interview lookbook

What to Wear to an Interview, in 42 Outfits

Now that you’ve made it through the journey of updating your résumé and cover letter all the way to the final round of interviews, it’s time to think about what to wear. The hiring process is stressful enough as it is, but  dressing for it doesn’t have to be. You’ve already landed the interview and have proven that you have the right skills for the job. Now, it’s all about showing them who you are. We may be biased, but better way to do that than through your wardrobe ? What you wear speaks volumes about your confidence, attitude, and dedication, so it’s important to plan accordingly when walking into an interview.

Whether you’re dressing for a more creative and casual company or you’re interviewing for a major firm, there’s a perfect outfit for that . To take away the extra pressure of what you’re going to wear, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite fashion looks that are also interview-ready. Get inspired to dress for the job that you want because there’s no doubt you’ll be feeling cool and confident in these looks.

Layer a midi skirt over tall boots for a cool look. This adds a little edge to your look and shows you mean business.

Play with contrasting colors. This will help you stand out as a candidate and also look chic.

Mix prints and textures to create interest. Let your personality shine through via a standout outfit like this one.

Cream tones are always flattering and very professional. These neutrals show that you have elevated taste that's perfect for any office environment.

A tucked-in sweater is never a bad idea, especially if you're wearing standout pants like these ones.

Who wouldn't want to see an oversize blazer in the office? Take a style tip from Rihanna and style it with a pair of matching pants for a modern take on an office-appropriate pantsuit.

Go monochrome for a polished look. If Olivia Palermo is wearing it, it's guaranteed to get you the job.

Turn that summer dress into an office-ready outfit with a turtleneck. Because who says you can't wear a dress to work?

A pussy-bow tie under a blazer is the best kind of vintage-inspired trend. Plus, it instantly elevates any look.

If you're going black and white, choose varying prints to ensure intrigue.

This is guaranteed to make you look the part. A sleek all-black outfit screams professional while also staying fashionable. 

Swap that standard black skirt for an unexpected shinier version. You'll stand out from the pack in the best way.

Nothing says business like a matching set, and trust us—Alexa Chung means business.

A plaid pantsuit will easily make you stand out while still looking polished and professional.

Wide-leg pants? Yes, please. Especially when paired with a plaid blazer like in this look.

Yes, an all-black outfit can definitely be interesting—and chic, to boot.

A good boxy blazer is so chic and professional. Stand out even more by pairing it with a mismatched print. 

Dress up your dress with a streamlined overcoat. You can never go wrong with a coat and loafers.

Pair your classic white shirt with statement pants for a modern take on a button-down look.

Layering up will make a shoulder-baring dress appropriate for the office. Little tweaks like this one open up your whole closet to office-appropriate looks. No need to buy a whole new interview wardrobe!

Adding a pop of color to your classic prints is the ultimate way to show off your bright personality.

A good skirt paired with a white blouse is always a winner. 

You'll definitely shine through regardless of what you wear, but a bold blazer will help make you memorable.

Camel is a great color on anyone. 

A standout skirt will look great against a white sweater for when temperatures begin to drop.

Go classic with pinstripe pants and a leather jacket for an edgier look.

Yes, velvet pants  can be professional. and we highly recommend you show them off.

Pleated pants mean business. Pairing them with a matching top is the perfect interview uniform.

Red is a major power color. Plus, it's so flattering.

Relaxed but still polished. You'll feel confident in this.

A statement blazer will get you the right type of attention.

You can truly never go wrong with a silk top, especially when paired with sleek white pants.

Who doesn't love matching their separates? Paired with a pair of nude heels, this look is top-notch.

We had to throw in one classic interview look. It's just so good.

Show your personality through a printed skirt.

A pencil skirt is an interview go-to. Try one like this for an elevated take on the classic look.

Make your accessories the hero pieces. Every little thing matters.

Earthy tones are guaranteed to look good without distracting from your résumé too much.

They'll easily remember you with this statement coat and metallic boots.

Layering blazers is a chic alternative to a puffy coat. While a puffer can be seen as unprofessional, a double-blazer look will ensure you stay warm while looking chic.

Bright colors will make an impression.

Play with prints and tones for an eye-catching appeal. 

This post was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated. Up next,  learn about how one of our editors decided to make fashion her career.

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Gentleman Within

Dress Better & Feel Your Best

What to Wear for a Job Interview (How to Dress in 5 Different Scenarios) 7 min read

By DeJuan McGuire — May contain affiliate links ( Details ) Leave a Comment

For many people, now is a great time to look for a new job. “Now Hiring” signs are everywhere. Headlines about labor shortages. Even though you may hear stories of employers desperately seeking help, you don’t want to take anything for granted.

You still want to make a positive impression. To convey a sense of professionalism, responsibility, and trustworthiness. What you wear will go a long way toward that first impression .

Let’s get started.

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Page Contents

What to Wear to a Job Interview

Here I will give some suggestions of what a man should wear to a job interview for a range of scenarios from traditional business formal to a not so dressed up interview, a creative interview, and in between.

Business Formal Interview Attire

This scenario will include interviews for white collar type jobs in traditional office settings. Here, keep your outfit simple and conservative. Nothing too flashy or bold. Consider a well fitting suit in either navy blue or charcoal gray.

Most men’s style experts suggest one of these two colors for your first suit. Your dress shirt should be white, or light blue if you are feeling a little adventurous. Add a necktie in a solid color or a basic pattern such as stripes or dots. Socks should be in the same basic color as the pants.

For shoes, a pair of black oxfords will be most formal. Dark brown, oxblood, or medium brown lace-up shoes are a good slightly less formal option. Whatever shoes you wear should be clean and polished. For an additional detail that most men will not include, put a white pocket square in a simple presidential fold in your suit breast pocket. And don’t forget your favorite formal watch.

» Related: You might like this comprehensive guide on men’s dress socks .

Business Casual Interview Attire

This scenario is becoming more common as the attire in many offices and workplaces has grown increasingly casual in recent years, especially during the pandemic. It can be tricky since the term “ business casual ” is interpreted in so many different ways.

How to dress for a business casual interview without looking so casual that you come across as not taking the interview seriously, yet not so formal that you come across as trying too hard? Consider an oxford cloth button down shirt in white, light blue, or a white/blue pattern like stripes or gingham.

For the pants, a pair of gray flannel trousers, or dress pants in a neutral like navy blue or gray can work well here. Alternatively to dress the outfit down a little further, try a pair of chino pants. The socks should once again be in the same color family as the pants. A word of caution, the black oxford shoes may be too formal for this outfit.

Instead try a pair of brown or oxblood lace-up shoes. As in our previous scenario, shoes need to be clean and polished. You may also add a blazer or sportcoat for a smart, put together look.

Just make sure to have some contrast in color between the jacket and the pants, per the first example above. If they are too similar it will look like you tried to match them and came up short. Oh yeah, don’t forget a pocket square. If you’re going slightly more formal, it’s perfectly fine to have matching suit jacket and trouser colors.

Alternatively, for colder weather, you can opt for a fitted puffer jacket and gray scarf over top of a wool or cashmere crewneck sweater, oxford cloth button down combination.

Quick note: If you’re enjoying this article on what to wear for an interview, then you’ll probably find my other writing on all things style useful. Each week, I share updates, style tips and other things not shared on the blog through my free email newsletter. To join now, just enter your email address below and click “Get Updates!”

» You might like: High Paying Skills (Anyone Can Benefit from Learning).

Casual Interview Attire

This scenario will be best suited (although you won’t be wearing a suit here) for interviews where the previously discussed outfits would be overkill. This may include interviews for blue collar laborer type jobs, restaurants, or retail.

Here you want to look competent and professional without going overboard. Dressing up too formally can even work against you by giving the impression that you don’t want to actually do any physical work and get your hands dirty.

For a casual job interview outfit consider a simple combination of a polo shirt and chino or khaki pants. Or you could swap the polo for an oxford cloth button down and denim jacket for the sartorially inclined. Stick with basic, solid colors such as neutral shades of blue, gray, brown, or white.

And of course, make sure your getup fits you well. Not too baggy, not too tight. And make sure it is clean and pressed. For shoes, consider a pair of loafers, brogues, or dressier boots depending on the weather.

Creative Interview Attire

As a creative, you likely know all about the importance of self-expression and making a statement with your personal style. And more often than not, especially in today’s hiring landscape, creatives tend to get hired based on their creative talents and abilities, not the way they’re dressed.

In this scenario you’ll likely be able to be riskier and more daring with your interview ensemble. If you come dressed too dapper or elevated you run the risk of alienating yourself from the rest of the department. It’s best to read the room in this scenario. But above all, dress comfortably you.

Take it from Khoi, Gentleman Within’s founder, who used to work in the advertising industry as an art director. He attended the first day of his post-graduate internship at DraftFCB in NYC with a dress shirt and tie and was (playfully) laughed at for being so well dressed. That’s not to say you can’t wear a tie for a creative interview, if that’s your thing, go right ahead.

A little bonus tip, if you’re still unsure, is to ask HR about what’s the typical dress code for the creative team. They’ll give you the guidance you need. Just remember, overall that creative departments tend to have the most relaxed dress code.

Virtual Interview Attire

This scenario has especially grown during the pandemic and stay-at-home lockdowns. What to wear to a Zoom (or Teams, WebEx, etc.) interview when you might only be seen from the shoulders upward? My advice is to look at the recommendations above and then wear whatever you might wear if the interview was in person.

This will help put you in a mindset to interview. A concept known as enclothed cognition. The way you dress affects how you feel and think. It may be tempting to only dress up your top half and then wear your favorite comfy sweatpants and slippers on your bottom half.

While you could, but what if for some reason you need to stand up while you are on screen? Also, the contrast between your top and bottom halves may feel awkward. My advice is to complete the outfit from head to toe.

Borrowing a quote from the head football coach at my mother’s alma mater, Coach Deion Sanders likes to say, “Look good, feel good. Feel good, play good. Play good, they pay good.”

»  Readers’ Favorite:    How to Mix and Match Clothing Colors for Men (A Master Class in Styling)

Bonus Interview Tips

Wear a watch

It is a subtle signal that you care about time and will be punctual. I also suggest carrying a pen in case you need to sign any documents or fill out paperwork. Doesn’t need to be a super expensive fountain pen, just something that looks nice.

» Related: Check out this guide on 3 Watches Every Man Needs .

Don’t forget about personal grooming

Shave or trim your facial hair. Get a haircut. Brush your teeth. Put lotion on your hands. Poor grooming can quickly bring a great outfit down.

» Related: You might like this guide on 14 Grooming Tips for healthy & stylish men.

What not to wear to an interview?

There are a few things that I would generally avoid. Such as jeans, shorts, athletic wear , sandals and flip-flops, and t-shirts, especially graphic t-shirts. And anything dirty, damaged, or worn out.

If you have doubts about what to wear, try asking the person within the company who you have been in contact with. Or, if you are fortunate to know someone in the company, ask for their recommendation.

Or, if you have a way to see what the people typically wear, go slightly more formal than them. In an interview situation, it is better to be overdressed than underdressed so err on the side of formal.

» Related: You might enjoy this guide on  How to Present a Portfolio .

I hope you found this post helpful and gives you some ideas. You probably won’t get the job only because you dressed well , but it can certainly enhance your chances. So give yourself an edge over your competition . Thank you for reading.

About DeJuan

DeJuan is a husband, father of an 11-year old son and 4-year old daughter, and a chemical engineer. He enjoys watching sports, reading, playing and listening to music, and of course men’s style . He lives in Cincinnati, Ohio and works as a project engineer at a chemical plant. See more of DeJuan’s style on his Instagram .

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TRUE PRODUCTIONS' INTERVIEW LOOKBOOK

At True Productions, we’ve mastered the art of the interview. It may sound simple, but what sets apart average footage from professional interviews? It’s all in the framing. Check out the gallery below to see examples from some of our recent interview shoots. 

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How to conduct an interview: An interview checklist

Conducting an interview involves preparation, crafting effective questions, experimenting with different formats, practicing your pitch, combating bias, and seeking advice. It's a process that requires careful planning, clear communication, and a focus on job-related characteristics to ensure a fair and effective evaluation of candidates.

Nikoletta holds an MSc in HR management and has written extensively about all things HR and recruiting.

Learning how to conduct an interview effectively can be challenging, but hiring the best candidate is a worthwhile reward.

Use this guide and interview checklist for employers to improve your interviewing skills:

How to prepare to interview someone for a job

Modify and use this checklist to help you prepare for an interview:

It’s a good idea to set aside some time before and after interviews. That way, you can comfortably welcome candidates and avoid having to rush them out at the end of their interviews.

Craft effective interview questions

A big part of your interview preparation is deciding what questions to ask candidates. You can find many interview questions sorted by job and type on online libraries . Here are some tips to assess candidates effectively:

• Focus on behavioral and situational questions.
• Find alternatives to cliche questions to avoid canned responses.
• Look for people who can bring a new perspective to your team, instead of being an exact “culture fit.”
• Tie interview questions to job requirements . Craft a few questions to assess each skill you’re looking for.

Move the right people forward faster

Easily collaborate with hiring teams to evaluate applicants, gather fair and consistent feedback, check for unconscious bias, and decide who’s the best fit, all in one system.

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Experiment with a different interview format

Unstructured interviews that flow like friendly conversations make the process pleasant for both candidates and interviewers. But, they  aren’t the most effective way to hire the best candidate.

Structured interviews are better predictors of job performance, more legally defensible and better for record-keeping. During structured interviews, you ask the same questions to all candidates in a specific order and score them with a predetermined rating scale. Your Applicant Tracking System may have built-in checklists or  interview scorecards to help you rate candidates this way.

Related :  The pros & cons of interview scorecards

Practice your pitch

Both interviewers and candidates are evaluating each other during interviews. While you assess whether candidates are right for the job, candidates try to determine whether they want to work for you. If they’re not convinced, they might end up rejecting your job offer .

Prepare a checklist to sell your company and the position you’re hiring for. You could include:

• How your company tries to fulfill its mission.
• What your company does to keep employees happy and motivated .
• Any plans that have been announced to expand or improve your company.
• What challenges someone who works in the role you’re hiring for may face and how your company supports its employees (e.g. training, mentoring.)
• How that particular position fits into your organizational structure and contributes to your company’s success.

Also, listen to what candidates indicate they look for in a job to personalize your pitch.

Combat your bias

We are all prone to cognitive biases. Just decades ago, those who interviewed musicians to join orchestras were unwittingly making biased hiring decisions, resulting in almost all-male orchestras. They hired more women when they started using blind hiring methods.

