The 6 Most Common Interview Questions and How to Answer them

So you’ve written a great application and been offered an interview, congratulations! Now you need to prepare your answers to the questions you most likely will be asked to ensure you’re presenting everything you have to offer the company. Here are the most common interview questions and how to answer them:

1. Why do you want to work in this role?

This is your opportunity to demonstrate your passion for this role. Nobody wants to hire someone to do a job that they don’t enjoy because the quality of work will be lower and they might not stay in the job for very long. 

Exemplify your interest in the position and industry with books/podcasts you have read/listened to on the subject, experience you have collected and anecdotes of when and why you have loved this career in the past. 

Show that you have researched the role and have an interest in it by explaining what interests you about the role and what led you to apply. Which aspects do you think you would excel at and why? Which aspects are a chance for you to develop your skills?

2. Why do you want to work at this organisation?

Equally, interviewers want to hire someone who shares their values and enthusiasm. Make sure you research the organisation so you can explain what attracted you to the company and exactly how you would fit in perfectly with the culture.

3. How would you improve our product/service?

This question or a variation of it is your chance to demonstrate how you would be an asset to the company and why you should be hired. Show your expertise by choosing something you think you could improve and explaining how and why you would do things differently.

4. Describe yourself in five words.

Pick attributes described in the person specification for the job vacancy. Give examples of when you have demonstrated these qualities so the interviewers don’t just have to take your word for it.

5. What is your greatest weakness?

Try to frame your answer in a way that shows your self-awareness and your ability to overcome your weaknesses. For example, you may not be a natural public speaker but this could ba skill that you’ve practiced to improve. Never say that you have no weaknesses as you will come across as arrogant.

6. Can you give an example of when you…

There are many variations of this question: Can you give an example of when you overcame a difficult situation? Can you give an example of when you improved systems? Can you give an example of when you managed a project to time and budget? When answering any of these questions it’s important to use the STAR method. First, describe the situation, the context or the problem that existed. Next, explain the task you were set or that you set yourself to improve the situation or address the problem. Detail your actions including the team members involved and the resources you utilised. Finally, explain the specific result of your actions and what you learned from the experience.