Sample Interview Questions

Knowing what kind of questions you may be asked at interview can be a real help. Whilst the questions below are by no means an exhaustive list, they are representative of common questions that candidates has been previously asked.

Openers:

• Tell me about yourself. What is your background?
• What do you know about our company?
• Why did you decide to seek a position with this company? What interests you about our company?

Work Experience/Job Performance:

• Why should we hire you? Why do you think you're the right person for this job? How have you added value and provide an example? When have you went above and beyond the call of duty when dealing with a client?
• What unique qualities or abilities would you bring to this job? Could you give me an example of how you displayed each of these qualities in your current job? In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our company?
• Tell me about a time that you failed at something, and what you did afterwards. What major problems have you encountered and how did you deal with them?
• Are you a team player? Describe a time when you worked on a team project. What was your relative position on the team? Were you satisfied with your contribution? How could it have been better?
• How do you work under pressure? Give an example of how you dealt with it? How do you typically behave when a deadline is approaching?
• How do you react to criticism?
• What has been the biggest disappointment in your career to date?
• What is your greatest achievement to date?
• Describe your first week in the job if you are successful.
• Why do you wish to leave your current position?
• If your employer was to offer one area you should try to improve upon to assist you with you career development in the future - what do you think they would say?
• What was the last thing/person that made you very annoyed?
• How would your fellow workers describe you?

Education/Training/Future Goals:

• What would you hope to achieve in the first 12 months?
• Where do you see yourself in five years?
• What do you see as the next step in your career?
• Why did you choose your college and course of study?
• What other types of jobs or companies are you considering?

Company Research:

• Why have you applied for this particular position? Why do you want to work here?
• What do you know about this job? What do you understand to be the main objectives of this position?
• What salary are you expecting?

Personal:

• When are you available for work?
• What do you do in your spare time?
• How would you describe yourself?

Closures:

• Have you any questions for us? Be prepared to ASK questions!