National Careers Week 2016 2016 Digital Magazine | Page 22
7 COMMON
INTERVIEW
QUESTIONS
The key to success in interviews is PREPARATION. The best way to
prepare is to make a ‘bank’ of answers to interview questions. This
will help you ensure that when you have an upcoming interview, you
will be able to print out your answers and practise them. This will
improve your chances of success!
These are generic common interview questions. You should also
conduct some extra research on interview questions based around
your career choice.
1. Tell me about yourself
Hint – here you will briefly
talk about your background
(School/ College courses if
relevant) and talk about your
career ambitions.
2. Why should we give you
the job?
Hint – talk about any
experience you have. If none,
talk about your enthusiasm
for this career and talk about
relevant skills and qualities you
have that the employer is
looking for (these should be
listed on the job advert or
specification).
4. What are your
weaknesses?
Hint – don’t actually say ‘I’m
really bad at time keeping’ or
anything else that can put the
interviewer off you! Be positive
and constructive. Say things
like ‘I don’t have much
experience in retail, however,
I am really keen to learn and I
am very enthusiastic, so if I am
employed I will be really
focussed on developing
myself.’
5. Tell me about a time where
you have worked in a team?
Hint – be specific! Discuss what
team it was, what you did and
how the team was
successful. You need to make
yourself sound like the ultimate
team player! Use the STAR*
interviews technique so you
can be sure to give a really
good answer.
3. What are your strengths?
Hint – discuss your strengths
which are suited for the role.
For example, if you’re being
interviewed for a Retail job,
discuss people skills,
communication skills etc. If the
job is in Administration, discuss
being organised and your IT 6. Tell me about a time where
skills. you have achieved your goal
Hint – this is to work out if
you’re a committed person or
not. If you really can’t think of a
BY
TEN l
T
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a
goal, you could discuss a goal
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Be
Katie
that you’re close to achieving. It
can be personal (such as losing
weight, becoming fit or
becoming a driver).