain how his interests align with the job opportunity.

Another common interview question is in reference to what the applicant sees himself doing five or ten years down the line. Employers who are looking to hire, train and retain employees for the long-term will ask this question to make sure the job fits the candidate’s vision for his future. If an applicant’s interest in the position is temporary and he sees the position as a stepping stone to another career, an honest answer will help both the applicant and the employer in determining whether the job is a good fit.

One of the harder to answer typical interview questions has to do with why the applicant wants to work for the company or organization. An effective answer to this question requires research about the employer and the specific job. To properly prepare for this question, an applicant must have a clear understanding of the employer’s product or service. An impressive answer to this question usually demonstrates the applicant’s knowledge of and appreciation for the employer’s objectives as well as an explanation of how the applicant’s unique experiences and skills will help the company advance its goals.

Among typical interview questions, the one most often asked is related to the applicant’s employment history. How long an applicant has worked for prior employers, the description of responsibilities, the experience of working with others and how the applicant handled work-related conflict are all questions that may be asked in an interview. Interviewers ask these questions to gauge an applicant’s employment experience, work ethic, communication skills, sense of responsibility and ability to work harmoniously with others.

Typical interview questions also involve discussions of salary. An applicant may be asked to indicate a desired salary range. In other situations, the salary has already been decided, in which case the interviewer may state how much the position pays and ask if the amount being offered fits the applicant’s salary needs.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-typical-interview-questions.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.