The Top 13 Interview Questions of 2025 And How To Nail Them

Nikki Paterson Author

Want to know how to nail the top job interview questions of 2025 and bag the job? Keep reading...

The job interview is the apex of the recruitment process; it's usually the first time the recruitment panel will actually talk to you, and it's your opportunity to position yourself as the best candidate for the job. 

Your job application got you in the door; now it's time to close the deal at the interview.

The key to interview success is preparation, and a big part of interview preparation is anticipating what interview questions will be asked so that you can prepare structured, polished answers that hit the panel's marking matrix.

In this article, we will give you a head start with the top 13 interview questions of 2025 and how to best answer them. Granted, you're unlikely (and you'd be unlucky!) to get all 13 questions in an interview, but these are all excellent, strategic questions well worth planning for.

Understanding Behavioural Interview Questions

Before we jump into what questions you'll be asked, let's briefly talk about what type of questions you'll most likely be asked.

Behavioural questions are the most common type of interview question and the ones that give the panel the best picture of you, your capabilities, and your alignment with the role.

Behavioural interview questions are a critical component of the interview process, as they provide insight into how a candidate has handled situations in the past. 

These questions ask candidates to share experiences from previous roles to understand their approach to challenges, teamwork, conflict resolution, and problem-solving. 

For example, a common behavioural question might be, "Tell me about a time when you had to overcome a significant challenge at work." 

This type of question allows the interviewer to gauge the candidate's resilience, creativity, and problem-solving skills.  Employers and recruiters use behavioural questions to help them identify candidates who not only have the necessary skills and qualifications but also possess the soft skills required to thrive in the organisation.

So let's take a look at the top 13 interview questions of 2025 and how to prepare for them.

1.  Tell us about yourself

Why they ask this:  This is a classic icebreaker and an opportunity for the panel to learn more about your professional journey. It allows them to assess your communication skills and see how your background aligns with the role.

How to answer:  The key to answering this question is to reframe the question to “Tell us about yourself in the context of this role”.  This is an opportunity for you to talk about your relevant skills and experience and frame how these will position you to excel in this role

Keep your response professional and concise, focusing on your career, key achievements, and relevant skills.

Structure your answer to highlight:

1. Where you’ve been: Briefly mention your relevant background, including your education and professional experience.
2. Where you are now: Explain your current role or situation and how it relates to the job you're applying for.
3. Where you’re going: Talk about your career aspirations and how the position aligns with your goals.

For example:
"I’ve spent the last five years working in project management, specialising in developing efficient workflows for cross-functional teams.  In my current role as a Senior Project Manager, I led a major system implementation that improved operational efficiency by 20%.  I’m now seeking an opportunity to leverage these skills in a dynamic environment like yours, where I can contribute to impactful projects and continue to grow professionally."

Check out our YouTube Video Tell Us About Yourself – How to answer this interview question for advice on answering this question

2.  What is your biggest weakness?

Why they ask this:  To gauge your level of self-awareness.  Self-awareness is linked to emotional intelligence, and employers want emotionally aware employees.  If you're unable to identify a real weakness in yourself, you're unlikely to be a good team player. 

How to answer:  Choose a weakness that is improvable and is not critical to the function of the job.  Explain what you've done to address this weakness and the positive improvements you've made.  Explain how this has made you a better employee, colleague or leader.  By focusing on the positive outcomes of your self-improvement, you are demonstrating your commitment to self-growth and development.

For more ideas on how to answer this one, watch our Youtube video 'What's is your greatest weakness?' How To Answer This Interview Question

3.  Describe your ideal company culture and how you contribute to building it.

Why they ask this:  Employers want to assess your compatibility with their company culture and understand how you will actively contribute to creating a positive work environment. It helps gauge whether your values align with theirs.

How to answer: Start by describing the aspects of company culture you value most (e.g., collaboration, innovation, inclusivity), ensuring these align with or reflect the organisation's values and culture.  Share specific examples of how you've contributed to fostering such a culture in previous roles, whether through team-building, promoting inclusivity, or leading initiatives that enhanced morale and collaboration.

4.  In what ways have you used data or insights to drive better decision-making?

Why they ask this: Data-driven decision-making is critical in modern workplaces.  This question evaluates your analytical abilities and how effectively you can leverage data to make informed decisions that benefit the organisation.

How to answer:  Provide a concrete example where you used data to identify a problem or opportunity, the steps you took to analyse the data, and how this informed your decisions.  Highlight the positive outcomes of these decisions, such as increased efficiency, cost savings, or improved team performance.

5.  What is your greatest strength?

Why they ask this:  This question is designed to assess your self-awareness, communication skills, and how your strengths align with the role.  It also lets the panel hear about your achievements or standout moments.

How to answer:  Focus on one or two key strengths that are highly relevant to the position.  Go beyond just stating these strengths, talk about how you've intentionally developed these skills through education, development opportunities and experience, and how you've effectively used them to achieve work goals and how you can use them in this role.

Use the STAR method to provide a structured and impactful example of how you’ve applied these strengths. 

