Top Common Interview Questions - tbo.jobtestprep.co.uk

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Most Common Interview Questions

Dear Candidate,

The following guide reviews 12 important interview questions. There is a 100%

likelihood that more than one of these questions will be asked on your real

interview.

Therefore, we highly recommend that you review this guide, as it will equip you with

excellent advice and efficient tools to improve your answering patterns, without you

having to invest too much time. (We know time is of the essence here.)

Best of luck,

JobTestPrep Interview Preparation Team

Basic Questions

1. Tell me about yourself.

What are interviewers looking for in this question?

One of the reasons this question makes people nervous is exactly what the

interviewer is looking for in your answer—the way you deal with an unstructured

problem and ambiguity.

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With a little practice, this question can shift from being intimidating to one you are

glad is asked at every interview. This question can enliven your interview and give

you a great start.

Best practices in answering + example

Your answer should be well-organised and coherent. The details you decide to reveal

should demonstrate something about you and what you find to be important. It is

crucial that the information you reveal be relevant to the position you are applying

for.

What should the answer to this question contain?

A brief introduction of basic background details (location, age, etc.)

Educational background

Professional experience, fields of expertise, achievements, etc.

Volunteer experience (if relevant to the position)

Example:

'My name is Bill. I am 23, and I live in Leicester. I am completing my B.A. in

Economics at Leicester University. I will graduate with honors and in the top 5% of

my class. These studies have challenged and intrigued me. During my studies, I

worked as a customer service representative in a big communications company. As

part of my position, I was in charge of serving customers, solving their problems, and

dealing with refunds. In addition to my studies and my job, I volunteered with

children in the hospital and helped them to keep up with their schoolwork. This

activity allowed me the opportunity to use my strengths to help those in need. This

job opening is a great opportunity for me to apply the knowledge I acquired during

my studies. I believe I am ready to take on this challenge'.




Don'ts

Don’t go back too far in your answer. (Ex: 'I studied at Ashton Vale Primary

School'.).

Don’t focus on irrelevant things. (Ex: 'I have a twin'.)

Don’t get lost in too many details.

Don't go into too many details regarding your personal life (kid's names,

partner's occupation, etc.).

2. Why do you want this job?


At first, this may sound like a complex question. However, it can be simplified and

divided into two questions:

Why are you interested in the company?

Why are you interested in the job?

The employer is looking for evidence of your compatibility with the company’s

vision. He or she wants to hire someone who is motivated to do the job. You must

show the employer what you like and what interests you about the position.

Moreover, you must show your enthusiasm for the challenges the position provides

and not the external rewards that come along with it.

In addition, the employer wants to see if you are well-acquainted with the company

you are applying to, if your professional desires fit reality, and if you have invested

enough research into learning about the company and the position.


The answer should address two aspects: the company and the proposed job itself.

Aside from noting the strengths of the company you are applying to, you should




emphasise how your skills match the job and how this job may even maximise your

own abilities. Make sure to also emphasise what motivates you about the position.


Your interest in the company

Your interest in the open position

Your knowledge of the company and the position

How your values and skills match those of the company and the

specific position

Example:

'Your company is well-known thanks to its innovative products. I would like to take part in

the development process of these kinds of products, especially your new blood pressure

gauge based on optic fiber. Being a part of this development team will challenge my

creativity and professionality. My career is at a point right now that I am seeking and ready

to take on a new challenge. I heard your company has great career development programs

that allow employees to develop both professionally and on a personal level. These

attributes fit my desire to grow with the company and to be promoted within the company

hierarchy'.

Don’ts:

Don’t mention external reasons for wanting the job (high salary, close to

home, the company's good name).

Don’t be too general. (Ex: 'I think it’s a good company and an interesting

position'.)

Don't say you do not know too many details about the job.

Don't say you came to learn from the position.

Don't say you see the position as springboard for other positions.




3. Why should we hire you?


In this question, the interviewer is asking you to discuss your strengths—your

experience, skills, motivation, etc. The interviewer wants to see if you understand

the requirements of the position as well as if you meet them. Moreover, the

interviewer wants to ensure you are aware of the challenges the job entails and if

you can deal with them.


