Top 20 Toughest Job Interview Questions: Record Your Answers & See How You Do!

Ready to master the interview?

Put your phone in selfie mode, hit record, and practice these essential questions.For expert tips and insights, subscribe to
The Job Interview Experience Podcast today!

  1. Tell me about yourself.
    Purpose: To get an overview of the candidate’s background and personality.

  2. Why are you interested in this position?
    Purpose: To assess the candidate’s motivation for applying and alignment with the role.

  3. What do you know about our company?
    Purpose: To gauge the candidate’s research and interest in the organization.

  4. What are your greatest strengths?
    Purpose: To understand the candidate's self-assessment and areas of expertise.

  5. What are your greatest weaknesses?
    Purpose: To evaluate self-awareness and willingness to improve.

  6. Describe a challenge or conflict you’ve faced at work, and how you dealt with it.
    Purpose: To assess problem-solving skills and conflict resolution abilities.

  7. Tell me about a time you made a mistake and what you learned from it.
    Purpose: To measure resilience and learning from setbacks.

  8. Where do you see yourself in five years?
    Purpose: To gauge long-term goals and potential for growth with the company.

  9. Why are you leaving your current job?
    Purpose: To understand motivations for change and potential red flags.

  10. What is your greatest professional achievement?
    Purpose: To explore what the candidate values as success and their impact.

  11. Describe a time when you went above and beyond at work.
    Purpose: To assess initiative and commitment to exceeding expectations.

  12. How do you handle pressure or stressful situations?
    Purpose: To evaluate coping mechanisms and resilience under stress.

  13. How do you prioritize your tasks and manage your time?
    Purpose: To understand the candidate’s organizational and time management skills.

  14. Tell me about a time you worked on a team project. What was your role, and how did you contribute?
    Purpose: To assess teamwork, collaboration, and communication skills.

  15. How do you handle receiving constructive feedback?
    Purpose: To evaluate openness to improvement and personal growth.

  16. What motivates you to do your best work?
    Purpose: To understand the candidate’s internal drivers and passion.

  17. Describe a time when you had to learn a new skill quickly.
    Purpose: To assess adaptability and willingness to learn.

  18. How would your former colleagues describe you?
    Purpose: To gain insight into interpersonal skills and reputation.

  19. Tell me about a time when you demonstrated leadership skills.
    Purpose: To explore leadership potential and examples of taking initiative.

  20. Do you have any questions for us?
    Purpose: To gauge the candidate’s curiosity, engagement, and interest in the role and company.