Here’s how to fight bias in your interviewing process:

• Learn more about how biases work. Research biases to spot instances that can activate them. You could watch related videos, like this satirical one by management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, which reveals how women face unconscious biases at work:

• Identify your own biases . Despite good intentions, biases may interfere with your hiring process. Take one of Harvard’s Implicit Association Tests to discover whether you have hidden racial, religious or sexual orientation biases.
• Learn to discard “noise” (irrelevant information.) Ask yourself whether certain characteristics really affect a candidate’s job performance. For example, how candidates dress may matter for sales executives, who are usually in customer-facing roles, but not so much for developers.
• Slow down your decision making . Interviewers often come to a decision about a candidate very early in an interview . Take your time and consult your notes afterwards to form an opinion on candidates.
• Focus on job-related characteristics . If you want to assess Java coding skills, use assignments or ask candidates to solve problems on a whiteboard. Asking which school they attended to learn how to code may not be as demonstrative of their skills.
• Resist hiring in your own image . Interviewers often end up hiring “mini-mes” who represent candidates similar to them (e.g. who have the same hobbies.) Hiring managers who hire “mini-mes” miss out on the best candidates, build homogenous teams, lose  diversity’s advantage  and fail to fill team skill gaps .

Seek advice

Hiring doesn’t have to be a lonesome road. Recruiters can be great allies when learning how to conduct an interview. Ask for their advice when you want to:

• Develop your own employer interviewing checklist.
• Build rapport with candidates.
• Review your interview questions.
• Give interview feedback to rejected candidates.
• Conduct mock interviews to improve your interviewing skills.
• Arrange official training courses with professional organizations.

Recruiters can also help you preserve an interview’s legality . For example, it’s illegal to ask an interviewee whether they plan to have children, even if your goal is to make small talk. A good recruiter will advise against asking that question.

Improving your interviewing skills takes time, but the payoff is worth it. Effective interviews bring you one step closer to hiring the right people to reinforce your team.

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50+ Most Common Interview Questions and Answers

Wouldn’t it be great if you knew exactly what questions a hiring manager would be asking you in your next job interview ?

We can’t read minds, unfortunately, but we’ll give you the next best thing: a list of 53 of the most commonly asked interview questions and answers, along with advice on how to come up with your own responses.

While we don’t recommend having a canned response for every interview question (in fact, please don’t), we do recommend spending some time getting comfortable with what you might be asked, what hiring managers are really looking for in your responses, and what it takes to show that you’re the right person for the job.

Land more interviews by looking for more open jobs on The Muse »

Consider this list your job interview answer and question study guide. (And don’t miss our bonus list at the end, with links to resources on specific types of interview questions—about emotional intelligence or diversity and inclusion , for example—and interview questions by role, from accountant to project manager to teacher.)

50+ most common job interview questions and answers

• Tell me about yourself.
• Walk me through your resume.
• How did you hear about this position?
• Why do you want to work at this company?
• Why do you want this job?
• Why should we hire you?
• What can you bring to the company?
• What are your greatest strengths?
• What do you consider to be your weaknesses?
• What is your greatest professional achievement?
• Tell me about a challenge or conflict you’ve faced at work, and how you dealt with it.
• Tell me about a time you demonstrated leadership skills.
• What’s a time you disagreed with a decision that was made at work?
• Tell me about a time you made a mistake.
• Tell me about a time you failed.
• Why are you leaving your current job?
• Why were you fired?
• Why was there a gap in your employment?
• Can you explain why you changed career paths?
• What’s your current salary?
• What do you like least about your job?
• What are you looking for in a new position?
• What type of work environment do you prefer?
• What’s your work style?
• What’s your management style?
• How would your boss and coworkers describe you?
• How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?
• What do you like to do outside of work?
• Are you planning on having children?
• How do you stay organized?
• How do you prioritize your work?
• What are you passionate about?
• What motivates you?
• What are your pet peeves?
• How do you like to be managed?
• Do you consider yourself successful?
• Where do you see yourself in five years?
• How do you plan to achieve your career goals?
• What are your career aspirations?
• What’s your dream job?
• What other companies are you interviewing with?
• What makes you unique?
• What should I know that’s not on your resume?
• What would your first few months look like in this role?
• What are your salary expectations?
• What do you think we could do better or differently?
• When can you start?
• Are you willing to relocate?
• How many tennis balls can you fit into a limousine?
• If you were an animal, which one would you want to be?
• Sell me this pen.
• Is there anything else you’d like us to know?
• Do you have any questions for us?

1. Tell me about yourself.

This question seems simple, so many people fail to prepare for it, but it’s crucial. Here's the deal: Don’t give your complete employment (or personal) history. Instead, give a pitch—one that’s concise and compelling and that shows exactly why you’re the right fit for the job. Muse writer and MIT career counselor Lily Zhang recommends using a present, past, future formula. Talk a little bit about your current role (including the scope and perhaps one big accomplishment), then give some background as to how you got there and experience you have that’s relevant. Finally, segue into why you want—and would be perfect for—this role.

Possible answer to “Tell me about yourself.”

“ Well, I’m currently an account executive at Smith, where I handle our top-performing client. Before that, I worked at an agency where I was on three different major national healthcare brands. And while I really enjoyed the work that I did, I’d love the chance to dig in much deeper with one specific healthcare company, which is why I’m so excited about this opportunity with Metro Health Center.”

Read More: A Complete Guide to Answering “Tell Me About Yourself” in an Interview (Plus Examples!)

2. Walk me through your resume.

Like “Tell me about yourself,” this question is a common interview opener. But instead of framing your answer around what qualities and skills make you best for the position, your answer should group your qualifications by your past jobs and tell your career story. You might choose to tell this story chronologically, especially if there’s a great anecdote about what set you on this path. Or, as with “Tell me about yourself,” you can begin with your present job then talk about what brought you here and where you’re going next. But regardless, when you speak about your “past” and “present,” highlight your most relevant experiences and accomplishments for this job and wrap up by talking about the future, i.e. connect your past and present together to show why this job should be the next one you add to your resume.

Possible answer to “Walk me through your resume.”

“Well, as you can see from my resume, I took a bit of a winding road to get to where I am today. In college, I double majored in chemistry and communications. I found early on that working in a lab all day wasn’t for me and at some point I realized I looked forward to the lab class I TA’ed the most.

“So when I graduated, I found a job in sales for a consumer healthcare products company, where I drew on my teaching experience and learned even more about tailoring your message and explaining complex health concepts to people without a science background. Then, I moved into a sales training role at a massive company where I was responsible for teaching recent graduates the basics of selling. My trainees on average had more deals closed in their first quarter than any of the other trainers’ cohorts. Plus, I got so much satisfaction from finding the right way to train each new hire and watching them progress and succeed. It reminded me of my time as a TA in college. That’s when I started taking night classes to earn my chemistry teaching certificate.

“I left my full-time job last year to complete my student teaching at P.S. 118 in Manhattan, and over the summer, I worked for a science camp, teaching kids from the ages of 10 to 12 about basic chemistry concepts and best practices for safe experiments. Now, I’m excited to find my first full-time teaching job, and your district is my top choice. The low student-to-teacher ratio will let me take the time to teach each student in the best way for them—which is my favorite part of the job.”

Read More: How to Respond to “Walk Me Through Your Resume”—and Get Your Interview Started on the Right Note

3. How did you hear about this position?

Another seemingly innocuous interview question, this is actually a perfect opportunity to stand out and show your passion for and connection to the company. For example, if you found out about the gig through a friend or professional contact, name-drop that person, then share why you were so excited about the job. If you discovered the company through an event or article, share that. Even if you found the listing through a random job board, share what, specifically, caught your eye about the role.

Possible answer to “How did you hear about this position?”

  “I heard about an opening on the product team through a friend of a friend, Akiko, and since I’m a big fan of your work and have been following you for a while I decided it would be a great role for me to apply for.” Read More: 3 Ways People Mess Up the (Simple) Answer to “How Did You Come Across This Job Opportunity?”

4. Why do you want to work at this company?

Beware of generic answers! If what you say can apply to a whole slew of other companies, or if your response makes you sound like every other candidate, you’re missing an opportunity to stand out. Zhang recommends one of four strategies: Do your research and point to something that makes the company unique that really appeals to you; talk about how you’ve watched the company grow and change since you first heard of it; focus on the organization’s opportunities for future growth and how you can contribute to it; or share what’s gotten you excited from your interactions with employees so far. Whichever route you choose, make sure to be specific. And if you can’t figure out why you’d want to work at the company you’re interviewing with by the time you’re well into the hiring process? It might be a red flag telling you that this position is not the right fit.

Possible answer to “Why do you want to work at this company?”

“I saw on The Muse that you were also hiring for new positions on the West Coast to support your new operations there. I did some more reading about the new data center you’re building there and that excites me as I know this means there’ll be opportunities to train new teammates. I also learned through a Wall Street Journal article that you’re expanding in Mexico as well. I speak Spanish fluently and would be eager to step up and help liaise whenever necessary.”

Read More: 4 Better Ways to Answer “Why Do You Want to Work at This Company?”

5. Why do you want this job?

Again, companies want to hire people who are passionate about the job, so you should have a great answer about why you want the position. (And if you don’t? You probably should apply elsewhere.) First, identify a couple of key factors that make the role a great fit for you (e.g., “I love customer support because I love the constant human interaction and the satisfaction that comes from helping someone solve a problem”), then share why you love the company (e.g., “I’ve always been passionate about education, and I think you’re doing great things, so I want to be a part of it”).

Possible answer to “Why do you want this job?”

“I’ve always been a fan of X Co’s products and I’ve spent countless hours playing your games. I know that your focus on unique stories is what drew me and other fans into your games initially and keeps us coming back for more. I’ve followed X Co on social media for a while, and I’ve always loved how you have people in different departments interact with users. So I was psyched when I came across this posting for a social media manager with TikTok experience. At my last job, I was responsible for launching our TikTok account and growing it to 10,000 followers in six months. Between that experience, my love of gaming, and my deep knowledge of your games and fanbase, I know I could make this TikTok account something special and exciting.”

Read More: 3 Steps for Answering “Why Do You Want This Job?”

6. Why should we hire you?

This interview question seems forward (not to mention intimidating!), but if you’re asked it, you’re in luck: There’s no better setup for you to sell yourself and your skills to the hiring manager. Your job here is to craft an answer that covers three things: that you can not only do the work, but also deliver great results; that you’ll really fit in with the team and culture; and that you’d be a better hire than any of the other candidates.

Possible answer to “Why should we hire you?”

“ I know it’s been an exciting time for General Tech—growing so much and acquiring several startups—but I also know from experience that it can be challenging for the sales team to understand how new products fit in with the existing ones. It’s always easier to sell the product you know, so the newer stuff can get shortchanged, which can have company-wide ramifications. I have over a decade of experience as a sales trainer, but more importantly, most of those years were working with sales teams that were in the exact same boat Gen Tech is in now. Growth is wonderful, but only if the rest of the company can keep up. I’m confident I can make sure your sales team is confident and enthusiastic about selling new products by implementing an ongoing sales training curriculum that emphasizes where they sit in a product lineup.”

Read More: 3 Better Ways to Answer “Why Should We Hire You?”

7. What can you bring to the company?

When interviewers ask this question, they don’t just want to hear about your background. They want to see that you understand what problems and challenges they’re facing as a company or department as well as how you’ll fit into the existing organization. Read the job description closely, do your research on the company, and make sure you pay attention in your early round interviews to understand any issues you’re being hired to solve. Then, the key is to connect your skills and experiences to what the company needs and share an example that shows how you’ve done similar or transferable work in the past.

Possible answer to “What can you bring to the company?”

“As Jocelyn talked about in our interview earlier, PopCo is looking to expand its market to small business owners with less than 25 employees, so I’d bring my expertise in this area and my experience in guiding a sales team that’s selling to these customers for the first time. In most of my past roles, this segment has been my focus and in my current role, I also played a big part in creating our sales strategies when the business began selling to these customers. I worked with my managers to develop the sales script. I also listened in on a number of sales calls with other account execs who were selling to these customers for the first time and gave them pointers and other feedback. In the first quarter, our 10-person sales team closed 50 new bookings in this segment, and I personally closed 10 of those deals. I helped guide my last company through the expansion into small businesses, and I’m eager to do that again at PopCo. Plus, I noticed you have a monthly karaoke night—so I’m eager to bring my rendition of ‘Call Me Maybe’ to the team as well.”

Read More : What Interviewers Really Want to Hear When They Ask “What Can You Bring to the Company?”

8. What are your greatest strengths?

Here’s an opening to talk about something that makes you great—and a great fit for this role. When you’re answering this question, think quality, not quantity. In other words, don’t rattle off a list of adjectives. Instead, pick one or a few (depending on the question) specific qualities that are relevant to this position and illustrate them with examples. Stories are always more memorable than generalizations. And if there’s something you were hoping to mention because it makes you a great candidate, but you haven’t had a chance yet, this would be the perfect time.

Possible answer to “What are your greatest strengths?”

“ I’d say one of my greatest strengths is bringing organization to hectic environments and implementing processes to make everyone’s lives easier. In my current role as an executive assistant to a CEO, I created new processes for pretty much everything, from scheduling meetings to planning monthly all hands agendas to preparing for event appearances. Everyone in the company knew how things worked and how long they would take, and the structures helped alleviate stress and set expectations on all sides. I’d be excited to bring that same approach to an operations manager role at a startup, where everything is new and constantly growing and could use just the right amount of structure to keep things running smoothly.”

Read More: 3 Smart Strategies for Answering “What's Your Greatest Strength?”

9. What do you consider to be your weaknesses?

What your interviewer is really trying to do with this question—beyond identifying any major red flags—is to gauge your self-awareness and honesty. So, “I can’t meet a deadline to save my life” is not an option—but neither is “Nothing! I’m perfect!” Strike a balance by thinking of something that you struggle with but that you’re working to improve. For example, maybe you’ve never been strong at public speaking, but you’ve recently volunteered to run meetings to help you get more comfortable when addressing a crowd.

Possible answer to “What do you consider to be your weaknesses?”

“It can be difficult for me to gauge when the people I’m working with are overwhelmed or dissatisfied with their workloads. To ensure that I’m not asking too much or too little from my team, we have weekly check-ins. I like to ask if they feel like they’re on top of their workload, how I could better support them, whether there’s anything they’d like to take on or get rid of, and if they’re engaged by what they’re doing. Even if the answer is ‘all good,’ these meetings really lay the groundwork for a good and trusting relationship.”

Read More: 4 Ways to Answer “What Is Your Greatest Weakness?” That Actually Sound Believable

10. What is your greatest professional achievement?

Nothing says “hire me” better than a track record of achieving amazing results in past jobs, so don’t be shy when answering this interview question! A great way to do so is by using the STAR method : situation, task, action, results. Set up the situation and the task that you were required to complete to provide the interviewer with background context (e.g., “In my last job as a junior analyst, it was my role to manage the invoicing process”), then describe what you did (the action) and what you achieved (the result): “In one month, I streamlined the process, which saved my group 10 person-hours each month and reduced errors on invoices by 25%.”