You should cover several elements in your answer: professional experience,

achievements, skills, and motivations. Your answer should be backed up by

examples. By including these examples, you strengthen your claims.


Professional experience

Relevant knowledge

Familiarity with relevant sectors (public sector, international

organisations, start-ups, etc.)

Achievements

Skills

Examples

Your motivation

Example:

'I believe the edge I have over other candidates is the combination of the extensive

knowledge I have gained along the way with my interpersonal skills and high




motivation for success. During my last three years as a financial consultant at an

investment bank, I took part in various projects, some of which required working as

part of a team and others which I performed individually. In addition to the broad

professional perspective I acquired during my work, these projects helped me to

develop good communication skills as well the ability to work well both alone and as

part of a team. I believe that I meet all the requirements for this position, and I'm

ready for the challenge it presents'.

Don’ts:

Don’t mention skills or experience you don’t possess. (Ex: "Although, I don’t

have specific experience in this…")

Don’t get lost in too many details. (Instead, stay focused on strengths

relevant to the position.)

4. What are –2–3 weaknesses you need to improve?


The employer isn't looking for perfect a candidate. He or she knows you are not free

of flaws and wants to see if you are also able to admit this.

Not answering this question may imply that you can’t recognise your own flaws or

that you are lying to cover up some very problematic personality traits. Acknowledge

your weaknesses—the employer wants to see that you are engaged in self-work to

develop and improve yourself. Equally important, the employer wants to ensure

your weaknesses are not relevant to the position you are applying for.


The weaknesses you choose to reveal must not be related to the core of the

position; they cannot interfere with your work. Nonetheless, you need to show that




these weak traits bother you and that you are working on ways to overcome them.

This will demonstrate that you seek to progress and improve.


Examples of several weaknesses (must not be related to the core of

the profession)

An explanation of why these are weaknesses (Ex: how they bother

you)

What are you doing to overcome them?

Example:

'I often find myself engaging in too much self-criticism. Even after completing a

successful project, I can sit for days and think about what I did and how I could have

done better. This takes up both mental strength and valuable time. Over time I have

learned to put things in perspective and to realise that not everything is always

perfect. While constructive criticism is necessary, too much of it, or when it is

directed in the wrong direction, is not effective'.

Don'ts:

Don’t say you're unable to think of any weaknesses.

Don’t mention fewer or more weaknesses than the interviewer asks you to

provide.

Don’t mention a weakness that is critical to the position. (Ex: A candidate for

an administrative position should not admit to being disorganised.)




5. What are your transferable skills?


According to the Cambridge dictionary, transferable skills are 'skills used in

one job or career that can also be used in another'. In a job interview, this question

will most likely come up if you don’t have any work experience or if you are changing

careers. Since you don’t have relevant experience, the interviewer wants to see what

it is you do bring with you that can help you succeed in this new position.


You should cover several aspects of your personal life, social life, and studies in your

answer: interpersonal skills, organisational skills, leadership skills, and the ability to

solve problems. Your answer should be backed up by examples. By including these

examples, you strengthen your claims.


Interpersonal skills (listening, negotiation, assertiveness, etc.)

Cognitive skills (perception, reasoning, creativity, problem solving

ability, etc.)

Management skills (planning, organising, controlling, etc.)

Work style attributes (patience, team player, persistence, etc.)

Examples!

Example:

"I think one of my transferable skills that could help me in this new position is my

creativity. It has helped me many times in the past. For example, during my studies, I

once had to take a difficult test. The test contained a question that most of the

students answered in a very long and complex manner. I managed to find a shorter

way to solve the question. My professor praised me for this creative step."




Don’ts:

Don’t say you can't recall an example right now.

Don’t get lost in too many details.

Competencies Questions

6. Describe a time in which you faced failure and how you dealt with it.


An employer is not looking for a perfect candidate. He or she knows you have made

mistakes in the past and wants to see if you can also admit this.

The inability to answer this question usually implies that you can’t recognise failure

or that you are lying to cover up some big mistake from the past.

Take responsibility for your past failures or mistakes; the employer wants to see if

you learned something from the situation.


