There are certain things an interviewer is bound to want to know about you, which they will try to ascertain through questioning. The key things to remember when you answer any questions are:

• Keep your answer relevant. If you are asked to outline your strengths, don't give a long list. Pick one or two key areas, focusing on those that your interviewer most needs the successful candidate to have in order to do the job
• Listen and answer the question you've been asked. Don't sidestep difficult questions. Your interviewer isn't stupid - they'll notice you're doing it and they won't like it
• Only answer the question you are asked; don't give lots of extraneous information. Keep your answers as brief as you can without omitting anything relevant.

Sample interview questions

Employers in all aspects of the job market now give much more consideration to the different ways in which professionals promote themselves.

Below are some sample questions which could come up in your interview. The answers recommended here are not scripts; however, they do give an indication of suitable responses which should hopefully impress your interviewer.

1. ‘Tell me about yourself’
This is not an invitation to give your life history. You really need the interviewer to be more specific before you can give the answer they want, so you could ask them, 'What aspect(s) would you like me to tell you about?'.

You should aim to describe the kind of person you are in a couple of minutes at most. Concentrate on positive qualities, and link them to the key responsibilities of the job you're applying for. For example: 'I'm a people person - I enjoy working with people and being part of a team. I'm the sort of person who likes to get stuck into a project, and I really enjoy seeing a project right through from initial planning to the final stages ...'.
 
Should they ask to hear about what you're like away from work, you still want to give them an answer that means you're cut out for the job on offer. So, again, if you want to show you're a good team player, you might tell them, 'I'm very social; I have lots of friends and I spend a lot of time with them. I play a lot of sports such as ice hockey.'
 
2. ‘What do you enjoy most in your current job?’
This can be a kind of trick question. The interviewer is tempting you to indicate that there are things you don't like about your job. If that's so, presumably there will be things about the role you are applying for that you won't like too - which isn't very encouraging.

Try to be positive about all aspects of your current role, whilst maybe selecting one or two aspects which you really do enjoy, such as dealing directly with customers or managing teams. You can then relate these to relevant aspects of the new role, which will support your reasons for applying.

3. ‘What is the biggest challenge you've faced at work?’
You need to have an answer ready for this in order to get the best from it. The idea is that you not only describe the challenge, but also how you coped with it. So you need to pick an example that leaves you looking good.

The interviewer is also finding out what you consider a challenge. So think hard about the example you want to pick. Will it be a tough decision? A difficult situation? A system that needed overhauling to improve results? You get to choose, so pick something that will be relevant to this job, as always. Just one rule of thumb to follow: it's dangerous to pick an example that involves problems with other people. It can give the impression that you find getting on with others a big challenge.

4. ‘Why do you want to leave your present job?’
This is a classic interview question. The best type of answer here is one which focuses on the positive aspects or opportunities associated with the new position, as opposed to the deficits in your existing role.

A good answer to this question is, 'Because I want to broaden my experience and I think I can do that better in a new organisation' (or words to that effect). If it's relevant to the job, you can expand on this briefly. For example, if the job entails giving a lot of presentations you might say, 'In particular, I enjoy presenting and it's something I've become very good at. Unfortunately, there aren't that many opportunities for me to develop my skills further where I am now.'

5. ‘What is your present (or most recent) boss like?’
Never criticise any of your bosses or colleagues - current, recent or otherwise. The interviewer may be your future boss, and wants to hear you being loyal. Just say something like; 'I'm lucky to have a boss who is very good at their job', and leave it there.

6. ‘What do you think is the role of a ... (whatever job you are applying for)?’
You need to answer in terms of the big picture - the overall objective of the job and the key responsibilities. As you may realise, you can pick up big clues from the job description if you're applying for a job in your usual line of work. But you will also want to draw on your own experience.