Possible answer to “What is your greatest professional achievement?”

“My greatest accomplishment was when I helped the street lighting company I worked for convince the small town of Bend, Oregon to convert antiquated street lighting to energy-efficient LED bulbs. My role was created to promote and sell the energy-efficient bulbs, while touting the long-term advantage of reduced energy costs. I had to develop a way to educate city light officials on the value of our energy-efficient bulbs—which was a challenge since our products had an expensive up-front cost compared to less efficient lighting options. I created an information packet and held local community events aimed at city officials and the tax-paying public. There, I was able to demo the company product, answer questions, and evangelize the value of LED bulbs for the long term. It was crucial to have the public on board and I was able to reach a wide variety of community members with these events. I not only reached my first-year sales goal of $100,000, but I was also able to help us land another contract in a neighboring city. Plus, the community-focused strategy garnered attention from the national media. And I’m proud to say I got a promotion within one year to senior sales representative.”

Read More: The Perfect Formula for Answering “What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment” in an Interview

11. Tell me about a challenge or conflict you’ve faced at work, and how you dealt with it.

You’re probably not eager to talk about conflicts you’ve had at work during a job interview. But if you’re asked directly, don’t pretend you’ve never had one. Be honest about a difficult situation you’ve faced (but without going into the kind of detail you’d share venting to a friend). “Most people who ask are only looking for evidence that you’re willing to face these kinds of issues head-on and make a sincere attempt at coming to a resolution,” former recruiter Richard Moy says. Stay calm and professional as you tell the story (and answer any follow-up questions), spend more time talking about the resolution than the conflict, and mention what you’d do differently next time to show “you’re open to learning from tough experiences.”

Possible answer to “Tell me about a challenge or conflict you’ve faced at work, and how you dealt with it.”

“ Funnily enough, last year I was part of a committee that put together a training on conflict intervention in the workplace and the amount of pushback we got for requiring attendance really put our training to the test. There was one senior staff member in particular who seemed adamant. It took some careful listening to understand he felt like it wasn’t the best use of his time given the workload he was juggling. I made sure to acknowledge his concern. And then I focused on his direct objection and explained how the training was meant to improve not just the culture of the company, but also the efficiency at which we operated—and that the goal was for the training to make everyone’s workload feel lighter. He did eventually attend and was there when I talked to the whole staff about identifying the root issue of a conflict and addressing that directly without bringing in other issues, which is how I aim to handle any disagreement in the workplace.”

Read More: 3 Ways You’re Messing Up the Answer to “Tell Me About a Conflict You’ve Faced at Work”

12. Tell me about a time you demonstrated leadership skills.

You don’t have to have a fancy title to act like a leader or demonstrate leadership skills. Think about a time when you headed up a project, took the initiative to propose an alternate process, or helped motivate your team to get something done. Then use the STAR method to tell your interviewer a story, giving enough detail to paint a picture (but not so much that you start rambling) and making sure you spell out the result. In other words, be clear about why you’re telling this particular story and connect all the dots for the interviewer.

Possible answer to “Tell me about a time you demonstrated leadership skills.”

“I think that a good leader is someone who can make decisions while also listening to others and being willing to admit when you’re wrong and course correct. In my last role, my team and I were responsible for giving a big presentation to a prospective client. I quickly assigned different tasks to members of my team, but the project never really got moving. I gave everyone an opportunity to share their input and concerns, and it turned out that they were struggling in the roles I’d given them. I ended up switching a few people around. Meanwhile, the employee I’d assigned to give the presentation was nervous, but still wanted to give it a try. I worked with them to make sure they were ready and even held a practice session so that they could rehearse in a more comfortable environment. When the time came for the real thing, they nailed it! We landed the client and the company still has the account to this day. And that employee became a go-to person for important client presentations. I’m really glad I took the time to listen to everyone’s concerns so that I could re-evaluate my approach and help my team be the best it could be.”

Read More: The Best Way to Answer “Tell Me About a Time You Demonstrated Leadership Skills” in a Job Interview

13. What’s a time you disagreed with a decision that was made at work?

The ideal anecdote here is one where you handled a disagreement professionally and learned something from the experience. Zhang recommends paying particular attention to how you start and end your response. To open, make a short statement to frame the rest of your answer, one that nods at the ultimate takeaway or the reason you’re telling this story. For example: “I learned early on in my professional career that it’s fine to disagree if you can back up your hunches with data.” And to close strong, you can either give a one-sentence summary of your answer (“In short…”) or talk briefly about how what you learned or gained from this experience would help you in the role you’re interviewing for.

Possible answer to “What’s a time you disagreed with a decision that was made at work?”

“In my job as a finance assistant, I was in charge of putting together reports for potential company investments. It was important to get the details and numbers right so that leaders had the best information to make a decision. One time, my boss asked me to generate a new report on a Wednesday morning and wanted it done by Thursday at 5 PM. Because I’m committed to high-quality work and I wasn’t sure my boss fully understood what goes into each report, I knew I needed to speak up. At her next available opening, I sat down with my boss and explained my concerns. She was firm that the report would be completed by Thursday at 5 PM. So I decided to ask if there was anyone who could help out. After thinking about it, my boss found another assistant who could put in a few hours. While it was a tight timeline, we got the report done, and the committee was really pleased to review it at the meeting. My boss appreciated my extra efforts to make it happen and I felt good that I hadn’t let the quality of the report slip. It was a good experience of being a team player but also knowing when and how to ask for help. And once I explained how much time and work goes into each report, my boss was careful to assign them further in advance.”

Read More: Here’s the Secret to Answering “Tell Me About a Time You Had a Conflict With Your Boss” in an Interview

14. Tell me about a time you made a mistake.

You’re probably not too eager to dig into past blunders when you’re trying to impress an interviewer and land a job. But talking about a mistake and winning someone over aren’t mutually exclusive, Moy says. In fact, if you do it right, it can help you. The key is to be honest without placing blame on other people, then explain what you learned from your mistake and what actions you took to ensure it didn’t happen again. At the end of the day, employers are looking for folks who are self-aware, can take feedback, and care about doing better.

Possible answer to “Tell me about a time you made a mistake.”

“Early in my career, I missed a deadline that ended up costing us a really big account. There were a lot of factors that contributed to this, but ultimately, I was the one who dropped the ball. From that experience, I went back and thought really hard about what I could’ve controlled and what I would’ve changed. It turns out that I was not nearly as organized as I thought I was. I sat down with my boss, asked for suggestions on how to improve my organizational skills, and a few months later I was able to score an even bigger account for the department.”

Read More: 3 Rules That Guarantee You'll Nail the Answer to “Tell Me About a Time You Made a Mistake”

15. Tell me about a time you failed.

This question is very similar to the one about making a mistake, and you should approach your answer in much the same way. Make sure you pick a real, actual failure you can speak honestly about. Start by making it clear to the interviewer how you define failure. For instance: “As a manager, I consider it a failure whenever I’m caught by surprise. I strive to know what’s going on with my team and their work.” Then situate your story in relation to that definition and explain what happened. Finally, don’t forget to share what you learned. It’s OK to fail—everyone does sometimes—but it’s important to show that you took something from the experience.

Possible answer to “Tell me about a time you failed.”

“ As a team manager, I consider it a failure if I don’t know what’s going on with my staff and their work—basically if a problem catches me by surprise then I’ve failed somewhere along the way. Even if the outcome is ultimately fine, it means I’ve left a team member unsupported at some point. A somewhat recent example would be this training we do every year for new project managers. Because it’s an event that my team has run so many times, I didn’t think to check in and had no idea a scheduling conflict was brewing into a full-on turf war with another team. The resolution actually ended up being a quick and easy conversation at the leadership team meeting, but had I just asked about it sooner it would never have been a problem to begin with. I definitely learned my lesson about setting reminders to check in about major projects or events even if they’ve been done dozens of times before.”

Read More: 4 Steps for Answering “Tell Me About a Time When You Failed”

16. Why are you leaving your current job?

This is a toughie, but one you can be sure you’ll be asked. Definitely keep things positive—you have nothing to gain by being negative about your current employer. Instead, frame things in a way that shows that you’re eager to take on new opportunities and that the role you’re interviewing for is a better fit for you. For example, “I’d really love to be part of product development from beginning to end, and I know I’d have that opportunity here.” And if you were let go from your most recent job? Keep it simple: “Unfortunately, I was let go,” is a totally acceptable answer.

Possible answer to “Why are you leaving your current job?”

“I’m ready for the next challenge in my career. I loved the people I worked with and the projects I worked on, but at some point I realized I wasn’t being challenged the way I used to be. Rather than let myself get too comfortable, I decided to pursue a position where I can continue to grow.”

Read More: 4 Better Ways to Answer “Why Are You Leaving Your Job?”

17. Why were you fired?

Of course, they may ask the follow-up question: Why were you let go? If you lost your job due to layoffs, you can simply say, “The company [reorganized/merged/was acquired] and unfortunately my [position/department] was eliminated.” But what if you were fired for performance reasons? Your best bet is to be honest (the job-seeking world is small, after all). But it doesn’t have to be a deal breaker. Frame it as a learning experience: Share how you’ve grown and how you approach your job and life now as a result. And if you can portray your growth as an advantage for this next job, even better.

Possible answer to “Why were you fired?”

“After working for XYZ Inc. for four years, there were some changes made to the amount of client calls we were expected to process per hour. I used the techniques we were taught after the change took effect, but didn’t want our customer service to slip. Unfortunately, I wasn’t consistently completing the required number of calls, and, as a result, I was let go. I felt really bad about this and in retrospect I could have done better sticking to the process that would have let me meet the per hour quota. But you’ve told me about the customer service standards and the volume expectations here, and I believe it won’t be a problem.”

Read More: Stop Cringing! How to Tell an Interviewer You've Been Fired

18. Why was there a gap in your employment?

Maybe you were taking care of children or aging parents, dealing with health issues, or traveling the world. Maybe it just took you a long time to land the right job. Whatever the reason, you should be prepared to discuss the gap (or gaps) on your resume. Seriously, practice saying your answer out loud. The key is to be honest, though that doesn’t mean you have to share more details than you’re comfortable with. If there are skills or qualities you honed or gained in your time away from the workforce—whether through volunteer work, running a home, or responding to a personal crisis—you can also talk about how those would help you excel in this role.

Possible answer to “Why was there a gap in your employment?”

“I spent a number of years working at a company in a very demanding job, in which—as you’ll see from my references—I was very successful. But I’d reached a stage in my career where I wanted to focus on my personal growth. The time I spent traveling taught me a lot about how to get along with people of all ages and cultures. Now I feel more than ready to jump back into my career with renewed energy and focus and I feel this role is the ideal way to do that.”

Read More: How to Explain the Gap in Your Resume With Ease

19. Can you explain why you changed career paths?

Don’t be thrown off by this question—just take a deep breath and explain to the hiring manager why you’ve made the career decisions you have. More importantly, give a few examples of how your past experience is transferable to the new role. This doesn’t have to be a direct connection; in fact, it’s often more impressive when a candidate can show how seemingly irrelevant experience is very relevant to the role.

Possible answer to “Can you explain why you changed career paths?”

“Ever since my brother was diagnosed with a heart condition, I’ve been training and running with him in your annual Heart Run to raise money for your organization and help support patients with expenses not covered by insurance. Each time, I’ve been struck by how truly dedicated and happy to be there your employees have been. So when I saw this posting for a fundraising role, it felt like it was meant to be. For the last 10 years of my career I’ve been an account executive for various SaaS companies, and I’ve really honed my skills when it comes to convincing organizations to make regular payments for something over the long-term. But I’ve been looking for a position in fundraising where I can use these skills to really help people and I’m highly motivated to do that with your organization.”

Read More: How to Explain Your Winding Career Path to a Hiring Manager

20. What’s your current salary?

It’s now illegal for some or all employers to ask you about your salary history in several cities and states, including New York City; Louisville, North Carolina; California; and Massachusetts. But no matter where you live, it can be stressful to hear this question. Don’t panic—there are several possible strategies you can turn to. For example, you can deflect the question, Muse career coach Emily Liou says, with a response like: “Before discussing any salary, I’d really like to learn more about what this role entails. I’ve done a lot of research on [Company] and I am certain if it’s the right fit, we’ll be able to agree on a number that’s fair and competitive to both parties.” You can also reframe the question around your salary expectations or requirements (see question 38) or choose to share the number if you think it will work in your favor.

Possible answer to “What’s your current salary?”

“Before discussing any salary, I’d really like to learn more about what this role entails. I’ve done a lot of research on [Company] and I am certain if it’s the right fit, we’ll be able to agree on a number that’s fair and competitive to both parties.”

Read More: Here's How You Answer the Illegal “What's Your Current Salary” Question

21. What do you like least about your job?

Tread carefully here! The last thing you want to do is let your answer devolve into a rant about how terrible your current company is or how much you hate your boss or that one coworker. The easiest way to handle this question with poise is to focus on an opportunity the role you’re interviewing for offers that your current job doesn’t. You can keep the conversation positive and emphasize why you’re so excited about the job.

Possible answer to “What do you like least about your job?”

“In my current role, I’m responsible for drafting media lists to pitch. While I’ve developed a knack for this and can do it when it is necessary, I’m looking forward to a job that allows me to have a more hands-on role in working with media partners. That’s one of the things that most excited me about your account supervisor position.”

Read More: What Interviewers Really Want When They Ask, “What Do You Like Least About Your Job?”

22. What are you looking for in a new position?

Hint: Ideally the same things that this position has to offer. Be specific.

Possible answer to “What are you looking for in a new position?”

“I’ve been honing my data analysis skills for a few years now and, first and foremost, I’m looking for a position where I can continue to exercise those skills. Another thing that’s important to me is the chance to present my findings and suggestions directly to clients. I’m always very motivated by being able to see the impact of my work on other people. And I’m definitely looking for a position where I can grow since I hope to take on managerial responsibilities in the future. To sum it up, I’d love a position where I can use my skills to make an impact that I can see with my own eyes. Of course, the position is only part of the equation. Being at a company where I can grow and work toward something I care about matters, too. DNF’s goal of being at the intersection between data and education inspires me, and I’m really excited about this opportunity.”

Read More: 4 Steps for Answering “What Are You Looking for in a New Position?”

23. What type of work environment do you prefer?

Hint: Ideally one that's similar to the environment of the company you're applying to. Be specific.

Possible answer to “What type of work environment do you prefer?”

