Job interview questions and answers

01The 10 most common interview questions

These come up whatever the job. The right-hand column is what the interviewer is really trying to find out, which is what your answer has to address.

02Tell me about yourself — sample answers

This is a self introduction for the interview, not your life story. Use three parts: now (what you do or have just finished), before (the experience or study behind it), and next (why you are in this room). Keep it between sixty and ninety seconds. Do not repeat your CV line by line — they have it in front of them.

03Why should we hire you? — the best answer

Match two things from the vacancy to two things you have done, then add one quality that is hard to teach. It is the one question where you are expected to speak well of yourself, so do — with evidence, not adjectives.

04What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Strengths. Name two that the job needs, and attach a short proof to each: “I am careful with detail — in my last role my monthly reports went to audit without a correction for a year.”

Weakness. Give a real one that is not central to the job, and say what you are doing about it. “I used to struggle to speak in front of a group, so I volunteered to present our team’s weekly update, and it has become much easier.” Avoid the answers interviewers have heard a thousand times — “I am a perfectionist”, “I work too hard” — and never name a weakness the job depends on.

05Why do you want this job, and why are you leaving your last one?

Why this job. One thing about the role and one about the employer. Read their website and the vacancy the night before, so you can say something only a person who looked could say.

Why you are leaving. Talk about what you are moving towards, not what you are running from: more responsibility, a field you trained for, a location closer to family. Do not criticise your current employer, even if they deserve it — the interviewer hears how you will one day talk about them.

06What salary do you expect?

Find out the usual range for the role before the interview — ask people in the field, and check what similar vacancies state. Then give a range, not a single number, with your target at the lower end of it: “Based on the role and my experience, I am looking at between X and Y, and I am open to discussing the full package.”

If you are asked your current salary, say it honestly. Employers in Nepal commonly ask for a salary certificate or slip before the offer, and a figure that does not match ends the conversation.

07Interview questions for freshers

With no work history, expect the questions to move to your studies and your character. Prepare an answer with an example for each of these:

• Why did you choose this subject, and what did you like most in it?
• Tell me about a project or assignment you are proud of.
• Have you worked in a team? What was your part?
• How do you handle pressure or a deadline?
• What do you know about our organisation?
• Are you willing to work shifts, travel, or relocate?
• What are your plans for further study?

08Interview questions by job

The ten common questions still come first. After them, expect questions about the work itself:

• Waiter and barista. How do you handle a rude customer? What would you do if an order came out wrong? Can you carry three plates? Which coffees can you make, and what is the difference between a latte and a cappuccino?
• Housekeeping. In what order do you clean a room? What do you do if you find a guest’s valuables? How many rooms can you finish in a shift?
• Security guard. What would you do if you saw someone suspicious? How do you write an incident report? Are you able to work nights and stand for long hours?
• Kitchen helper. What do you know about food hygiene? How do you store raw and cooked food? Can you work under pressure in a busy kitchen?
• Accountant. Which accounting software have you used? How do you prepare a bank reconciliation? What is the VAT rate and when is the return due?
• Receptionist. How do you answer a call while a visitor is waiting? Which office software do you use? How would you deal with an angry visitor?
• Bank. Why banking? What do you know about this bank’s products? How would you sell a savings account to a customer who came only to pay a bill?
• Teacher. How do you manage a noisy class? How do you help a student who is falling behind? You will often be asked to teach a short demo lesson.

09Questions to ask the interviewer

“No, I have no questions” reads as no interest. Ask two of these — never start with leave or salary:

• What does a normal day in this role look like?
• What would you want the person in this job to have achieved in the first three months?
• Who would I report to, and how big is the team?
• What training do new staff receive?
• What are the next steps, and when can I expect to hear from you?

10The day before the interview

1. 1Read the vacancy again and underline every requirement. Have one example ready for each.
2. 2Print two copies of your CV, and take your certificates, citizenship copy and photos in a clean file.
3. 3Check the route and the time it takes. Plan to arrive fifteen minutes early.
4. 4Lay out plain, formal clothes: a shirt and trousers, or a kurta suruwal or sari. Clean shoes matter more than an expensive suit.
5. 5Say your “tell me about yourself” answer out loud twice. Aloud, not in your head.
6. 6Charge your phone, then put it on silent before you walk in.