If you have been invited to a job interview you have already passed the first test in the screening process. That means the recruiters think you might be a good fit for this job. They liked your CV and application letter and now want to get to know you better. They will be checking if your personality and style matches their team, if they like your attitude, and if what you wrote in your application is true. 

This is what to expect:

If the organization conducts interviews with several candidates on the same day, you might be asked to wait before you are called in for the interview. Nevertheless, should you make sure to be punctual and possibly arrive before the arranged time. It could always happen that there is an unexpected delay on the way or that you can't find the room immediately, or that you need to register at the reception. If you are late for your appointment the interview might be cancelled altogether. 

Dress appropriately and professionally. It is not necessary to overdress. Appearing as too casual on the other hand can also be seen as disrespectful. A clean and ironed skirt or pants with a white shirt or blouse is always a safe choice. In some companies and for some positions it might be acceptable to wear sneakers, but they should be very clean. 

Once you enter the interview room, you will very likely be faced with several people. One of them will take the lead and this might be the person you've already been in contact with. It is useful to google HR staff members and your contact person beforehand, to have an idea what to expect. What is their age, position, how do they present themselves? Are they external HR professionals or team members?

In the beginning, the interviewers will welcome you, ask you to take a seat and possible offer you a glass of water (which you may accept). They will then introduce themselves and maybe say a few words about the company and the job. Pay attention! You are also allowed to take a few quick notes. If given the opportunity, you should ask a follow-up question. The more the interviewers talk, the fewer questions you will have to answer.

Below you find a list of example questions you might be asked during the interview. Prepare for your interview by trying to find good answers for each of them. 

1. Questions About You & Your Background (These help interviewers understand who you are and how you think):

  • Tell us about yourself.
  • Why did you choose your field of study?
  • What motivated you to apply for this position?
  • What are your strengths?
  • What are your weaknesses, and how do you work on them?

2. Questions About Skills (Even Without Job Experience, Graduates are often assessed on transferable, school‑based, or personality‑based skills):

  • What skills did you develop during your studies or extracurricular activities?
  • Can you describe a project you are proud of?
  • How do you handle deadlines or pressure?
  • Describe a situation where you solved a problem.

3. Teamwork & Communication Questions (Because most entry-level roles require collaboration):

  • Describe a time when you worked successfully in a team.
  • How do you deal with conflicts?
  • How do you communicate with people who think differently from you?

4. Learning & Adaptability Questions (Employers want to see that you can grow quickly):

  • How do you approach learning something completely new?
  • Tell us about a challenge you faced while studying and how you handled it.
  • What was the most difficult course or project for you — and why?

5. Motivation & Attitude (These questions help gauge your enthusiasm and values):

  • Why do you want to work here?
  • What interests you most about this role?
  • What motivates you to perform well?

6. Career Goals & Expectations (You won’t be expected to have a detailed career plan — just direction):

  • Where do you see yourself in 2–3 years?
  • What kind of work environment helps you do your best work?
  • What do you hope to learn in this job?

7. Practical & Behavioral Questions (Used to understand how you behave in real-life situations):

  • Tell me about a time you had to manage several tasks at once.
  • Give an example of feedback you received and how you used it.
  • Describe a situation where things didn’t go as planned — what did you do?
  • What did you learn from your thesis/project?
  • How did you organize your workload during school/university?
  • What challenges did you overcome in your studies?

8. Questions About Your Degree, Projects, or Side Activities

Interviewers may ask about:

  • Your final thesis or a relevant course
  • Student organization roles
  • Volunteer work
  • Part-time or holiday jobs
  • Online courses or certifications
  • something on your report card, like sickleave days, extracurricular activities, particular grades, etc.

9. Company- or Role-Specific Questions

  • What do you know about our company?
  • How do your studies relate to this role?
  • Which of your strengths would help you succeed here?
  • Why do you think you are a good match for this job/company

At the end of the interview, the interviewers will usually give you the opportunity to ask any questions you might have. Here you can ask about practical details like:

  • When can you expect the feedback from the company?
  • Will they reach out, or do you have to make a follow-up call
  • If you were successful, when would be the start date?
  • What would be the starting salary? etc.

Before you say goodbye, take the opportunity to thank the interviewers for the opportunity and the good interview.