“I really like the environment in my current position. My manager is a great resource and always willing to help out when I run into an issue, but they trust me to get my work done so I have a lot of freedom in how I schedule and prioritize, which is very important to me. Everyone has their own cubicle, so it’s often pretty quiet to get our work done, but we all get lunch together and our team has a lot of check-in meetings and communicates frequently via Slack so we still get a lot of opportunities to bounce ideas off each other. So I like both individual and more collaborative work. How would you describe the mix here?”

Read More: 3 Steps to Answering “What Type of Work Environment Do You Prefer?”

24. What’s your work style?

When an interviewer asks you about your work style, they’re probably trying to imagine you in the role. How will you approach your work? What will it be like to work with you? Will you mesh well with the existing team? You can help them along by choosing to focus on something that’s important to you and aligns with everything you’ve learned about the role, team, and company so far. The question is broad, which means you have a lot of flexibility in how you answer: You might talk about how you communicate and collaborate on cross-functional projects, what kind of remote work setup allows you to be most productive, or how you approach leading a team and managing direct reports. Just try to keep it positive. And remember, telling a story will almost always make your answer more memorable. 

Possible answer to “What’s your work style?”

“I tend to do my best work when I’m collaborating with colleagues and we’re working together toward a common goal. I was that rare student who loved group projects and now I still get a rush of excitement when I’m planning marketing campaigns with a team and bringing new and different voices into the fold. When I was working at XYZ Agency, I made it a habit to extend invitations to folks in different departments to join certain brainstorming and feedback sessions. Some of our most successful campaigns grew out of the ideas we generated together with coworkers in IT, HR, product, and customer success. That’s why I was so excited to learn that this role would have me working closely with the product and sales teams as well as with a talented marketing team. The other thing I find is crucial to making these collaborations successful is organization and documentation, so I’m also really big on creating one central home for all materials related to a project, including meeting notes, action items, drafts of campaign copy and visuals, and timelines.”

Read More: How to Answer “What Is Your Work Style?” in an Interview (Plus Examples!)

25. What’s your management style?

The best managers are strong but flexible, and that’s exactly what you want to show off in your answer. (Think something like, “While every situation and every team member requires a bit of a different strategy, I tend to approach my employee relationships as a coach...”) Then share a couple of your best managerial moments, like when you grew your team from five to 15 or coached an underperforming employee to become the company’s top salesperson.

Possible answer to “What’s your management style?”

“ Management style is so hard to put your finger on, but I think in general a good manager gives clear directions and actually stays pretty hands-off, but is ready and available to jump in to offer guidance, expertise, and help when needed. I try my best to make that my management style. I also go out of my way to make sure I know when my team needs help. That means plenty of informal check-ins, both on the work they’re doing and on their general job satisfaction and mental well-being. I remember one project in particular at my most recent position that involved everyone working on a separate aspect of the product. This meant a lot of independent work for my team of seven people, but rather than bog everyone down with repetitive meetings to update me and everyone else on progress made, I created a project wiki that allowed us to communicate new information when necessary without disrupting another team member’s work. I then made it my job to make sure no one was ever stuck on a problem too long without a sounding board. Ultimately, despite the disparate project responsibilities, we ended up with a very cohesive product and, more importantly, a team that wasn’t burnt out.”

Read More: How to Answer “What’s Your Management Style?”

26. How would your boss and coworkers describe you?

First, be honest (remember, if you make it to the final round, the hiring manager will be calling your former bosses and coworkers for references!). Then try to pull out strengths and traits you haven’t discussed in other aspects of the interview, such as your strong work ethic or your willingness to pitch in on other projects when needed.

Possible answer to “How would your boss and coworkers describe you?”

“Actually, in my most recent performance review in April, my direct supervisor described me as someone who takes initiative and doesn’t shy away from hard problems. My role involves a lot of on-site implementation, and when things go wrong, it’s usually up to me to fix it. Rather than punting the problem back to the team, I always try to do what I can first. I know she appreciates that about me.”

Read More: 3 Strategies for Answering “How Would Your Boss or Coworkers Describe You?”

27. How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?

Here’s another question you may feel the urge to sidestep in an effort to prove you’re the perfect candidate who can handle anything. But it’s important not to dismiss this one (i.e. don’t say, “I just put my head down and push through it,” or, “I don’t get stressed out”). Instead, talk about your go-to strategies for dealing with stress (whether it’s meditating for 10 minutes every day or making sure you go for a run or keeping a super-detailed to-do list) and how you communicate and otherwise proactively try to mitigate pressure. If you can give a real example of a stressful situation you navigated successfully, all the better.

Possible answer to “How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?”

“I stay motivated by thinking about the end result. I’ve found that even in the midst of a challenging situation, reminding myself of my goals helps me take a step back and stay positive.”

Read More: 3 Ways You’re Messing Up the Answer to “How Do You Deal With Stressful Situations?”

28. What do you like to do outside of work?

Interviewers will sometimes ask about your hobbies or interests outside of work in order to get to know you a little better—to find out what you’re passionate about and devote time to during your off-hours. It’s another chance to let your personality shine. Be honest, but keep it professional and be mindful of answers that might make it sound like you’re going to spend all your time focusing on something other than the job you’re applying for.

Possible answer to “What do you like to do outside of work?”

“I’m a huge foodie. My friends and I love trying new restaurants in town as soon as they open—the more unusual the better! I love discovering new foods and cuisines, and it’s also a great activity to share with friends. I try to go out with the same group at least once a week and it’s a fun way to make sure we keep in touch and share experiences even when we’re busy with other things. We even took a trip to New York City and spent each day in a different neighborhood, buying something to share from a few restaurants.”

Read More: How to Answer “What Are Your Hobbies?” in an Interview (It’s Not a Trick Question!)

29. Are you planning on having children?

Questions about your family status, gender (“How would you handle managing a team of all men?”), nationality (“Where were you born?”), religion, or age are illegal—but they still get asked (and frequently). Of course, not always with ill intent—the interviewer might just be trying to make conversation and might not realize these are off-limits—but you should definitely tie any questions about your personal life (or anything else you think might be inappropriate) back to the job at hand. 

Possible answer to “Are you planning on having children?”

“You know, I’m not quite there yet. But I am very interested in the career paths at your company. Can you tell me more about that?”

Read More: 5 Illegal Interview Questions and How to Dodge Them

30. How do you stay organized?

Would you want to work with a hot mess? Yeah, we didn’t think so. Neither does anyone else. A disorganized worker doesn’t just struggle in their own role, they can also create chaos for peers, managers, direct reports, clients, customers, and anyone else they interact with. So interviewers will often ask about how you keep yourself organized to make sure you’d be able to handle the workload and gauge what you’d be like to work with. In your answer, you’ll want to reassure them you’d have things under control (both in what you say and how you say it), describe a specific system or method you’ve used (bonus points if you can tie it to the role you’re interviewing for), and explain how it benefited you and your team. Just make sure your answer is succinct and, well, organized.

Possible answer to “How do you stay organized?”

“I take pride in my ability to stay organized, and it’s really come in handy in my past roles and especially the social media assistant job I’m in now. First, I keep a really meticulous calendar for each of the platforms I’m responsible for using Hootsuite—which I noticed you use here as well—and I try to block off time twice a week to get ahead on creating and slotting in posts. 

“ Second, I’m a big fan of Trello, where I have one personal board I use as a to-do list color-coded by type of task and marked with priority level and one shared marketing team board that we use to coordinate campaigns launching across social, email, and other channels. We pay very close attention to the news in case we need to pause a campaign. If needed, I’d tag all the relevant stakeholders on Trello, immediately suspend all scheduled content in Hootsuite, and start a discussion on Slack or suggest a meeting to reassess strategy.

“Finally, I created a shared folder on Google Drive with subfolders by campaign that I update with one-pagers on goals and strategies, assets, a record of the actual posts deployed, performance analyses, and retros. That way, there’s a go-to place for anyone on the team to refer back to past projects, which I’ve found really helps us learn from every campaign and incorporate those learnings into what we’re working on next.”

Read More: What Interviewers Really Want to Know When They Ask “How Do You Stay Organized?”

31. How do you prioritize your work?

Your interviewers want to know that you can manage your time, exercise judgement, communicate, and shift gears when needed. Start by talking about whatever system you’ve found works for you to plan your day or week, whether it’s a to-do list app you swear by or a color-coded spreadsheet. This is one where you’ll definitely want to lean on a real-life example. So go on to describe how you’ve reacted to a last-minute request or another unexpected shift in priorities in the past, incorporating how you evaluated and decided what to do and how you communicated with your manager and/or teammates about it.

Possible answer to “How do you prioritize your work?”

“I’d be lost without my daily to-do list! At the beginning of each workday, I write out tasks to complete, and list them from highest to lowest priority to help keep me on track. But I also realize priorities change unexpectedly. On one particular day recently, I had planned to spend most of my time making phone calls to advertising agencies to get price quotes for an upcoming campaign. Then I did a quick check-in with my manager. She mentioned she needed help putting together a presentation ASAP for a major potential client. I moved the more flexible task to the end of the week and spent the next few hours updating the time-sensitive presentation. I make it a point to keep lines of communication open with my manager and coworkers. If I’m working on a task that will take a while to complete, I try to give a heads-up to my team as soon as possible. If my workload gets to be unmanageable, I check in with my boss about which items can drop to the bottom of the priority list, and then I try to reset expectations about different deadlines.”

Read More: A Foolproof Method to Answer the Interview Question “How Do You Prioritize Your Work?”

32. What are you passionate about?

You’re not a robot programmed to do your work and then power down. You’re a human, and if someone asks you this question in an interview, it’s probably because they want to get to know you better. The answer can align directly with the type of work you’d be doing in that role—like if, for example, you’re applying to be a graphic designer and spend all of your free time creating illustrations and data visualizations to post on Instagram.

But don’t be afraid to talk about a hobby that’s different from your day-to-day work. Bonus points if you can “take it one step further and connect how your passion would make you an excellent candidate for the role you are applying for,” says Muse career coach Al Dea. Like if you’re a software developer who loves to bake, you might talk about how the ability to be both creative and precise informs your approach to code.

Possible answer to “What are you passionate about?”

“One of my favorite pastimes is knitting—I love being able to create something beautiful from nothing. Of course, knitting also requires a keen attention to detail and a lot of patience. Luckily, as an accountant I have cultivated both of those qualities!”

Read More: 3 Authentic Ways to Answer “What Are You Passionate About?” in a Job Interview

33. What motivates you?

Before you panic about answering what feels like a probing existential question, consider that the interviewer wants to make sure you’re excited about this role at this company, and that you’ll be motivated to succeed if they pick you. So think back to what has energized you in previous roles and pinpoint what made your eyes light up when you read this job description. Pick one thing, make sure it’s relevant to the role and company you’re interviewing for, and try to weave in a story to help illustrate your point. If you’re honest, which you should be, your enthusiasm will be palpable.

Possible answer to “What motivates you?”

“I’m driven primarily by my desire to learn new things—big or small—and take on new responsibilities so that I’m constantly growing as an employee and contributing more to my team and organization. I spent several summers working as a camp counselor and felt most fulfilled when I volunteered to lead planning for a talent show, jumped in to help with scheduling logistics, and learned how to run pickups efficiently. All of that experience helped immensely when I took a step up to become the lead counselor last year focused on operations, and that’s what excites me so much about the opportunity to take on this managerial role for the after-school program.”

Read More: 5 Easy Steps to Answer “What Motivates You?” in an Interview

34. What are your pet peeves?

Here’s another one that feels like a minefield. But it’ll be easier to navigate if you know why an interviewer is asking it. Most likely, they want to make sure you’ll thrive at their company—and get a glimpse of how you deal with conflict. So be certain you pick something that doesn’t contradict the culture and environment at this organization while still being honest. Then explain why and what you’ve done to address it in the past, doing your best to stay calm and composed. Since there’s no need to dwell on something that annoys you, you can keep this response short and sweet.

Possible answer to “What are your pet peeves?”

“It bothers me when an office’s schedule is really disorganized, because in my experience, disorganization can cause confusion, which can hurt the motivation of the team. As a person who likes things to be orderly, I try to help keep my team on task while also allowing for flexibility.”

Read More: 6 Tips for Answering “What Are Your Pet Peeves?” in an Interview

35. How do you like to be managed?

This is another one of those questions that’s about finding the right fit—both from the company’s perspective and your own. Think back on what worked well for you in the past and what didn’t. What did previous bosses do that motivated you and helped you succeed and grow? Pick one or two things to focus on and always articulate them with a positive framing (even if your preference comes from an experience where your manager behaved in the opposite way, phrase it as what you would want a manager to do). If you can give a positive example from a great boss, it’ll make your answer even stronger.

Possible answer to “How do you like to be managed?”

“I enjoy having my hands in a lot of different projects, so I like working with managers who allow their employees to experiment, be independent, and work cross-functionally with other teams. At the same time, I really welcome it when a boss provides me with support, guidance, and coaching. No one can do anything alone, and I believe when managers and employees collaborate together and learn from one another everyone comes out on top.”

Read More: 3 Easy Steps to Answer “How Do You Like to Be Managed?” in an Interview

36. Do you consider yourself successful?

This question might make you uncomfortable. But you can think of it as an opportunity to allow the interviewer to get to know you better and to position yourself as an excellent choice for this job. First off, make sure you say yes! Then pick one specific professional achievement you’re proud of that can be tied back to the role you’re interviewing for—one that demonstrates a quality, skill, or experience that would help you excel in this position. You’ll want to explain why you consider it a success, talk about the process in addition to the outcome, and highlight your own accomplishment without forgetting your team. Zooming in on one story will help if you feel awkward tooting your own horn!

Possible answer to “Do you consider yourself successful?”

“I do consider myself successful, even though I’m early in my professional career. I took a full load of classes in my junior year of college because I wanted to take that summer to volunteer for a human rights organization overseas. I knew that I needed to make sure I was on track with my major, minor, and graduation requirements. It was difficult to juggle it all with my part-time job, which I kept to help account for the fact that I wouldn’t be earning money over the summer, and there were a few sleepless nights. But it was worth the hard work: I ended the year with a 3.9 GPA and the opportunity to volunteer for the agency in Ghana without falling behind my graduation timeline. For me success is about setting a goal and sticking with it, no matter how hard it is, and this experience was proof that I could be successful even when there’s a lot to balance, which I know there always is at a nonprofit like this one.”

Read More: How to Answer “Do You Consider Yourself Successful?” Without Feeling Like a Show-Off

37. Where do you see yourself in five years?

If asked this question, be honest and specific about your future goals, but consider this: A hiring manager wants to know a) if you've set realistic expectations for your career, b) if you have ambition (a.k.a., this interview isn't the first time you’re considering the question), and c) if the position aligns with your goals and growth. Your best bet is to think realistically about where this position could take you and answer along those lines. And if the position isn’t necessarily a one-way ticket to your aspirations? It’s OK to say that you’re not quite sure what the future holds, but that you see this experience playing an important role in helping you make that decision.

