Interviews
12 Job Interview Questions and Answers (Philippines)
· 6 min read
Most interviews in the Philippines cover the same ground: who you are, why you want the job, what you have done, and what salary you expect. Prepare a short, specific answer for each of the 12 questions below, with one real example from your own experience, and practice saying it out loud.
How to prepare
- Read the job post again and note the three things the employer wants most.
- Prepare one story for each: the situation, what you did, and the result.
- Reread your own resume. Anything on it can become a question.
- Look up what the company does and who its customers are.
- Practice out loud. Aim for answers of one to two minutes.
Do not memorize the sample answers below. Interviewers hear the same scripts every day. Keep the structure and replace the details with your own.
Questions about you
1. Tell me about yourself
This is a question about your work, not your life story. Give your current role or course, one or two achievements, and why you are here. Keep it under two minutes.
Weak
I am Maria, 26 years old, the eldest of four siblings. I live in Quezon City and my hobbies are reading and watching movies.
Better
I am a customer service representative with four years of voice and chat support for US accounts. I have kept my satisfaction score above target for two years, and I am now looking for a role where I can start coaching new agents.
I graduated this year with a degree in Information Technology. During my internship I handled about 10 support requests a day and set up 20 workstations for a cooperative. I enjoyed solving problems for people directly, which is why I am applying for this IT support role.
2. What are your strengths?
Choose one or two strengths that the job needs, and prove each with an example.
I am organized. In my current job I manage the calendars of three managers and around 40 trips a year, and I have not had a missed flight or a double booking. I keep one tracker that everyone can see, and I confirm every booking the day before.
3. What is your greatest weakness?
Name a real weakness that is not central to the job, then say what you are doing about it. Avoid the classic non-answer about being a perfectionist.
I used to avoid speaking up in meetings, even when I had spotted a problem. I now write down one point before each meeting and make sure I raise it. My supervisor noticed the change in my last review.
4. Where do you see yourself in five years?
The interviewer wants to know if you plan to stay and grow. Tie your answer to this line of work without promising a specific title.
In five years I want to be handling more complex accounts and helping train newer staff. I am looking for a company where I can build that experience step by step, and this role looks like the right start.
Questions about the job and the company
5. Why do you want to work here?
Show that you read about the company. Mention something specific, then link it to what you do well.
I have used your delivery app as a customer, and the support team resolved my concern in one chat. I want to be part of a team that works that way, and my three years in chat support for e-commerce accounts fit the role you posted.
6. Why should we hire you?
Summarize your match in three points: the experience they asked for, a result, and how you work.
You are looking for someone with accounts payable experience who is good with Excel. I have processed about 300 invoices a month for two years, I built the tracker our team now uses for due dates, and I have closed every month on schedule. I can do the same here from the first month.
7. Are you willing to work on shifting schedules?
Common in BPO, healthcare, retail and hospitality. Be honest. If you have limits, say them now, not after you are hired.
Yes. I worked the night shift for two years in my last account and I am used to adjusting my sleep schedule. I live 30 minutes from the site, so getting to work at any hour is not a problem.
Questions about your work history
8. Why did you leave your last job?
Keep it short, true and forward-looking. Do not criticize your former employer or manager.
I learned a lot in three years there, but the team is small and there was no senior role to move into. I am looking for a bigger organization where I can take on more responsibility.
If you were laid off or your contract ended, say so plainly and move to what you did next.
9. How do you handle pressure?
Describe your method, then give a short example of a busy period you got through.
I list everything that is due and sort it by deadline, then tell my supervisor early if something is at risk. During our year-end closing, I had three reports due in the same week. I finished the two with fixed deadlines first and agreed on a new date for the third.
10. Tell me about a difficult customer or problem
Use a simple structure: the situation, what you did, the result. Choose a story that ended well and shows you staying calm.
A customer called three times about a refund that had not arrived and was very upset. I apologized, checked the record while he was on the line and found the request had been filed under the wrong order. I corrected it, told him the exact date to expect the refund, and called him back that day to confirm. He left a positive review afterward.
Questions about pay and closing
11. What is your expected salary?
Research the usual pay for the role before the interview by checking job posts that show salary ranges. Give a range, not a single number, and say you are open to discussing the whole package.
Based on similar roles I have seen and my four years of experience, I am looking at 28,000 to 32,000 pesos a month. I am open to discussing this together with the benefits.
Fresh graduates can say: I understand the entry-level range for this role is around this amount, and I am comfortable within that range.
12. Do you have any questions for us?
Always ask at least one. It shows interest, and you also need the information to decide.
What does a typical day in this role look like?
How will my performance be measured in the first three months?
What are the next steps after this interview?
After the interview
Send a short thank-you email the same day, and note any questions you struggled with so you can prepare for the next round. If your resume did not give you enough to talk about, strengthen it with results. Our guides on how to write a resume and resume summary examples show how, and the resume examples by job show the kind of numbers interviewers ask about.
Still gathering documents for a first job? See the first job requirements checklist.
Put it into practice
Start with a template that screening software can read, then fill in your own details. It is free to start.
Build a resume to matchCommon questions
How do I answer "Tell me about yourself" with no experience?+
Start with your course and school, add one internship, project or organization role with a result, and end with why you are applying for this job.
How long should my interview answers be?+
About one to two minutes for most questions. Give the main point first, then one example, and stop.
Can I answer in Tagalog or Taglish?+
Follow the interviewer's lead. If the job requires English, such as BPO or client-facing roles, answer in English even if the interviewer switches languages casually.
What should I bring to a job interview?+
Bring printed copies of your resume, a valid ID, a pen and any documents the recruiter asked for. For online interviews, test your camera, microphone and connection beforehand.