Interviews
Interview questions and answers for Nigerian job seekers
The questions Nigerian employers ask most — from 'tell me about yourself' to salary expectations — with how to answer each, plus aptitude tests and the warning signs of a fake interview.
5 Nov 2026 · 7 min read
Most Nigerian interviews cover the same ground: tell me about yourself, why you want the job, your strengths and weaknesses, why you are leaving, and what salary you expect. Prepare a two-minute answer for each, back every claim with a real example, and research the company before you go. Graduate trainee programmes in banking, oil and gas and FMCG usually add an aptitude test first.
The questions, and how to answer them
| Question | What they want to hear |
|---|---|
| Tell me about yourself | Two minutes: your background, your strongest relevant experience, why this role — not your life story |
| Why do you want to work here? | Something specific about the company, its work or its growth — proof you researched them |
| What are your strengths? | Two strengths that match the job, each with an example |
| What is your weakness? | A real one you are working on, and how — not 'I work too hard' |
| Why are you leaving your job? | Positive and forward-looking; never criticise your employer |
| Where do you see yourself in five years? | Growing in this field, ideally with them |
| What is your salary expectation? | A researched range, and what it means after tax |
| Do you have any questions for us? | Always yes — ask about the team, training or what success looks like |
Salary expectations
Many Nigerian adverts do not state the pay, so this question often comes without a clue. Research what similar roles pay, give a range rather than one figure, and know what it means monthly after PAYE and pension before you name it.
Aptitude tests
Banks, consulting firms, oil and gas companies and FMCG graduate schemes often screen with an online aptitude test before the interview: numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning and logical (abstract) reasoning, under time pressure. Practise with timed sample tests, read every question carefully, and do not leave answers blank unless the test says wrong answers lose marks.
Panel and virtual interviews
- Panel: answer the person who asked, then include the others with eye contact.
- Virtual: test your connection and camera beforehand, have data or a backup network ready, and sit in a quiet, well-lit spot.
- Bring copies of your CV, certificates and NYSC certificate to in-person interviews.
- Arrive early — Lagos traffic is not an excuse an interviewer accepts.
Signs the interview is fake
A genuine employer never asks you to pay for an interview, a test, training, a uniform or a medical. Be wary of interviews in hotels or private homes, offers made without any interview, and 'jobs' that turn out to be network marketing. Check the company exists and the address is real before you go.