Possible answer to “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

“In five years, I’d like to be in a position where I know more about my longer-term career aspirations as a designer. I will have gotten experience working for a design agency and know more about the industry overall. I’ll have grown my technical skills and learned how to take feedback from clients and incorporate it. And the way your agency is set up, I’ll also have gotten the opportunity to design different kinds of deliverables—including websites, branding, and ad campaigns—for different kinds of clients to see where I really feel at home before settling on a focus.”

Read More: How to Answer “Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?”

38. How do you plan to achieve your career goals?

Having goals shows interviewers you care, are ambitious, and can think ahead. Having a plan for how you’ll achieve your goals demonstrates your self-motivation as well as organizational and time management skills. Finally, the fact that you’ve accomplished past goals you’ve set for yourself is proof of your ability to follow through. All together, these are indications that you can not only set and achieve goals of your own, but also help your prospective boss, team, and company do the same. To craft your answer, make sure you focus on one or two goals in detail, explain why the goals are meaningful, communicate what milestones are coming up, highlight past successes, and connect back to this job. 

Possible answer to “How do you plan to achieve your career goals?”

“My current goal is to earn the CPA license so that I’m fully certified and prepared to contribute in a junior staff accounting job. My undergraduate degree is in finance and I completed an accounting internship with XYZ Company last summer. While I was there, I decided that each week I’d ask one person from a different team to coffee to learn about their job and career path. Not only did those conversations impress upon me the importance of getting my CPA as soon as possible, they also helped me realize I was eager to pursue forensic accounting, which is why I’m so excited about the opportunity to join this team. In order to ensure I earn my CPA this year, I enrolled in NASBA workshops, created a study schedule to keep myself on track, and will be taking my first trial test in three weeks. I plan on taking the actual test within the next three to six months.”

Read More: How to Answer “How Do You Plan to Achieve Your Career Goals?” in an Interview

39. What are your career aspirations?

Career aspirations are bigger and loftier than career goals. With this question, interviewers are asking: What kind of career would make you happiest (while also being realistic)? Your aspirations might revolve around what kind of company you’d like to work for, what tasks you’d like to do, who you’d like to help, or how you’d like to be seen by your colleagues. So to answer this question, talk about what would energize and fulfill you and connect it to the position you’re interviewing for. Be specific about how this job will help you achieve your career aspirations.

Possible answer to “What are your career aspirations?”

“After growing up in a food desert, my biggest professional aspiration is to help make healthy food more widely available and accessible regardless of where you live. I also love solving complex problems. Currently, as a project manager, I specialize in strategic planning and combine it with a natural ability to engage critical stakeholders—resulting in on-time and under-budget delivery. This role would help me use those skills to work on a mission I’m passionate about. I am determined to use these skills to help your organization guarantee our community has access to affordable, nutritious food and information to make healthy decisions. In the next five or so years, I would love to take on additional responsibility and be in a decision-making role to drive the mission beyond our community and support even more families in gaining access to nutritious food options.”

Read More: How to Answer “What Are Your Career Aspirations?” in an Interview

40. What’s your dream job?

Along similar lines, the interviewer wants to uncover whether this position is really in line with your ultimate career goals. While “an NBA star” might get you a few laughs, a better bet is to talk about your goals and ambitions—and why this job will get you closer to them.

Read More: The Secret Formula to Answering “What's Your Dream Job?” in an Interview

41. What other companies are you interviewing with?

Companies might ask you who else you’re interviewing with for a few reasons. Maybe they want to see how serious you are about this role and team (or even this field) or they’re trying to find out who they’re competing with to hire you. On one hand, you want to express your enthusiasm for this job, but at the same time, you don’t want to give the company any more leverage than it already has by telling them there’s no one else in the running. Depending on where you are in your search, you can talk about applying to or interviewing for a few roles that have XYZ in common—then mention how and why this role seems like a particularly good fit.

Possible answer to “What other companies are you interviewing with?”

“I’m interviewing with a few companies for a range of positions, but they all come down to delivering an excellent customer experience. I wanted to keep an open mind about how to best achieve that goal, but so far it seems that this role will really allow me to focus all of my energy on customer experience and retention, which I find very appealing.”

Read More: How to Answer “What Other Companies Are You Interviewing With?”

42. What makes you unique?

“They genuinely want to know the answer,” Dea promises. Give them a reason to pick you over other similar candidates. The key is to keep your answer relevant to the role you’re applying to. So the fact that you can run a six-minute mile or crush a trivia challenge might not help you get the job (but hey, it depends on the job!). Use this opportunity to tell them something that would give you an edge over your competition for this position. To figure out what that is, you can ask some former colleagues, think back to patterns you’ve seen in feedback you get, or try to distill why people tend to turn to you. Focus on one or two things and don’t forget to back up whatever you say with evidence.

Possible answer to “What makes you unique?”

“I basically taught myself animation from scratch. I was immediately drawn to it in college, and with the limited resources available to me, I decided to take matters into my own hands—and that’s the approach I take in all aspects of my work as a video editor. I don’t just wait around for things to happen, and when I can, I’m always eager to step in and take on new projects, pick up new skills, or brainstorm new ideas.”

Read More: A Simple Way to Answer “What Makes You Unique?” in Your Job Search (Plus, Examples!)

43. What should I know that’s not on your resume?

It’s a good sign if a recruiter or hiring manager is interested in more than just what’s on your resume. It probably means they looked at your resume, think you might be a good fit for the role, and want to know more about you. To make this wide-open question a little more manageable, try talking about a positive trait, a story or detail that reveals a little more about you and your experience, or a mission or goal that makes you excited about this role or company.

Possible answer to “What should I know that’s not on your resume?”

“Well, one thing you won’t find on my resume: the time I had to administer emergency CPR. Last year, I was at the lake when I saw a young girl who looked like she was drowning. I was a lifeguard in high school, so I swam out, brought her to shore, and gave her CPR. Although this was—hopefully—a one-time event, I’ve always been able to stay calm during stressful situations, figure out a solution, and then act. As your account manager, I’d use this trait to quickly and effectively resolve issues both within the team and externally. After all, obstacles are inevitable, especially in a startup environment. And if anyone needs CPR at the office beach party, well, I’m your woman.”

Read More: The Right Way to Answer “What Should I Know That’s Not on Your Resume?”

44. What would your first few months look like in this role?

Your potential future boss (or whoever else has asked you this question) wants to know that you’ve done your research, given some thought to how you’d get started, and would be able to take initiative if hired. (In some interviews, you might even get the more specific, “What would your first 30, 60, or 90 days look like in this role?”) So think about what information and aspects of the company and team you’d need to familiarize yourself with and which colleagues you’d want to sit down and talk to. You can also suggest one possible starter project to show you’d be ready to hit the ground running and contribute early on. This won’t necessarily be the thing you do first if you do get the job, but a good answer shows that you’re thoughtful and that you care.

Possible answer to “What would your first few months look like in this role?”

“It’s been exciting to hear about some of the new initiatives the company has started in our previous conversations—like the database project and the company-wide sync, but I know there’s still a lot for me to learn. The first thing I’d do is line up meetings with the stakeholders involved in the projects I’d be tackling to help me figure out what I don’t know and then go from there. Hopping into a database project halfway through can be tricky, but I’m confident that once I know what all the stakeholders are looking for, I’ll be able to efficiently plot out our next steps and set appropriate deadlines. From there, I’ll be focused on hitting the milestones that I’ve set for the team.”

Read More: The 30-60-90 Day Plan: Your Secret Weapon for New Job Success

45. What are your salary expectations?

The number one rule of answering this question is: Figure out your salary requirements ahead of time. Do your research on what similar roles pay by using sites like PayScale and reaching out to your network. Be sure to take your experience, education, skills, and personal needs into account, too! From there, Muse career coach Jennifer Fink suggests choosing from one of three strategies:

• Give a salary range: But keep the bottom of your stated range toward the mid-to-high point of what you’re actually hoping for, Fink says.
• Flip the question: Try something like “That's a great question—it would be helpful if you could share what the range is for this role,” Fink says.
• Delay answering: Tell your interviewer that you’d like to learn more about the role or the rest of the compensation package before discussing pay.

(And here’s some more info on responding to a question about your salary requirements on an application form .)

Possible answer to “What are your salary expectations?”

“Taking into account my experience and Excel certifications, which you mentioned earlier would be very helpful to the team, I’m looking for somewhere between $42,000 and $46,000 annually for this role. But for me, benefits definitely matter as well. Your free on-site gym, the commuter benefits, and other perks could definitely allow me to be a bit flexible with salary.”

Read More:  3 Strategies for Answering “What Are Your Salary Expectations?” in an Interview

46. What do you think we could do better or differently?

This question can really do a number on you. How do you give a meaty answer without insulting the company or, worse, the person you’re speaking with? Well first, take a deep breath. Then start your response with something positive about the company or specific product you’ve been asked to discuss. When you’re ready to give your constructive feedback, give some background on the perspective you’re bringing to the table and explain why you’d make the change you’re suggesting (ideally based on some past experience or other evidence). And if you end with a question, you can show them you’re curious about the company or product and open to other points of view. Try: “Did you consider that approach here? I’d love to know more about your process.”

Read More: How to Answer the “How Would You Improve Our Company?” Interview Question Without Bashing Anyone

47. When can you start?

Your goal here should be to set realistic expectations that will work for both you and the company. What exactly that sounds like will depend on your specific situation. If you’re ready to start immediately—if you’re unemployed, for example—you could offer to start within the week. But if you need to give notice to your current employer, don’t be afraid to say so; people will understand and respect that you plan to wrap things up right. It’s also legitimate to want to take a break between jobs, though you might want to say you have “previously scheduled commitments to attend to” and try to be flexible if they really need someone to start a bit sooner.

Possible answer to “When can you start?”

“I am excited for the opportunity to join your team. I have several projects to wrap up in my current role at [Company]. I plan to give them two weeks’ notice to make a smooth transition for my coworkers and will be happy to come onboard with the team here after that time.”

Read More: 4 Ways to Answer the Interview Question “When Can You Start?”

48. Are you willing to relocate?

While this may sound like a simple yes-or-no question, it’s often a little bit more complicated than that. The simplest scenario is one where you’re totally open to moving and would be willing to do so for this opportunity. But if the answer is no, or at least not right now, you can reiterate your enthusiasm for the role, briefly explain why you can’t move at this time, and offer an alternative, like working remotely or out of a local office. Sometimes it’s not as clear-cut, and that’s OK. You can say you prefer to stay put for xyz reasons, but would be willing to consider relocating for the right opportunity.

Possible answer to “Are you willing to relocate?”

“I do love living in Raleigh and would prefer to stay here. However, for the right opportunity I’d be willing to consider relocating if necessary.”

Read More: The Best Responses to “Are You Willing to Relocate?” Depending on Your Situation

49. How many tennis balls can you fit into a limousine?

1,000? 10,000? 100,000? Seriously? Well, seriously, you might get asked brain-teaser questions like these, especially in quantitative jobs. But remember that the interviewer doesn’t necessarily want an exact number—they want to make sure that you understand what’s being asked of you, and that you can set into motion a systematic and logical way to respond. So take a deep breath and start thinking through the math. (Yes, it’s OK to ask for a pen and paper!)

Read More: 9 Steps to Solving an Impossible Brain Teaser in a Tech Interview (Without Breaking a Sweat)

50. If you were an animal, which one would you want to be?

Seemingly random personality-test type questions like these come up in interviews because hiring managers want to see how you can think on your feet. There’s no wrong answer here, but you’ll immediately gain bonus points if your answer helps you share your strengths or personality or connect with the hiring manager. Pro tip: Come up with a stalling tactic to buy yourself some thinking time, such as saying, “Now, that is a great question. I think I would have to say…”

Read More: 4 Steps for Answering Off-the-Wall Interview Questions

51. Sell me this pen.

If you’re interviewing for a sales job, your interviewer might put you on the spot to sell them a pen sitting on the table, or a legal pad, or a water bottle, or just something . The main thing they’re testing you for? How you handle a high-pressure situation. So try to stay calm and confident and use your body language—making eye contact, sitting up straight, and more—to convey that you can handle this. Make sure you listen, understand your “customer’s” needs, get specific about the item’s features and benefits, and end strong—as though you were truly closing a deal.

Read More: 4 Tips for Responding to "Sell Me This Pen" in an Interview

52. Is there anything else you’d like us to know?

Just when you thought you were done, your interviewer asks you this open-ended doozy. Don’t panic—it’s not a trick question! You can use this as an opportunity to close out the meeting on a high note in one of two ways, Zhang says. First, if there really is something relevant that you haven’t had a chance to mention, do it now. Otherwise, you can briefly summarize your qualifications. For example, Zhang says, you could say: “I think we’ve covered most of it, but just to summarize, it sounds like you’re looking for someone who can really hit the ground running. And with my previous experience [enumerate experience here], I think I’d be a great fit.”

Read More: How to Answer “Is There Anything Else You’d Like Us to Know?”

53. Do you have any questions for us?

You probably already know that an interview isn’t just a chance for a hiring manager to grill you—it’s an opportunity to sniff out whether a job is the right fit from your perspective. What do you want to know about the position? The company? The department? The team? You’ll cover a lot of this in the actual interview, so have a few less-common questions ready to go. We especially like questions targeted to the interviewer (“What's your favorite part about working here?”) or the company’s growth (“What can you tell me about your new products or plans for growth?”) If you’re interviewing for a remote role, there are some specific questions you might want to ask related to that.

Read More: 57 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview in 2022

Bonus questions

Looking for more common interview questions and answers examples? Check out these lists of inquiries for different types of jobs.

• Behavioral interview questions
• Phone interview questions
• Remote interview questions
• Second interview questions
• COVID-related interview questions
• Diversity and inclusion interview questions
• Emotional intelligence interview questions
• Internship interview questions
• Manager interview questions
• Account management interview questions
• Accounting interview questions
• Administrative assistant interview questions
• Brand management interview questions
• Customer service interview questions
• Data science interview questions
• Digital marketing interview questions
• Financial analyst interview questions
• IT interview questions
• Nursing interview questions
• Product marketing interview questions
• Project management interview questions
• Retail interview questions
• Sales interview questions
• Software engineering interview questions
• Teaching interview questions

Want even more advice for answering common interview questions?

If you are looking for more in depth advice about these 53 interview questions and how to answer them, here's a list of articles with detailed guides to teach you how to approach your responses.

• Is there anything else you’d like us to know.

