8 entry-level interview questions in Nigeria, with sample answers

Entry-level interviews in Nigeria tend to ask the same handful of questions. Prepare an answer for each one below, practise it out loud, and you will walk in calmer and more convincing.

Before the interview

• Find the address the day before and plan to arrive 15 minutes early, allowing for traffic.
• Dress neatly; for most entry roles a clean shirt or blouse and trousers or a skirt is right.
• Bring copies of your CV and certificates, and a pen.
• Read the company’s website or social pages so you can say what it does.

8 common questions, with sample answers

1. “Tell us about yourself.”

Keep it to 30 seconds: education, any work, and why this job. “I finished my OND in Business Administration last year. Since then I have worked weekends in a phone accessories shop, where I learned to handle customers and cash. I want to build a career in customer service, which is why I applied here.”

2. “Why do you want this job?”

Connect the job to your strengths, not only to the pay. “I enjoy helping people solve problems, and this role lets me do that every day while learning how a big company works.”

3. “What are your strengths?”

Pick two that the job needs and give a quick example of each.

4. “What is your weakness?”

Name a real, small weakness and what you are doing about it. “I used to be slow on Excel, so I have been practising with free online tutorials and can now make simple tables and totals.”

5. “How would you handle an angry customer?”

Show a method: listen, apologise for the experience, fix or escalate, follow up. This question comes up in customer service and sales interviews almost every time.

6. “Can you work weekends or shifts?”

Be honest. If you can, say so clearly; if you cannot, say what you can do. Shift work is normal in security, retail and delivery.

7. “How much do you expect to earn?”

Know the range first. Our entry-level jobs guide shows what real Nigerian job ads list. You can say: “From the ads I have seen for similar roles, I would expect something in the range of ₦X to ₦Y, but I am open to your structure.”

8. “Do you have any questions for us?”

Always ask one or two: “What does a normal day look like in this role?” or “How is performance measured in the first three months?”

After the interview

Send a short thank-you message the same day. If you hear nothing in a week, a polite follow-up is fine. And remember: you should never be asked to pay for a test, a medical arranged by the recruiter or an “offer letter”. See how to spot a fake job offer.