Typical Interview Questions

Sarny

Hi,

I have an interview coming up - im doing the research on the company and all that but for the life of me cant think the standard interview questions asked to practise some answers for?

Any help?

Mini_Bear

At a guess:
Why did you leave your last job?
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Why do you want to work for this firm?
What are three qualities you could bring to the firm?

Gingernutmeg

What do you know about what we do? - is one I've always been asked. It depends on the kind of job you're going for but I've always been asked competency-based questions. Things like, give an example of when you've worked in a team, what did you achieve and how did you manage any conflicts and difficulties, how do you organise and prioritise your workload and what would you do if you knew that you weren't going to meet a deadline.

Sarny

ahh those team based ones are always about! thanks any more?

goRt

"We believe in training and supporting you, what area do you most need training / support in" - your chance to hang yourself out to dry

downshifter

I did an interview a couple of days ago and was asked what I knew about the work of the organisation; lots of stuff specific to the actual post (to do with budgeting etc) and then lots of 'Give me an example of what you did recently when such and such happened' or and example of 'how have you dealt with this or that situation'. Not how would you deal with it (where you can make stuff up or give them the correct answer) but you have to go in prepared with a story situation. One example was 'Give us an example of how you dealt with someone who was in distress', another was 'Give us an example of how you bid for funding and what the process and outcome was'. You need to go through the job desc and person spec and try to think of possible scenarios relating to the points there. You can often use personal examples, not just work related ones (as with the distress one, I used an example of an old lady who had fallen in the street and how I comforted her etc.) Tricky. But I was offered the job anyway.

Good luck, there are lots of lists of possible interview questions all over the net, unfortunately I couldn't find that many model answers which would have helped me a lot. For example, what should you say in response to the prioritising work one, or the one about not being able to meet a deadline?

DS

Coz800

Tell me about yourself.
What experience do you have in this area of work?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Are there any questions you would like to ask us?

cazziebo

PM me an email address and I'll send you an interview worksheet I used for training inexperienced interviewers a few years ago. It's mainly competency based questions.

calebdylan

here are some questions which may help you...........
what do you like most about your current employer?
what do you like least about your current or last job?
how would you describe your previous boss/manger ?
do well................!

vtiqs

Go to about.com and search for "Interview Questions and Answers Job Interview Questions and Best Answers alison doyle"

Click the first link in the results. (Im not allowed to post actual links cause im a forum newbie)

This is a great resource for interview questions.

Rehearse and remember an answer to each of these and you will come across as confident and knowledgeable.

Yes is takes time and effort and there are a lot of questions, but it is worth it. Most people don't bother to rehearse answers, and its likely that you will stand out and get the job.

95% of a job is personal relationships and getting on with your colleagues and giving confidence you can do the job. You can rehearse 95% of the interview in advance.

I must have interviewed 500 staff in the last 10 years and its amazing how little effort people put into prepping for an interview. Those that do put in the effort always stand out.

Hope this helps.

ali-t

I always go through the job description and try to answer 'tell me about a time when....' for everything on the job description and find at least 2 examples of each. The questions should relate to competency for the job and this will mean that however the questions are phrased you will have answers.