A job interview is the decisive step on the way to a new job. Not only your professional qualifications play a role, but also the way you react to certain questions. This article presents typical questions asked in job interviews and provides helpful tips on how to answer them successfully. From standard questions about self-presentation to tricky questions about problem solving – good preparation is the key to convincing the interviewer and taking the next step in your career.
During the job interview, the questions asked by the employer are aimed at getting a comprehensive picture of the candidate. In addition to the professional qualifications, they want to find out whether the personality, working style and motivation of the candidate fit with the corporate culture and the requirements of the position. Questions such as “Why did you apply to us?” or “Where do you see yourself in five years?” are used to understand the motivation, goals and seriousness of the application. Similarly, situational questions test problem-solving behavior and the ability to react appropriately in stressful situations. Employers want to ensure that the person not only fits into the team and company professionally, but also as a person.
Here you will find some general tips on how to answer questions in a job interview with confidence. With these tips, you will be well prepared to make a confident and professional impression in a job interview!
| Tip | Example |
| Be well prepared for the interview | Thoroughly research the company, the industry and the position. |
| Know your own strengths, weaknesses and previous experiences so that you can present them confidently. | |
| Punctuality and professionalism | Be punctual or even arrive a few minutes early (at the company premises or virtual meeting location). |
| Make sure you look well-groomed and behave appropriately. | |
| Be confident but authentic | Be confident without coming across as arrogant. A firm handshake, eye contact and a friendly smile go a long way. |
| Speak clearly and distinctly, but remain natural and authentic. | |
| Active listening | Listen carefully to what the interviewer says and ask questions if necessary. |
| Respond to comments and address the questions specifically. | |
| Pay attention to body language | Maintain an open and upright posture. |
| Avoid fidgeting or playing nervously with your hands. | |
| Master situational questions well | Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for questions about past projects or experiences to make your answers structured and clear. |
| Get to the point | Avoid long, rambling explanations. |
| Focus on the essentials and answer the question precisely. | |
| Keep calm when asked difficult questions | If you are asked a tricky question, take a moment to think instead of answering immediately. This shows that you are thinking carefully. |
| Ask targeted questions | Show your interest in the company and the position by asking well-considered, targeted questions. |
| Demonstrate flexibility and a critical mind | When faced with trick questions or stressful situations, stay calm and objective and show that you can handle challenges. |
| Formulate positively | Even when addressing sensitive topics, such as gaps in your résumé or criticism of a previous employer, formulate your answers in a positive and solution-oriented way. |
| Remain polite, even at the end | At the end of the interview, thank them for the opportunity to introduce yourself and express your interest in the position. |
| Follow up | Send a short, polite thank-you message after the interview to confirm your interest and leave a positive impression. |
The following typical questions help employers to get a complete picture of you and to see whether you are a good professional and personal fit for the company.
Asking your own creative questions in the interview shows interest, commitment and helps you to learn more about the company and the position. These creative questions help you to gain a deeper insight into the company and the position while also leaving a positive impression on the employer.
| Question | Effect |
| How do you define success in this position? | This question shows that you want to know what is expected of you and how your performance will be measured. |
| What does a typical work day look like in this role? | This will give you a realistic insight into the day-to-day work and help you understand what to expect. |
| What challenges is the company or team currently facing? | This question shows that you think strategically and are interested in how you can make a positive contribution. |
| How would you describe the team culture? | It is important to know whether the corporate culture suits you. This question helps to better understand the dynamics of the team. |
| What training and development opportunities do you offer? | This shows that you are interested in your long-term professional development and are willing to learn continuously. |
| How do you help your employees maintain a healthy work-life balance? | This question shows that a balanced lifestyle is important to you and that you are committed to sustainable performance. |
| What is the ideal candidate for this position in your eyes? | This helps you to understand whether your qualifications and characteristics match the expectations well. |
| How do the departments in your company work together? | This question will help you understand more about the collaboration and communication within the company, which can be crucial for your day-to-day work. |
| What made you personally decide to work for this company and what do you value about your work here? | This is a personal question that often provides an authentic insight into the corporate culture and the perspective of the interviewer. |
| What innovations or changes do you expect in your industry in the next few years? | This shows that you think strategically and are interested in long-term developments. |
Asking questions in a job interview is important to show interest and learn more about the position and the company. However, there are some questions that can make a bad impression because they seem ill-considered or inappropriate. Here are examples of bad questions to ask in a job interview:
It is important that your questions are well considered, relevant and professional. They should reflect your interest in the company, the position and your future responsibilities.
