15 Personal Development Interview Questions and Answers

Personal development is a process that helps you assess your skills and interests, set goals, and create a plan to achieve them. It can be helpful in many aspects of your life, including your career.

If you’re interviewing for a job, personal development questions can help the interviewer get to know you better and understand how you might fit into the company. Personal development questions can also help you reflect on your own goals and progress.

Answering personal development questions thoughtfully can give you a leg up in the interview process and help you land the job you want.

1. What are your career goals?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your career goals and how you plan to achieve them. They want to know that you have a clear vision for your future in the workplace, so they can decide if you’re someone who would fit well with their company culture. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest about what you hope to accomplish professionally. You should also explain how your personal development skills will help you reach those goals.

Example: “My goal is to become a manager within five years. I feel like my communication and problem-solving skills are strong, but I’m always looking for ways to improve myself. I think having these personal development skills could really help me get there faster.”

2. Why do you want this job?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your intentions for applying. They want to know that you’re passionate about the position and understand what it entails. Before your interview, research the job description thoroughly so you can refer to specific requirements in your answer. Explain why you feel qualified for the role and how you plan to contribute to the company’s success.

Example: “I’m excited to apply for this role because I’ve always admired your company. Your mission statement is inspiring, and I think my skills would be a great fit here. I have experience working with large groups of people, and I believe I could help your team achieve its goals. I also love helping others develop their personal growth skills. In fact, I was inspired by one of your employees who spoke at a conference last year.”

3. What is the most important goal in your life right now?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you better and understand what motivates you. It also helps them see how your goals align with those of the company. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest about why a particular goal is so important to you.

Example: “My most important goal right now is to become more financially stable. I’ve been working toward that for several years now, but I’m still not where I want to be. I have a plan in place to reach my financial stability goal by the end of next year, and I’m excited to continue on that path. I think it’s important to always strive to improve yourself.”

4. How will this position help you achieve it?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your career goals. They want to know that you’re motivated by the position and how it will help you achieve your personal development goals. When answering this question, think about what skills you hope to develop in this role. Choose two or three skills you’d like to improve and explain how they relate to the job.

Example: “I’m hoping this position can help me become a better leader. I’ve been working toward improving my leadership skills for several years now, and I feel confident that I have developed many of the necessary skills. However, I still believe there is always room for improvement. This position would give me the opportunity to lead a team of professionals who are all committed to helping each other succeed.”

5. How would your last boss describe you?

This question can give the interviewer insight into your interpersonal skills and how you interact with others. It also helps them understand what type of employee you are, which is important for any role that requires working with a team. When answering this question, it’s best to focus on positive traits or characteristics about yourself that your last boss would agree with.

Example: “My last boss would describe me as someone who is always willing to help out when needed. I am very organized and detail-oriented, so I often helped my coworkers stay on task and complete their work in a timely manner. They would say that I’m an excellent communicator and problem solver.”

6. What motivates you to go the extra mile on a project or job?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your work ethic and how you approach a task. They want to know that you are motivated by something other than money, so they can understand what drives you as an employee. When answering this question, think of the things that motivate you in your personal life and explain how those same motivators apply to your professional life.

Example: “I am motivated by my desire to be successful. I love learning new things and challenging myself to do better each day. In fact, I find it hard to rest on my laurels because I always want to improve upon my last performance. This motivation has helped me achieve many goals in my career, including getting my degree and landing several promotions.”

7. What skills have you learned in previous jobs that you can apply here?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your background and how you’ve grown as a professional. They want to know what skills you learned in previous roles that can help you succeed in their company. When answering this question, think of the most important skills you’ve developed over time. Explain how these skills have helped you achieve success in your career so far.

Example: “In my last job, I was responsible for managing social media accounts. This taught me valuable marketing skills that I can apply here at XYZ Company. I understand how to create content that resonates with audiences and how to use different platforms to reach people online. These skills are transferable to any role where I need to communicate information to others.”

