Written by Martin Pennington, Head of Service, University of Leicester Careers Service.
Going into the hot-seat scenario of an interview, how you have prepared will be crucial when answering interviewer’s questions. When you’ve researched the company and the role and made a mental note of the skills you have that they’ll want, think carefully about the answers to the sorts of questions they may ask. Certain questions are sure to crop up in an interview in some form or other. They are all an opportunity to sell yourself. Here are a few examples: ‘Tell me about yourself.’ Give the interviewer salient information about your achievements, skills and attributes relevant to the job. Don’t waffle on for too long and check that the interviewer is still with you. ‘Why have you applied to us?’ Talk about the employer and what attracts you to them: reputation, training, ethos, nature of the work, and reinforce your suitability. Be specific; employers are wary of generalisations such as ‘You are a major player in the retail sector with an enviable reputation for the range and quality of you products.’ They know that already - tell them why you want to work for them. ‘Why should we offer you the job?’ Match the required skills for the job with your relevant skills and experience. Again, be specific and give them good solid examples. ‘What is your greatest achievement?’ This question can reveal a great deal about your personality and what motivates you. Talk about something that emphasises positive aspects of your character and brings your relevant skills into focus. ‘What is your greatest weakness?’ Everyone has weaknesses so you cannot get away with saying that you have none. Think carefully and choose a weakness that you can turn into a strength by showing what you are doing to overcome it. Off-the-wall questions Very occasionally, interviewers will ask seemingly irrelevant questions to see how you react under a bit of pressure. For example, they might ask ‘What were you like as a child?’ or ‘What character from history would you like to be?’ Don’t panic, take a deep breath, think about what you are going to say and answer the question. It is unlikely that the precise answer that you give will be crucial. They are more concerned to see how you behave and whether you maintain your cool. Don’t be put off, and try to play them at their own game by turning the question around and using it as an opportunity to emphasise your suitability for the job. Be positive and remember that they would not be interviewing you if they did not think that there was a realistic chance of offering you the job - convince them they are right! Related topics- Applications, CVs and interviews
- Going For Interviews, AGCAS careers information booklet
- Why Ask Me That?, AGCAS video
- Great Answers to Tough Interview Questions, Martin Yate, Kogan Page
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