26+ Personality Interview Questions – You Must Know

A hiring manager may ask personality questions to gain insight into the interviewee. A candidate’s work habits, collaboration techniques, and extracurricular interests after learning about their hard skills and qualifications. Personality interview questions gives them the chance to explain why they are the best candidate for the job and show that they fit in with the company’s culture.

In order to assist you in developing your own persuasive responses, we at founderactivity will address a few frequently asked personality interview questions in this article.

The development of language is part of the development of the personality, for words are the natural means of expressing thoughts and establishing understanding between people.

– Maria Montessori

Why inquire about personality during a Job Interview?

On paper, soft skills are not always apparent. In the hiring process, knowledge and experience are crucial, but looking for the right personality traits can help you make sure that candidates can perform well under pressure and work well with others.
Interview questions about personality reveal:

• Availability to criticism
• Flexibility
• Aspirations for teamwork
• Working morals

In order to compare candidates with comparable hard skills and choose those who better fit your culture, ask personality questions during the interview process. These inquiries can also be used to find potential hires who are creative.

Keep in mind that while some personality tests are intended to categorize people, using them in your hiring process runs the risk of skewing your selections. The questions and answers that are typically included in them are generic (for example, “On a scale of 1 to 5, how well do you perform under stress?”). Due to the lack of opportunity for candidates to explain their decisions, recruiters are unable to assess their sincerity or request additional details. To learn if and how candidates use these traits at work, ask them for examples from their real lives.

How to Respond to Questions in Personality Interviews

Before we get into the personality tests, let’s take another brief detour. It’s important to gain some understanding of how to correctly respond to these types of questions before looking at the examples.

Why? because you can never predict what will happen.

You will receive a list of personality quiz questions, yes. The hiring manager might ask you some of these questions or they might not. Get a solid strategy in place if you want to be prepared for the unexpected. We’re going for a quick stroll down this path because of that.

Let’s start by discussing how, to sum up, your personality. Most of the time, you’ll want to highlight the unique qualities that enable you to succeed at work. Which ones will depend on you specifically?

Check out the video below to understand how you can use body language to project confidence and use those tips for your interview.

Consider why you are skilled at what you do for a while. What qualities give you an advantage? How do they affect your drive, motivation, and mindset? How do you get them to work in your favor? And how do they relate to the position you want to get?

Think about your weaknesses as well. There’s a possibility that the hiring manager will question you about them. This can be challenging, similar to the interview cliche “what is your greatest weakness.” Although acknowledging your shortcomings can be painful, it is a necessary component of the solution.

Some characteristics that appear to be negative can actually be positive. People in your social circle might describe you as “opinionated,” for instance, but that just means you are at ease expressing yourself and taking positions on issues. While “wallflowers” may be particularly perceptive or excellent listeners, “chatterboxes” have no trouble interacting with others. Even traits that are typically viewed negatively should be given some thought because they may be a significant factor in your success.

Personality interview questions with sample answers

Let’s now discuss how to approach the actual questions. Your best bet when answering behavioral interview questions is to combine the STAR Method and the Tailoring Method.
The main goal of the Tailoring Method is to emphasize relevancy. It is important to discuss issues that are important to that particular hiring manager in order to strengthen your response. The STAR Method’s objective is to create a compelling story. It enhances the life and detail of your responses, making them as meaningful as possible.

You ought to be okay once you find your footing with everything. You’ll be prepared for any personality-related questions as well as many others that you might encounter during an interview.

1. What one word best describes you as a person?

This is one of the easiest questions to answer during a personal interview. The hiring manager’s questions are clear, giving you a lot of information about what you should cover.

The biggest difficulty in this situation is frequently that it is so broad. Since there are actually no boundaries, navigating it can be surprisingly challenging.

Ideally, you should concentrate on qualities that will benefit your career. However, it’s also acceptable to include something that is somewhat unconventional because it might make you stand out from the crowd.

Sample Answer- “Passionate, driven, and strategic are the words I’d use to describe my work personality. I have a strong conviction in my field, and I still find it to be both interesting and captivating. Furthermore, one of my primary motivations is exceeding expectations, and I rely on preparation to help me do that.

Even though I also have those qualities, I believe they serve to enhance others. Even when faced with difficulties, it helps me stay upbeat and helps me to always be a benefit to my employer.”

2. What aspect of your personality would you change if you could?

This question is asked by hiring managers to gauge your level of self-awareness and openness to personal growth. Choose a personality trait that you can work on to make yourself more effective at this job. Be sure to elaborate on how you’re trying to develop this quality or think of ways to make the most of it.

