Interview tips and tricks sound like an attractive quick fix and of course there are things you can do at the last minute. But nothing replaces the power of simple hard work and preparation for all the likely interview questions.
So can you help? I am trying to put together a comprehensive list of likely interview questions for my interview preparation clients. If you add (or email me) any questions that I have missed in the comments section, I will add them to the correct category (crediting you unless you say otherwise) – or start a new category.
Interview questions about the company
- Why did you choose us? Why do you want to work for us?
- What do you know about our business?
- Who are our competitors and why?
- What threats and opportunities do we face?
- Why did you choose this sector?
- Which trends influence our sector and can you describe them?
- Tell me about the broader issues the economy is currently facing.
- What factors have affected UK businesses in the last three years?
- Describe a current issue in the (our) business world?
- What do you think you will be doing during your first year?
- Describe the job as you see it?
- Give an example of a company that you believe has the potential to grow and why?
- Give an example of a company that has grown a lot in the last couple of years, and what would you advise them to do next?
- What problems do you think professional services firms are facing today?
Interview questions about you?
- Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years? Where do you see yourself in the next 10/15/20 years?
- What motivates you?
- Describe how you see the role.
- If your tasks have become a daily routine, how would you keep yourself motivated
- Which of your recent achievements have you been most proud of? What are your proudest achievements in the past two years?
- Describe a time when you had a setback and picked yourself up?
- Tell me about a time you have under performed or not met your targets, why was this? What have you learnt from this?
- What hobbies do you have? What new hobby or activity have you taken up in the last 2 years? What do you do in your spare time?
- What is your greatest weakness? What are your three biggest weaknesses? Do you have any weaknesses?
- What is your greatest strength? What are your three biggest strengths?What do you consider to be your strengths?
- What are your major achievements to date?
- Name four role models who influence you? Who would you like to meet in the business world?
- What is the biggest mistake you have made? What did you learn from this mistake?
- Tell me a time when you had to perform on your own?
- Tell me about a time where you had to meet a number of competing deadlines
- Why are you the best person for the job? What is your USP?
Interview Questions about your University and your course and qualifications
- Why did you choose this course and university?
- Tell us about your course
- Looking back – are you pleased with your academic results?
- What would you have done differently?
Interview Questions about how you handle stress
- How do you deal with stress?
- When have you worked under pressure. How did you cope under pressure? What was the outcome of this pressure situation?
- Tell me about a difficult experience at work and how you dealt with it.
Interview Questions about teamwork and management
- Give me an example of when you’ve worked in a team. What was your role in the team?
- Do you have any leadership experience?
- If a team member disagrees with you, how did you handle that? As a leader and as a colleague? If this has happened to you – what was the outcome?
- Do you make your opinions known when you disagree with the views of your supervisor? How do you do this?
- One of your senior colleagues who have recently joined the project team that you have been working on was asked to observe you in a presentation that you will be making in front of the clients. During the presentation, the colleague questioned your methodology, what would you do?
- Tell me a time when you had to accommodate a difference of opinion when working a team.