Common Interview Questions and How to Solve Them

Preparation is key to any successful interview, we think it’s fair to say that most of us realise this and are doing our bit ahead of time to ensure we are focusing on the right areas. However, without a time machine, we won’t know the exact questions will be asked of us within any given interview. This is why with the support from Felipe Alemany we explored some of the more common interview questions from processes we have seen over recent months. We break down why they are being asked before exploring how you can go ahead and craft an impactful answer.

This is by no means an exhaustive list but rather a hand selected one that has stumped those we have supported as of late and if it has helped them, we are confident it can help you.

Tell me about a challenging technical problem you’ve solved

Why it is asked: 

This question evaluates your problem-solving skills, technical expertise, and approach to debugging or optimisation. If it is being asked by a non-technical specialist it is also focusing on your communication skills, specifically how you can simplify something complex. 

How to structure your answer:

Felipe shared that during the preparation phase you should reflect on challenges you’ve faced and achievements in your current and previous roles, picking up the best examples. Remember that you choose your own examples, so as long as you keep it honest it’s okay if the example you choose is not the most recent one: pick the one you feel will best showcase your abilities. 

He added that many will know this method already but still utilise STAR to help structure your answer around Situation, Task, Action, and Result but don’t forget to tie in IMPACT. Sounds contrived, but it is a method that works well and the key is to use it with yourself while thinking of possible cases during the pre-interview preparation. With enough practice this method becomes second nature and you won’t need to use the exact wording, which helps it become more organic during the interview. 

Be conversational, frame your response in a way that feels natural and highlights your expertise.

Offer options where possible, mention that you have multiple examples and ask if they’d prefer one that’s more relevant to the industry, business, product or team structure or simply your best. This keeps the conversation tailored toward where the interviewer would like to take it.

Example: In my previous role, my team was working with machine learning models for some data forecasting. I had the feeling that the processes were being slowed down by some factor, and after looking into it I encountered a performance bottleneck in one of our models. Using profiling tools, I identified inefficient code and optimized it, reducing processing time by 40%. This improved the system’s scalability and user experience.

Describe a time you had a conflict with a team member. How did you handle it?

Why it is asked:

This question assesses your teamwork, communication, and conflict resolution skills.

How to structure your answer:

Felipe explained that an answer should focus on your actions. The conflict of the example is just the backdrop; the core of your answer should be how you handled it. Provide context by briefly explaining the situation to set the stage. 

Be clear on how you handled the conflict and results both positive and negative. Ensure you are focusing on specific skills such as: negotiation, teamwork, and resolution-focused communication. 

Example: During a project sprint, a teammate and I disagreed on prioritising features. I initiated a one-on-one discussion to understand their perspective, and we reached a compromise that aligned with the project’s goals. This improved team dynamics and ensured timely delivery.

How do you stay up to date with new technologies?

Why it is asked:

Employers want to see your curiosity, continuous learning, and passion for the field.

How to structure your answer:

Here you can really flex knowledge and Felipe added that if you can bring forward a new resource or tool to a hiring manager, something they have not heard about before then this will really help you stand out. Start by sharing your methods be it blogs, webinars, courses, or communities you follow. The aim is to be specific; this shows you are really absorbing this information, so name drop, or tool drop where possible. Don’t overthink if they’re the best ones or not, there are countless out there, so they won’t qualify your answer based on which you answer as long as you make clear that you’re someone invested in continuous learning.

To really ace this question, link your learnings to impact, explaining how staying updated has benefited your career or company. 

Example: I regularly follow platforms like Stack Overflow and attend webinars on AI advancements. Recently, I explored GPT-based tools to enhance natural language processing in our chatbot project, which improved user engagement by 25%.

How do you use AI within your current workflows?

Why it is asked:

This question reveals your understanding of AI’s potential and its application in your field, extremely important in the current job market. 

How to structure your answer:

Felipe explained that when answering this question, it’s less about the actual examples and more about showing your understanding of AI and its potential within your field, as well as your openness to use it. Not every organisation is adopting AI yet, so if yours isn’t you don’t need to worry you can still lean into this question but by sharing your view of its possibilities without highlighting a specific example that you have had as long as you show interest and understanding.

If you do utilise AI today, then flex examples and highlight once again the impact it has had within your business and process. Show how it helped drive value as the chances are that if the question is being asked, the prospective business is either adopting or exploring and again, if you can showcase real world examples, it helps you stand out when they evaluate your profile further. 

Example: In my current role, I use AI tools for data analysis and predictive modelling. For instance, I implemented an AI-driven recommendation system that increased customer retention by 15%. Would you like me to explain how we created this solution? 

Interviews are not just about answering questions but rather they’re about telling your story. And the impact you have brought to teams and companies within your career. By understanding the intention behind these types of questions and structuring your answers thoughtfully, you can demonstrate your skills and personality more effectively, all the while being authentic. 

A big thank you to Felipe Alemany for sharing his insights and these strategies. Although just a handful of questions, we hope they help pave the way for further learning and thoughtful preparation to help you along your career. Feel to share within your network so we can collectively bring simplicity to the chaos of recruitment.

Peritus Partners is a next generation recruitment team that focuses on blending education, business and community together. Interested to see how we can help find the best talent for your team or interested in finding a new job? Reach out today 😎