No one is free of mistakes. Your advantage over the other candidates should be in

the fact that you recognise failure and understand your ability to become stronger

after an unpleasant situation. Your story should not contain an action that puts your

personality or your professional skills in doubt. Your failure should arise from a

mistake that you can overcome and improve the next time you are in a similar

situation.


A story about a failure you experienced




The reason for the failure

The lesson you internalised from the incident

Example:

'During the first month of my internship position, I was asked by my boss to make a

sales report and deliver it by the end of the day. As a result of an incorrect

prioritisation of other tasks, I did not submit the report in time. I realised I had made

a mistake and I stayed at the office after work hours to ensure my boss had the

report the next morning'.

Don'ts:

Don’t act like you have never failed.

Don’t blame someone else for your failure.

Don’t choose an example that may imply you are not fit for the job.

7. Describe a team experience that did not work out well. How did you

handle it?


Your interviewer wants to see how well you cope with others. He or she wants to see

how you collaborate, if you get along with other people, and if you can positively

influence team tasks. In addition to analysing your interpersonal interactions, the

interviewer wants to see if you can take responsibility for your failures and to

examine your ability to overcome and emerge strengthened from difficulties.


In most cases, the interviewer will ask you to provide a specific example about a

project that went wrong. In other cases, he or she may ask you an open question




about what you view as important for a team project to be successful. The first type

of question should be approached as a behavioural one. This means you must

answer the question with an example—a story about a situation that involved

teamwork. This story should contain a conflict or something that went wrong and

the way you or the team dealt with the situation. Furthermore, your example should

conclude with positive results. If the question is worded as an open one, you should

start your answer with your point of view about teamwork—namely, what is

essential for any team to function—and support your answer with an example as if it

were a behavioural question.


A short self-reflection on your social skills

A story related to teamwork taken from recent experience (work,

studies, or another project)

A conflict with one of the team members or something that went

wrong

The way you dealt with the conflict or the problem

Positive results

Example:

'As part of my previous job, I worked on a major financial statement audits project

for a large public company. We divided the responsibilities, and each performed his

or her part separately. The problem, however, was that we didn’t establish a

productive communication channel and thus didn't share our individual progress

with each other. We ended up contacting the same customer multiple times. At one

point, the customer became angry and asked us to stop repeating the same

questions and to be more focused. The project manager called us together, and we

carried out a re-evaluation of the situation. We set up a procedure to ensure orderly




and constant communication between us, and we opened a file on a Q&A session to

avoid further unpleasantness with the customer'.

Don'ts:

Don’t try to avoid the question. (Ex: 'I never had a conflict with another team

member'.)

Don't just answer in a general manner; back up your answer with examples.

8. Describe how you handled a difficult or frustrating person with whom

you had to work.


This question focusses on interpersonal interaction between you and your

teammates. Your interviewer is interested in how well you cope with others. He or

she wants to see how you collaborate, if you get along with other people, and if you

are able to manage a conflict.


There are several questions in the family of teamwork questions. Questions may

appear as one of the following:

Have you ever had problems getting along with a colleague?

If you do not get along with someone on your team, how do you

handle the situation?

Tell me about a time you had a conflict at work.

You should approach these questions as if they are behavioural questions, even if a

particular question isn't exactly worded as such. This means you must answer the




question with an example—a story about a situation that involved teamwork. The

story should contain a conflict with someone from work and the way you dealt with

the situation. The emphasis should be on what your approach was to solve the

conflict, and this approach should specifically involve open communication.

Furthermore, your example should conclude with positive results.


A story related to teamwork taken from recent experience (work,

studies, or another project)

A conflict with one of your team members

The way you dealt with the conflict (communication)

Positive results

Example:

'As part of my previous job, I worked on a major financial statement audits project

for a large public company. We divided the responsibilities, and each performed his

or her part separately. After receiving complaints from an angry costumer, we

realised we needed to communicate in a more effective manner, so we scheduled a

team meeting. During the meeting, one of the team members stuck to his positions

and kept rejecting any offer that was raised by the other members. This caused

some members to avoid expressing their opinions. During the break, I approached

this member and explained the situation to him, noting that he would have to give

up his desire to run the project only as he saw fit. He understood the matter and,

even if not happily, changed his attitude and accepted others' suggestions'.

