Personal interview questions are common in job interviews, but they can sometimes feel tricky. You might wonder, “Is this question too personal?” or “What are they really trying to find out?” (Both valid concerns.) While these types of questions are designed to help recruiters get to know you better and determine if you’re a good fit for the company, it’s important to know how to answer them—and to recognize what’s appropriate and what might cross the line.
In this article we’ll break down how you can effectively handle personal questions asked in an interview, and explore questions that are illegal or unethical so you can spot any red flags. We’ll also provide you with a list of common personal interview questions and answers to help you ace your next interview.
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What is considered a personal question in a job interview?
Personal questions in an interview are designed to uncover insights about your character, work style, values, and overall fit for the company. These questions go beyond your technical skills and qualifications, helping interviewers assess how you handle certain situations, your interpersonal skills, and whether you align with the company’s culture.
Good personal interview questions examples include:
- “How do you handle stress?”
- “What motivates you?”
- “Tell me about a time when you faced a significant challenge.”
- “How do you manage work-life balance?”
If you're in college or high school, some typical personal interview questions for students might be:
- “How do you manage your time between school and other responsibilities?”
- “What are your hobbies or interests outside of school?”
Some questions may be more creative. Here are examples of original and interesting personal interview questions:
- “If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?”
- “What’s the most difficult decision you’ve had to make recently, and how did you handle it?”
- “Tell me about a time when you stepped outside your comfort zone. What did you learn from the experience?”
These questions aren’t necessarily intrusive, but they require you to open up about your personality and work style. However, while these kinds of personal interview questions are legitimate, others may be considered unethical or even illegal.
When it gets too personal: illegal or unethical questions in a hiring process
Interviewers are not allowed to ask questions that touch on certain protected areas of your life. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has strict guidelines regarding what can and cannot be asked in a job interview.
A personal interview with illegal questions includes anything related to:
Age: “How old are you?”
Marital status: “Are you married?”
Religion: “What religious holidays do you observe?”
Race or ethnicity: “Where are your parents from?”
Disability: “Do you have any disabilities that might affect your work?”
These questions are considered discriminatory because they are irrelevant to your ability to perform the job. If an interviewer asks any of these questions, you’re within your rights to politely decline to answer or ask how the question relates to the job.
So, for this example of a too personal interview question, “Do you plan on having children?” you might respond with:
“I’m fully focused on my career right now and excited about the opportunity to contribute to this role. I’m confident that my skills and experiences will allow me to make a meaningful impact.”
Why do recruiters ask personal questions?
Recruiters ask personal questions for several reasons. “At the start of the interview, recruiters might ask these questions to put the interviewee at ease,” says Fred Winchar, certified HR professional and CEO of Max Cash. “You’re more likely to relax when talking about yourself, your passions, or hobbies.”
Here are some other key motivations behind personal questions:
- Cultural fit: Recruiters want to see if your values align with the company’s culture. For example, if a company values collaboration, they may ask about your ability to work on a team. “The key to successfully steering such questions is, for example, by discussing how your interest in community service aligned with the company’s CSR goals, which ultimately could help you secure the position,” says Michael Hurckes, an attorney specializing in employment law at MAH Advising PLLC.
- Work style: Understanding how you approach tasks, manage stress, and solve problems helps the recruiter gauge your performance in real-life situations.
- Self-awareness: The best personal interview questions are the ones that test your ability to reflect on your experiences and how they’ve shaped you professionally and personally.
- Motivation: Employers want to know what drives you. Are you passionate about the job, or are you simply looking for a paycheck?
It is key that you are prepared for them so they don’t catch you off guard.
How to answer personal interview questions effectively
So, how do you handle personal questions in an interview? Here are some recommendations to present your best self while staying within the appropriate boundaries.
Stay professional
Even though personal interview questions may require you to reveal something about your life outside of work, your focus should remain on your professional experience and how it connects to the job. This approach ensures that you maintain a clear and professional boundary in your responses, showing the interviewer that you are focused on your work and its relevance to the role.
- Avoid unnecessary personal details: When responding to questions like, “How do you manage work-life balance?” or “What motivates you?” it can be tempting to go into details about your personal life. However, try to keep your answers professional and relevant to the workplace. For instance, instead of sharing how you juggle family responsibilities, focus on how you prioritize and manage time effectively in a professional context.
- Use professional examples: If asked how you handle stress, instead of talking about stress in your personal life, discuss a situation where you managed stress in a work environment, and how you successfully navigated it.
Know your boundaries
In any job interview, there are limits to what is appropriate to ask, and understanding these boundaries can protect you from illegal or unethical questions. Knowing your rights can also empower you to redirect inappropriate questions in a tactful way that maintains professionalism.
- Recognize illegal or inappropriate questions: Questions like, “Are you planning on having children?” or “How old are you?” are off limits because they have no bearing on your ability to perform the job.
