It’s difficult to predict what questions will be asked by employers at a given interview. They often change depending on the role, the interviewers, the applicant and on the day itself.

As a guide you should be thoroughly prepared to speak at length about:

• Your current role
• Your skills
• Your actual experience
• The skills and knowledge that is particularly relevant to that employer
• Why you are leaving your current employer or left past employers
• Anything written on your CV
• Your typing and word processing skills
• The packages you are familiar with
• The people you currently work for or used to work for
• Your academic background and studies/qualifications
• Your goals in the short and long term
• Your past employers
• Your interpersonal skills
• Your personality
• Your salary expectations
• Your current performance
• Your referees
• Your interests outside work
• Your work habits
• Strengths on your CV
• Weaknesses on your CV
• Your notice period

You should also want to know about the employer’s:

• Current business plans
• Clients
• Fields of expertise
• Culture
• Management style
• Future opportunities
• Long term plans
• Team structure and organisation
• Attitude to training
• Leaders and key people

If you have thought through most of the issues listed above you will find that you are in a good position to answer questions likely to arise at an interview.

While most interviewers ask simple questions focusing on the issues above, you will also need to ensure that you are not taken aback when asked “behavioural based questions”. These are questions that aim to predict your future behaviour in situations by assessing your reactions in past or hypothetical situations. These questions usually take the format of:

Can you tell me about a situation where you were put under extreme stress. What happened to cause the stress? How did you deal with the stress? How did the situation resolve?

To answer a behavioural question like the one above, you will need to think of an appropriate situation that fits the scenario, explain what happened and what steps you took to manage the stress and how it resolved. Give your answer logically and don’t be too concerned if it takes time to come up with an example. You may need to gather your thoughts before answering. Most importantly, make sure that your example demonstrates your effectiveness in the situation.

Other areas that often arise in similar form relate to the following behaviours;

• Organisational skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Leadership
• Workplace Conflict
• Pressure
• Time management
• Dealing with superiors

Take time to consider what your strengths and negatives are and feel free to ask our consultants to suggest what likely questions may arise with respect to your past experience and CV.

It’s important to bear in mind that the truth is always the best starting point when responding to such questions! Conversely, if you try to be someone you’re not, the employer will likely pick up on it. Essentially the employer is trying to get to know the real you before making a decision on whether to hire you.

The best advice we can give is that you be yourself in an interview, prepare thoroughly and be relaxed. While the lead up to an interview can be stressful and particularly busy, the actual interviews are usually friendly, informal and enjoyable for most applicants.

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