Don'ts:

Don’t say you didn’t have a conflict at all. (Ex: 'I get along with everybody all

the time'.)




Don’t use an example in which you clashed with someone. (Ex: 'So, I yelled

back'.)

Don’t use an example that sees you running from the conflict. (Ex: 'So, I gave

up my idea'.)

9. Describe a situation in which you had a disagreement with a

subordinate. What did you do to resolve this conflict?


Interviewers want to see if you can successfully combine meeting goals with creating

a pleasant atmosphere in the office. They are interested in determining your

leadership, interpersonal, and teamwork abilities.


You should approach these questions as if they are behavioural questions, even if a

particular question isn't exactly worded as such. This means you must answer the

question with an example—a story about a situation that involved a conflict or a

problem you had with one or more of your subordinates. The emphasis should be on

what your approach was to solve the conflict or the problem, and this approach

should specifically involve a combination of good interpersonal skills and

assertiveness. Furthermore, your example should conclude with positive results.


A story related to a conflict or a problem with your subordinate taken

from recent experience

The way you dealt with the conflict (communication, empathy,

assertiveness)

Positive results (meeting the targets)




Example:

'A new worker had just joined my team. After a training period, I assigned him his

first task. The task was not a complicated one, and I felt it should have taken him half

a day to complete. After two days, I noticed that he still had not completed it. I

approached him to see why he hadn't delivered the report, and he began to stutter,

apologising for not meeting the deadline. I calmed him down and told him that next

time he should keep me informed. Then we tried to determine the source of the

problem together. I noticed that he probably had not understood the instructions

well enough. I explained the instructions to him again in more detail, and he indeed

completed the job within a few hours'.

Don'ts:

Don’t say you didn’t have a conflict or a problem with your subordinates at

all. (Ex: 'I get along with everybody all the time; my workers do everything

perfectly'.)

Don’t use an example in which you clashed with one of your subordinates.

(Ex: 'I yelled back and fired him'.)

Don’t use an example in which you avoided the conflict or tackling the

problem. (Ex: 'So, I gave up my idea'.)

10. Describe a conflict with a boss or professor and explain how you worked to resolve it.


The interviewers are looking to get a glimpse at your interpersonal skills, problem

solving skills, and your ability to deal with an authority that does not agree with you.

They also want to examine your ability to adapt to an organisation's norms and

codes.





You should start your answer by saying good things about your boss and noting that

you get along fine with him or her. Your interviewer may be your next boss and he or

she doesn't want to hear you blaming your superior.

Your answer should emphasise your approach to solving the conflict or the problem,

and this approach should involve a combination of good interpersonal skills and the

ability to stand up for your opinion even if your supervisor doesn't agree with you. It

is crucial to show you also understand your manager's opinion. This indicates you

have a broad perspective about the organisation's needs. Furthermore, your

example should conclude with positive results.


A story related to a conflict or a problem with your supervisor taken

from recent experience

The way you dealt with the conflict (communication, a broad

perspective)

Positive results (meeting the targets)

Example:

'Even though my boss was great, I have had a few disagreements with him.

Whenever it happens, I try to rethink and reevaluate the situation from his point of

view. Following this, I ask to discuss the issue with him and there I share my opinion.

There were some times he changed his mind after we discussed the matter, and

there were some times he didn’t. However, he was always willing to hear my

opinion. I strongly believe open communication is essential to any manager-

subordinate relationship'.




Don'ts:

Don’t say you didn’t have a conflict or a problem with your manager at all.

(Ex: 'I have an amazing boss; I am an excellent worker and do everything my

boss tells me to do'.)

Don’t use an example in which you clashed with your supervisor. (Ex: 'So, I

yelled back at him'.)

Don’t use an example in which you avoided conflict or tackling the problem.

(Ex: 'So, I gave up my idea'.)

Don’t use an example in which you place all the blame on your boss or

someone else.

11. Tell me about a major decision you made and the process you used to

make that decision.


The interviewers are evaluating your ability to make informed decisions. They are

looking for a person who is not paralysed by stress or doubts. In addition, they want

to see your thinking process.