For instance:
"One of my greatest strengths is my ability to build relationships.  For example, in my previous role, I developed a stakeholder engagement strategy that led to a 30% increase in client retention, and I can bring the same relationship-building skills to your team to drive results."

6.  Tell us about a time you've had to overcome adversity.

Why they ask this: The panel wants to assess your resilience, problem-solving abilities, and capacity to learn from challenging situations.

How to answer:  Share a concise example of a challenging situation, how you navigated it, and the outcome.  The focus here should be less on the situation and more on the skills you used, such as adaptability or resourcefulness, and how these experiences prepared you for future challenges.

For example:
"During a major project, we faced an unexpected supplier delay that threatened our timeline. I quickly reorganised resources, communicated transparently with stakeholders, and implemented a temporary workaround. This not only ensured the project’s success but also demonstrated my ability to stay calm and resourceful under pressure."

7.  Tell us about a time when you had to lead a team in a difficult situation.

Why they ask this:  Even if the role you're applying for isn't a leadership role, employers want to see that you can demonstrate 'everyday leadership' and can take charge in difficult situations, whether those situations are within your own job or outside of it.

How to answer:  Choose a situation that relates to the position you're applying for; a similar setting, task or skillset.  Describe the steps you took and the outcome of this action.  Be sure to share what you learned from the experience, whether it was about leading in a more effective way or communication techniques that worked well and explain how you can bring these skills and experience to the role.

8.  What are the most important skills required for this position?

Why they ask this:  To gauge your understanding of the position, to see if you've researched the position and the company and to see if you understand the company's key values and culture.

How to answer:  Use this question as an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the position and the company, but don't stop there.  Using anecdotes, give relevant examples that demonstrate that you not only possess these skills but that you've effectively utilised them for a positive outcome and can bring these same skills and results to this role.

9.  Can you provide an example of how you've contributed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace?

Why they ask this:  Diversity and inclusion are priorities for most organisations.  This question assesses your awareness, commitment, and ability to foster an inclusive work environment.

How to answer:  Start by explaining your understanding of and importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace.  Share a specific example where you championed diversity or inclusion, whether by mentoring a diverse colleague, initiating inclusive workplace policies, or fostering a sense of belonging.  Focus on the tangible outcomes of your efforts and how they improved team dynamics or overall organisational culture.

10.  How do you adapt your communication style in a hybrid or remote work environment?

Why they ask this:  With hybrid and remote work becoming standard, employers need to know you can communicate effectively in diverse environments and maintain productivity.

How to answer:  Explain your approach to adapting communication based on the medium (e.g., email, video calls, instant messaging).  Provide examples of how you've maintained clear, effective communication with remote teams, such as setting regular check-ins, using collaboration tools, or adjusting your tone to suit the platform.

11.  What is one thing that sets you apart from other candidates?

Why they ask this:  To gauge what you think the important skills, characteristics, qualifications and experience are for the role.  This is also an exercise in effective communication to see how you articulate your values, skills and experience.

How to answer:  Most interview questions ask you to talk about a specific situation, skill or experience.  This question is an opportunity for you to choose which of your skills, experience and qualifications you want to highlight.  Choose a skill, qualification or experience that directly aligns with the position.  Ideally, highlight this skill or experience in the form of an example of how you've best used it.  And although the question asks for one thing, take the opportunity to weave associated skills and experience into your response.

12.  Tell us about your biggest failure.

Why they ask this:  To gain insight into how you handle setbacks, learn from them, and apply those lessons moving forward.

How to answer:  This is an opportunity to share a challenging experience from your past, whether it was in your professional or personal life.  Choose a failure that doesn't relate to a critical skillset of the role and talk about what you learned from the situation, what you did differently next time and how this has shaped your approach to challenges in the future.

13.  How do you handle competing priorities in a fast-paced environment?

Why they ask this: Employers want to assess your ability to stay organised, manage your time effectively, and remain calm under pressure.  This is especially important in roles where multiple tasks, deadlines, and responsibilities occur simultaneously.

How to answer: Start by explaining your general approach to managing competing priorities, such as using planning tools, time-blocking, or delegation.  Then provide a specific example using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).  Highlight how you assessed the situation, decided on priorities, and communicated effectively to achieve a successful outcome.

For example:
"In my previous role, I managed a project where two high-priority deadlines overlapped unexpectedly. I first evaluated the urgency and impact of each task and then created a detailed plan to allocate resources efficiently. I communicated with stakeholders to adjust expectations where necessary, and by staying focused on my own responsibilities and leveraging my team’s abilities, we met both deadlines successfully, delivering high-quality outcomes on both fronts. This experience reinforced the importance of effective time and task management as well as strategic delegation and clear communication in fast-paced environments."

So In Summary...

Employers want to know that you have the skills and experience required for the role, that you're a good fit for the team, that you'll stick around for a while and that your goals align with the organisation's objectives.

By preparing responses for these Top 15 Interview Questions of 2025, you'll be in a solid position to answer these questions confidently, demonstrate your strengths and qualifications and outshine your competition.

Want more help preparing to nail your interview?  Check out our online panel interview preparation course.

Chasing more interview tips and strategies?  Check out YouTube channel -