15 Interview Questions You Should Be Prepared to Answer in 2022

Preparation is key to acing a job interview. In fact, a Glassdoor survey found that 88% of UK hiring managers consider a well-prepared interviewee a quality hire. The best way to prepare as a candidate is to plan and do your research beforehand. When you're ready for any potential questions, you are in a great position to win the interview and get the job you've been dreaming of. Here is a list of interview questions you should be prepared to answer.

General Interview Questions

Familiarise yourself with the common interview questions below and prepare answers that demonstrate you're the best person for the job.

1. Can you tell me something about yourself?

In most cases, employers open an interview with this question. They use this as a way to break the ice and help you feel more at ease throughout the interview. While this may sound like a walk-in-the-park question, your answer will set the tone of your conversation. Keep in mind that you only have one shot at making a good first impression. The versatility of this question provides an excellent opportunity for you to respond strategically and outsmart other candidates.

Crafting an elevator pitch is an effective way to prepare for your response. It's a short introduction of who you are, what you do, and your career goals. A good elevator pitch keeps the listener engaged and leaves a lasting impression. Start by briefly sharing some personal information, followed by your relevant professional background. Then, close off by talking about your goals that should align with your target job's scope.

2. Why do you want to work at our company?

Employers are not only looking for someone who can do the job. They are also looking for candidates motivated to work with them. This question can be used to gauge your interest in the role and how well you know the company. So, it's critical to be prepared to discuss what makes the company and the role appealing to you with genuine interest and excitement. 

Before going to the interview, make sure you've done your research on the company. Visit their website, social media pages, and relevant news articles. Besides being knowledgeable about the employer, studying the job description is also imperative. When responding to the interviewer, use the information from your research to identify and explain what aspects of the company and role drew your interest.

3. Why are you searching for a new job?

While this may look like a harmless question, your response can make or break your chance of progressing to the next stage. In most cases, candidates' reason for leaving reveals a lot more about them than it does the job itself. Your response will help the employer understand what kind of employee you will be if hired. They will also watch out for any red flags that may come up.

Whatever your reason for job searching is, it's always best to sound positive when you explain why you're looking for a new opportunity. Never badmouth a former boss, coworker, or employer. Instead, focus on career-related reasons and talk about what you intend to achieve from your current job hunt.

4. Why should we hire you over other candidates?

Employers ask this question to understand how confident you are in your abilities and what you can bring to the table. Your response will serve as a sales pitch to show the hiring manager that you are the best person for the job. Giving vague answers like "I'm a hard worker and fast learner" won't do the trick to make you stand out from the crowd. 

Rather, show the interviewer that you've done your homework and understand what the job entails. Identify your key strengths that correspond closely to the requirements of the job. Support your answer by providing specific examples of your past work and accomplishments that demonstrate why you are a great fit for the role. 

5. How do you handle conflict in the workplace?

This question aims to provide employers with insights into your personality and how you deal with challenges. Past behaviour is often perceived as an indicator of how you would react in comparable situations in the future. Employers are looking to assess problem-solving abilities to understand how you would fit in the role you're interviewing for.

To answer this question, give a specific example of how you handled the situation and the lessons you took away from the experience. Rather than dwelling on the conflict itself, highlight the key steps you've taken to resolve the issue in a professional manner. Don't forget to end your narrative with details on how your actions had a positive outcome.

6. What are your salary expectations?

Some employers may ask about your salary requirement during an interview. They ask this early in the hiring process to determine alignment between candidates' expectations and their salary range for the role. As an interviewee, it's a great opportunity to convey your worth and the wage you would be happy to accept.

Knowing your ideal salary range based on your market value is crucial in getting the salary you deserve. However, figuring this out on your own can be challenging. This is why we built our Salary Calculator tool to help candidates like you determine the ideal market salary range that fits your target job.

7. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Employers ask this question to understand the alignment between your professional goals and the job you're applying for. They want to know what your career goals are within the position. Considering the cost of hiring and onboarding new employees, they are looking for a candidate who will be a fit for the company in both the short and long term.

When responding to the question, think about how your goals align with the job description. You can do this by reflecting on your strengths and interests and how you can develop while adding value to your target role. Make sure that your goals are realistic and aligned with how the employer defines success for the position.

8. What do you expect from your manager?

This question is meant to gauge your cultural fit and how you work in a team environment. To prepare for this answer, researching the company ahead of time is imperative. You can learn about the company's culture by checking through their social media pages and Glassdoor reviews. Pull examples from your past role that can demonstrate how your manager positively helped you perform better at work.

9. Do you have any questions?

Most interviews end with this question. While this appears to be an easy question, it plays an important role in creating a memorable final impression. Your response would reveal how engaged you are with the conversation and your interest in the job. So, make sure to prepare a list of questions to take to the interview.  

Your questions should be relevant to your target position and the company. Avoid bringing up topics related to salaries at this stage of the hiring process. You can get ideas for appropriate responses by researching the company, studying the job post, and other information that might be useful in determining if the role is right for you.

Post-Pandemic Related Interview Questions

The pandemic has propelled companies to adapt to new ways of working. Hence, you can expect pandemic-related questions in your interview instead of the typical questions. Here are some of them.

1. How was your lockdown experience?

When an employer asks you this question, they are interested in knowing how you manage to adapt to challenging situations. Your answer will give them an idea of your approach in facing difficulties in the role you're interviewing for. This is a great chance to showcase your resilience and ability to manage yourself during tough times.

You may talk about the pandemic and how this changed your workload. It would also be beneficial to discuss volunteer works, projects, or tasks you've done, especially if they're relevant to your target position. When speaking about struggles you've faced, emphasise the steps you've taken to navigate these difficult times and express your excitement about the brighter days ahead.

2. What lessons did you learn during the pandemic?

When you're asked this question during an interview, it's important to realise that the employer isn't interested in what you did during the pandemic. It's more about how you've made the most out of a challenging situation and how you can apply what you've learned to the role. To nail this question, connect your learnings and outcomes to the job's skills. 

If you don't have a relevant and impressive answer to this due to your circumstances during the pandemic, it's totally fine. You can focus your answer on your resilience and ability to deal with difficult situations, which are good traits for any prospective employee to have.

3. What impact did the pandemic have on your career plans?

This question enables employers to understand what you are looking for in your next role. Are your goals aligned with the position you're applying for? When you respond to the question, make sure to consider the role you're interviewing for and pitch how your skills and past successes would translate to the new role. It would also be great to mention how you want to advance professionally and the skills you'd like to focus on developing. 

4. How have you adjusted to working remotely?

As they say, change is the only constant thing in this world. The same applies to companies where unexpected changes are bound to happen. This may include new product launches and technology advancements. Hence, employees are on the lookout for candidates who are flexible and can withstand adversity. When creating your response, detail the steps you've taken to master virtual ways of working and communicating with co-employees. Then, conclude with a statement that conveys how your efforts made an impact on your role or the company. 

5. What is your preferred working style? (in person, hybrid, or remote)

Remote and hybrid working models have become the norm during the pandemic. Employers ask this question to understand your preferred ways of working and how that aligns with their work policy moving forward. To prepare for this question, you need to do your research to understand your prospective employer's plans. Think about your goals and prioritise what's important to you. When it comes to your preference, be as transparent as possible and be clear with your requests.

6. How did you cope with stress during the pandemic?

Everyone felt stress at one time or another during the pandemic. Employers are eager to find out how pressure affects you and your performance at work. To answer this question effectively, provide examples demonstrating how you managed stress in a professional and positive manner. Some examples include taking a few minutes’ break, listening to music, or doing breathing exercises. You may also provide instances when pressure actually made you more productive, enabling you to accomplish your goals.