15 Self Awareness Interview Questions and Answers

Self-awareness is one of the most important skills you can possess in both your personal and professional life. It’s the ability to understand your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and how they impact others.

While self-awareness is critical in all aspects of life, it’s especially important in a job interview setting. That’s because the way you present yourself during an interview can make or break your chances of getting hired.

If you’re not self-aware, you may come across as arrogant, unprepared, or even uninterested in the job. On the other hand, if you are self-aware, you can use that knowledge to your advantage by presenting yourself in the best possible light.

To help you ace your next job interview, we’ve compiled a list of self-awareness related interview questions and answers.

1. What is self-awareness?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you understand the importance of self-awareness and how it can help you succeed in your career. When answering this question, define what self-awareness means and explain why it’s important for professionals to have high levels of self-awareness.

Example: “Self-awareness is knowing who you are as a person and understanding your strengths and weaknesses. It’s also about being able to recognize when you’re making mistakes or having negative thoughts and learning from them. Having high levels of self-awareness helps me be more successful at work because I’m able to better manage my emotions and make decisions based on facts rather than feelings.”

2. How can you improve your level of self-awareness?

This question can help interviewers understand your commitment to self-improvement and how you might apply that to the role. When answering, consider what skills or techniques you’ve used in the past to improve your self-awareness.

Example: “I think it’s important to regularly reflect on my actions and behaviors. I do this by taking time each day to write down three things I’m grateful for and one thing I could have done better. This helps me identify areas where I can improve and gives me a chance to practice gratitude. Another way I work on improving my self-awareness is through meditation. It allows me to take a step back from my thoughts and emotions so I can gain some perspective.”

3. Why do you think it’s important to be self-aware?

This question can help an interviewer understand your motivations for developing self-awareness skills. It can also show them how you might encourage others to develop these skills as well. When answering this question, it can be helpful to discuss the benefits of being self-aware and how doing so has helped you in your career or personal life.

Example: “I think it’s important to be self-aware because it allows us to better understand our strengths and weaknesses. This knowledge can allow us to make more informed decisions about our lives and careers. In my previous role, I realized that I was a perfectionist who struggled with delegating tasks to others. By recognizing these things about myself, I was able to work on changing some of my behaviors and learn new ways to overcome challenges.”

4. Can you explain what the Johari Window is?

The Johari Window is a model that helps people understand their own self-awareness. It’s also used to help others become more aware of themselves and their skills. Your answer should show the interviewer you know how to use this tool effectively.

Example: “The Johari Window is a model that was developed by Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham in 1955. It’s a four-box grid where each box represents one aspect of a person’s awareness. The first box, ‘Unknown,’ refers to things we are unaware of about ourselves. The second box, ‘Blind Spot,’ refers to things we’re aware of but don’t want to admit. The third box, ‘Known,’ refers to things we’re aware of and have accepted as part of our identity. The fourth box, ‘Public,’ refers to things we’ve shared with other people.”

5. What are some ways in which you can use the Johari Window concept to increase your level of self-awareness?

The Johari Window is a concept that helps people become more aware of their own strengths and weaknesses. It also allows them to understand how others perceive them. Your answer should show the interviewer that you know how to use this concept to improve your self-awareness skills.

Example: “I find the Johari Window concept very useful because it gives me an opportunity to reflect on my strengths, weaknesses and blind spots. I can then work on improving these areas by asking for feedback from those around me. This has helped me develop better relationships with my colleagues and managers.”

6. Do you think it’s possible to have too much self-awareness? If yes, then how?

This question is a great way to see how the candidate thinks critically about their own skills and abilities. It’s also an opportunity for them to show that they can be self-reflective, which is an important skill in any job.

Example: “I think it’s possible to have too much self-awareness if you’re constantly questioning yourself or doubting your decisions. However, I’ve found that having too much self-awareness means you’re more likely to notice when something isn’t right and take steps to fix it. For example, I had a manager who was always aware of what he was doing and would often check in with his team members to make sure we were all on track. This helped us feel supported and motivated.”