In job interviews, there are certain questions that are considered inadmissible by law because they affect the privacy of the applicants or may be discriminatory. If such questions are asked in the interview, you have the right to give a truthful answer without this having negative consequences for the employment relationship. Here are some of the most important inadmissible questions according to German labor law:
Test questions such as brainteasers, trick questions and stress questions are frequently used in job interviews to test the mindset, problem-solving skills and resilience of applicants under pressure. Brainteasers, trick questions and stress questions are not necessarily intended to elicit a perfect answer, but rather to test your reactions and approach in challenging situations.
Brainteasers are tricky, often mathematical or logical questions that are not necessarily about the right answer, but about how the candidate approaches the problem.
Catch Questions are designed to draw applicants out of their shells or to test their honesty and reaction to unexpected questions.
Stress questions are designed to put applicants under pressure and see how they deal with uncomfortable situations. The aim is to test emotional stability and resilience.
The following tips will help you to deal better with these test questions in the job interview.
Here you will find some practical tips to help you prepare even better for your job interview. For example, by simulating and regularly practicing, you will become more confident and able to respond to all questions in the interview with more assurance.
| Tip | Explanation |
| Simulate an interview | Have a practice interview with friends or family members. They can take on the role of the interviewer and ask you typical questions. |
| Make sure that they also include difficult or stressful questions to test your reactions. | |
| Record the interview on video to analyze and improve your body language, speech, and reactions afterwards. | |
| Practice in front of the mirror | Practicing your answers in front of the mirror will help you control your facial expressions and gestures and develop a confident demeanor. |
| You can also practice your answer structure here to make sure you answer concisely and to the point. | |
| Practice talking to yourself | Ask yourself possible questions out loud and answer them. This will help you organize your thoughts and prepare you for common questions like “Tell us about yourself” or “What are your strengths?” |
| Talking out loud helps to overcome speech blocks and make answers more fluent. | |
| Practice interviewing with professionals or mentors | If you have someone in your network who has experience conducting job interviews, ask them to give you feedback. This is especially valuable because you get insights from a professional perspective. |
| Simulate a job interview in front of a camera (practice video interviewing) | Since many interviews today are also conducted virtually, you should practice how you come across in a video interview. Pay attention to camera angles, lighting and your internet connection. |
| Practice delivering your answers directly into the camera to simulate eye contact and check that your surroundings appear professional. | |
| Prepare your answers in writing | Write down your answers to typical questions in bullet points. This will help you to internalize key terms and core messages. |
| Avoid learning answers by heart, however, to avoid appearing stiff or unnatural. | |
| Practice your voice and delivery | Make sure you speak clearly, slowly and distinctly. Practice this by reading a text aloud or recording a voice message and listening to it to identify strengths and weaknesses in your delivery. |
| Practice your body language consciously | Your body language says a lot about your self-confidence. Make sure you have an open posture, walk upright and shake hands firmly. |
| Simulate body language even when you are sitting: Avoid crossing your arms or fidgeting, and maintain eye contact. | |
| Use online tests and platforms | There are many platforms that offer online simulations of job interviews, often with algorithms that analyze your appearance and responses and provide feedback. |
| Use these tools to get used to different types of questions and to reflect critically on yourself. | |
| Get feedback | After the simulation, ask your interviewers or observers for honest feedback. Ask specifically about your clarity, your body language and how convincing you appeared. |
Yes, technical questions will be asked during the interview to assess your professional knowledge, skills and experience and see if you meet the requirements of the position. These may include specific tasks, technical details or past projects to better assess your expertise in your field.
During a job interview, you can address weaknesses that have no direct influence on the advertised position, but at the same time show that you are working on them. It is more important to remain authentic and to emphasize how you deal with this weakness and actively improve it. This will make you appear reflective and solution-oriented.
In the interview, it is sufficient to mention one or at most two weaknesses that you can honestly explain and link to specific measures for improvement. Less is more here, as long as you come across as authentic and reflective.
During the interview, you can mention strengths that are well suited to the advertised position, such as teamwork, reliability, communication skills or a quick mind. It is important that you back them up with specific examples from your experience to make them credible.
To show your interest and professionalism, it's best to respond to an invitation to an interview as quickly as possible, ideally on the same day or at the latest on the next working day.
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