Sample Answer – “Some people might interpret my occasionally aloof facial expressions as me not being involved in a task or conversation. However, because I appear to be calm under pressure, a quality that positively affects my coworkers, this aloofness has proven useful in stressful situations. I can reassure you that I am devoted to and take great care in my work. But as I grow more conscious of how my facial expressions might be misinterpreted, I’m making adjustments to make sure I convey my engagement.”

3. What one quality distinguishes you as a candidate?

This question is a little bit more precise and a little bit trickier. You must choose a quality that will help you in the position and that other candidates probably won’t share.

You should typically think of a trait that is a little unexpected. The specifics of that may be up to you, but the example below can point you in the right direction.

Sample Answer – “My calm demeanor would have to be the quality that most distinguishes me if I had to choose. I’ve frequently been referred to as the calm in the storm during times of stress because I find it very difficult to be shaken, even in the face of challenges. In part because of this, I do well in demanding jobs because I don’t crumble under pressure.”

4. Can you describe a challenging situation you faced in the past and how you handled it?

This inquiry aims to ascertain your ability to maintain composure under duress while successfully carrying out your job duties. You can demonstrate to the hiring manager how you deal with and overcome stress. Select an instance from the past that best demonstrates your tenacity, commitment, ability to make choices, and speed at which you can think critically.

5. Describe a time when you became irate at work. What took place, and what action did you take?

The hiring manager can learn more about your response to pressure by asking you this question. Whatever your career length, something has probably gotten on your nerves. However, what matters is how you respond to it.

It’s crucial to be able to control and manage your own rage. It prevents you from getting angry at coworkers, clients, or other people.

When choosing an example—and you will have to choose one—concentrate on a scenario in which your annoyance would be understandable. It won’t help you to pick a time when you were irrationally angry.

Be succinct when expressing your anger as well. Instead, concentrate primarily on how you let it go, which will enable you to process it and arrive at a solution.

Sample Answer – “Although I try not to let my feelings control what I do, there have been occasions when I have become angry at work. In my previous position, for instance, I was working on a team project when a colleague missed the deadline for a deliverable that I needed to meet my own deadline.

I would undoubtedly fall behind because of their delay. However, I got in touch with them to see if I could help rather than venting my frustration. I put my feelings aside and went to them, knowing that if my help could solve the problem, we’d all be better off. We were able to finish their tasks more quickly with my assistance. Even though we were now slightly behind schedule, it was still manageable. We were able to make up for the lost time by working a little harder, which allowed the project to be completed on time.”

6. What extracurricular activities do you engage in, such as hobbies or sports, and why do you enjoy them?

This question can reveal a lot to the employer about your interpersonal abilities, such as cooperation, teamwork, and leadership. Independent work ethic, commitment, and strong decision-making are all traits that can be developed in your personal life and applied in a professional setting. Pick a hobby that makes use of the skills listed in the job description, and in your response, explain how those skills can help you succeed in the position.

Sample Answer – “A small book club that meets every Saturday afternoon is one that I oversee. This passion of mine, which is in its fifth year, has given me the chance to hone my strong leadership and delegation abilities. I can speak in front of a group with poise and assurance, and I can foster an atmosphere where everyone feels welcome to share their ideas. I’ll be equally committed to my job as your store supervisor and even more so as a strong leader.”

7. Could you describe a time when you went above and beyond the call of duty?

You can demonstrate your commitment to your job and your understanding of success by responding to this question. Pick a previous instance that demonstrates your drive and dedication to delivering high-quality work.

Sample Answer – “I worked as a receptionist at Healing Yoga, greeting clients and registering them for classes. Yoga practitioners occasionally arrived late, some of whom were anxious to join the class once it had started. I helped these latecomers by giving them a mat and a towel and introducing them to the group of students. I frequently accompanied students into the class, helped them set up without disturbing the other students or the yoga instructor, and laid their mats on the floor. The students thanked me for giving them extra attention afterward.”

8. What motivates you in your career?

This query can be used to describe the types of work environments that you enjoy. What motivates you is another way to phrase this query. or “Why do you enjoy going to work?”
In your response, take into account mentioning a few aspects of the workplace that support your success or that you enjoy. Whatever the cause, make sure to give an example of how your work supports your professional objectives. It might be tight deadlines or supportive coworkers.

