8 Interview questions & how to answer them

We understand that job interviews can be stressful, that’s why we have created prompts and ideas to guide you in answering some common interview questions.

Tell me about yourself.

You will most likely be asked this question first and it’s a good chance for you to sell yourself from the start.

Outline your skills and personal attributes/qualities that are relevant to the job.

During an interview, it’s important to prove how you would behave in the role by sharing relevant examples from your past employment and life experiences.

What do your colleagues think of you?

The interviewer will often want to ask you for a third-person perspective. This is a way of weighing up your self-awareness skills.

Another common question could be to ask what your colleagues would consider your strengths and weaknesses to be

Along with highlighting your strong points make sure to offer insight into how you plan on turning your weaknesses into strengths too

Why do you want this job?

This question is to check that you have done your company and market research and thought about exactly why you would fit into the role and organisation

Use this to explain your personal goals, and how the role would contribute towards those

What drives you to achieve your objectives?

You should demonstrate your level of commitment and motivation for the role, as well as what factors you are motivated by

Perhaps refer to a previous goal you achieved, and how you worked towards doing so

What are your weaknesses?

A good way to answer this question is to highlight areas where you may need further development or training – e.g. “I don’t currently have a NEBOSH qualification; however, I have been responsible for Health and Safety in all my roles to date. I am looking into obtaining the NEBOSH certification shortly.”

Where do you see yourself in five years?

The interviewer is looking for a realistic ambition. It is ok to say that you want the interviewer’s job if this is a realistic aim, but make sure that you gauge the situation appropriately

What challenges do you believe this organisation faces?

When answering this question, you can put your research to good use and demonstrate your commercial awareness

Make sure to be critical, but not derogatory. This could negatively impact your chances of succeeding in the interview

Most interviews will end, with the interviewer asking if you have any questions. Here are some questions that the interviewers may want you to ask them:

What is the next stage of the process, and will I receive feedback on this interview?
What are my promotion prospects?
How is my career path determined?