8. Are you willing to relocate?

Employers may ask this question to see if you’re willing to move for a job. If they are looking to hire someone who can relocate, it’s important that you let them know that you would be willing to do so. When answering this question, make sure to mention any factors that might affect your willingness to relocate. For example, if you have family in the area or if you just moved and aren’t ready to leave again.

Example: “I am open to relocating as long as I’m given enough notice. My husband and I just bought our first home, so we’re not quite ready to leave yet. However, if there was an opportunity where my skills were needed somewhere else, I would definitely consider it.”

9. Are you open to travel?

Employers may ask this question to see if you’re willing to travel for work. If they are looking for someone who can travel, it’s important that you let them know you’re open to it. You should also be honest about your feelings on traveling and how often you would be willing to do so.

Example: “I am definitely open to travel. I love seeing new places and experiencing different cultures. In my last job, I was able to go on two business trips a year. One of those trips was out of the country, which was an amazing experience. I’m happy to continue doing that as long as it doesn’t interfere with my personal life.”

10. Have you ever had to fire anyone, and if so, how did you handle it?

Employers may ask this question to learn more about your leadership skills. They want to know how you handle difficult situations and if you have the confidence to make tough decisions. In your answer, try to show that you can be decisive while also being empathetic.

Example: “I once had to fire an employee who was consistently late for work. I met with them privately and explained why their behavior was unacceptable. I told them they could improve their attendance or find another job. The employee chose to stay on as long as they promised to change their ways. After a few weeks of improved attendance, I let them know they were doing well and would not lose their job.”

11. When was the last time you felt you went above and beyond for someone at work?

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of your work ethic and how you feel about going above and beyond for others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific example from your previous job that shows your willingness to go above and beyond for someone else.

Example: “At my last job, I noticed one of my coworkers was having some personal issues that were affecting their work performance. I asked them if they wanted to talk about what was going on, and we scheduled a time to meet in private. During our meeting, I listened to them as they talked about what was going on in their life and offered advice where I could. After our meeting, they felt much more at ease and thanked me for listening.”

12. Tell me about an accomplishment you are particularly proud of.

Employers ask this question to learn more about your personal development skills and how you apply them in the workplace. When answering, choose an accomplishment that shows a skill you would use at work or one that relates to the job you’re applying for.

Example: “I am proud of my ability to stay organized. I have always been someone who likes to keep things neat and tidy, but when I started college, I realized I needed to find a way to organize all of my assignments and projects. I tried several different organizational methods before finding one that worked best for me. Now, I can manage multiple tasks and projects without getting overwhelmed.”

13. Where do you see yourself five years from now?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your career goals and how you plan to achieve them. They want to know that you have a clear vision for your future, so they can decide if you’re the right fit for their company. Before your interview, think about what you’d like to accomplish in five years. Think of specific skills or experiences you hope to have by then. Try to relate these goals to the job description.

Example: “I see myself as an executive director of my own nonprofit organization. I would love to be able to use my marketing skills to help raise awareness for important causes. In the next five years, I plan to get my MBA and start working toward this goal.”

14. How quickly do you make decisions?

This question can help an interviewer understand how you make decisions in a timely manner. It can also show them your ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks at once. Use examples from past experiences where you made quick decisions that benefited the company or organization.

Example: “In my previous role, I was responsible for managing our social media accounts. One day, we received a large amount of negative feedback on one of our posts. I immediately responded to the comments with a public apology. Then, I created a plan to respond to all future comments about the post. This helped me address each concern individually while also showing customers that we cared about their opinions.”

15. What kind of salary are you looking for?

Employers ask this question to make sure you’re not overvaluing your skills. They want to know that you understand the market value of your skill set and are willing to accept a fair salary for your work. When answering this question, be honest about what you expect to earn in this position. If you don’t have an exact number in mind, give them a range of salaries you would consider.

Example: “I’m looking for a salary between $50,000 and $60,000 per year. I feel like my experience and education qualify me for that amount. However, if the company can offer more based on my performance, I am open to negotiating.”