In this kind of question, the interviewer may ask for an example or just for your

thinking process. Your answer to both questions should begin with a theoretical

approach to the decision-making process—what you see as essential phases during

this process. If the question is a behavioural one, this means the interviewer is asking

you to inform or her about a time you had to make a decision. You must answer the

question with an example—a story in which you had to make a work-related

decision. In the story, you should provide background on the case and a description

of your thinking process. The decision you made must be based on facts and rational

thinking. Furthermore, your example should conclude with positive results.





A case in which you made a work-related decision

A rational thinking process that was involved in your decision-making

Positive outcomes

Example:

'Last year, a worker on my team wasn't doing his job well. Even simple tasks took

him a very long time to finish, and this situation continued for a few months.

Eventually, I came under pressure from management to fire him, but I didn’t want to

fire him because he was an excellent candidate with great scores on his applying

tests. I had to quickly decide what to do next: should I fire him now or should I think

about what exactly is making his work so inefficient. I decided to speak with him to

determine the reason for his slow work. During the conversation, I discovered that

he didn’t really understand a few of the features on the software we use to make the

work much faster. Since that conversation, he has become one of my best

employees, and I am very happy I kept him on my team'.

Don'ts:

Don’t use a story in which you caused the stressful situation. (Ex: 'I continued

to postpone starting my work'.)

Don’t pick a story in which you didn't deal with pressure well. (Ex: 'I

panicked'.)

Don’t mention as a stress factor something that is a routine part of your

desired job. (Ex: A call center representative should not say that phone calls

make him or her nervous.)




12. Tell me about an accomplishment you are most proud of.


The interviewer wants to see what you consider an achievement and what you

consider an obstacle. Moreover, the interviewer is interested in how you overcame

this obstacle: Did you do it yourself or were you acting as part of a team? Which

talents did you use and what motivated you to succeed?


In this question, the interviewer explicitly asks you to provide an example of your

greatest achievement. Therefore, you should recount a specific story in which you

accomplished something important. If you are an experienced worker, the story

should come from your work experience. If you are applying for your first job, your

story should come from your studies or any other project you view as an

achievement. In the story, you should describe the obstacles you overcame and what

motivated you to accomplish your goal. Chose an example in which you significantly

contributed to the accomplishment. Make sure your actions were the decisive factor

and not some external factor or just luck.


A success story (from your work experience if you are an experienced

worker or from your studies or another project if you are applying for

your first job)

Obstacles that were in the way and how you dealt with them (with

interpersonal skills, work ethic, critical thinking, etc.)

What motivated you to succeed

People that helped you along the way (in case it was a team project)




Example (experienced candidate):

'Over my seven years as a manager, I experienced several successes. The one I

consider my greatest accomplishment is the analysis report my team composed for

one of our largest clients last year. This report took us two months of intensive work.

We faced many obstacles, such as inaccurate or missing information, lack of

cooperation from companies that were included inside the report, lack of personnel,

and constant deadlines. I think that what helped me lead my team to success during

this project was my ability to pay attention to both the small details and the bigger

picture, as well as my ability to motivate my subordinates. This project was very

challenging, and I needed to be at my best to accomplish it. This is what encouraged

me to succeed'.

Example (graduate candidate):

'I would like to think of my thesis work as my greatest achievement. I was part of

research team that worked together for almost a year. We faced many obstacles

during this year, including the loss of all of our data and a shortage of participants. I

managed to overcome these obstacles by working hard to restore all the data. My

interpersonal skills also helped me in convincing people to participate in our

research. My thesis advisor thanked me profusely for this contribution. In the end,

we managed—through good teamwork and proper division of the tasks—to deliver

the work ahead of schedule'.

Don'ts:

Don’t say you do not have any accomplishment or that you can't choose

one.

Don’t use accomplishments from your personal life (my wedding, my

son's birth, etc.)

Don’t pick a story in which your share of the success wasn’t significant.

(Ex: "While I played a part, most of the success depended on my team

members.")




Don't attribute your success to external factors. (Ex: "I must admit, luck

played a big part in me accomplishing this.")



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Top Common Interview Questions - tbo.jobtestprep.co.uk