10 tough job interview questions and how to answer them.

Let's set the stage: You submitted a job (or internship) application, and now you've been scheduled for an interview next week! After you celebrate with your friends, the truth sinks in: you need to focus on preparing your responses to job interview questions.

Don't panic. Riipen has you covered.

For over a decade, Riipen has helped more than 150,000 students match with employers and prepare for interviews, enabling them to find a job. Below, we’ll share 10 tough job interview questions along with tips on how to answer them.  

What’s your elevator pitch?

This variation of the classic “Tell me about yourself” is a common first interview question. The difference is that you have a limited amount of time to respond. Elevator rides are short, so your pitch needs to be concise and compelling (we’d recommend about 30 seconds). It should include a brief description of who you are, what you are looking for, and what you bring to the table.

A student seeking a social media internship could say, “I’m a third-year marketing student at ABC College, and I’m looking for an internship where I can use my communication skills and TikTok and Instagram experience to help a small business grow its brand and generate sales.”  

What is your greatest weakness?

Although we all have strengths and weaknesses, this is one of the most dreaded job interview questions. You want your answer to be authentic but not raise any doubts about your ability to do the job. The best strategy is to think of a skill that you are actively trying to improve.

For example,  an international student could share that although she studied English in school for many years, she is constantly looking to improve her conversational skills, so she attends a weekly meet-up with other international students to practice speaking English.

Tell me about a time you failed at something.  

Like the previous question, this one is tricky because it asks you to share something negative about yourself. But if you keep the employer’s intent in mind, it is easier to come up with a good answer. The interviewer really wants to know what you learned from a challenging experience and how you recovered from it. For example, you could explain how you missed a deadline for a history paper freshman year and received no credit. But you talked to the professor and submitted extra credit assignments, which brought your grade up to a B, and you’ve never missed a homework deadline since.

What is your superpower?

A version of ‘what’s your greatest strength’, this is one of the job interview questions that you can have fun with! It gives you the opportunity to promote yourself. Pick a skill that differentiates you and that you can back up with a story. If you are good at persuading people to do something, share how you convinced over sixty classmates to donate canned goods to a local food pantry, surpassing the record for student donations.

Why do you want this job/internship?

To answer this question, you’ll need to do some research so you can be specific. Vague answers like “your company is a market leader” won’t get you very far. But if you can express interest in working on a new product they recently launched or share how a former intern praised the organization for helping him develop his technical skills, you’ll demonstrate authentic interest in the role and the organization.  

Where do you see yourself in five years?

We get it…not everyone has their life planned out, and that’s okay. But employers want to know that you aren’t just applying to their organization on a whim, so it’s important to come up with a plan, even if it could change. It's perfectly acceptable to say that, since you are still early in your career development, you are exploring different opportunities that allow you to apply your skills, and that your five-year plan is to find a fulfilling role where you can make a meaningful contribution.  

What’s your plan for continuous learning?

As a student or recent graduate, additional training is probably the last thing on your mind. But the world of work is constantly evolving, and employees will need to continuously upskill and reskill to remain relevant. You can demonstrate your willingness to keep learning by researching professional certifications, online courses, associations, and other areas that are. aligned to the job you are applying for.  

What do you like to do outside of school/work?

There’s no right or wrong answer to this question. Managers are people too, and they want to get to know the people who work for them. So feel free to share that you are an avid baseball fan or recommend the latest book from your favorite science fiction author. Details like this will help you stand out from the other candidates they are interviewing.

What salary are you looking for?

It's best to avoid answering this question if at all possible. Instead, try to get the employer to mention a number first; that way, you won't price yourself out of the role by asking for too much or leave money on the table by signaling you are willing to accept a figure below what they planned to offer.

Sometimes, a simple "What salary are you offering?" will prompt them to provide a figure. If that doesn't work, provide them with a range based on online research from reputable sites like Glassdoor, LinkedIn, or Indeed, or from informational interviews with industry professionals.

What questions do you have for me?

After running through their list of questions, most interviewers will turn the tables and let you ask a few of your own. This is a great opportunity to further demonstrate your interest in the employer and the role, acquire more information to evaluate whether the position is a good fit for you, and showcase yourself as the best candidate for the position.

For more tips and resources on finding a job or preparing for job interviews, visit Riipen's Help Center and our student page.

Don’t forget to check out our blog of 10 questions for potential employers for more suggestions!