7. ‘What do you know about our company?’
This is a great opportunity to demonstrate that you've done your homework. Keep to the relevant points - size, turnover, nature of the business, growth and business ethos (for example, 'I know you're a young, growing organisation with a reputation for developing people'). Keep it brief, but add one or two things that suggest you've gone deeper than merely reading the annual report. For example: '... and I notice in the trade press that you've just signed a couple of very big deals in Eastern Europe.'

8. ‘Why do you want this job?’
Try not to waffle about challenges and prospects. Talk in terms of benefits to them, and be specific about the kind of challenge you enjoy. For example: 'I'm a great organiser, and I'm looking for a post that gives me scope to plan and organise'. This is also a good opportunity to show off the research you've done into the company, keeping it brief and relevant; ‘I find growing companies have a more exciting, dynamic atmosphere to work in, and I know you've been growing by an average of six per cent for the last four years.'

9. ‘What do you feel you can bring to this job?’
This is a question that gives you a chance to shine. You need to link your past experience or skills to the requirements of the job. Pick three key strong points in your favour that are relevant to this job. For example: 'I'm very experienced at dealing with customers, including tricky ones. I get on easily with other people so I work well in a team. And I'm naturally organised and find it easy to handle paperwork and fit in with whatever systems I need to. As I understand it, these are all important skills for this job.'

10. ‘How long would you expect to stay with this company?’
The interviewer isn't going to employ someone who'll be off again before they've got their full value from them. Indicate that you'd like to stay a few years. 'I'd like to settle with this company and grow and develop within it. I see myself staying as long as I keep progressing here and making a contribution.'

11. ‘Where do you see yourself in five years' time?’
You want to be careful how you answer this because, if you give a specific goal and the interviewer knows they cannot fulfil it, they will be put off hiring you. So keep it open. But remember that they want to know you have drive and will keep increasing your value to them. Say something like, 'I'm certainly ambitious, and I like to keep moving and progressing. But you can't fit a job to a preset list of conditions. I find it's far more rewarding to let the job lead you forward.'

12. ‘What are your greatest strengths?’
This is a perfect question - just focus your answers on the key responsibilities of the job to make sure your strengths are relevant to your interviewer. Make sure you don't waffle on for too long; pick a few key strengths that are really important for this job.

13. ‘What is your biggest weakness?’
This is one of those really tough questions as it invites you to say something negative about yourself. Resist. The best way to answer is to use an example of a problem which you have learned to cope with – for example, “I don’t really enjoy paperwork, but I've learnt to set aside half an hour at the start of every day for it”. This approach will avoid giving away any real weaknesses, and also avoid making you come across as too arrogant.

14. ‘How would your colleagues describe you?’
This is an invitation to list your strong points, so grab it. Concentrate on your plus points as colleague - supportive, a good team player, and so on. It is unwise to make any outrageous claims you could well come unstuck if your references are checked out or if you start the job. If you prefer to work alone, but get on with everyone, you might give an answer like, 'They'd say I was one of the quieter members of the team, popular and can be relied on to pull with the team when it's facing any kind of challenge.'

15. ‘What outside interests do you have?’
Your interviewer is trying to find out more about you. Your interests will tell them whether you are sporty, competitive, enjoy dangerous hobbies, like solo or group activities, and so on. Don't invent hobbies (you don't want your interviewer to say, 'Bungee jumping? Me too! Where's your favourite location round here for a jump? What kind of equipment do you use?'), but select those hobbies or interests that show you as the kind of person your interviewer is looking for.

Ready answers
Taking all of the above into consideration will help you make the right impression to win that job, but ultimately the answers will fall to you. As long as you are honest and concise, the interviewer will gain a decent sense of your character. The technical questions will depend on the role you go for which we cannot cover here. If you would like help preparing for technical interviews, please discuss with your Recruitment Consultant.

And don’t forget…

• To iron your clothes
• Dress appropriately
• Clean your shoes
• Allow enough time for traffic delays
• Plan your route
• Make sure you know the name of the interviewer.