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200+ Job Interview Questions List (PDF Practice Cheat Sheet Included)

Jeff Gillis 0 Comments

By Jeff Gillis

Going through Google, I noticed there wasn’t any good, big, huge, mega (you get my point) lists of interview questions available that job seekers could easily use to practice for their upcoming interviews.

That’s what led me to putting together this master list of job interview questions for you!

These are all real interview questions that candidates have faced in the hot seat.

I have broken them into categories and I have also provided downloadable PDFs in two versions at the bottom of this article.

( One I made with fancy graphics you can use on your phone or iPad and the other is a stripped down version that can be easily printed out. )

My goal was to provide you with a list you could easily use for your own mock interviews with family and friends!

We also wanted to let you know that we created an amazing free cheat sheet that will give you word-for-word answers for some of the toughest interview questions you are going to face in your upcoming interview. After all, hiring managers will often ask you more generalized interview questions!

Click below to get your free PDF now:

Get Our Job Interview Questions & Answers Cheat Sheet!

FREE BONUS PDF CHEAT SHEET: Get our " Job Interview Questions & Answers PDF Cheat Sheet " that gives you " word-word sample answers to the most common job interview questions you'll face at your next interview .

CLICK HERE TO GET THE JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS CHEAT SHEET

Without further ado, here’s the master list!

The Interview Guys’ Master List Of 200+ Job Interview Questions

Most common interview questions.

1. Tell me about yourself 2. Why should we hire you? 3. What’s your greatest weakness? 4. What are your career goals? 5. What’s your greatest strength? 6. What’s your greatest accomplishment? 7. How do you handle conflict? 8. How do you handle stress? 9. What are you most proud of? 10. What are you passionate about? 11. What makes you unique? 12. How would you describe yourself? 13. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 14. Why do you want to work here? 15. Why did you leave your last job? 16. What motivates you? 17. What are you looking for in a job? 18 Where do you see yourself in 10 years? 19. What is your salary range expectation? 20. Do you have any questions for us?

Questions Focused On You

21. How do you define success? 22. Do you prefer to work alone or in groups? 23. What’s the most recent book you’ve read? 24. If you could describe yourself in two words what would they be? 25. What most turns you off in a job? 26. If you were a billionaire, what would you do with your time? 27. What are you prepared to do with an employee who refuses to be a team player? 28. If you were given the opportunity, would you take my job from me? 29. What is your ideal job? 30. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being a hard worker and 10 being smart, where would you rate yourself? 31. How would you describe your personality? 32. How do you describe you analytical skill? Good, average or bad. 33. Why are you the best person for this job? 34. What is your philosophy of selling? 35. What is the thing that frustrates you the most about work in general? Give examples. 37. Are you good at multitasking? 38. Are you self motivated/a self starter? 39. What’s an animal you most admire/relate to? 40. What do you want to accomplish? 41. What is your work style? 42. Who’s your mentor? 43. What are your hobbies and interests? 44. What is your favorite website? 45. What makes you uncomfortable? 46. On a scale of 1-10, how aggressive are you? 47. If you could have a superpower, what would it be? 48. Can you easily build rapport? 49. How do you think other people think of you? 50. What do you see yourself in 10 years, and how did you get there? 51. Do you prefer Quality or Quantity? 52. What areas need improvement? 53. Who is your biggest inspiration? 54. Do you like constant change? 55. How do you communicate when you are unsatisfied? 56. Why are you a good fit for this job? 57. What core value of the organization most resonates with you? 58. Do you find it difficult to talk to and meet new people? 59. What does integrity mean to you? 60. How will you achieve a work/life balance? 61. What is the most competitive thing you did last week that wasn’t related to work? 62. What gets you out of bed in the morning? 63. Would you say you are a person who loves to win or hates to lose? 64. What is your biggest regret? 65. Describe your personality 66. What is your management style? 67. Who is your hero?

Questions Focused On The Job

68. Are you willing to relocate for this job? 69. Will you travel for this job? 70. What interests you about this position? 71. If you were hired, how soon can you start? 72. Are you willing to travel? 73. Are you overqualified for this role? 74. Would you be willing to work nights and weekends? 75. What do you know about our company? 76. What do you know about our industry? 77. If you were asked to, would you break Union rules if directed to do so by management? 78. What’s the biggest problem you see with our company? 79. Is it okay to miss a deadline? If so, when? 80. How do you feel about working long hours? 81. Would you get bored in a year and leave us? 82. How would you deal with ambiguity in the workplace? 83. Why is diversity important in the workplace? 84. What do you think about overtime work? 85. What does customer service mean to you? 86. How long do you expect to stay with this company? 87. How would you deal with a rude employee? 88. What would you look to accomplish in the first 30 days/60 days/90 days on the job? 89. What is the name of our CEO? 90. How would you fire someone? 91. What is your desired salary? 92. What do you consider the most important qualities for this job? 93. Can you from day one, be on your own, no processes, just be told what needs to be done, and do it? 94. Describe your best day at work. 95. What you would do if the head partner gave you an assignment to do ASAP and another partner gave you another assignment to do ASAP? 96. Why should I hire you over these other candidates? (In a group interview) 97. Some people only work in [This industry] just to have a job until something better comes along. How do we know if we hire you that you will stay? 98. If you saw your boss stealing would you turn him in? 99. Would you be willing to start out part-time? 100. How do you see yourself fitting into the organization? 101. What would you do if you heard a coworker talk bad about about a customer? 102. Sell me this [object] 103. What would you consider your one greatest attribute as it applies to this position? 104. What makes you a bad candidate for this position?

Questions Focused On Your Past Job Experience

105. What did you like least about your last position? 106. Can you explain these gaps in your resume? 107. Can you walk us through your resume? 108. Why are you changing careers? 109. What did you hate about your last job? 110. Why is your resume so diverse? 111. What was the hardest thing you ever had to do in your prior work experience? 112. Tell me about your experience at [XYZ] company 113. Tell me about your background and how that impacted your ability as an employee? 114. What do you think your former boss? 115. Name something you wish you regret at your previous job and would do differently here. 116. Why were you let go from your last position? 117. Why are you looking for a new job? 118. Were there any unethical situations at past jobs and how did you handle this? 119. Have you ever been late for work? How do you make sure you always get to work on time? 120. Pretend I didn’t read your resume, and we just met on the street and go from there…

Behavioral & Situational Interview Questions

121. Describe a situation where you disagreed with a supervisor. 122. Tell me about a time you had a conflict at work. 123. Tell me about a situation where you had to solve a difficult problem. 124. Describe a project or idea (not necessarily your own) that was implemented primarily because of your efforts. 125. Do you feel you work well under pressure? If so, describe a time when you have done so… 126. Give me an example of a time when you motivated others. 127. Tell me about a time where you had to delegate tasks during a project 128. Give me an example of when you showed initiative and took the lead. 129. Tell me about a time when you missed an obvious solution to a problem. 130. Tell me about your proudest professional accomplishment. 131. Describe a time when your work was criticized 132. How would you feel about reporting to a person younger than you? 133. Describe a time you went above and beyond at work. 134. Tell me about the last mistake you made. 135. Describe a time when you had to give a person difficult feedback. 136. How would you deal with an angry or irate customer? 137. Describe a time you chose to not help a teammate. 138. Tell me about a time you failed 139. How would you handle a situation where you have a client who interrupt your existing interaction with a client? 140. Suppose you are working on a project with an original scope of a few months and you are told that you instead now have a few days — how would you handle it? 141. How would you communicate to team members that a deadline was approaching and they had to have their materials ready in time? 142. If your supervisor gives you a direct order that you know is against company policy how do you handle the situation? 143. Tell me a time when you had to make a quick decision without knowing all the facts. 144. Tell me a time when you had to work on a project and had someone on your team who would not cooperate. What did you do? 145. Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned. 146. Tell me about a time when you had to work with someone with whom you did not get along. How did you handle that situation. 147. How would you go about solving a problem, describe the process. 148. Tell me about a time when you went above or beyond? 149. Describe a time you disobeyed a rule 150. Describe a time when you didn’t complete a task on time or to expectations. 151. Tell me about a situation where you had to adapt quickly 152. Please explain the last time you realized you made a mistake, how did you handle it? 153. Tell me about a time when you had to work in a culturally diverse environment. 154. Tell me something you would change if you could go back and do it over. 155. Tell me about a time you provided excellent customer service 156. Tell us about a time you’ve faced a moral decision 157. Tell me about a time that a situation at work was solved because of team work? 158. If your boss was late giving you information to complete a project for a boss 2 levels up, how would you handle it? 159. Tell me a time when someone made a decision that you did not agree with and what did you do about it? 160. Tell me about a time that you jumped to an incorrect conclusion. 161. Describe a time when someone pushed your buttons continuously- and how did you handle it? 162. Tell me about a time when you struggled with meeting your goals and what did you do 163. How would you handle a situation where another employee was complaining about the job? 164. Talk about a time when you provided a creative solution to a problem 165. Tell me about a time when you had to work long hours to finish a project. How did you handle it? 166. Give an example of when someone on your team was not pulling their own weight. How did you deal with the situation? 167. Tell me about a time you were a leader and were unsuccessful. 168. Describe a time where you held a co-worker accountable for their actions. 169. Describe a situation where you didn’t particularly care for someone, but had to interact with them in a difficult situation. 170. Tell me about a time you managed a team and things didn’t work out as planned.

Questions About Leadership

171. Can you tell me about a time when you demonstrated leadership capabilities on the job? 172. Which supporting skills do you think are most important when it comes to leadership? 173. When there is a disagreement on your team, how do you handle it? 174. Tell me about the hardest decision you’ve ever made as a leader. How did you decide which course of action was best? 175. What steps do you take to make sure that projects are completed on time, on budget, and to the proper standard? 176. How would you describe your leadership style? How would your colleagues describe it? 177. Can you tell me about a time where you faced a leadership challenge? What did you do to overcome it? 178. If a team member is under performing, what steps do you take to improve their performance? 179. Have you ever taken on a leadership role voluntarily? If so, can you tell me about it? 180. Tell me about your approach to delegation. 181. Can you describe a time when you lead by example? 182. Have you ever served in a coach or mentor role? How were you able to help the other person achieve success? 183. How do you monitor a team’s performance? 184. If a team is struggling to stay motivated, what steps would you take to boost engagement? 185. When a member of your team presents you with an idea, how do you respond? 186. Which of your past managers was your favorite leader, and why? 187. Who inspires you? 188. How do you respond to constructive criticism? 189. What approach do you use when you need to deliver constructive criticism? 190. What steps do you take to measure your personal performance at work? 191. During your first days in the job, are there any changes that you try to implement immediately? 192. When starting with a new team, how do you evaluate the current state of their capabilities? 193. What do you think is most important in creating a positive culture? 194. How do you determine who gets access to professional development or training? 195. If your project became unexpectedly shorthanded, what would you do to ensure it stayed on target? 196. Tell us about a time you had to lead a meeting. 197. Describe how you motivate others 198. Are you a leader or a follower? 199. What are three qualities of leadership? 200. Describe your philosophy of leadership in a few sentences.

Brain Teasers

(A lot of these are used to see how you approach solving the problem/answering the question)

201. If you had to figure out the total number of red cars in the city of Boston, how would you go about doing that? 202. Why is a manhole round? 203. Mary’s mother has four children. The names of three of the children are April, May, and June. What is the fourth child’s name? 204. How would you get an elephant into a refrigerator? 205. If you had to get rid of one of the States in the U.S. which one would it be and why? 206. Suppose you had eight identical balls. One of them is slightly heavier and you are given a balance scale . What’s the fewest number of times you have to use the scale to find the heavier ball? 207. You have 25 horses, what is the minimum number of races you can find the top 3. In one race you can race 5 horses, and you don’t have a timer. 208. How many bottles of shampoo are produced in the world a year? 209. How many baseballs can you fit on a 747? 210. four people need to cross a bridge at night, there is only one flash light and only one person can walk on the bridge at a time. How do would you get them all across the bridge? 211. How does a toilet work?

2 PDF Versions Of This List You Can Use To Practice With

This is the PDF Version with graphics. Simply click on the image.

This is the simple version without graphics or color for easy printing. Simply click on the image above.

I hope this big list of interview questions helps your preparation!

FREE : Job Interview Questions & Answers PDF Cheat Sheet!

Download our " Job Interview Questions & Answers PDF Cheat Sheet " that gives you word-for-word sample answers to some of the most common interview questions including:

• What Is Your Greatest Weakness?
• What Is Your Greatest Strength?
• Tell Me About Yourself
• Why Should We Hire You?

Click Here To Get The Job Interview Questions & Answers Cheat Sheet

Co-founder and CTO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Jeff is a featured contributor delivering advice on job search, job interviews and career advancement, having published more than 50 pieces of unique content on the site , with his work being featured in top publications such as INC , ZDnet , MSN and more.

Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

About The Author

Jeff gillis.

Co-founder and CTO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Jeff is a featured contributor delivering advice on job search, job interviews and career advancement, having published more than 50 pieces of unique content on the site , with his work being featured in top publications such as INC , ZDnet , MSN and more. Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

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13 Top Books to Ace Your Next Job Interview [& Land the Job]

Interviews are one of the most nerve-racking parts of any job hunt. 

From fresh graduates to seasoned professionals, job-seekers are always looking for an edge to make it run smoother.

This is where interview books come in. 

By informing yourself about the interview process and learning how to “wow!” hiring managers, you increase your odds of landing that job you’re after.

So to help you gain as much of an upper hand in job interviews as possible, we’ve compiled this list of 13 must-read interview books for 2024.

Let’s check them out!

13 Must-Read Interview Books in 2024

#1. job interview masterclass.

If you want a book that breaks down job interviews into their most basic parts and gives you a window into a hiring manager’s mind, look no further.

“Job Interview Masterclass” by Novorésumé has you covered!

Job Interview Masterclass is split into four main chapters:

• The first one goes over topics such as how to research a company, what to do before your interview day, and how to dress to impress during the job interview itself.
• The second chapter digs deeper and shows you the most important interview questions and everything you need to know to answer them effectively.
• Chapter three focuses on behavioral interview questions and Novoresume experts’ advice on how to ace them.
• In chapter four, the guide goes beyond the job interview itself and coaches you on what to do once you get the job or how to handle rejection gracefully.

Whether you’re a seasoned or an entry-level professional, “Job Interview Masterclass” is the perfect read if you want to learn how to excel in job interviews or simply brush up on your skills.

#2. Job Search Masterclass

You can find everything you need to know to nail a job application in Novorésumé's “Job Search Masterclass”. The book details the entire journey, from creating a flawless resume to adding an effective cover letter and wowing any job interviewer.

