5 Interview Questions Every Entry-Level Candidate Gets Asked

You can prepare for dozens of interview questions, or you can nail the five that actually matter. These are the questions that come up in almost every entry-level interview, regardless of sector or company. Here's how to answer each one properly - without sounding rehearsed.

1. "Tell me about yourself"

This is almost guaranteed to be your opening question. It's not a request for your life story or your CV read aloud. It's your chance to give a focused, 60-90 second summary that connects your background to the job you're interviewing for.

The mistake most candidates make is reciting their entire CV or launching into something too personal. Instead, use the Present-Past-Future structure: one sentence on your current role or situation, one or two sentences on the path that built your key skills for this job, and one or two sentences on why this role and company is the logical next step. Start with your strongest qualification or achievement, not your childhood. Mention the job title or area you're applying for, and explain why it genuinely interests you.

Example: "I studied marketing at university where I ran campaigns for the student society. That led to a placement in digital content at [Company], where I learned to track what actually works. Now I'm excited about this role because you're doing X in the market, and that's exactly the kind of work I want to focus on."

2. "What do you know about our company and why do you want to work here?"

This filters out people who haven't done basic research. You don't need to memorise the company history, but you do need to show you've genuinely looked into what they do and why they matter to you.

Learn about the mission, history and culture of your potential future employer, and if you can show that your personal ambitions complement the goals of the company, you can stand out as a good potential fit. Go beyond "I like your website." Find something specific: a product they've launched recently, a change in their market position, a value they've published that genuinely aligns with yours, or a problem in your industry that you believe they're solving.

The answer should feel natural, not canned. Don't try to impress them by repeating buzzwords from their homepage. Instead, pick one real reason the role appeals to you and tie it to something you genuinely care about.

3. "Tell me about a time you worked as part of a team" (or dealt with conflict, problem-solved, worked under pressure)

Use the STAR technique for most answers - this is often expected. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result. The STAR Technique is a useful structure for answering application form and interview questions in order to highlight examples of your experience.

Here's how to apply it: Start by setting the scene (Situation) - who, what, where, and when. Keep this brief: one or two sentences. Then explain what you needed to do (Task). Then describe the specific action you took - this is the important bit, because it shows what you did, not just what the team did. Finally, end with the result. Always include a positive outcome or what you learned.

If you don't have much paid work experience, that's fine. Use examples from university group projects, part-time work, volunteer roles, or extracurricular activities. If you are applying for an apprenticeship or internship or have little work experience, talk about extra-curricular activities and your achievements or school projects you've done. The structure matters more than the setting.

Example: "During my university group project on social media strategy (Situation), we had to create a campaign on a tight deadline and one team member dropped out last minute (Task). I took on their research section, reorganised my time, and broke the remaining work into daily targets (Action). We delivered on time and the campaign got 15% more engagement than our target (Result)."

4. "What are your strengths and weaknesses?"

This is a two-part question that catches people out. For strengths, don't just list adjectives. Choose three examples of traits the employer is looking for and give examples of how you have used these strengths in a work situation, ideally including a mixture of tangible skills, such as technical or linguistic abilities, and intangible skills, such as management experience.

For weaknesses, this is your chance to show self-awareness - not to give a fake "weakness" like "I work too hard." Pick a trait that you have already made positive steps to address. Consider how you have approached your perceived weaknesses in the past and what you have done to address them. If your IT ability is not at the level it could be, state this as a weakness before telling the interviewer about training courses or time spent outside work hours you have used to improve your skills.

The point is to show you can reflect honestly and take action to improve. That's more impressive than claiming you're flawless.

5. "Why are you leaving your last job?" or "What's your career goal?"

For entry-level roles, this often becomes "What are you looking for in your first role?" The key is to be honest and forward-focused, not bitter. Never bad-mouth a previous employer or university tutor, even if they deserved it.

Instead, explain what you actually want from work. Interviews are no longer just about past experience, they're about adaptability, a continuous growth mindset, and alignment with the organization's values. Say something genuine: "I want to work somewhere I can develop specific skills," or "I'm looking for a team where I can contribute from day one and grow." Connect this to why this job fits that goal.

If you've been unemployed or this is your first job, that's okay. Say what you're looking for - learning, responsibility, a specific skill, or a certain kind of team environment - and explain why this role provides it.

The one technique that matters

Prepare at least six to eight STAR stories before any interview. Choose examples that can be adapted to different competencies: teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, communication, and resilience are the most commonly tested in UK roles.

You don't need to memorise answers word-for-word. In fact, you shouldn't. Preparation is important, but your answer shouldn't sound rehearsed. Instead, prepare the stories - have 6-8 solid examples in your head from work, education, or life - and practise using the STAR method to tell them. Then when a question comes up, you can adapt your story to fit.

49% of employers know within the first 5 minutes of an interview whether a candidate is a good fit, underscoring the importance of a strong first impression and a clear "Tell me about yourself" answer. That first minute counts, so start strong.

We've got over 7,600 entry-level jobs live on Step Into Jobs right now. Go and search for roles in your sector - and when you get the interview, come back to these five questions and the STAR method.

Need help with the rest of your interview preparation? Check out the National Careers Service interview tips, Prospects interview guide, and Indeed's interview advice.