Interview Preparation - Innovation Recruitment

Innovation Recruitment | Candidates | Interview Preparation

Common Questions

Tell me about yourself?

Identify your main attributes. Go through your qualifications, career history and skills, emphasise those skills that are relevant to the position.

Tell me about an achievement

Select something recent, work related and explain how it has benefited you.

Are you pleased with your career so far?

Yes! Follow the answer with an explanation. If you have reached a plateau or you think you are not moving quick enough, qualify your answer.

Give me an example of a difficult situation and how you managed it?

Choose a work situation caused by someone other than you and explain how you solved the problem. Always end positively.

What do you like about your current job?

Be honest and enthusiastic when answering this question.

What don't you like about your current job?

Be careful how you answer this perhaps choose a characteristic of your current company, for example, size.

What are your strengths?

Provide three or four proficiencies, e.g. ability to relate to people.

What are your weaknesses?

Provide a personal or professional weakness that could also be interpreted as a strength and what you've done to combat it.

Why do want to leave your current company?

More responsibility, experience and a change of environment. Do not state salary as a reason for leaving.

Why have you applied for this position?

Ensure you understand the role and organisation and describe what interests you about the role.

Impress the interviewer with your knowledge of their company. Give them a run down of their products/services, sales figures, news, company figures, customers, etc. Prepare a few questions for the end of the interview. Smile! Enjoy yourself!

It is important to convince the interviewer you are qualified, motivated, fit in with the company’s culture and working practices.

Plan how you will get to the interview

Turn up 10 minutes early

Dress well/smart (suit/tie for men)

First impressions count. Decisions are made in the first two minutes of an interview

Look interested – smile, make eye contact, listen, enjoy, nod to show you are interested, firm handshake at beginning and end of interview

Take an extra copy of your CV with you

Stay calm and focused

Find out whether job/people/company is for you

Convey that you are happy, reliable and friendly, can work in a team; are responsible and a good time-keeper

Have some outside interests

Think what lasting impression you would like to leave the interviewer