Reading time: 14 minutes Summary Are you a recruiter or hiring manager looking for candidate pre-employment video interviews, assessment tests and tools including game assessments? We invite you to visit our Assess Candidates website. What are the common types of job interview questions? What are examples of common job interview questions? How can you ace your next job interview? If these are questions on your mind, then look no further than this guide to accelerate your job interview practice today. In this text, we review the different types of questions you may encounter during job interviews and provide super helpful tips you can use to prepare for and pass your next interview. Our website provides scientifically validated practice interviews that can be used to practice and prepare for the recruitment and assessment process. Practice interview questions using our GF Video Interview Platform and get ahead, first time. Not sure if you should practise to prepare for your interview? More than half of all candidates are rejected at the first interview stage Fennell (2022) Read on as we cover… Contents Traditional Interview Questions Behavioural Interview Questions Competency-based Interview Questions Strength-Based Interview Questions Motivational-Based Interview Questions Technical Interview Questions Situational Judgement Interview Questions Brain Teasers Top Interview Questions by Industry 7 Top Tips to Ace your next Interview Interview Questions FAQs Before we dive in, let’s talk a little more about the interview process.. Why are there different types of interview questions? Questions are inevitable during interviews, and they come in different forms. Different types of job interview questions are used by employers to assess a candidate’s skills, experience, and fitness for the position. Regardless of the type you are faced with, it is important to brush up on how interview questions are asked before we go further. What are the different styles of interview questions? Here are the main styles of questions you are sure to encounter during interviews: Closed Interview Questions What are closed interview questions? Closed interview questions are questions that can simply be answered with a straightforward “yes” or “no” without any need for further elaboration. Example: “Have you worked in this position before?” These questions don’t provide much useful insight into your skills and are often only used for informational collection purposes. Open-ended Interview Questions What are open-ended interview questions? As the name suggests, open-ended interview questions are the opposite of closed interview questions. They require a thorough response and encourage further elaboration. Example: “Can you discuss a time when you had to multitask at work?” These are often seen as the best style of interview question as it allows you to talk more freely about your experiences and how you demonstrated key skills. Leading Interview Questions What are leading interview questions? Leading interview questions are designed to steer your response to a particular conclusion. They mostly come as closed questions but may sometimes require more details. Example: “Do you agree that this role requires teamwork?” These are less common as they can be unfair to some candidates that may not pick up on this more than others. These questions also can influence your answer to what wouldn’t reflect what you would normally have said. Multiple Interview Questions What are multiple interview questions? Multiple interview questions contain many questions which are parts of an overall question. For example, the recruiter may ask you “give an example when you worked as part of a team, what was your role, what were the challenges involved, and what was the outcome?”. These can be difficult to answer as you have to quickly understand and respond to each part of the question in a well-thought out manner. Now that we’ve covered some styles of questions, what do these interviews typically look like? Read on as we cover the main types of interview questions that use these styles that may appear in your next interview! Traditional Interview Questions What are traditional interviews? Traditional interviews typically involve a one-on-one or panel interaction between a candidate and the interviewer, who asks questions to discern whether the candidate is fit for the job. What happens in a traditional interview? The questions in a traditional interview mostly cover a range of topics, including the candidate’s skills, experience, and qualifications for the job. The interview may also centre on the candidate’s resume, education, and career goals, and the employer may ask follow-up questions to gain more insight into the candidate’s suitability. What questions are asked in a traditional interview? Here are some examples of questions generally asked during traditional interviews. What experience do you have in this field? What are your long-term career goals? Why are you interested in this position? Tell me about yourself. Watch this short video to discover a great way to answer the question “Tell me about yourself”: Watch this video on YouTubeTell Me About Yourself | How to Answer this Competency Interview Question #shorts Traditional Interview Tip: Give specific instances from your previous employment or personal experiences to demonstrate how you have handled challenging circumstances, attained goals, or displayed leadership qualities. Behavioural Interview Questions What do behavioural interview