Interviews can be scary things – I’m not going to lie about that! They’re high-pressure situations where you literally have one person (or more) looking at you under a microscope and assessing you. I’ve not met one person who actually likes being interviewed!
But if you want a new job, it’s something you’ve got to do. And the key to success is all in the prep. So below I’ve gathered some of the most common interview questions, as well as some suggestions on how to answer, so you can think about your answers without the spotlight on you.
The Basics
Does what it says on the tin. Basic information so that they can get the measure of you and what motivates you.
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
This has to be the most common of interview questions – it’s usually asked as an icebreaker right at the start. And weirdly, a lot of people freeze when asked it! Like everything they’ve ever known about themselves has vanished from their mind.
Let me tell you a secret. They already have an impression of you from your CV. This question tells them if their first impression is accurate. Think of it as an elevator pitch. Keep your response punchy, without too much detail (leave them wanting more), and focus on being confident. A quick summary of your career, how you got into it and developed, what you’ve achieved and how you ended up here interviewing with them.
Why are you looking to leave your current job?
Interviewers ask this question to understand what you’re looking for in the role and workplace. But some candidates fall into a trap and start complaining about their previous role, getting into office politics and generally revealing far too much. Don’t. Do. It. No matter what circumstances you’re leaving under, try to remain positive about your previous employer. You can focus on your career goals and what you want to achieve in the move, rather than what you’re leaving behind.
Why do you want to work for this company?
The interviewer doesn’t want to hear you waxing lyrical about how amazing the company is. But they do want to know that you understand the company and that you would be a good fit. That’s where your research about the company comes in handy. Make sure you know about the company’s mission, history and culture so that you can bring up points that are relevant to the business. If you can show that your personal ambitions complement the company goals, you get extra brownie points!
Getting To Know You
These questions are all about you as an individual and what you’ll be like as an employee. They’re trying to work out what makes you tick.
What is your biggest weakness?
Please, please, PLEASE avoid the cliches here. Everyone knows them, no -one believes them. So don’t say that you:
- Work too hard
- Are a perfectionist
- Have no weaknesses
These are all stealthy ways of turning a weakness into a strength, and employers see right through it. Instead, accept that you have weaknesses, and discuss how you identified them and what you are working on to improve them. Everyone has room for improvement, and with this question the interviewer wants to know that you’re able to identify where you can do better, and make real efforts to improve.
What’s your biggest strength?
It’s surprisingly difficult to answer this one! I don’t know if it’s just a British thing, but we seem to find it hard to talk about your positive qualities. The trick is to balance humbleness with confidence, and pick out a few attributes or skills that stand out for you. A few examples include:
- Natural leader
- Collaborative
- Empathetic
- Meticulous and thorough
- Organised
How do you handle stress and pressure?
Every job will come with stress. Impending deadlines, difficulty with co-workers, political and financial stresses – all sorts of things can make you feel under pressure. So employers want to make sure any candidates they bring on will be able to perform and get work done even in the face of stress. Try to give an example of a time you were under stress at work – maybe because of a project with a tight deadline – and explain how you felt, and how you dealt with it.
What is your biggest personal achievement?
This is your chance for a little bit of a brag – and that’s what the interviewer wants! They want to understand what you’re proud of, what you are capable of achieving and how you measure success. Again, this is one it pays to think about before you have the interview, so you know what you’re going to say. Whatever example you choose, think about what the task was, the steps you took to achieve it, your method for getting things done and how you knew it was a success. This can be a personal or a professional achievement – just whatever you’re proudest of.
What would your friends say about you?
I know some people find this question odd, but there’s a reason they ask this. It gives the interviewer an insight into your best traits, and shows how self-aware you really are. So, think about the words your friends might use to describe you, and how they could relate to the key traits for the role. For example, if you’re going for a job in a call centre, you might want to say your friends say you’re a good listener, friendly and calm under pressure.
Risk Management
I call these types of questions ‘risk management’ because that’s exactly what they’re doing. They are trying to understand how well you will perform in the role, if you’ll fit into the company, and if you’re going to stick around for a while.
Can you describe a challenging situation at work, and how you handled it?
A classic interview question! It’s a behavioural one designed to find out what your critical thinking, communication, problem-solving and time-management skills are like. Almost all interviewers will ask this one, so it’s worth having an answer ready in your back pocket. Tell them what the situation you had to deal with, the task at hand, the actions you took and the results.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
This isn’t a trick question. Your interviewer just wants to know whether you have any ambitions, both in the short and the long term. Your answer should demonstrate a commitment to the job, and let them know you want to grow within the company. Explain what you would like to learn about, what you can gain from this role and how those aspirations will help the company.
Just For Fun!
Not all interviewers will ask these questions, but some will. They’re silly questions they ask for fun, to gauge your personality and possibly to help ease your nerves if you seem a little jumpy! There’s no hidden agenda with these questions, so I’m not going to give you pointers on how to answer. Just be honest and have fun with them.
- If you were a superhero, what power would you have and why?
- You’re stranded on a desert island and can only take three things. What are you taking and why?
- If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?
- If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
- If you were a cake, what flavour would you be and why?