Interview Questions

Be Prepared beforehand:

There are several things that you can do before the interview to give you the leading edge over the other applicants. A positive attitude is very important. Even if you are not entirely convinced about the role, show enthusiasm and commitment while also asking the questions that you need answered to help you to make an informed decision later. Research the company profile, structure and history in as much detail as possible. Visit the company websites for more detailed information and possibly see if you can find out a bit of information on the background of the interviewer, on the Linkedin website for instance. Your agent should also have expert knowledge of the client, the environment, their interviewing process & history, the company culture and the employer's expectations.

Demonstrate the following basic knowledge of the company, maybe in the form of a question: Key competitors, products and services, potential for future growth, reputation on the market / press, Industry risks and future challenges. Make sure that you are also up to date with the facts and figures of your former employer. You will be expected to know information about the companies that you have previously worked for.

Punctuality: It is very important to be on time, ideally 10 minutes early. First impressions are very important. If you know you are going to be even 5 minutes late, it should be fine so long as your agent is able to call ahead to inform the client.

Presentation: First impressions are always important. Ensure that you are dressed for the job you want, rather than the job you have. If in doubt, always wear a suit. Smile, hold eye contact on initial greeting and keep your hands above the table. Relax and sit down when invited to. Try to use your hands and body language when talking and avoid crossing your arms!

Follow-up afterwards:

If you are interested in the role, then let the interviewer know before you leave, and maybe ask about the next stage of the interview process. Ensure that you thank the interviewers for their time and leave on a positive note.

After the interview it is essential that you provide honest feedback to your agent while it is fresh in your mind. In most cases, the agent will take candidate feedback before speaking with the client, so any delay in providing feedback may slow down the whole process. If you were nervous or said something wrong, let your consultant know immediately and any problems could be rectified before the managers sit down to make their decision.

Feedback from the client is passed on to you by your recruitment consultant. Regardless of whether this feedback is positive or negative, it is essential that you accept it as constructive and use it to your benefit for future interviews. Provided you have demonstrated your worth in the interview and have not discussed your salary expectations already, your recruitment consultant will be able to negotiate the best possible package for you within the budget, should an employment offer be made.

If an offer is made, most employers will expect you to accept the offer relatively quickly, as to not leave the other potential candidates on hold for too long. The next step is to sign the contract, hand in your notice and agree a start date. This can often feel like a daunting process but your agent should be able to provide you with support and advice at this point.

Common Interview Questions and how to tackle them:

Tell me about yourself:                            

Describe your qualifications, career history and range of skills, emphasising those skills relevant to the job on offer. Identify some of your main attributes and memorise them.

What are your biggest achievements?

Take an achievement that is work-related and fairly recent. Identify the skills you used in the achievement and quantify the benefit it had to the company.

Are you happy with your career-to-date?

This question is really about your self-esteem, confidence and career aspirations. The answer must be 'yes', followed by a brief explanation as to what it is about your career so far that's made you particularly happy. If you have hit a career plateau, or you feel you are moving too slowly, then you must qualify your answer.

Describe a difficult situation you faced.    

Explain what you did and the outcome: The purpose of this question is to find out what your definition of difficult is and whether you can show a logical approach to problem solving. In order to show yourself in a positive light, select a difficult work situation which was not caused by you and which can be quickly explained in a few sentences. Explain how you defined the problem, what the options were, why you selected the one you did and what the outcome was. Always try to end on a positive note.

What do you like about your current role?               

This is a straight forward question. All you have to do is make sure that your 'likes' correspond to the skills required for the job on offer. Be enthusiastic; describe your job as interesting and diverse but do not overdo it - after all, you are looking to leave.

What do dislike about your current role?  

Take care in answering this question. Any negative portrayal of your previous employer may reflect badly on you. Do not be too specific as you may draw attention to weaknesses that will leave you open to further problems. Choose a characteristic of your present company, such as its size or slow decision-making processes etc. Give your answer with the air of someone who takes problems and frustrations in your stride as part of the job.

Describe your biggest strengths:            

This question almost always comes up. Concentrate on discussing your main strengths. List three or four proficiencies e.g. your ability to learn quickly, determination to succeed, positive attitude, your ability to relate to people and achieve a common goal. You may be asked to give examples of the above so be prepared.

What is your greatest weakness?            

Most people handle this question badly. Do not say you have none or claim to be a “perfectionist” - this will lead to further problems. You have two options - use a professed weakness such as a lack of experience (not ability) on your part in an area that is not vital for the job. The second option is to describe a personal or professional weakness that could also be considered to be a strength and the steps you have taken to combat it.

Other common interview questions:

• What kind of pressures have you encountered at work?
• What are you looking for in a company?
• How does your job fit in to the department and company?
• What do you enjoy about this industry?
• Give an example of when you have worked under pressure.
• Give me an example of a time when your work was criticised.
• When have you felt anger at work? How did you continue to perform well?
• What kind of people do you find it difficult to work with?
• Give me an example of when you have had to face a conflict of interest at work.
• Tell me about the last time you disagreed with your boss.
• Give me an example of when you haven't got on with others.
• Do you prefer to work alone or in a group? Why?
• How do you measure your own performance?
• Are you a self-starter? Give me examples to demonstrate this?
• What changes in the workplace have caused you difficulty and why?
• Give me an example of when you have been out of your depth.
• What can you bring to this organisation?
• Tell me about your qualifications for this job.
• How can you contribute to our company/department?
• Tell me about yourself.
• Tell us about your analytical skills.
• Describe your achievements to date.
• What things make a good team member?
• What motivates you?
• What do you do at weekends/ tell me about your interests?
• Why did you choose this career?
• Why do you want to change jobs?
• Why do you want to leave your current position so soon?
• What difficulties and challenges do you foresee in making this move?
• Why do you want to work for this company?
• Where do you see yourself in 3 years time?
• Tell me about a time when you tried and failed.

Questions you could ask:

• What are the company's strengths and weaknesses compared with its competition?
• Where is the company going? What are the expansion or diversification / specialisation plans?
• Over the next 3 years in this role, what are the opportunities for career progression?
• Could you explain the organisational structure to me?
• What is the company's policy regarding training?
• Can you please tell me about your experience and your time at the company?
• How would my performance be monitored?
• Why has this position become vacant?
• How would I influence my own future in the company?
• What sort of person progresses well here?