15 Self Assessment Interview Questions and Answers

When it comes to job interviews, preparation is key. One way to prepare for an interview is to anticipate questions related to self-assessment.

Self-assessment questions are designed to help employers gauge your suitability for a role. They can be tricky to answer, but with some thought and preparation, you can ace them.

In this article, we’ll give you some tips on how to answer self-assessment questions in an interview. We’ll also provide some examples of self-assessment questions and answers.

1. What is the purpose of a self assessment?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you know how to use self assessment tools and techniques. When answering this question, it can be helpful to explain the purpose of self assessments and how they help you improve yourself as an employee.

Example: “The purpose of a self assessment is to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses so you can make improvements in those areas. I find that doing regular self assessments helps me understand what skills I need to work on improving and which ones I am already good at. This allows me to focus my energy on developing the skills I need to succeed while also maintaining the skills I have already mastered.”

2. Why are regular self assessments important?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you understand the importance of self-evaluation and how it can help you grow as an employee. When answering this question, consider giving examples of times when regular self assessments helped you improve yourself or your work performance.

Example: “Regular self assessments are important because they allow you to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses and make improvements where necessary. In my last role, I had a manager who required us to complete a self assessment every six months. During these assessments, I would evaluate my progress in completing tasks and set new goals for myself based on what I learned from the evaluation. This process really helped me learn more about myself and develop my skills.”

3. Can you explain what being self-motivated means, and how it can help your career?

Employers want to know that you can motivate yourself and stay productive. They also want to see that you understand the importance of self-motivation in your career. When answering this question, explain what being self-motivated means and how it has helped you succeed in your previous roles.

Example: “Being self-motivated is important because it allows me to be proactive about my work. I am able to set goals for myself and make sure I meet them on time. In my last role, I was responsible for managing a large social media account. I created weekly content calendars so I could plan out my week and ensure I posted at least once per day. This allowed me to create quality content while still meeting deadlines.”

4. How do you manage your time effectively?

Time management is an important skill for any employee. Employers ask this question to see if you can prioritize your tasks and meet deadlines. Use examples from your previous job experience to explain how you manage your time.

Example: “I use a planner to keep track of my daily, weekly and monthly tasks. I find that using the calendar function on my phone helps me stay organized. I also set reminders so I don’t forget important meetings or deadlines. In my last position, I had several projects due at once. I used color coding in my planner to help me differentiate between different types of assignments. This helped me focus on one task at a time.”

5. What’s your opinion on dealing with conflict in the workplace?

When an interviewer asks this question, they’re trying to learn more about your interpersonal skills and how you handle conflict. This is a great opportunity for you to show that you can be assertive without being aggressive or passive-aggressive.

Example: “I believe it’s important to address conflicts in the workplace as soon as possible so everyone involved understands what happened and can move forward. I’ve had situations where coworkers have been upset with me because of something I said or did, but when I asked them if there was anything I could do to help resolve the situation, they were usually willing to talk about their concerns. If we talked through the issue, I was able to understand why they felt the way they did and apologize for my actions.”

6. What is the difference between long-term goals and short-term goals for a job or career?

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your ability to set goals and achieve them. They want to see that you can plan ahead, prioritize tasks and meet deadlines. In your answer, explain the difference between long-term and short-term goals and how they relate to a job or career.

Example: “Long-term goals are those that take more than one year to complete. These goals should align with the company’s mission statement and overall objectives. For example, if my goal is to become a manager in five years, I would need to work toward that goal by consistently performing well at my current position. Short-term goals are smaller steps toward achieving long-term goals. For instance, if my short-term goal was to increase sales by 10% within six months, I would need to create an actionable plan for reaching that goal.”

7. What would you say is your biggest weakness?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s important to be prepared for it. Employers ask this question because they want to know how you handle your weaknesses and what steps you take to improve them. When answering this question, try to focus on a weakness that you have actively worked to improve or a weakness that you are currently working on improving.

Example: “I would say my biggest weakness is being too trusting of others. I am naturally an empathetic person who wants to help everyone, but sometimes people take advantage of me. In the past, I’ve had coworkers who didn’t complete their work and then blamed me when management asked questions. To overcome this weakness, I started keeping detailed records of all my assignments and projects so I could prove my case if someone tried to blame me.”

