What’s the key to doing well at interview? Preparation. The
more you’ve done, the more confident and relaxed you’ll feel –
and the better you’ll perform. This article looks at the kinds of questions
you’ll be asked and some of the answers you’ll be giving.
What sorts of question will I be asked?
Recruiters ask a variety of questions but, in essence, they really only want to
know three things.
- Can you do the job? Do you have the appropriate knowledge, skills and
experience to do what they need you to do?
- Will you do the job? Do you have the right motivation and enthusiasm?
Are you really keen on the role or would you rather be doing something else?
- Will you fit in? Will you be a good ‘fit’ with the people
who work there, and will others enjoy working with you?
Can you do the job?
Your ability to do the job is typically assessed through skill- or competency-based
questions, such as, “Give us an example of a time when you made a
difficult decision”. The key here is to get a sense of the kinds of skills
the job requires, so that you can think through some examples beforehand. For example,
if one of the job requirements is:
to present in front of 20 people on a daily basis
then there’s a good chance that you’ll be asked about your ability to
present and you’ll need a good example ready. Structure your answer using
S-T-A-R
- explaining the Situation in which you presented
- the Task you were trying to achieve
- the Actions you took to achieve that task and
- the Result of your actions.
Will you do the job?
Your motivation for the job will be assessed through questions about your
reasons for applying for the role and your knowledge of the industry and sector.
- Avoid vague, generic answers such as, “This job sounds really
interesting”.
- Talk about your interest in the industry and the job itself: courses
taken, contacts spoken to, industry publications subscribed to, work experience
undertaken.
- Make sure you already know what the organisation does (and what you’d
be doing on a daily basis), who their customers and clients are and what’s
going on in their sector.
- Check for any major news stories that involve them.
Will you fit in?
First impressions count.
- Plan your interview clothes and journey the night before, and arrive in plenty
of time so that you can calm yourself down while waiting for your interviewer.
- Take your interview invitation with you and keep a phone number on hand in
case anything goes wrong en route.
- Don’t forget to be polite to everyone you meet – some interviewers
will ask receptionists for their impressions!
Difficult questions
Finally, how do you cope with those difficult questions everyone dreads? Some questions
are asked just to see how you react, so the trick is to relax, be honest and emphasising
the positive.
- What is your biggest weakness? You need to demonstrate self-awareness,
so avoid cliché answers such as “I’m a perfectionist”. Admit a
minor weakness such as being impatient, but don’t confess something big or
anything that would impact on your ability to do the job. Turn your weakness into
a positive by explaining how you manage it.
- How many piano tuners are there in Brighton? This kind of question
is typically asked in analytical or problem-solving roles. Recruiters are interested
in how you solve problems rather than one correct answer. Talk through the process
you’d go through to find the answer: “I don’t know the
exact number, but I’d start by doing a Google search or getting in touch with
the Piano Tuners’ Association for their help about the national population…”
- If you were an animal, what kind of animal would you be? Guaranteed
to faze even the coolest interviewee, this kind of question is designed to test
your ability to think on your feet under stress. It’s also virtually impossible
to prepare for. The key is to come up with an answer and a brief explanation –
and move on fast. And remember, your answer doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s
just one question out of many!
See also
