Let's be honest – job interviews stress everyone out. That pit in your stomach when they ask a curveball question? Yeah, I've been there too. Last year when I interviewed for that tech startup, I blanked on "What's your biggest weakness?" and said "I work too hard." Cringe. Worst part? The interviewer actually rolled her eyes. That's when I decided to crack the code on commonly asked interview questions once and for all.

After interviewing over 200 candidates in my HR role and getting grilled in dozens of interviews myself, I've noticed something: 90% of interviews use the same core questions. They just repackage them differently. Once you understand why they ask these things, it changes everything.

Before the Interview: Your Secret Weapons

Look, I used to think researching a company meant scanning their "About Us" page. Big mistake. When I prepped for my current role, I spent three hours digging:

• Their recent press releases (found one about expanding to Germany)
• Employee LinkedIn profiles (saw what skills they valued)
• Glassdoor interview reviews (someone mentioned case studies)

Turns out they asked EXACTLY about German market entry. Moral? Research is your cheat code.

The STAR Method Isn't Just HR Jargon

My game-changer: Instead of memorizing stories, I made a "brag sheet" of 10 situations covering different skills. When they asked about conflict resolution? I pulled the client negotiation story. Time management? Used the product launch example. Flexible toolkit beats scripted answers.

During the Interview: Breaking Down Common Killers

Okay, let's get practical. Below are the usual suspects among most commonly asked interview questions, why they matter, and how not to bomb them like I did that one time.

The "About You" Questions

These feel casual but are traps. Seriously.

The biggest surprise? "Tell me about yourself" is actually a test of conciseness. I timed candidates once – the best answers took 90 seconds max.

Behavioral Questions That Trip People Up

These suckers require prep. I keep a spreadsheet of stories because memory fails under pressure:

A candidate once told me about losing a major client. Instead of blaming his team, he explained the recovery plan and how they retained 60% of the business. Hired him on the spot.

The Sneaky Ones Most Forget

These common job interview questions seem easy but reveal loads:

• "What did you dislike about your last role?" (Tests positivity and self-awareness)
• "Describe your ideal manager" (Cultural fit check)
• "What questions do you have for us?" (Shows engagement)

My personal nemesis: "Why should we hire you over other candidates?" Early in my career, I listed generic strengths. Now I say: "Based on our talk, I understand you need [specific pain point]. My experience in [concrete example] means I can deliver [quantifiable result] faster."

After the Interview: Don't Ghost Them

I applied to 30 jobs last year. Got 15 rejections without a word. Brutal. That's why post-interview etiquette matters:

The Follow-Up Email That Actually Works

Generic "thank you" notes get ignored. Here's what stands out:

Subject Line: Great discussing [specific topic] - [Your Name]

Body:
"Really enjoyed our conversation about [specific challenge they mentioned]. It reminded me of when I [brief relevant experience]. Attached is that case study I referenced showing how we increased engagement by 40% at [Previous Company]. Happy to discuss further!"

Why this works: References real conversation + delivers value + specific metric

Reading Between the Lines of Silence

I once waited 4 weeks for an offer. Learned these timelines:

After two weeks with no response? Assume rejection but stay professional. One company called me 3 months later with a better role!

Questions Candidates Forget to Ask (But Should)

Interviewers judge your questions more than you think. I rate candidates higher when they ask:

• "What does success look like in this role at 6 months?"
• "How do you resolve conflicts between departments?"
• "What's something you wish you'd known before joining?"

Avoid these unless you want side-eye:

• "How much vacation time do I get?" (Save for offer stage)
• "When will I get promoted?" (Sounds entitled)
• Anything easily Googleable

FAQs About Interview Questions I Get Daily

How many interviews until offer?
Tech roles average 3-5 rounds. Marketing? 2-3. Startups move faster.

Should I admit I'm interviewing elsewhere?
Yes, but strategically: "I'm exploring opportunities that focus on [specific skill] like this role."

Can I say 'I don't know'?
Better to say: "I'd approach that by [general principle] but would research specifics like [method]."

Are curveball questions legal?
Questions about age, religion, family plans? Illegal in US/EU. Politely decline: "I focus on job-related qualifications."

How to handle salary questions early?
Deflect: "I'd like to better understand the role's scope first. What's your target range?"

Why Most Interview Prep Guides Fail You

Most advice stays surface-level. They'll tell you to research the company but not how to use that intel. Or suggest practicing answers without explaining why certain responses flop. I've seen brilliant candidates bomb because they:

• Prepared answers instead of adaptable frameworks
• Focused on strengths without proof points
• Ignored the hidden meaning behind frequently asked interview questions

Last month, a candidate aced technical questions but failed when asked "What bores you?" He confessed he hates paperwork – bad move for an admin-heavy role.

Look, I still get nervous before big interviews. But understanding these commonly asked interview questions removed the terror of the unknown. You've got this. Now go craft those STAR stories.

- Someone who's messed up enough interviews to learn what actually works