questions measure? Behavioural interview questions are aimed at understanding how you may handle a hypothetical scenario, to assess how you are likely to behave in similar circumstances on the job. Behavioural questions mostly begin with phrases like “What you do…” or “How would you…” What are some examples of questions asked in behavioural interviews? To get a clearer picture, here are some examples of questions asked during behavioural interviews. How would you resolve a dispute between you and a customer? How do you handle tight deadlines or multiple tasks? How would you respond to a coworker that did not meet their target? What would you do if your schedule was interrupted by new team meetings? Describe how you ensure success. Behavioral Interview Tip: Be honest when answering these questions. Your answer should demonstrate the key behaviour they are looking for. Aim to ensure your answer leads to a positive outcome, where conflict is resolved quickly and effectively. Competency-Based Interview Questions What are competency-based interview questions? Competency-based interview questions, or CBI questions, are job interview questions that attempt to evaluate your abilities to handle specific work-related duties, using past experiences to predict future performance. What are competencies, and how do employers use interview questions to assess them? Check out our short video to find out! Watch this video on YouTubeWhat is a Competency? Get Ready for Situational Judgement Tests (SJTs) & Interviews #shorts What are examples of questions asked in a competency-based interview? Some examples of competency interview questions are: Tell me about a time when you had to demonstrate leadership skills. Discuss a time when you had to solve a complex problem. What approach did you employ, and what was the result? Can you give an example of a project you completed successfully? How did you ensure the project was completed within the allotted time and budget? Can you give an example of a time when you had to use your problem-solving skills to resolve a daunting situation? How did you approach the situation? Discuss a time when you demonstrated your attention to detail and ensured that a project was completed accurately. Competency-Based Interview Tip: Prepare ahead by reviewing the job description and the required key competencies. During the interview, ensure that you highlight your achievements in each competency area to support your suitability for the role. Watch this short video to find out how to answer competency interview questions like a pro: Watch this video on YouTubeHow to Answer Competency-Based Interview Questions (STAR Technique) #shorts Strength-Based Interview Questions What are strength-based interview questions? Strength-based interview questions are centred on your strengths and positive attributes rather than your competencies. Strength questions are designed to spot your skills, talents, and interests and evaluate how suitable you are for the job. Examples of strength-based interview questions Here are some examples of strength-based questions you might be asked: What achievements are you most proud of in your career, and how did your strengths help you achieve them? What are your natural talents, and how do you use them in your work? In what way would you say your strengths align with the goals and values of our company? What are your top three strengths? What do you like the most about your work, and why? Strength-based Interview Tip: Look for opportunities to highlight your strengths and skills from the question. Be honest about your weaknesses and areas for improvement, presenting them positively by talking about the steps you are taking to overcome them. Motivational-Based Interview Questions What are motivational interview questions? Simply put, motivational questions in job interviews are aimed at assessing your level of enthusiasm and interest in the job. They may be focussed on your interests and goals mentioned in your CV and cover letter. What are examples of motivational interview questions? Some examples of motivational interview questions include: What drives you to come to work every day? How do you organise your tasks in order to remain focused on reaching your goals? What are your long-term career goals? What kind of work do you find most fulfilling, and why? How do you remain motivated when you suffer setbacks? Another common motivational question is “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” Discover our top tips to answer this question in our short video: Watch this video on YouTubeWhere do you see yourself in 5 years? | How to Ace your Answer | Interview Question #shorts Technical Interview Questions What is a technical interview? Technical interviews are quite unique. The questions you will be asked are designed to evaluate your knowledge and proficiency in a specific field or industry. Technical interviews are typically held for technical or specialised roles, like software engineering or data analytics. What questions are asked in a technical interview? The questions can span a range of topics around a specific role, depending on the job requirements and the industry. Here’s a picture of what the questions look like: What programming languages are you proficient in? How would you personally handle debugging a complex software system? Can you design an architecture for a scalable web application? Can you give an example of how you have used machine learning algorithms in a project? How would you optimise