Sample Answer – “I like coming up with original concepts and tackling difficult projects from fresh perspectives. I’m inspired by other people as well as how they respond to what I have to say. It enables me to refine my concepts and present better solutions.
I benefited greatly from the brainstorming sessions we had with other writers while I was working as a Lifestyle Writer for Bespoke City. I would leave the meetings energized and more interested than ever in the project. These gatherings increased my output and helped me come up with fresh concepts. I would find myself coming up with even more ideas after the meetings, which I would then email to my coworkers.”

9. What makes you special?

You can emphasize the qualities and abilities you value most about yourself by answering this question. You can pick qualities that will help you stand out from the competition and apply to the job you’re applying for.

Sample Answers – “I believe that my keen eye for detail and capacity to spot inconsistencies will be of great benefit to me in my role as your copy editor. To regularly edit a lot of content, this position calls for a keen eye. This skill will help me in my next job, and it has also been helpful in previous jobs. As the blog manager for Nutrient Dense, I found a spelling error in an ingredient for a vitamin brand on the website of the business. It turned out that every author had spelled the ingredient incorrectly because that is how it appeared on the vitamin bottle. My boss thanked me for taking the extra time to spellcheck blog posts, especially those that earlier editors had taken for granted were accurate and informed the vitamin company.”

10. Give an example of when you had to deal with change.

Your chance to show that you can adapt and be flexible in the workplace is presented by this question. You can discuss how you see change as a chance for development. It would be advantageous to emphasize your ability to work despite the unexpected, even if you didn’t like a particular change at work.

Sample Answer – “I prefer to approach change with optimism and see it primarily as an opportunity to get better. We had a management change at my previous job as a waitress, and the person who took the place of my previous manager was significantly less qualified and younger. It was undoubtedly different for me to see this person in her new capacity, but I made efforts to ensure a smooth job transition for her. She taught me how to streamline some of my processes, and I even helped train her on the policies at our restaurant.”

Related Article :- “6 group interview questions you should prepare before the interview”

Additional Personality Interview Questions

Here are some additional personality test questions that you may be asked during an interview.

11. How do you deal with stress?

12. How do you differentiate yourself from other experts in your field?

13. What do you feel strongly about?

14. How do you deal with change at work?

15. What one aspect of your personality would you change and why?

16. What would your previous coworkers say about you? What about your previous boss?

17. What would your closest friend say about you?

18. Which method of working do you prefer—collaborative or independent?

19. How do you respond to unfavorable comments?

20. What would you do differently and why if you could go back in time three years and change what you did?

21. How do you define success?

22. Can you give an example of a time when you had a particularly demanding workload? What were your tactics?

23. What would you do if you witnessed a colleague acting unethically at work? Should it have been your manager, how would you react?

24. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

25. How would you sum up who you are in three words, and why?

26. Which personality type best describes you—an extrovert or an introvert? What makes you think that way?

27. Describe a time when you recovered from a setback.

Tip for answering Personality Interview Questions

• Unsuitable responses. Candidates should keep their responses professional, just as you must respect the law. For instance, if they make too many jokes, it may be a sign they don’t take the interview (or perhaps your job) seriously.
• Lack of enthusiasm. Low-energy individuals may not be motivated at work. When candidates discuss their jobs, if you don’t notice any signs of zeal, try to figure out what drives them.
• Exceptionally high or low self-esteem. Candidates are asked to describe their biggest professional accomplishments in response to specific personality interview questions. If they have trouble coming up with one, they either lack experience or have low self-esteem, both of which are problematic, especially for senior-level positions. They may not be good team players if they exaggerate their accomplishments.
• Focusing too much on work. The best performers aren’t always the hardest workers. Workaholics who only care about their jobs and consistently put in long hours (instead of talking with their managers about deadlines) are more likely to engage in toxic behaviors at work.
• “Canned” Answers. Candidates will probably be ready for these kinds of questions because they want to make a good impression on you during the interview process. If they give general responses and are unable to elaborate on how they use the desired quality at work (or in their personal lives), they may not possess that particular quality.

Related Article: “40 Strategic Interview Questions to Ask Candidates For An Effective Interview”

In conclusion, understanding the importance of personality interview questions and how they can impact a candidate’s suitability for a role is crucial for a successful hiring process. Asking the right questions and evaluating the responses can give valuable insights into a candidate’s personality and work style, helping you make a well-informed decision.

By taking the time to consider personality interview questions and how they fit into your hiring process, you can ensure that you’re not only finding the right person for the job, but also for your company culture.