- Politely redirect the conversation: If you’re asked a question that crosses the line, you can redirect the conversation in a professional manner. Gently steer the conversation back to your qualifications or how you handle work-related challenges. This allows you to maintain control of the conversation while signaling that you prefer to focus on the job at hand.
Be honest, but strategic
When answering certain personal interview questions, you can be honest, but strategic. “For instance, if asked about hobbies or family, consider focusing on experiences that highlight skills relevant to the job,” Hurckes says. “You could mention a hobby like coaching a sports team to demonstrate leadership and teamwork capabilities.”
- Emphasize your professional growth: When answering questions about weaknesses or challenges, be honest about areas where you’ve struggled, but frame your response around how you’ve worked to improve or how the experience has helped you grow. This shows that you’re self-aware and committed to personal and professional development.
- Avoid unnecessary details: You don’t have to delve into personal hardships or experiences that don’t align with the job. Instead, focus on the lessons you’ve learned from past experiences that make you a better candidate.
Use the STAR method
The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is a powerful tool for answering situational or behavioral interview questions. It helps you structure your answers so they are concise, relevant, and focused on your achievements.
By using this method, you can provide clear examples of how you’ve handled challenges in the past, which gives the interviewer confidence in your ability to perform in similar situations in the future.
- Situation: Start by describing the situation you were in. Be specific but brief. Set the context so the interviewer understands what is at stake.
- Task: Explain what task or responsibility you were facing. What was your role in the situation? What problem did you need to solve?
- Action: Describe the specific actions you took to address the task. This is where you can showcase your skills and thought process.
- Result: End with the result of your actions. Highlight the positive outcome, such as how your actions benefited the team or company. If possible, quantify the result (e.g., “This resulted in a 15% increase in sales”).
The key is to stay calm, stay professional, and always focus on how your experiences align with the job you’re applying for. “Don’t hold back too much or refuse to answer if it’s an appropriate question, as it could be perceived negatively,” Winchar says. “HR and recruiting are viewed as robotic departments—but they’re human, and personal questions humanize the interviews.”
6 common personal interview questions—with sample responses
Here are some personal interview questions with answers and sample responses:
1. “Tell me about yourself”
This question is often used to break the ice, but it’s also an opportunity to set the tone for the interview.
How to answer: Focus on your professional background, key achievements, and what makes you excited about this role.
Sample response:
“I’ve spent the last five years developing my skills in digital marketing, where I’ve managed several successful campaigns for mid-sized businesses. What excites me about this role is the opportunity to bring my expertise to a larger company and work on more complex, data-driven projects.”
2. “What motivates you?”
Recruiters ask this to understand what drives your performance.
How to answer: Think about what excites you about your work. Avoid generic answers like “money” unless you're applying for a sales role where monetary motivation is a big factor.
Sample response:
“I’m motivated by solving challenging problems. I love being able to dig into an issue, find solutions, and see the positive impact of my work. That’s why I’m drawn to this role—because of the opportunity to work on innovative projects that push boundaries.”
3. “How do you handle stress?”
This question is meant to evaluate your emotional resilience and ability to perform under pressure.
How to answer: Provide examples of how you manage stressful situations, and don’t forget to highlight positive outcomes.
Sample response:
“When I’m faced with a stressful situation, I take a step back to evaluate the best course of action. For example, during a busy season at my previous job, I created a prioritization system to manage multiple deadlines. This helped me stay organized and meet every deadline without sacrificing quality.”
4. "What are your strengths and your weaknesses?"
These great personal interview questions help recruiters assess your self-awareness and how well you know your own capabilities.
How to answer: Pick a strength that aligns with the job and a weakness you’ve taken steps to improve.
Sample response:
“One of my strengths is my attention to detail, which has been beneficial in ensuring accuracy in data analysis and reporting. A weakness I’ve been working on is my tendency to take on too much at once, but I’ve been using task management tools to help me better delegate and manage my workload.”
5. “Where do you see yourself in five years?”
Recruiters ask this to understand your career goals and how this role fits into them.
How to answer: Share your long-term career aspirations and how the job aligns with those goals.
Sample response:
“In five years, I see myself taking on a leadership role in marketing, ideally with a company that values creativity and innovation. I’m excited about the opportunity to grow my skills in this position and eventually lead a team that drives impactful campaigns.”
6. “Why do you want to work here?”
This question is asked to determine if you’ve researched the company and whether you’re genuinely interested in the role.
How to answer: Reference specific details about the company that resonates with you.
Sample response:
“I’m impressed by your company’s commitment to sustainability and innovation. I’m passionate about working for a company that values making a positive impact, and I see this role as a perfect opportunity to contribute to those efforts.”
Bottom line
Personal interview questions are a key part of the hiring process, allowing recruiters to learn more about who you are beyond your resume. While some personal questions are completely appropriate, it’s essential to recognize when a question crosses the line into illegal or unethical territory.
Prepare for these questions to know how to navigate them, this way you’ll be able to respond confidently and professionally in any interview situation.