a database query to boost its performance? Technical Interview Tip: Revise the basics ahead of the interview. Demonstrate your problem-solving skills by breaking down a problem into smaller parts and identifying a solution,explaining the logic behind your answer. Situational Judgement Interview Questions What are situational judgement interview questions? Situational judgement interviews are geared towards assessing your ability to make effective judgements and decisions in provided work-related situations. Situational judgement questions are typically used for roles that demand critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving skills. The interviewer would present you with hypothetical scenarios and ask you to choose the best course of action from a set of options. Let’s check out an example! Example of a situational judgement interview question Your colleague has been recently underperforming in their position, and you have been asked to give feedback on their performance by the team supervisor. What would you do? Give constructive feedback on their performance along with suggestions for improvement. Altogether avoid any negative feedback and focus on your colleague’s positive attributes. Outrightly report their underperformance to your supervisor directly. Situational Judgement Interview Tip: Research the company and the job you are interviewing for to get a sense of the situations you may encounter. Practise answering hypothetical questions based on these situations. Consider their culture and values to gain an understanding of how they would approach the scenario. Brain Teasers Yes, you can be thrown brain teasers during job interviews! What do brain teasers measure in an interview? The questions generally seek to test your problem-solving skills, ability to think on your feet, and creativity. They are often unexpected and may even be unrelated to the job or industry. What are some examples of brain teasers that could be asked in a job interview? Brain teasers in interviews may take the form of riddles, paradoxes, or strange questions unrelated to the job and can be quite exciting. Here are some examples: How many elephants can fit into a soccer field? Describe the colour red to a blind person How many barber shops are there in London? How would you test a calculator? Cynthia’s mother has four children. Her first child is named March, her second is named April, and her third child is named May. What is the name of her fourth child? Brain Teaser Interview Tip: Take a moment to consider the question and what’s being asked. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t know the answer right away. Apply your problem-solving skills to find a solution and explain your thought process as you answer. While most interviews are mostly done in-person, some employers opt for video interviews or more informal interview questions to get to know you in a better environment. The types of interview questions you are likely to face often depend on the industry and company you are applying to. Keep reading as we cover more example interview questions from top industries. Top Interview Questions by Industry In this section, we will cover questions by top industries and also provide interview question examples to help with your preparations. Finance interview questions The finance industry is focused on the management of money, including investments, banking, and accounting. Job roles in this sector include investment bankers, accountants, and financial analysts. What interview questions are asked in the finance industry? Here are some interview questions you may encounter in a finance role: Tell me about a situation where you explained financial concepts to a non-financial audience. How do you remain up-to-date with the latest financial stories, regulations, or compliance requirements? Can you discuss a time you gave a recommendation based on financial data? 5 Key competencies finance employers are looking for: Numerical ability Risk taking Business acumen Problem-solving and decision making Adaptability and critical thinking Technology interview questions The technology industry oversees the development and provision of technology products and services. Job roles include web developers, data analysts, software engineers, etc. What interview questions are asked in the technology industry? At interviews, tech employers could ask questions like: Tell me about a complex technical problem you solved and how you approached it. Have you ever had to learn a new programming language or technology within a very short period? What one unique skill do you possess? 5 Key competencies technology employers are looking for: Technical knowledge such as software development and coding proficiency Initiative and planning Attention to detail Problem-solving and critical thinking Results orientation Healthcare interview questions The healthcare industry is centred on the provision of medical care to individuals and populations. Healthcare job roles include doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. What interview questions are asked in the healthcare industry? Your healthcare interview questions may include some of the following: In what ways do you ensure patient confidentiality and privacy when managing sensitive medical information? Tell me about a time you collaborated with a team of healthcare professionals Discuss a time when you had to work under pressure to provide a patient with medical care. 5 Key competencies healthcare employers are looking for: Medical knowledge and expertise Attention to detail Learning and adaptability Flexibility Personal motivation Education interview questions The education industry handles the provision of educational services to students of all ages. Teachers, administrators, counsellors, and educational researchers are the most common roles in this industry. What interview questions are asked in the education industry? If you are applying for an education role, here are some questions you could be asked during the interview: Describe a time when you had to adapt your teaching style in order to meet the needs of a diverse group of students. Give an example of a successful project or initiative you implemented in the classroom. Discuss a time when you handled conflict between your students. 