Preparing for a job interview – questions, tips and what companies really want to know

A good job interview is ideally a professional meeting of equals. Preparation is worthwhile – not to deliver rehearsed answers, but to organise your own thoughts and enter the conversation with confidence.

We accompany many people on this journey. This article provides an overview of the questions regularly asked in interviews and what lies behind them. Plus: what really matters before the interview, whether by video or in person.

What companies really want to know in a job interview

Behind most interview questions lie three fundamental questions: can this person do the job? Will they fit into the team and environment? And: why do they want to do this? The specific questions are the path to these answers. Anyone who keeps this in mind will respond more calmly and convincingly.

Typical questions – technical positions

"Describe a project in which you were particularly challenged technically. What difficulties arose and how did you deal with them?" This is less about a flawless success story and more about the specific approach. What didn't go as planned and how was it handled? Honesty is more convincing than perfection.

"Which technologies or systems do you know from your own project experience, and where have you been more of an observer than hands-on?" An honest answer is more valuable than one that suggests knowledge that cannot be substantiated in conversation. Self-assessment is appreciated.

"How do you approach familiarising yourself with a new technical topic?" A common question, particularly when changing from adjacent fields. Companies want to know whether someone is willing to learn and works in a structured way – not whether they already know everything.

"Describe a situation in which you had to deal with unclear or changing requirements." Technical projects are rarely linear. This question targets pragmatism and communication behaviour.

"How do you organise yourself when multiple tasks are running simultaneously?" This question aims at how you genuinely handle complexity and priorities.

"Where do you see yourself professionally in three to five years?" A question about orientation and self-motivation, not about a concrete career plan. Anyone with an honest answer comes across as more credible than someone giving what they think is the expected response.

"What advanced you most in your last position, and what would you have wished were different?" This shows the ability to reflect – not a settling of scores with the previous employer, but a factual assessment.

Typical questions – sales

"Which customers and market segments have you looked after in your career so far, and which suited you particularly well?" One of the key questions in technical sales. Which industries, which customer types, which regions?

"How have you developed new customers, and how have you maintained existing relationships in the long term?" The difference between new business and account management is relevant in many roles. Anyone who can clearly describe both demonstrates breadth of experience.

"Do you have experience with products that require explanation? How have you made complex solutions tangible for customers?" In technical sales, this is often the decisive criterion: bridging the gap between technical understanding and persuasive communication.

"What does your typical sales process look like, from first contact to closing?" No model answer is expected – rather a real picture of how you work. Which steps, which hurdles, which timeframes are realistic?

"How do you handle a conversation where the customer signals no immediate interest?" Resilience and long-term thinking – both important qualities in B2B sales with long decision cycles.

"How do you prepare for an important customer meeting?" This shows whether someone works in a structured way or more intuitively. Both can be appropriate – it depends on the role.

"What motivates you in sales: closing deals, building relationships, or something else?" A question about genuine drive. Anyone who knows themselves here comes across more convincingly than someone delivering the supposedly right answer.

"How do you deal with rejection or a lost order?" Answer openly and factually – everyone loses orders. What matters is what you make of it.

Questions you should ask

A good conversation is not a one-way street. The questions you ask say just as much about you as your answers – and at the same time help you make the right decision.

General

❔ "How is the team structured and who would I work most closely with in this role?"

❔ "What are your expectations for the first six months? And beyond that?"

❔ "How would you describe the company culture?"

❔ "How is the department this role sits in developing over the coming years?"

For sales positions – additionally recommended

❔ "How is the sales territory currently set up – is there an existing customer base or is the region being built from scratch?"

❔ "How has revenue in this area developed over the past two to three years?"

❔ "Which industries or customer groups are currently the focus, and where is the greatest potential right now?"

❔ "What is the typical sales cycle, from first contact to closing?"

❔ "How much time am I likely to spend on site with customers, and how is travel distributed in day-to-day work?"

❔ "What support do I receive from internal sales or the technical team?"

❔ "How are targets set and how is the sales structure organised overall?"

❔ "Why is this position open? Is it a replacement or a newly created role?"

For engineering positions – additionally recommended

❔ "How is the project structure organised – do I work on several projects in parallel or more on longer individual projects?"

❔ "How close is the collaboration with sales, procurement or assembly, and how are the interfaces organised?"

❔ "Which tools, software or standards are used as standard in the department?"

❔ "How does the onboarding work – is there a structured handover or is it more self-directed?"

❔ "Realistically, how much travel or on-site assembly work is associated with the position?"

❔ "How has the project volume or order intake developed in recent years?"

❔ "Are there opportunities for professional development – for example towards project management, team leadership or specialisation?"

❔ "Why is this position open? Is it a replacement or a newly created role?"

The video interview – technology, setting and presentation

Video interviews are now often the first step in the application process. They are practical – but they are less forgiving than an in-person meeting when the technology or environment isn't right.

Test the technology in advance

Check the camera, microphone and internet connection at least one day beforehand – not five minutes before the interview. Open the platform (Teams, Zoom, Google Meet) once and make a test call. A headset or earphones with a microphone are almost always better than the built-in laptop microphone.

The setting

Choose a quiet room, ideally without background noise. Close doors and inform other people in the household.

The background should look tidy and neutral: a plain wall, a bookshelf or a neat desk are ideal.

Lighting is key: the light should come from the front, not from behind. Anyone sitting with a window behind them will appear as a silhouette. A simple desk lamp in front of the screen is already enough to significantly improve the image.

The camera should be at eye level: place the laptop on a stack of books if necessary. Being filmed from below looks unflattering and is easily avoidable.

Outfit for the video interview

The same basic rules as in person, but with one addition: clothing with fine patterns (checks, narrow stripes) can flicker on screen. Solid, muted tones work better. Very bright white can overexpose on some cameras – an off-white or light grey is often the better choice.

The same applies to video interviews: get fully dressed, not just from the waist up.

During the conversation itself

Look into the camera, not at your own image – it feels strange but comes across as real eye contact. Making your own video image smaller or moving it to the edge helps with this.

Notes are perfectly acceptable during a video interview – a small notebook next to the screen is absolutely fine.

The in-person interview – preparation and presentation

Preparation

First things first when preparing for a job interview: know the company. Not superficially, but really. Which products, which markets, which customers? The website, recent news, the company's LinkedIn page – these are good sources. Anyone who shows in the conversation that they have prepared leaves a different impression.

It is also important to re-read your own CV calmly before the interview takes place. You should be able to explain each position fluently without hesitating.

Plan the journey and timing: better to arrive ten minutes early than to rush in. Anyone who waits in a relaxed manner enters the room more relaxed.

Dress code

When in doubt, lean slightly more formal rather than too casual – especially for the first interview. This signals that you take the conversation seriously.

Business casual is the right framework in most companies. No tie required, but no hoodie either. A well-fitting shirt or blouse, neat trousers or a skirt – that works almost every time.

Important: clothing you feel comfortable in is more convincing than clothing you feel dressed up in. Authenticity is something people can sense.

During the conversation itself

Phone on silent, maintain eye contact, listen before answering. Tolerate pauses – not every silence needs to be filled immediately. Anyone who answers calmly rather than hastily comes across as more considered.

And: nervousness is normal. Most interviewers know this and don't hold it against anyone.

In closing

Most interviews don't fail due to a lack of expertise. They fail because someone couldn't clearly communicate what they can really do and what they truly want. Anyone who can put that into words – specifically, honestly, without embellishment – is well prepared.

If you have specific questions about preparing for an interview or assessing a position, we are happy to speak with you directly.

Connectima GmbH – specialist recruitment consultancy for process engineering & filtration