“Job Search Masterclass” is an invaluable companion to your job search, whether you’re a senior professional calculating your career’s next steps or a recent graduate making the first move towards your career journey. 

Job Search Masterclass is divided into the following chapters:

• How to write a resume. All the information about creating a resume is detailed here, including picking the right format, choosing the best resume layout, adding your contact information, creating a great resume summary, listing your work experience right, highlighting your skills, and so much more.
• How to write a cover letter. A must-have companion piece to your resume is an equally eye-catching cover letter. From addressing the hiring manager to using an effective call to action, this section of the book will show you how to match your resume with a cover letter to match.
• How to nail an interview. For most candidates, interviews are the bane of the entire application process. So, this chapter teaches you all about how to prepare for interviews. You’ll see the most common interview questions and the best answers to them as well as tried and tested interview tips to help you ace your next interview.
• All about remote work. As an increasingly large part of the job market, remote work is the talk of the town. This chapter will show you how to find remote job offers, which roles are most remote-friendly, and teach you how to ace a remote work interview.
• Hack your job search. The book finishes with a special bonus chapter with some life-saving job-hunt hacks that you wish you’d known sooner.

#3. Basic Interviewing Skills

Raymond L. Gordon’s titular interview book sets itself apart from others in the genre since it’s aimed at recruiters, not candidates. That said, it still provides insight into the minds of interviewers which all candidates can benefit from.

“Basic Interviewing Skills” is a practical guide that aims to equip you with the skills and techniques necessary to conduct interviews and provide you with an in-depth understanding of the interviewing process. 

After reading it, you’ll understand how important communication skills, active listening , and empathy are in helping you establish rapport and elicit information more easily. An especially useful part is the explained art of phrasing questions and how interviewers encourage a natural flow of conversation to obtain candid responses.

The book covers all the most important subjects any job-seeker wants to know, including how an interviewer sees you, how they choose resumes, why they ask certain common questions, and what they want to hear you say. 

The practical approach and focus on basic techniques make it useful to readers at any career stage and industry.

#4. Smart Answers to Tricky Interview Questions

Rob Yeung’s guide to interviews comes with practical advice and a strong focus on handling any questions an interviewer can throw your way. 

“Smart Answers to Tricky Interview Questions: How to Prepare for a Job-Winning Interview” offers useful strategies you can apply and helps you craft the most effective responses to a hiring manager’s concerns. Yeung emphasizes the importance of understanding the role you’re applying for and tailoring your responses to the company’s culture and values.

This interview book gives insight into the hiring manager’s perspective, prepares you for challenging questions, and puts forth real-life examples from interviews to show you what works best and what interview mistakes to avoid . 

“Smart Answers to Tricky Interview Questions” explains tricky questions and equips you to handle them gracefully.

#5. Interview Like A Boss

“Interview Like A Boss: The Most Talked About Book In Corporate America” by Hans Van Nas is a well-researched and to-the-point book that dives into interviews and how to own them. 

The interview book covers the main aspects of the interviewing process, such as preparing ahead of time, personal presentation, including what to wear to an interview , and follow-up tips to solidify the impression you’ve made. The author gives a practical guide to researching your desired company , preparing for the most common interview questions, and the ones that might otherwise surprise you.

“Interview Like a Boss” shows you the big picture and offers a direct approach to tackling job interviews, without sparing the details. 

Do you have something you’re scared an interviewer will ask about, such as a former arrest? No worries, this interview book has got your back on that. We recommend you add it to your reading list to help boost your confidence before that upcoming interview.

Are you incredibly anxious about flunking a job interview? Then this interview book is for you. 

“Aced” by Gerald Ratigan shines through as an introvert’s lifeline to making it through an interview as a winner. The book helps readers navigate the modern interview process and land that dream job. The author shares his own experiences, including his worst failures, and highlights what works and what doesn’t.

“Aced” gives you practical tips and focuses on interview preparation, as well as covering essential soft skills that will help you in the long run. As someone with decades of experience as both an interviewer and an interviewee, Ratigan explains the importance of personal branding and creating a lasting impression and how it can make or break your interview. Overall, “Aced” is an insightful read for any job-seeker.

#7. GET THAT JOB!

“Get That Job!: The Quick and Complete Guide to a Winning Interview” by the career coach Thea Kelley is more than just a motivating title. The book is designed as a roadmap for interview success, and the final destination is your dream job.

The book starts with the mindset of interviewers and the need for you to present a strong and consistent brand in front of them. The author emphasized the use of research and preparation, including coming equipped with persuasive answers to the most common questions you might expect. Kelley offers frameworks to help you analyze your past experiences and present them clearly in response to situational interview questions related to your problem-solving and decision-making abilities.

“Get That Job!” lists the presentation skills and preparation you need to wow an interviewer and leave a long-lasting impression. It includes a section on handling stress and anxiety before and during the interview, so you can keep your cool and ace it. Make sure to check out the post-interview tips, such as sending thank-you notes and following up with the employer. Finally, you can learn how to negotiate a job offer to secure the best terms and set yourself up for career growth. All in all, “Get That Job!” is a worthwhile read.

#8. How to Talk to Anyone

“How to Talk to Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships” by Leil Lowndes is a useful guide to navigating all sorts of communication, and interviews especially. The book gives detailed advice on how to improve your communication skills and build meaningful relationships across different social contexts. It’s a great read for brushing up on your networking skills , too.

The essential aspects of interpersonal communication, such as body language, conversation starters, and active listening are some of the aspects that can help you ace your next interview. 

Some of the 92 easy-to-follow strategies Lowndes offers include showing genuine interest in the person you’re speaking to, offering compliments when appropriate, using humor to ease tension, and more. “How to Talk to Anyone” will leave you feeling more confident in your people skills and help set you up for success, both professional and personal.

#9. What Color Is Your Parachute?

Richard Nelson Bolles’ contribution to the career book genre is a great choice for job-seekers on the lookout for a fulfilling career path. “What Color Is Your Parachute?” prepares its reader with tips for every part of the job hunt and hiring process, including how to write a resume , interviews, and follow-up. This book will turn answering the question “ Why do you want to work here? ” into your favorite part of the interview.

The book starts by teaching you how to leverage your skills, values, and interests to find your ideal job. Through introspection and self-assessment, you learn what your strengths and weaknesses are and how to talk about them at a job interview. “What Color Is Your Parachute?” offers valuable networking tips , how to tap into a hidden job market, and the A to Z on how to prepare for an interview. By following the author’s advice, job-seekers can expect a lot more satisfaction in their professional lives.

#10. How To Win Friends & Influence People

Dale Carnegie’s classic published in 1936 still rings true. “How to Win Friends and Influence People” is beneficial across all walks of life because what it teaches are valuable interpersonal skills that help you achieve personal and professional goals more easily. Fostering positive relationships, practicing effective communication, and persuading others is part of the strategies the book offers.

Despite not being an interview book, Carnegie’s principles are timeless and find their use during interviews, too. Showing genuine interest in people, handling criticism constructively, and understanding the perspectives of others are all key to developing your social skills, and confidence and ultimately conveying your best self to your future employer.

#11. The Art of the Interview

James Storey’s “Interview: The Art of the Interview - The Perfect Answers to Every Question” comes through as a guide designed to help any job-seeker deliver outstanding answers to the most common interview questions . The book gives you insight into the interviewer’s mindset in order to understand them and address their questions and concerns most effectively.

The book includes practical tips for crafting well-rounded and persuasive answers to any type of interview question. Storey aims to arm you for any of the behavioral interview questions that candidates dread. “The Art of the Interview” details essential aspects of interviewing, such as non-verbal cues, communication skills, and anxiety-reduction strategies. Storey’s focus is on motivational interviewing, and as such the book will help you build up your confidence, present your best self and score the job position you’re after.

#12. 60 Seconds and You’re Hired

Robin Ryan’s 1994 book has been revised several times and offers job-seekers practical advice to secure their desired positions. “60 Seconds and You’re Hired” emphasizes the importance of concise answers and introduces the “60 Second Sell” strategy.

A successful interview is all about making a strong impression and making it fast, and that’s where “60 Seconds and You’re Hired” comes in. Several aspects of the interview process are discussed in detail, such as preparing for the most common questions and learning to negotiate for your salary. And don’t forget to ask the interviewer some of the questions Ryan’s book lists in order to secure the best offer you can get. 

#13. Gravitas

“Gravitas: Communicate with Confidence, Influence and Authority” by Caroline Goyder teaches you something that will make any interview child’s play. While not necessarily specific to interviews, the book teaches readers how to communicate effectively, exude confidence, and project authority in various professional and personal settings. As a voice and communication expert, the author uses her know-how to give you practical techniques, exercises, and relatable examples to help refine your communication skills .

The book follows the six so-called principles of gravitas: passion, knowledge, conviction, integrity, connection, and projections. When you understand and incorporate them into your communication style, you’ll be sure to make an impression whenever you speak. Conveying your meaning with clarity, persuading others, establishing yourself as a respectable figure, and honing your leadership skills are all connected to gravitas. And you can use all of these skills to impress the next hiring manager you meet with your silver tongue.

The book touches on some of the same bases as other interview books, such as the importance of body language and keeping your nerves in check when you have to speak. “Gravitas” is a great choice for anyone out to improve their communication skills and can be adapted to different contexts, such as speeches, presentations, and interviews.

7 Advantages of Reading Interview Books

By reading a book on a specialized subject, you stand to gain the valuable insight you might otherwise miss. 

As such, expanding your knowledge of job interviews can help you prepare well-rounded answers and face your interviewer more confident about your skills. 

These are some of the top benefits that come with reading interview books:

• Preparation. By reading interview books, you enhance your job interview skills through the useful tips and techniques they provide, making you more confident.
• Understanding the interviewer. Interview books offer insight into the interviewers’ mindset and allow you to anticipate certain questions, understand why they are asked, and address the interviewer’s concerns more effectively.
• Self-awareness. Interview books encourage you to identify your own strengths, weaknesses, and goals, which allows you to convey them to an interviewer clearly.
• Better communication skills. Studying common interview question and answer examples helps you articulate your thoughts and experiences more clearly.
• Improved negotiation skills. Many interview books offer guidance on how to negotiate a job offer and secure the best terms for your employment.
• Enhanced self-presentation skills. Interview books frequently mention body language and other non-verbal cues which helps you make a good impression both during the interview process and later on in your career.
• Reduced anxiety. Becoming familiar with the interview process and preparing some answers beforehand saves you a lot of stress and anxiety during the interview.

FAQs About Interview Books

Do you still have some questions about interview books? Check out the answers to the most frequently asked questions below:

1. What is an interview book?

An interview book is a sub-genre of a career book that gives job-seekers advice, helpful tips, and strategies to excel in job interviews. These books cover several aspects of the interview process, including the most commonly asked questions and effective communication methods. 

2. What are some good interview books for when you’re changing careers?

Our top interview book suggestions for career changers are Novorésumé’s “Job Interview Masterclass” and “What Color Is Your Parachute?” by Richard Nelson Bolles.

The “Job Interview Masterclass” offers a detailed breakdown of everything you need to know about interviews, hiring managers’ points of view, and how to sell yourself as the right candidate before the interview even starts, all while in the middle of a career change . As an older resource, “What Color Is Your Parachute?” has now been updated and rereleased for the current age, and helps you make sure you’ve set yourself on the right gig in the first place, as well as guide you through the interview.

3. What are the best interview books for students?

The top interview books for students we recommend are “Job Search Masterclass” and “Gravitas”.

You’ll get a holistic introduction to the world of job interviews through “Job Search Masterclass”, along with some exclusive tips about topics like remote work and remote work interviews. Meanwhile “Gravitas” will help you confidently present yourself and speak in a way that makes people listen. All of which are important advantages for students with no experience in the job market.

4. What’s the purpose of interview books?

The main purpose of interview books is to prepare the job candidate for what might be the most stressful part of their job hunt. Interview books offer specific guidance, strategies, and insightful perspectives that can put the reader’s mind at ease during the interview.

That concludes our list of awesome interview books to read in 2024!

A great interview book can enhance your communication skills, boost your confidence, and inspire you to keep going on your career journey. We hope you find the book you need to help you walk out of your next job interview with a smile and a great employment offer.

Check out our career blog for any other job-hunt resources you might need.

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Ottolinger Resort 2025 Lookbook

Ottolinger Resort 2025 collection lookbook (38 outfits).

Berlin-based design duo Cosima Gadient and Christa Bösch of Ottolinger are taking a focused and practical approach for their Resort 2025 collection. In a video interview, they declare their strategy: "Just buckle up and stay focused."

This focus translates to a collection that's both sharp and personal. The lookbook itself reflects this, shot on the streets near their Berlin studio and a nearby park, a former airfield. The clothes themselves aren't a uniform, but rather an embodiment of how the designers navigate their world, from local events to extensive travels.

"Berlin is a place of transit," Gadient explains. "It's not like Paris, where you arrive with a suitcase and a dream of staying forever."

Day and night wear seamlessly blend here. Gold lurex pieces hint at Berlin's renowned nightlife, a space where the designers feel free and connected. Playful elements like cat and dog prints add a touch of whimsy, while crisscross dresses in ribbed cotton jersey offer a more approachable option for new fans.

Ottolinger signatures remain present: painted denim, raw-edged dresses, and deconstructed suiting with a unique twist. Jersey mesh prints echo the spirit of urban art, and playfully designed cardigans offer both classic and creative styling options. The brand's recent foray into swimwear continues with a royal blue dress that, while technically swim-ready, is designed for broader wear.

A new logo inspired by the rock band Tool adds a touch of edge, while a glimpse into the future comes in the form of showpiece pieces made from scuba memory foam, hinting at the duo's ongoing exploration with wetsuit materials. "These pieces showcase how we create shapes and find form," Bösch remarks. "There's beauty to be found even when things fall apart."

If you liked Ottolinger Resort 2025 Lookbook:

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© 2024 Kendam™

John Mayer on the Making of Dead & Company’s Mind-Bending Sphere Residency: ‘I Love That Adults Are Having Childlike, Wondrous Experiences at This Show’ (EXCLUSIVE)

By Chris Willman

Chris Willman

Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic

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But Mayer is sticking with the ethos he’s always had since he formed Dead & Company with three Grateful Dead original members in 2015: Play like there’s no tomorrow. That goes even when you’re not doing the kind of rarefied concerts that can only take place at one spot on earth.

When the opportunity to do this engagement at Sphere arose, were you more motivated by the thought that any chance to get this group of players back together again was worthwhile? Or was it more the unique opportunity of being able to add to the canon of Dead experiences with a real A/V experience?

How far back did the initial idea or the first planning go?