5 Key competencies education employers are looking for: Expertise in the subject area Communication and interpersonal skills Attention to detail Planning and organisation Resilience and adaptability Good to know: Want to know what unique questions to expect from your upcoming interview with your prospective employer? Get the Practice Essentials and discover other potential questions using our Question Identifier Tool (QIT). Now that we’ve covered industry interview questions by some of the top sectors, let’s take a brief look at some top employers using interviews across these industries. Examples of top employers that use interviews NHSMicrosoftShellPwCGoldman SachsKPMGDeloitteEYUnileverAmazonBarclaysP&G Check out other top employers that conduct interviews for recruitment in our employer guides and learn tips on how to prepare to ace these interviews. No matter what kind of interview your employer wishes to conduct, here are some general and important tips that will help you pass. 7 Top Tips to Ace your next Interview Research the Company: Understand the company’s mission, values, and culture. Consider these when you answer behavioural interview questions and think how you align with these values. Prepare your Answers: Practise common interview questions and prepare answers that show your skills and experience. Make sure they are relevant and straight to the point. A good way to do this for CBI questions is the STAR method. Dress Smartly: Attend the interview well-dressed and ensure that your appearance is tidy. This will help you make a good first impression. Consider the company values and culture to help decide what outfit is most suitable. Arrive on time: Plan to arrive a few minutes early and be on time for your interview. This will give you some time to relax and collect your thoughts before the interview. Be careful not to arrive too early! Show Confidence: Make relaxed eye contact, speak clearly, and show confidence in your responses by sitting up straight. Remember that the interviewer is also testing your interpersonal and communication skills. Ask Questions: Prepare and ask questions of your own about the company or the job. This will show that you are interested in the opportunity and can help gain further useful insight into the job. Follow Up: Send a thank-you note or email to the interviewer after the interview to express your appreciation for their time. This can impress with your good etiquette and shows you are interested in the role. Take your interviewing skills to the next level and gain real interview experience to familiarise yourself with recording answers and improving your interview technique using our video interview practice platform today. Find out even more answers below to top questions you might have about the types of interview questions you might take! Types of Interview Questions FAQs What are some tricky interview questions? Here are some questions you might want to be careful with during an interview: Why are you leaving your current job? Explain this gap in your employment history What are your salary requirements? What do you consider to be your weakness? What is your biggest personal achievement? How can I impress in an interview? Here are 5 quick tips to impress your interviewer in a job interview: Use good body language Demonstrate confidence Show interest in the job Keep answers succinct Ask thought-provoking questions How do I start an interview? You can start your interview by politely greeting the interviewer and thanking them for taking the time to meet with you. To introduce yourself, start with your past experiences then flow onto the current work and your future plans using the role you have applied for. What not to say in an interview? Negative things about yourself, previous colleagues or your previous employer. Never answer with “I don’t know.” Instead, ask for a moment to think about it. Don’t dismiss a question with “It’s on my resume.” Explain the section concisely. Vulgar language. It’s always important to be professional and polite. “I don’t have any questions.” Always prepare some questions to ask at the end. Practice and Register with GF to ace your job interview first time Do you want to pass your job interview, first time? Sign up for tools offered by GF, the only assessment practice test experts that provide tests to over 100 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe. Go to GF now and select from the range of products we offer at no risk. We offer a comprehensive premium package with a full set of assessment tools for candidates (numerical, logical, verbal reasoning, situational judgement tests, assessment centre exercises and more). 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