Interviews vary less than they feel like they do. Eight questions cover most of the ground.
The eight and what they test
- Tell me about yourself — can you prioritise information
- Why this role — have you read anything about us
- Why are you leaving — are you running from something
- Describe a hard problem — how do you think
- Tell me about a conflict — are you difficult to work with
- Tell me about a failure — are you honest and self-aware
- What is your weakness — same test, harder framing
- What questions do you have — how seriously do you take this
Prepare the material, not the script
Have a real example ready for each. Memorised answers sound memorised, and interviewers discount them heavily.
Common questions
Should I memorise interview answers?
No. Prepare the examples and speak them fresh. Memorised delivery is obvious and undercuts credibility.
What is the hardest common question?
The weakness question, because most people answer it dishonestly. Name a real one and what you do about it.