Interviews feel unpredictable, but the questions follow patterns. Behind each one the interviewer wants to know three things. Can you do the job? Will you fit and stay motivated? Are you easy and reliable to work with? Once you see what's really being asked, you can prepare strong answers once and adapt them.
Remember
- Prepare 5 to 7 stories from your experience that you can adapt.
- Structure answers with STAR: Situation, Task, Action, Result.
- Research the company and tie your answers to its needs.
- Prepare your own questions. An interview goes both ways.
The STAR method
| Letter | What to say | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Situation | The context, in one or two sentences | 10 to 15 seconds |
| Task | Your responsibility or goal | 10 seconds |
| Action | What you did, step by step, with "I" not "we" | 45 seconds |
| Result | The outcome with numbers if possible, and what you learned | 20 seconds |
20 common questions
About you
- Tell me about yourself. They want a focused summary. Do present, past, future in about a minute. "I'm a frontend developer with three years' experience building e-commerce sites in React. At my current company I led the checkout rebuild that improved mobile conversion. Now I'd like to work on a larger product team, which is why this role interests me."
- Why do you want this job? Motivation and research. Mention the company's product, mission or challenge and how your skills match.
- Why are you leaving your current job? Stay positive: growth, new challenges, relocation. Never insult an employer.
- Where do you see yourself in five years? Ambition that fits the role: learning, taking on responsibility, contributing.
- What are your strengths? Two relevant ones, each with a short example.
- What's your biggest weakness? A real but manageable one and what you're doing about it: "I used to take on too much myself. Now I delegate and set weekly priorities."
Behavioural (use STAR)
- A challenge you overcame. A situation with stakes, your actions, the outcome.
- A time you failed. Own it, say what you learned and how you changed.
- A conflict with a colleague. Empathy, communication, a constructive fix.
- An example of leadership. It isn't only a title. Show initiative, mentoring or driving a project.
- Working under pressure. How you prioritised and communicated.
- Learning something quickly. Your method and the result.
Role-specific and situational
- What do you know about our company? Products, customers, recent news, and why they appeal to you.
- Walk me through your CV. A story linking your jobs to this role.
- How would you handle [a realistic scenario]? Think aloud: ask clarifying questions, explain steps, mention trade-offs.
- How do you prioritise? Describe your system: urgency, impact, deadlines. Our Pomodoro guide shows one way to organise focus.
- Your proudest achievement? Something relevant, with measurable impact.
Practical
- Salary expectations? Research the market range first. Give a range based on it, or ask about the budget for the role. In some countries it's fine to wait until later.
- When can you start? Your honest notice period.
- Any questions for us? Always yes. See below.
Questions to ask the interviewer
- What does success look like in this role after six months?
- What are the team's biggest challenges?
- How do you give feedback and support growth?
- How is the team organised, and who would I work with most?
- What are the next steps and timeline?
Prepare in five steps
- Decode the job post and list the top five requirements.
- Match a story to each requirement.
- Research the company: site, products, news, reviews. Look at its portfolio or product pages and think about improvements you could suggest.
- Practise aloud and record yourself, or rehearse with a friend or an AI assistant. See how to use AI for mock interviews.
- Sort logistics: route, documents, device, internet and a quiet room for video calls.
Video interviews
- Test camera, mic and internet beforehand. Have a backup like a phone hotspot.
- Plain background, front lighting, camera at eye level.
- Look at the camera when you speak. Keep notes just out of frame.
- Close other apps, silence notifications.
After the interview
- A short thank-you email within 24 hours mentioning something specific.
- Note what went well and what to improve.
- Follow up politely if you haven't heard by their date.
Mistakes
- Memorising scripts. Aim for stories, not speeches.
- Speaking badly of previous employers.
- Vague answers with no examples.
- Asking no questions.
- Not knowing the company.
The rest of your application
Strengthen it with an ATS-friendly resume, the cover letter guide and LinkedIn optimisation. Working remotely from Bangladesh? See our remote job guide.
