PASSION FOR THE COMPANY
- What did the Agency tell you about the role?
- What attracted you towards our organization?
- What aspect of the advert attracted you towards the role?
- What do you know about our company? What do you know about our products?
- What makes you think you can fit in with the Culture of this organization?
- What are your thoughts about the location?
WHAT IS YOUR MOTIVATION
- What is important to you in your job?
- What are your main sources of motivation? Why?
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
- What are your weaknesses? (Use this question as an opportunity to say something positive about yourself, e.g., ‘I think I sometimes try too hard' or 'Some people say I am too conscientious'.)
- What have you found most frustrating in your job? (Always respond/finish these questions with a positive!)
- What are your strengths? (Give skills that are relevant to the position you are being interviewed for.)
- What are your key strengths?
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Tell me about yourself? (talk about your skills and relevant experience for the position)
- What is your greatest achievement to date?
- How do you respond when you are put under pressure?
- What is the most challenging thing you have faced in your career? (How did you overcome it?)
- What is the most important thing you have learnt from your career to date?
- What do you like the most about your current position?
- What do you like the least about your current position? (Remember positives!)
- How would you sum up the contribution you have made to your present employer? (Sell yourself!)
- Can you give an instance where something you did affected the company in a positive manner?
- What is the most interesting assignment you have ever had?
- What tasks do you least/most like in your current role and why?
- Can you give me a situation where you have turned something bad into something good?
- Give me an example where you changed a process due to your problem solving/troubleshooting skills?
LEADERSHIP
- What kinds of decisions are most difficult for you?
- What kind of decisions are the easiest for you?
- What qualifications or experience do you have that would make you a success in this company?
- What is your management style?
- How do you manage your time on a daily basis?
- What are the Qualities you like to see in people to whom you report?
- What are the Qualities you look for in people who report to you?
- What sort of people do you find most difficult to work with?
- How do you go about trying to work with difficult types of people?
- How would you handle someone who was being problematic at work?
- How do you typically react when an important deadline approaches?
- How would you go about influencing an individual/convincing them that you are correct?
- Give me a situation where you were influenced by someone else? Why?
- Give me an example of a situation where you had to be extra persuasive?
- Describe a Situation where your work was criticized. How did you react? (i.e., Can you accept constructive criticism?)
TRAINING/DEVELOPING OTHERS/TEAM WORK
- How do you train and motivate your staff?
- Have you initiated any personal development in the last few years?
- What is your greatest training need?
- What kind of a team player would you consider yourself as being and why?
- Give an example of working as part of a team.
CAREER ASPIRATIONS/AMBITIONS
- Where do you see yourself in the future?
- What do you see as the next step in your career?
- Looking back on your career, would you have done anything differently?
- Why are you seeking new employment?
- Why do you want to leave your current job?
- Why should we hire you?
GOOD QUESTIONS TO ASK AT INTERVIEW
- What are the main goals and responsibilities of the position?
- What is the reporting structure of the department?
- How many people are in the team/department you will be working in?
- What are the career prospects like?
- Ask about the working environment, company culture, organisation structure etc.
- What are the company’s growth plans over the next few years?
- What is the next step in the recruitment process?
Poor personal appearance – Interviewers will consider how an interviewee presents themselves at interview. Sounds obvious but you have to look smart. Always sway to the side of caution and play conservative smart. One interesting point is that many companies now operate casual clothing arrangements at work but you must still wear a suit at interview unless you are told otherwise.
Poor preparation – Know what the employer wants and how you meet these needs with supportive evidence. Fail to prepare then prepare to fail.
Lack of knowledge about the organisation - This point is basic interview preparation. Do thorough research on the company. Avoid questions like “so what do you guys actually do?”
Arrive on time – You live in Ireland and we have congestion problems and flexible timetables for our public transport. I cannot say anymore here. It is difficult to bring an interview back to positive ground if you have just delayed the process by half an hour.
Over enthusiasm OR lack of enthusiasm – How you say it and your body language is as important as the words you say. You only have one chance to make a first impression. Over enthusiasm can be perceived as desperation and can kill your chance of landing a job but lack of enthusiasm is a real show stopper. I know some individuals who have used the “play it cool” approach only to miss out on a next round interview.
Negativity – Avoid negativity at all costs particularly about previous roles, employers and companies. Keep your comments positive. Beware of the “buddy” interviewer who can make you relaxed only to leak negative information.
Leaving your ears at home – Poor listening skills means poor communication skills. If you are unclear about a question that has been asked seek clarification rather than rambling on about unrelated stuff. Listening is a key interviewing skill.
Talk the talk BUT have you walked the walk – Supporting evidence creates a bigger impact and helps differentiate good interviewee's and average interviewee's. Be able to back up what you say you can do with solid examples.
Lies damn lies – Lies will come back to bite you on the backside. The difficulty about lying is that you are soon telling more lies to cover your initial lies. You will become unstuck in the web of deception.
