50 Common Interview Questions (2025)

1. "Tell me about yourself"

Framework: Present → Past → Future (60-90 seconds)

• Present: Current role and key responsibility
• Past: Relevant experience that led here
• Future: Why this role is your next step

"I'm currently a product manager at [Company], where I lead a team of 5 building our mobile experience. Before this, I spent 3 years at [Previous Company] where I transitioned from engineering to product. I'm excited about this role because [specific reason]."

Common mistakes: Starting with childhood, listing your entire resume, going over 2 minutes.

2. "Walk me through your resume"

Framework: Highlight reel, not complete history

Focus on 2-3 most relevant roles, key achievements at each, and the thread connecting them to this role.

3. "Why are you looking for a new role?"

Framework: Pull, not push

Good: Focus on what attracts you to this opportunity.
Bad: Complaining about current employer.

"I've learned a lot in my current role, but I'm looking for an opportunity to [specific growth goal]. This role caught my attention because [specific aspect]."

4. "Tell me about a time you overcame a challenge"

They're testing: Problem-solving, resilience, ownership

"In my previous role, we had a product launch delayed by 6 weeks due to a vendor issue. I took ownership of finding alternatives, personally called 12 potential vendors in 3 days, and secured a replacement that actually reduced our costs by 15%. We launched only 2 weeks late."

5. "Describe a time you disagreed with your manager"

They're testing: Conflict resolution, communication, professionalism

Danger zone: Never badmouth your manager. Show how you communicated respectfully and share the resolution.

6. "Tell me about a time you failed"

Key: Choose a real failure, not a humble-brag. Take ownership, explain what you learned, show how you've applied that learning.

"Early in my career, I missed a critical deadline because I didn't communicate blockers early enough. The project was delayed by a week. Now I flag potential blockers within 24 hours and have a weekly check-in specifically for surfacing risks."

7. "Give an example of a goal you achieved"

Formula: Goal → Challenge → Actions → Result → Impact

8. "Describe a time you worked with a difficult colleague"

Never: Name names or speak negatively. Focus on: Your approach, the resolution, maintaining professionalism.

9. "Tell me about a time you had to learn something quickly"

Show: Your learning process, resources you used, how you applied new knowledge.

10. "Describe your biggest professional achievement"

Choose: Something relevant to this role with measurable impact.

11. "Why do you want to work here?"

Research required: Company mission/values, recent news, the specific team/role.

Formula: [Specific thing about them] + [How it connects to your values/goals]

"I read about your recent expansion into [market]. My experience in [relevant area] and passion for [relevant topic] makes this feel like a natural fit."

12. "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"

Show: Growth within their company/industry. Avoid: Answers suggesting you'll leave soon.

"In 5 years, I'd like to be leading a team in this space. I'm excited that this role offers a path from individual contributor to management."

13-15: More Motivation Questions

• "Why do you want this specific role?"
• "What are you looking for in your next role?"
• "What motivates you?"

16. "What are your greatest strengths?"

Formula: Strength + Evidence + Relevance

"One of my strengths is translating complex technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders. In my last role, I was specifically requested to present our product roadmap to the executive team."

17. "What is your greatest weakness?"

Rules: Choose a real weakness (not a strength in disguise), NOT critical to the job, show what you're doing to improve.

"I sometimes take on too much myself instead of delegating. I've been working on this by explicitly asking my team for capacity before taking on new work."

21. "What would you do in your first 90 days?"

Framework:

• Days 1-30: Learn (people, processes, products)
• Days 31-60: Identify opportunities and quick wins
• Days 61-90: Execute on a meaningful initiative

22-25: More Situational Questions

• "How would you handle an angry customer?"
• "What would you do if you disagreed with a decision?"
• "How do you prioritize competing deadlines?"
• "How would you handle a team member not pulling their weight?"

26. "Do you have any questions for us?"

Always say yes. Prepare 3-5 questions.

Good questions:

• "What does success look like in this role in the first year?"
• "What are the biggest challenges the team is facing?"
• "How would you describe the team culture?"
• "What's the growth trajectory for someone in this role?"

Avoid:

• Questions answered on their website
• Salary/benefits (save for later)