Initial interviews almost always include at least some version of the common questions we describe in this chapter because the interviewer is trying to get to know you and determine whether you meet their basic qualifications before moving you to the next round of interviews. These questions are used in all kinds of industries, companies, and jobs at all levels of an organization. While we can’t guarantee that you won’t be surprised in your interviews by an unusual question you hadn’t anticipated (our favorite is “If you were a superhero, what would your special power be?”), the questions in the first part of the chapter are so common that you need to be prepared for them.
In this chapter and in subsequent Q&A chapters, we provide translations of each question so you’ll know what the interviewer is looking for and instructions on how to answer them. The How to Answer sections provide ideas and suggestions for how to plan your answer. It’s important to take these suggestions and use them to create answers of your own. Interviewers don’t want to hear canned responses; they want to learn about the real you and feel that they’re getting to know you.