8. What types of things get you excited about work?

Employers ask this question to see if you are passionate about your work. They want to know that you enjoy what you do and will be motivated to perform well in the role. When answering, think of a few things that excite you about your job. Try to focus on positive aspects like helping others or learning new skills.

Example: “I love working with people, so I am excited to help customers find exactly what they need at my current job. I also really enjoy learning new things, so I’m always looking for ways to expand my knowledge. For example, I recently took an online course on how to use Excel more effectively. It was challenging but rewarding.”

9. What skills have you developed that could be helpful to our organization?

This question is a great opportunity to show the interviewer that you have done your research on their company and are qualified for the position. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention skills or experiences that align with what the organization values.

Example: “I’ve noticed that your company places a lot of value in teamwork and collaboration. In my last role, I was part of a team that worked together to achieve our goals. We had weekly meetings where we discussed how we could improve our work processes and collaborate more effectively. This helped us develop strong communication skills and learn from each other’s strengths.”

10. Are there any new skill sets you’d like to learn as part of this position?

Employers ask this question to see if you’re open to learning new things and expanding your skill set. They want employees who are willing to put in the time and effort to learn something new, especially when it’s for their job. In your answer, explain that you’d like to learn more about the company culture and how they operate. Explain that you think this is an important part of being a successful employee.

Example: “I’ve noticed that there are several departments within this organization. I’m curious as to what each department does and how they all work together. I think it would be beneficial to understand the company structure so I can better support my team members. I also think it would be helpful to learn more about the products or services this company offers. I believe it’s important to know what we do here so I can help customers with any questions they have.”

11. What are some examples of situations where you’ve had to take initiative to accomplish something?

This question can help an interviewer understand how you approach challenges and solve problems. Use examples from your past that show your ability to take initiative, problem-solve and work independently.

Example: “In my last role as a marketing specialist, I noticed our website wasn’t ranking well for some of the most popular search terms related to our products. After researching why this was happening, I found out we weren’t using any SEO best practices on our site. I created a plan to implement these strategies into our existing website design and presented it to my team. They were impressed with my research and agreed to let me lead the project. We implemented all of the changes I suggested, and within three months, our website traffic increased by 30%.”

12. What motivates you to go above and beyond at work?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your work ethic and how you feel when you’re being challenged. They want to know that you’ll be motivated by their company’s mission statement, the job description or even a personal goal. When answering this question, think of what motivates you in your current role and use it as an example for why you would do the same thing at your next job.

Example: “I am motivated to go above and beyond at work because I love learning new things. In my last position, I was given a project where I had to create a marketing plan for a new product launch. I loved the challenge of creating something from scratch, so I researched different strategies and created a marketing campaign that helped our company increase sales by 20%.”

13. What does success mean to you? And how do you measure it?

This question is a great way to learn more about the candidate’s values and goals. It can also help you determine if they are a good fit for your company culture. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific examples of how you’ve achieved success in the past.

Example: “Success means different things to me at different times. In my current position, I measure success by whether or not I’m meeting my employer’s expectations. For example, when I started working here, I wanted to make sure that I was able to meet deadlines, communicate effectively with my team members and maintain a positive attitude. Now, I feel like I have exceeded those initial expectations because I am consistently exceeding my daily sales quotas.”

14. If you were given an opportunity to start over again and build a new life, what profession would you choose?

This question is a way for the interviewer to understand your thought process and how you make decisions. It’s important to be honest in your answer, but it can also be helpful to explain why you chose that profession.

Example: “If I could start over again, I would choose to become an architect. Ever since I was young, I’ve been fascinated by buildings and structures. I love the idea of creating something new and beautiful that people can enjoy. I think architecture is a great career because it allows me to use my creativity while also being able to solve problems.”

15. Is there anything else you’d like us to know?

This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you have a strong work ethic and are willing to go above and beyond what’s expected of you. It also gives you an opportunity to highlight any skills or experiences that weren’t discussed in the interview but may be relevant to the job.

Example: “I’m always looking for ways to improve myself as a professional, so I recently enrolled in a leadership course at my local community college. The class was very informative and helped me understand how to better motivate others and make sure they’re all working toward the same goals. I think this skill would be beneficial to your company because it helps me see things from other people’s perspectives.”