7. What is a shadow side and why is it useful to know about it?

This question is a good way to test your self-awareness skills because it asks you to define something that may be unfamiliar to the interviewer. A shadow side is an aspect of yourself that you are not proud of, and it’s important to know about this part of yourself so you can work on improving it.

Example: “A shadow side is an undesirable trait or behavior that we have but don’t want to acknowledge. It’s useful to know about our shadow sides because they help us understand ourselves better and make improvements in these areas.”

8. What is an ideal state as defined by Carl Rogers?

This question is a test of your knowledge about Carl Rogers, who was an influential psychologist. It also tests your ability to apply what you know to a real-world situation.

Example: “Carl Rogers believed that the ideal state for human beings is one in which they feel free and unthreatened. He called this state ‘unconditional positive regard.’ I believe that unconditional positive regard is important because it allows people to be themselves without fear of judgment or reprisal. This freedom can lead to greater creativity and productivity.”

9. How would you describe yourself to someone who has never met you before?

This question is a great way to see how self-aware you are. It can be difficult to describe yourself, but it’s important that you do so in a positive light. You should focus on your strengths and what makes you unique.

Example: “I would tell them I’m an extremely hard worker who always puts the needs of others before my own. I am very empathetic and compassionate, which helps me connect with people easily. I also have a quirky sense of humor that often gets me out of awkward situations.”

10. What does your Myers Briggs personality type tell me about you?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you know how to use personality assessments and can apply the information they provide. It also shows them that you are self-aware of your own strengths and weaknesses, which is an important skill for any employee.

Example: “Myers Briggs tells me that I am an introvert who prefers to work alone. However, it also says that I have strong communication skills and enjoy helping others. This means that I would be a good fit for this role because I understand my strengths and weaknesses and know how to apply them in different situations.”

11. What is your greatest weakness?

This question is a common one in interviews. Employers ask it to learn more about your self-awareness skills and how you handle criticism. When answering this question, try to be honest and specific. You can also use the opportunity to show that you are willing to improve yourself.

Example: “My greatest weakness is my perfectionism. I want everything I do to be perfect, which sometimes leads me to overworking myself. I am working on learning to let go of some things so I don’t burn out. For example, I have started delegating tasks to others when they are not crucial to the success of a project.”

12. What is your ideal job according to the RIASEC model?

The RIASEC model is a career assessment tool that helps people find their ideal job. It’s important to show the interviewer you have self awareness skills by explaining how you used this model in your past job search and what type of work you enjoy doing most.

Example: “I’ve always enjoyed working with people, so I looked for jobs that would allow me to interact with others on a daily basis. After taking the RIASEC test, I found out my best fit was in sales because it combines my love of interacting with people while also allowing me to be creative and logical at the same time.”

13. On a scale from 1-10, how would you rate your stress management skills?

Employers ask this question to see if you have the ability to self-evaluate and make improvements. When answering, try to be honest about your stress management skills while also showing that you are willing to improve them.

Example: “I would say my stress management skills are a 6 out of 10. I am good at identifying when I’m feeling stressed and know how to manage it. However, I could use some improvement in finding ways to reduce my stress levels before they become too high.”

14. What are your career goals over the next 5 years?

This question can help the interviewer get a sense of your career aspirations and how you plan to achieve them. It also helps them understand if you are likely to stay with their company for an extended period of time or if you’re looking for something more long-term. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest about what you want in your career while also showing that you have realistic expectations.

Example: “I’m hoping to continue working as a therapist for at least five years. I love helping people work through their issues and find solutions. I feel like I’ve only just begun to master my skills as a therapist, so I’d like to keep learning and growing in this field.”

15. What is your life vision?

This question is a great way to see how self-aware you are. It’s important that you can articulate your life vision and explain why it’s meaningful to you. This shows the interviewer that you have goals for yourself, which is an essential quality in any employee.

Example: “My life vision is to be happy with myself. I know this may sound cliché, but I want to feel confident in my own skin. I’ve always struggled with body image issues, so I’m working on accepting myself as I am. I think this will help me become more confident in all areas of my life.”