Everything in this world with Dead & Company begins with what I call chatter. And I really mean this — even for me, it’s just chatter. So when I went to go see U2 the first time, it was chatter, and it was enough of an idea that I could watch it with two eyes, one of them being just a fan in the stands, and the other one studying the show, in case I was lucky enough to play there at some point. I think the timeline is, we kind of knew it was probably gonna happen in December, and then in January it became real. And it became real very quickly. Then the question became, how do we do this within the frame of time and within the budget that we have? It was very compressed. And I get excited by the projects where someone says: If you miss a day, this might not work, but if you run the calculation and the forecast, you could do it, if you don’t miss a day. I don’t know why I’m inspired by those things.

And we just didn’t have the same lead time that U2 did, and perhaps no one ever will again, because U2 was able to rehearse and grow inside that building as it was finishing being built. All I remember is people saying, “Look, if you want to do this, we don’t have the budget they had and we don’t have the time they have.” That never discourages me. I go, “All right, off we go!” It very quickly went from an idea to a treatment, to renderings, to a storyboard. I don’t do well with dead air in-between coming up with an idea and executing it. So I loved the mad dash.

When U2 was opening, I talked to their creative director, Willie Williams, who said, “I don’t know how anybody else is gonna be able to do this, because we spent a year and a half on this, and nobody else is gonna have that amount of time.” Yet here we’re seeing that where there’s a will, there’s a way to do that compression. And maybe it doesn’t hurt that his company, Treatment, is working with Dead & Company on the heels of doing U2.

There was six months to do it. It just meant you couldn’t double back. And if you can’t double back, it means you shouldn’t even worry about doubting yourself, because you don’t have time to double back even if you did doubt yourself. So what that means is  “measure twice, cut once,” which I loved. And that’s how we ended up with the show, with most of it kind of working, I think. You know, the older I get, the less concerned I am with whether it’s great, and the more I become concerned with whether it just works — and the “great” comes from it working. Like with my solo tour (which he undertook this past spring): Does it work, me alone on stage? Can you “pull it off”? That’s the stuff that excites me. Other people can argue about great. “Does it work?” is what I love being involved in.

So, it’s an interesting thing, because it is still democratic. But I would say that I threw my hat in the ring for being the point man on it for a couple of reasons. Mostly because I was local in L.A. and the Sphere studio is in Burbank. I’m happy to wake up and do a Zoom with (the Treatment team in) London at 10 in the morning. And I just have that drive right now. So I would say that I sort of organized everyone’s ideas.

The way it started was, I had this concept for this narrative wraparound of the show, giving it the sense of something a little more cinematic than just a concert. I just remember these reference points growing up of things that felt cinematic, even though they were carnival rides that looked like rocket ships that you’d go on with the hydraulics, and you’d get a little bit of tilt and back and forth and it would feel like you were on a ship. It dates back decades, the idea of the cinematic first-person experience. So I had this idea for this beginning and end that would create this modularity for the show. I wanted it to be whimsical, but also sort of epic-cinematic. So I pitched Bob and Mickey (Hart) the narrative for the show, and thankfully they really liked it. One of the benefits of the idea was that this now created this ability to change the specifics of each trip we took. But because it was modular, we could go to different times and spaces. Now, everyone would just make this list of ideas. … If we all went off in a corner and wrote where we think we should go, so to speak, we’d probably have 80% coverage of agreement of everyone going, “Well, yeah, we’d go here and here and here.”

What was really great was that Bob and Mickey would give really specific notes based on their experience. So, if we’re gonna play in Egypt like the Grateful Dead did in 1978, well, Bob got to see the mockup of that and it really took him back to 1978. In the Sphere studios in Burbank looking at some really early test stuff, it brought back all of these memories that he had of playing Egypt. And we took those notes, and they’re in there. There’s bats flying around in the beginning of that Egypt sequence, because Bob remembers there were bats everywhere! So, that level of granularity — it’s what I love in world-building. And the fact that it’s true to Bob and Mickey’s memories and experiences is really cool. That part was like having a historical consultant on your movie, you know? Let’s go right to the people who were there.

Talk about the bookends that begin in Haight Ashbury and have the big screen zooming out into space…

When I saw the show the second night, a few visuals had been switched in or out. That has happened more, subsequently, from all reports. But I thought, oh, are they purposely gonna switch things up a little bit — or were they running up against the deadline of opening night, and there were some things didn’t get finished in time?

Yeah, things were still being finished. I think some things we were holding onto just to have some differentiation. But there were other things that the computer was still rendering, and so we were able to put those in over weeks two and maybe three. There are still pieces coming. They’ll be slow to come out for a moment, and then there will be a bit of an update in August. So we’re working on that right now just to keep it as exciting as possible for everyone. Because I know that there are people coming every weekend who are seeing this for the first time, who should catch up with what this show already is, but in an effort to make sure that people who are coming repeat times still get some surprise, there will be some things that we will add into the show around August, just to really make something of those last six shows.

People seeing the show recently talk about the scene in Egypt at the pyramids, and that was not in the show on opening night.

Egypt’s really cool because what we’re doing now is, we’re matching the lighting on stage with the lighting of the video. So it’s got this really seamless effect, as if the moon is lighting us on the stage. It’s really beautiful.

One of the things that was introduced on the second night that was really impresive was a scene that takes place in an indoor space on a college campus the Dead once played, and it realy feels like you are watching the band in this kind of barnlike, old, grungy auditorium. It’s far from the most elaborate thing in the show, but it’s incredible as an illusion.

The Cornell University Fieldhouse, yeah. Well, that’s the thing. There are so many things that I would’ve thought were gonna be just fine on paper, but not maybe be the biggest things. I had no idea what would be the biggest things till I saw them. And with that Cornell University environment, at first glance, you believe you’re underneath the vaulted ceiling of that fieldhouse.

If you had a camera on the crowd for the entirety of the show, and you handed me a DVD or a hard drive and you said, “This is the entire show, but just the audience reaction,” I would sit and watch the whole thing in one sitting. Obviously I don’t get to see it on stage, but occasionally I’ll see videos on Instagram of people sort of slack-jawed, and I’ll be like, “I could watch two or three hours of this.” Because you don’t get that anymore when you become an adult. You know you’re in Vegas inside of a building that’s not moving, but there are several times in the show where your heart believes it, your brain believes it, and your feet start to shift on the floor, if you’re standing, as if you were gonna fall. The part of your brain that used to go on rollercoasters or love going to Disneyland comes alive during the show, and that’s probably the thing that I love the most about it.

You can’t be out in the audience, but you can take it on faith, how it’s going ?

I take it on faith, and also, I’ve tested it on myself enough times before the doors opened. I saw it when it was an animatic thought, when it was a very early rendering. You know, ILM did the beginning and end of the show; that was an Industrial Light and Magic creation. A lot of people think it’s photoreal drone footage. And seeing the early tests of it in Burbank at the Sphere studios, which is like a one-third scale of the Sphere in Vegas… There were (initially) some camera moves where your stomach was gonna come out of your mouth. And I loved using my equilibrium and my intestines as the test subject for the show. I would watch it as someone at the show and go, “Nope, I’m gonna throw up.” It wasn’t like it was the first time in my life I would get nauseous, but not anxious that I was nauseous. It was just so objective, like testing a product on myself and getting a rash: “Well, that doesn’t work,” And there were camera moves that would make you feel as if you were going to fall straight forward, because forward became down…

A lot of watching this stuff was to avoid this scenario of, like, a story in the press about people walking out dizzy and wanting their money back. It was like, how exciting can you make it without people being upset? Sometimes I think about having an extreme party for those who wanna go full-tilt, and show them everything (that was rejected) that will invert your stomach, just for those who are down for the extreme ride. But I saw each iteration of the rendering as it came in, and it started to get really exciting in the last couple of months when I would see things and I’d go thumbs up or thumbs down, and occasionally I would stand up and scream and put my hands up in the air and go, ohhhhhhh!. And now I see other people do it when they come to see the show.

I also want it to be known, Mickey’s responsible for the “Drums” part of the show. What was great about it is that that was always going to be Mickey’s real estate. I never saw what he was doing. And when I finally saw the run of it in rehearsal, I thought it clicked into the rest of the show so well, because it was all the stuff that the rest of the show hadn’t touched on. It just almost instinctively completed the circle without overlapping anything.

It’s quite an experience during Mickey’s section, having speakers actually embedded in the seats for added percussive effect.

Yeah. As if you needed them, by the way. I mean, that subwoofer will shake the seats, whether or not there’s haptic in the seats or not. But as I’m told, it’s an incredible thing to sit and feel.

Do you have a favorite visual in the show, apart from the bookends that you talked about?

There’s a couple of mini-moments that I just live for. But the one environment I love the most are the flowers falling down on what looks to be a glass dome of the Sphere. It is so beautiful and it almost has this Instagram “wait for it” moment where you just want to watch the whole Sphere become encased in these flowers. And when you finally get covered up at the top and you still see these kind of areas of light in between some of the flowers, you just feel so cozy with 17,000 other people. It’s little bit like being under a parachute in the fifth grade in gym class. One of the reasons I love it is because it’s just so simple, right? Like, you never know what song or what lyric or what part of a show is going to be special, even if it’s really simple when you come up with it. I was grading things based on their complexity in terms of whether or not they’d be great. And what I learned throughout the process was sometimes the sweet spot is really easy to do and super beautiful. Sometimes it’s just an acoustic song that becomes the one everyone sings. And that one to me is like sitting down with an acoustic guitar — everyone loves the flowers coming down.

As far as how you guys come up with the setlist, how does that work now? There’s no visual that is only tied to one song, with the exception of “Drums.” But there do seem to be correlations thoughout between song choices and visuals, in terms of mood.

Because we learned this really early on: If you dazzle people with too much visual narrative, your brain shuts down. You start going, “That’s enough.” I would go home with headaches (during tests), going, “OK, that’s visual overload.” So what we have to do is have tension and release. You have to have tension and release with the music, but that also has to coincide with the tension and release of the content. And what that means is that what should be this super-automated experience of “OK, we’re playing Thursday, it’s Wednesday afternoon, let’s make all three set lists”…  I don’t think we’ll ever do the show without really working every day on putting the content together, because the content team is always on site. They need it (the setlist) in the morning so they can start running it and piecing it together. This show is completely modular, and I don’t think we have or ever will do any two shows the same in terms of the order of content. So it keeps everyone on their toes. There’s a lot of texts going back and forth — and I love the dance. The dance can sometimes go all the way till about 3:30 in the afternoon of the show. After that, it’s like, no more phone calls, because you can’t go back and and reprogram it once they get it to a certain level of being failsafe. So it is never going to be a breeze. But it’s also really exciting, because when you pull it off, you pulled it off.

The show has built into a lot of moments where there is kind of a static frame that exists to show live shots of you and the others playing and interacting. The audience doesn’t want everything to be the Ultimate Trip; they do want to feel like they saw you guys really perform.

That’s right, and there’s a lot of that. We’re not scoring a laser light show.

There’s probably a dozen balancing acts that happen at the same time, both in putting the show together and playing the show. How much is it about the music versus the overall experience? How much is it about the super-well-known Grateful Dead songs versus the deeper things, for some of the audience members who’ve been going for years? There’s the balancing act of knowing that because you’re playing in Vegas, you’re gonna get some people who the concierge at the hotel said, “You should go see this.” So there’s just a lot of binaries at the same time.

The Sphere show is serving as an introduction to the Dead’s music for a lot of people, which is a wild thing to have happening in 2024.

That’s why I really want people to know that this show reads both ways. If you’re a Grateful Dead or Dead & Company completist, this show tips its hat to that all the time, but it also reads a different way. If you have friends who’ve said, “It was great, now you have to go see what it’s about,” you will not be lost. It is not serialized, like you have to see the first season of something. It is meant to be read down and across at the same time. That’s something that I’m really proud of, and will always make sure is happening throughout the course of the show: If you are just curious about this Sphere thing, you’re gonna love the show. If you’re curious about this Dead & Company thing, you’re gonna love the show. It really is designed to cover all of those bases at the same time. And I think it does. So I’ve been telling people, you do not have to be a Deadhead to come and see this show.

And I’m very bullish on this show because it’s so limited. Normally I go, “Well, you know, it’s a tour. We’re gonna be on tour again. Come find us whenever you wanna find us.” In 2024, where everything is so heavily promoted, I really just want people to come see it because I think it’s great and I don’t want them to miss it. It’s not a matter of “We gotta sell tickets.” I just don’t want people to miss it because we’ll be out of that building at some point, and you can’t see it unless you’re in that building.

Is the music still the crucial thing, or is it OK if it’s just a piece of the puzzle in this giant landscape?

I wasn’t sure going into it what latitude we would have musically with this show. And really quickly, we snapped into playing some of the best shows we’ve ever played. Because remember, we’re in the same room every night. When you’re on tour, you fight a new battle with the room every day. Now we stay in the same room, and we fought some battles, but we get to stick with our wins of those battles.

It took people a couple of weeks to get things where they like them. Now we just pick up and go, which is an entirely new way for us to play, where everyone’s happy with the way their thing sounds because everything’s already dialed in and the room is the same. So we’re actually playing better shows than we’ve ever played. It’s also because people can hear each other, because we’ve been forced to wear in-ear monitors, because you’re playing in a giant snow globe, which does not sound great if you’re on the stage in front of your instrument. And everyone’s really connected. I really can’t pick a thing for you that I’m disappointed in or that I went, “Oh, that really didn’t play out.” It all worked.

Not even any chatter yet. No chatter as of now. [Laughs.] But I’m always thinking about the callback. Look, I’ve learned with this band, never count anything out. I mean, I don’t want to be coy. The show is designed to be perennial, because it’s modular, and we could always go to new places. If someone called me and said… I don’t even want to get into it, because I just don’t (know)…

I will say this: We have zero plans to return to the Sphere at this moment, and if we did, it would be a while. So I don’t want anyone getting the idea that it’s worth just hanging out until we do it again, because I have not heard a single mention of a year or a month or anything. But I don’t want to be coy. The show is probably designed from the ground up to be perennial.

So, basically, you would say this is something that could happen again, and this could also be the last time that Dead & Company ever plays? Is it sort of like, it could be any of the above?

I think that’s sort of the thesis of everything we’ve ever done. Really, I play ’em like they’re the last. I mean, when I played (the farewell tour) in 2023, I thought I wasn’t going to touch the guitar and play a Grateful Dead song again for a long time. There was no winking going on at the end of that, I promise you that. And the first time I ever heard the mention of us playing the Sphere, someone was just dreaming it out loud: “You know, that’ll be great in the year 2025 or something,” and I went, “That’s interesting.” And this band just has this amazing ability to make things happen for itself. Where I can, I will steer it. And where I can’t, I’ll just go along for the ride and go — like I always say — “If they want to, I’ll do it.”

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