Common Job Interview Questions and Answers

Preparation beats talent in an interview. Before the day:

• Research the company - what they do, where they are, who their customers are.
• Re-read the job advert and match your experience to what they asked for.
• Prepare your stories - two or three real examples of times you solved a problem, helped a customer or hit a target.
• Plan your route and time so you arrive 10-15 minutes early.
• Sort your documents - ID, CV, certificates and references in a neat folder.

See our full interview preparation checklist for what to bring and what to wear.

This is almost always first. The interviewer wants a 60-second summary, not your life story. Use this structure:

• Now: what you do or your current situation.
• Past: one or two relevant things you have done.
• Future: why you want this job.

Example: "I'm a retail assistant with two years at a busy Shoprite. I'm known for keeping a calm till during month-end rush and for upselling. I'm now looking for a supervisor role where I can train new staff, which is why this position interested me."

Employers want to know you actually want this role, not just any job. Link your skills to their needs.

• Show you understand what the job involves.
• Name one or two strengths that fit it exactly.
• Show enthusiasm for the company specifically.

Example answer to "Why should we hire you?": "You need someone reliable who can start immediately and handle pressure. I've never missed a shift in two years, I live ten minutes away, and I keep my head when the store is full."

Do not say "I have none" and do not give a fake weakness like "I work too hard". Pick a real, minor weakness and show how you manage it.

Example: "I used to take on too much myself instead of asking for help. I've learned to speak up early when a task is too big, which keeps the team on track."

The trick is to end on what you are doing to improve.

Questions like "Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult customer" are behavioural. Answer with STAR:

• Situation - set the scene briefly.
• Task - what you needed to do.
• Action - what you actually did.
• Result - how it turned out, with a number if possible.

Example: "A customer was angry about a faulty product (situation). I had to calm them and fix it (task). I apologised, swapped the item and offered a small discount (action). They left happy and came back the next week (result)."

When they ask "Do you have any questions?", always say yes. It shows you are serious. Good questions:

• "What does a typical day in this role look like?"
• "What would success look like in the first three months?"
• "Is there room to grow in the company?"
• "When can I expect to hear back?"

Do not ask about salary or leave first thing unless they raise it. Save that for once an offer is on the table.

Thank the interviewer before you leave. If you have their email, a short thank-you message the same day keeps you fresh in their mind. If you do not hear back by the date they gave, it is fine to follow up once, politely. Then keep applying. The best way to handle a slow response is to have other live vacancies lined up.