Common questions candidates may ask in an interview
Consider how you’ll respond to frequently asked questions from candidates when preparing for your interviews. Reviewing this list can help you provide prompt, informative answers.
1. Can you describe the daily tasks for this position?
Candidates ask this question to learn about the job’s daily routine. The duties and responsibilities section of your job description can inform your answer. Provide specific examples of common tasks whenever possible.
Example answer: “In this position, you’ll spend your day answering customer calls. During each call, you’ll collect personal information to confirm the caller’s identity and access their account in our database. After reviewing this information, you’ll answer their questions and update their records with call descriptions.”
2. What is the reason for this job opening?
Understanding why a position is open can provide candidates with valuable insights about your organization. For instance, they may learn whether your company is growing or facing high employee turnover. When addressing this question, it’s important to be honest and use positive language.
Example answer: “The hours for this shift are 9am to 9pm. The previous employee could no longer accommodate this schedule due to personal conflicts. We transferred them to a position in another department that better supports their work-life balance.”
3. What are the opportunities for advancement?
Candidates may ask this question to assess whether your organization supports professional development. When answering, you can describe the career ladder associated with the position and mention ways you support advancement, such as employee mentorship programs.
You may also mention cross-training opportunities, which can enable new hires to eventually shift to different departments. By teaching them skills they didn’t acquire when getting hired, you can help broaden their career path with your organization.
Example answer: “At Fiesta Burger, we believe in promoting from within. Counter Attendants can typically qualify for promotion to Senior Counter Attendant within six months to one year. Additionally, Shift Supervisor, Assistant Manager and Manager positions are available at each of our restaurants.
Many Counter Attendants participate in our tuition reimbursement program to earn bachelor’s degrees. Participants in the program have successfully filled roles in our accounting, marketing, human resources (HR) and operations departments.”
4. When will you make a hiring decision?
Candidates typically ask this question to understand what to expect next in the hiring process. Provide a realistic timeframe and outline the next steps. This may include sending them an assessment, such as evaluating a manuscript for a publishing company and drafting a reader’s report, or another round of interviews.
Example answer: “I expect to complete the first round of interviews by the end of this week and schedule the second round before the end of the month. We should make a final decision in the first week of March. I will email you by next Wednesday with an update on the process.”
5. What are the goals and objectives you hope to accomplish with this role?
A candidate may try to evaluate their expected workload and whether your company sets specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound (SMART) goals.
Example answer: “In recent months, our cycle time has slowed due to quality checks and market demands. I’m hoping by adding this assembly line position, we can adjust our throughput rate from 10 to 15 truck chassis per hour.”
Tips for responding to challenging candidate interview questions
Despite thorough preparation, some candidates may ask questions that don’t have immediate answers. When faced with unexpected interview questions, these tips can help you deliver a considerate answer.
1. Take your time
When a candidate asks a question, take time to formulate a thoughtful response. To avoid long pauses in the conversation, you can use filler phrases. For instance, you might say, “That’s a great question. Please give me a minute to think about it,” or “I’d like to take a moment to reflect on that.”
2. Practice transparency
Be truthful when answering questions from candidates during interviews. Transparency can help build trust and leave a positive impression.
3. Protect confidential and sensitive information
Providing real-world examples can make your answers to candidates’ interview questions more personal and relatable. However, it’s important to protect employee privacy by using general examples. Additionally, follow your organization’s policies regarding confidentiality and sensitive customer information.
For example, you may have signed non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with your clients, detailing information that should only be shared with those a part of your organization. Sharing project-specific information with candidates would violate those agreements.
4. Build interest
As you respond to candidates’ questions, look for opportunities to highlight your organization’s perks and benefits.
For example, if a candidate asks about workload management, you might mention your organization’s wellness initiatives, such as employee assistance programs (EAPs), free meditation classes or an on-site gym.
How to handle questions during interviews that require research
Occasionally, you may encounter interview questions that require research. Consider the following steps to respond professionally:
- Ask for clarification: Restate the question or ask follow-up questions to ensure you fully understand it. This can help you answer accurately and show you’re actively listening to the candidate.
- Acknowledge the challenge: Inform the candidate that you can’t answer their question at that moment and explain the reason. For example, if a candidate wants to know the turnover rate at your company, you may need to meet with human resources to provide an exact figure.
- Make a commitment to reply: Assure the candidate that you want to provide them with the information they seek. If you need to get back to them, set yourself a deadline to response, such as one week from the interview date.
- Set realistic expectations: Provide a realistic timeframe that allows yourself enough time to conduct the necessary research. For example, if the question is department-specific and requires you to connect with a team member, you should factor their schedule into your response timeline.
- Follow-up with the candidate: After the interview, find the answer to the question and include your response in the interview follow-up email. This may include next steps in the hiring process or when you plan to make your decision.
Example response to a difficult candidate question
“You want to know which systems we intend to upgrade within the next five years, correct? Unfortunately, I haven’t received a definitive list from our IT department yet. They’re currently in the process of selecting systems for improvement.”
“I want to provide you with the most accurate information, so I’d like to speak with our IT director before responding. I will email you next week with an update.”
Considering candidate questions during an interview evaluation
Candidate questions during an interview can provide valuable insights into their interests and skills. In an interview evaluation, consider the following:
- Areas of interest and concern: What topics did the candidate’s questions focus on? What do these topics suggest about their values and priorities? For example, if a candidate’s questions revolve around employee resource groups (ERGs) or company events, they may value a company that prioritizes community and collaboration.
- Evidence of preparation: Did the candidate inquire about information that’s readily available through an internet search? This can demonstrate the amount of research they conducted before the interview and potentially show their interest in your company.
- Demonstration of skills: Did the candidate’s questions reflect skills relevant to the open position, such as analytical thinking, creativity or communication skills? For example, if your company works in the logistics industry, a question about how you forecast supply chain challenges with upcoming tariffs may show the candidate is knowledgeable about the industry.
As you encounter candidate questions, whether common or challenging, take the time needed to provide thorough answers. Interviews are generally most successful when they involve transparent, honest communication.
