Sample Interview Questions

The best way to increase your likelihood of effectively responding to interview questions is through advanced preparation.

Interview Questions

Your goal during an interview is to convince the employer that you are the best candidate for the job. In order to accomplish this, you must be able to clearly and articulately convey that you have the specific skills and strengths for which the employer is looking. Before an interview, you should prepare your responses to standard interview questions and practice speaking them out loud. If you can, do a mock interview with a Steinbright professional staff member or with family or friends. Below are some frequently asked interview questions that you can refer to while preparing for interviews.

Illegal Interview Questions

Questions that can and cannot be asked during the interview phase of the recruitment process are determined by federal and state laws. The reason these laws are in place is to ensure that the interviewer does not obtain personal background information on the candidate that could be used to bar them from employment. The purpose of an interview is for an employer to assess a candidate based on the skill sets and aptitudes required to sufficiently perform the job, not to obtain personal information unrelated to the job duties and responsibilities. Explore the following sections to learn about illegal interview topics in the United States, examples of illegal questions, and what to do, both in the moment and afterwards, if you are asked questions of a potentially illegal nature.

If you are a Drexel student and feel you have been asked inappropriate questions during an interview, it is important to contact the Steinbright Career Development Center after your interview. Steinbright works closely with Drexel's Office for Institutional Equity and Inclusive Culture and the Counseling Center who provide support to students facing issues relating to harassment, bias, and discrimination.

It is illegal for an employer to ask about the following topics during an interview: age, race, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, pregnancy status, marital status, or citizenship status.

Questions for the Interviewer

Most interviewers will conclude by asking "Do you have any questions for me?" The interviewer will expect you to have questions prepared and will use these questions to gauge your interest in and understanding of the job. Asking thoughtful and specific questions about the job and company will demonstrate to the interviewer that you are serious about the position. Conversely, if you do not ask questions, you appear uninterested.

Also, keep in mind that the interview is your opportunity to learn more about the position in order to determine if it is a good fit for you. Be sure to ask questions that will enable to you fully understand the scope of the job, so that you can make an informed decision about working for the company.

The following list contains appropriate questions for candidates to ask in the initial job interview. This list is by no means exhaustive; you should develop your own questions during the course of your research on the company. Ask specific questions based on your research of the company: growth plans, competitors, new products, and research, etc.

  • What type of training programs do you have?
  • How long is the training period?
  • What does the training consist of?
  • How and when will my performance be evaluated?
  • What can I do between now and the start of the position so that I am prepared to hit the ground running?
  • What is unique about your company?
  • Can you describe the company's basic management philosophy?
  • What is the organizational structure above and below this position?
  • Do you hire co-op students from cycle to cycle?
  • What percentage of your co-ops become full-time employees upon graduation?
  • In your opinion, why is this a good place to work?
  • What has your career progression been within this company?
  • If I excel in this job, would I have the opportunity to increase my job duties and responsibilities?
  • What would make an employee stand out as "exceptional" in this job?

Avoid asking questions that makes you appear to be more interested in what you can get from the company than what you can offer them. Also, avoid questions whose answers you could have easily found for yourself if you had put any effort into researching the company. Some topics to avoid include:

  • Salary
  • Benefits
  • Vacation or time off
  • Information that could be found via online research or in the job description

Practice your interview responses using Big Interview, a video interviewing platform complete with video tutorials and practice software.

Career Navigator

Discover your next steps along your career development journey.

Big Interview

Practice your interview skills using Big Interview.

Upcoming Workshops

View career development workshops.

Contact Us

Hours:

Monday–Friday: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
The office is closed daily from 12 p.m.–1 p.m.