Popular Interview Questions:

These are some of the most popular interview questions, which seem to be on most interviewers checklists and some general interview advice. We will give you an idea as to what the interviewer is looking for but try and think about each of these before you go off to your interview and tailor an answer to suit the job you are applying for or the person that you are. So here are the more common interview questions:

Tell me about yourself:

Your interviewer is looking to form an impression about the person you are with this question but it is a very broad question to answer so it might be a good idea to clarify with your interviewer exactly what he would like to know about you.

What is the best part of your current job?

This is a straightforward question that you can answer honestly. Pick areas that you know will compliment the job you are applying for and offer enthusiasm when describing them.

What do you dislike most about your current job?

What your interviewer is trying to do here is pick up on any weaknesses you may have in your current role. Try and give an answer that relates to the way that things work in your present company rather than being specific about your job. You could answer with a comment about the management style or perhaps the time it takes to make decisions. Although its difficult try and avoid comments that could be interpreted as negative and self-critical.

Why do you want to leave your current job?

The interviewer is not looking for an answer that is going to relate to salary, company car, holidays, not being able to get along with other members of staff and so on. You would be looking to give answers along the lines of; your present employer has limited career progression opportunities or; you would like more responsibility in your role which your current employer is unable to offer.

How do you feel about your current manager?

This is a question that really is irrelevant to the job you are applying for, it is posed to see whether you are the sort of person who is going to be critical of others. This is not an opportunity for you to go on about how useless your boss is at signing off the expenses or the fact that he has 2 hours for his lunch. You need to show loyalty to your existing employer and answer the question complimenting him as a person and respecting his position.

What are your greatest strengths?

If you have prepared for the interview properly you will be able to answer this question proficiently and it is an opportunity for you to show that your strengths would really suit this job. Try and pick three or four different strengths. They don’t have to be specific to the actual job itself but they should compliment the job role. You will already know what type of position you are applying for however whatever answers you give it is important that you back them up with examples, it will certainly be expected.

What’s your biggest weakness?

This is a difficult question to answer, as you don’t really want to show that you have weaknesses but it is not a good idea at all to say that you don’t have any. If you answer “none” you can guarantee that there will be another set of trick questions coming back at you so the way to deal with this is to try and give an answer that describes a weakness but dictates a positive. Try and pick a personal weakness rather than one that relates to work. You could say that you really don’t like cutting your lawn but once you have done it you get a great sense of pride or something along those lines.

What do you think this position involves?

As you have already applied for the job it is a fairly reasonable assumption that you will already know something about the role. The interviewer may already have given you a job description prior to the interview or you will at have the advert when you made your initial application. So depending on your personal circumstances you can make a fair guess at what you think the job entails.

What do you know about our company?

Earlier we mentioned how crucial it was to prepare prior to your interview and part of the preparation stage was to research your potential employer. When doing your research try and pick up on things that are a little bit quirky. Yes you could answer by making remarks regarding the companies latest share price, how the company increased its turnover in the last financial year and so on. What would really impress your interviewer is if you can make a comment regarding the firms integrity, for example if you were applying to Tesco’s you could make a comment about the fact that they offer computers for schools vouchers or Waitrose who source all of their products locally and remark that you think it’s a good idea where companies are keen to put something back into the local community that supports them.

Why have you applied for this position?

The chances are you have applied for this job because not only do you think you can do it – and well, it pays more money than you already earn and the long-term prospects are far better than your current employer. That isn’t really the answer though that the interviewer is looking for. When you answer this question try and think about what the job entails, what qualities you have that would suit the job and why, with the two combined, the job really appealed to you.

What qualities do you think you can bring to this job position?

As with the above question you know the job role, you know what skills you can implement in this role and you know that combining the two together, along with your enthusiastic attitude that you will be able to give this job 110%. Your answer will need to be tailored to your personal circumstances and the actual job but should revolve around these three areas.

How long would you expect to stay with our company if you were appointed?

You have to bear in mind that when employers are looking to recruit new staff they are looking for the right person who is going to be loyal to their company and stay in their employment long term. Recruiting new staff can be a costly experience especially if that member of staff only stays with the company for a short period of time. If you are going to be chosen for this position your answer has to be that you are looking for a long-term position.

Where do you see your career in five years?

Your answer to this question has to incorporate your desire to succeed, show realistic ambition and commitment. You must not appear over ambitious, its no good you saying that you want to be sitting in the chairman’s seat in 5 years time.

How would your work colleagues describe you?

The ideal answer to this question is going to incorporate the fact that your colleagues all like you, find you easy going, fair and a hard working member of your department. Try and be as honest as possible without trying to make out you are something you are not.

How would your friends describe you?

Well they wouldn’t be your friends if they didn’t like you! Answer this question thinking about the kind of qualities you would want or look for in one of your friends. Even better why not ask one of your friends how they would honestly describe you and consider the response that they give to use as an answer.

What interests or hobbies do you have?

Make sure you give an honest answer to this question or you are likely to get caught out. Don’t say you like something you don’t just because you think you will impress the interviewer.

What kind of books do you read?

Another question that you can answer truthfully. Pick a book that you really enjoyed and spend a few moments telling your interviewer why you liked reading it.