What Are Personality-Based Interview Questions?
How well an applicant fits into a company's culture is a key factor employers consider when deciding who to hire. Personality interview questions are designed to help an interviewer assess a candidate's soft skills and whether their traits will enhance the work environment.
While specific verbiage might vary depending on the position you're interviewing for, here's a collection of commonly asked personality interview questions and example answers.
Personality interview questions with sample answers
Describe the biggest change you’ve had to deal with. How did you adapt to that change?
In the current competitive job market, it’s important for companies to build teams that can adapt quickly to changing work environments. While adaptability is a critical skill in leadership roles, it’s becoming an increasingly valued skill regardless of the position you’re applying for. The best way to highlight your level of adaptability is by sharing a story.
Example Answer:
At my last job, my manager had to leave suddenly and unexpectedly for three months due to a family medical emergency. I was the longest-term employee working directly under them, so our boss asked me to step in as an interim manager. Because we’d been working so closely for quite some time, I was familiar with the fundamentals of her role and what was expected of our team, but I had zero management experience.
I agreed to do it because I like a challenge and knew it would be a great learning experience. The first thing I did was ask two other managers in our department for coaching along the way, to make sure everyone stayed on track and productive.
It ended up being a four-month absence, and all of our projects were finished well and on time. Both my manager and her boss were so satisfied with the way I’d handled the responsibility, they offered me a promotion to team manager at the end of that quarter.
Tell me about a time when you had to juggle multiple responsibilities.
This question also relates to adaptability but falls under the time management umbrella. Organizational skills are essential for most professional roles, and employers look for time management qualities in an applicant that translate to productivity and efficiency.
The best way to showcase your ability to manage time effectively is to share a story or detail your methods for keeping organized.
Example answer:
When I was in college, I also worked for a law firm and was able to succeed in both arenas because I made to-do lists of all the tasks I needed to undertake each day. If I wasn’t sure how important each task was, I asked and prioritized accordingly. This enabled me to clearly visualize my progress.
How do you stay organized at work?
Similar to the last question, this one deals more with day-to-day operations than special circumstances. Employers are looking for candidates who can assimilate to the structure of the company and keep an organized workspace.
You can answer this question by describing exactly how you stay organized and how these practices enhance your work performance.
Example answer:
Before each week begins, I make a categorized list of everything I need to get done at work. This helps me prioritize my projects based on deadlines, client significance, and how long each one might take. One of the most important things I do to feel organized is file all my emails based on the sender or project and clear out all junk first thing each day.
Lastly, my co-workers make fun of me for this, but I straighten up my desk before I get started each day. I make sure everything is in its proper place, even down to pens and paper clips. The more minimalist my immediate work environment is, the more productive I am.
What is your greatest accomplishment?
Each employer you encounter is looking for specific characteristics in their teams and individual employees. What you consider your greatest accomplishment will give an interviewer an idea as to what is most important to you, while the way you went about achieving it will showcase your work ethic and how you get things done. Highlight your greatest achievement in story form.
Example answer:
My greatest accomplishment occurred during the last quarter I was at my previous sales job. My team was pretty far from our sales goal, due to trouble selling a host of new products. I took a leap and created a marketing strategy, based on my very minimal experience in the marketing field, using social media campaigns. Our sales increased by 110%, and our engagement on our social platforms increased by 60% in just over a month and a half. Overall, it was a huge success.
How would you describe your work ethic?
There are plenty of reasons employers ask questions about work ethic and motivation during an interview. Most importantly, they want to know whether an applicant is intrinsically motivated. Additionally, they want an employee who’s dependable, dedicated, enthusiastic, and positive.
Describing your own work ethic can be a challenge. If you find yourself at a loss, try to imagine how colleagues or a favorite boss would describe you on the job.
Example answer:
I would describe my work ethic as dependable, productive, and enthusiastic. I really enjoy the field of work I’m in, so I find it easy to stay motivated. I was also encouraged growing up to take pride in what I’m doing and to do the best I can, no matter how trivial, so it’s important to me to consistently get things done well.
Learn more: What Is Work Ethic? Skills and Tips
What role do you usually play on a team?
While teamwork is a highly valued skill, questions in this department can vary because teamwork looks different in certain jobs or workplaces. Many jobs require that you work with others on a regular basis, so an interviewer wants to learn how well you do that. They also need to know whether a candidate’s work style is compatible with their operation model.
Example answer:
I would describe myself as a cohesive team player. I’m typically willing to take on any task that’s necessary to complete the project. This applies to roles, as well. I’m happy working as a supportive team member, but I also love taking the lead and coordinating. Organization is one of my greatest strengths, so any time I have the opportunity to employ those efforts, I really thrive.
Tell me about how you would deal with an angry or frustrated customer.
The importance of your customer-facing skills depends on the position you’re applying for. That said, all companies interact with their client base on some level, and a candidate’s ability to remain collected during conflict is an asset regardless of their role.
Example answer:
I was taught at my first customer service job that when confronted with a hostile or difficult customer, I should remain calm and stay present, apologize and ask them to explain the issue, repeat what they’ve told me back to them so they know I’m listening, respond with empathy, and communicate what I can and can’t do to resolve the situation. I’ve always followed those guidelines, and they’ve always been extremely helpful for diffusing tense situations.
Are you able to work under minimal supervision?
Employers ask questions like this because they want to know that a candidate can work independently and follow projects through to completion.
Example answer:
I’ve worked in retail, which usually involves pretty close supervision. Even in that work environment, I worked hard and didn’t require much guidance. I’ve also worked in multiple management positions, where I was in charge of supervising teams of different sizes. I’m comfortable with any level of supervision, but really thrive when given the flexibility to work independently.
As with all commonly asked interview questions, brainstorming, writing your answers out ahead of time, and rehearsing them in front of a friend can boost your confidence and prevent you from being caught off guard — allowing you to showcase your true personality.