Every profession has its own unique interview questions designed to assess specific competencies, hard skills (technical skills) and soft skills (personal qualities). Recruiters and hiring managers don’t ask them for no reason. They are looking for confirmation of your qualifications.

How does an understanding of specialist issues benefit a candidate:

Self-confidence: you avoid the stress caused by the element of surprise.
Clarity of arguments: You speak the language of figures, facts and results.
Time-saving: you focus straight away on the essentials, without getting bogged down in unnecessary details.

Examples of interview questions in popular fields

The nature of an interview varies significantly depending on your field of work. Let’s take a look at three popular industries.

1. The IT sector: on technology and projects

In the IT industry, the technical interview is a crucial stage. This is where your ability to solve complex architectural or engineering problems is assessed.

What people are asking: on technology stacks, experience with specific frameworks, architectural patterns and code optimisation.
A common question: «Please describe the architecture of your most recent project and tell us about the technical challenges you faced during its implementation.».

2. HR and recruitment: working with people

For HR professionals, strong communication skills, empathy and the ability to resolve conflicts are of the utmost importance.

What people are asking: on staff assessment methods, onboarding new recruits, working with challenging teams, and retaining top talent.
A common question: «How do you handle a situation where a serious professional conflict arises between a department head and a key member of staff?».

3. Sales and marketing: achieving results

In the sales sector, managers are judged solely on their effectiveness, flexibility and ability to persuade.

What people are asking: on meeting targets, handling objections, dealing with large orders and attracting new customers.
A common question: «Tell us about your most successful deal over the past year. What KPIs did you manage to achieve?».

How to answer questions: using the STAR method

To make a good impression on the interviewer, your answers should be well-structured, logical and concise. The best way to do this is – the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

Use this template for each of your cases:

S (Situation): Please describe the context or the problem you have encountered.
T (Task): Please explain what task or objective you were faced with.
A (Action): Please tell us exactly what steps you have taken to resolve the issue.
R (Result): Show us the final results. What results were achieved? Please use figures and percentages.
An important tip: Well-structured case studies using the STAR method significantly boost your chances of securing your dream job. What’s more, these structured examples will help you craft a strong cover letter in the future when you apply for new roles.

A checklist for perfect interview preparation

Read the job description carefully and make a note of the key requirements.
Find out more about the company (its values, products and latest news).
Prepare 3–4 real-life case studies from your own experience using the STAR method.
Draw up a list of questions you will ask the employer at the end of the meeting.
It is important to get a good night’s sleep and rest before the meeting.

Proper preparation for a job interview is your key investment in your career development. Learn the ins and outs of your profession, organise your experience, and take confident steps towards your new role!