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Top 6 Tips on How to Anticipate Key Questions at Interview
To help you with your preparation for an interview, it is possible to anticipate some of the key questions an employer may ask you. Although these tips will not address every question or approach a recruiter can give you, if you follow the tips below, it will be a highly effective tool in assisting your preparation.
1. What does the recruiter want?
In order for the recruiter to identify whether you can do the job, you need to be able to give examples of a time when you demonstrated such skills. Even if you haven't done the exact job or role before, recruiters will look at your potential to apply the skills needed.
Therefore, if you understand what skills, qualities and experiences a position requires, then you can prepare and consider examples of these from your own experiences. Competency Questions reflect the skills and qualities that are needed for you to do the job you've applied for: "Give me an example of a time you solved a problem." or "Talk me through a recent situation which demonstrated your strong organisational skills." Have at least two different examples prepared for each skill area.
2. What is Your Story?
If you're having difficulty reflecting and identifying examples to talk about, focus on being factual, accurate and detailed about what you have learned from your education and employment. Ask yourself the following questions when considering each area of your CV:
- What did I do?
- What did I learn?
- What did I enjoy?
- What would I do differently?
By exploring these questions and applying an enquiring mind about your experiences, you will be able to identify appropriate examples of the skills and qualities you can bring to a position. Re-read and remember your application form answers, or what you wrote in your covering letter, and be ready to expand on these or have a further example ready.
3. What is your motivation for applying?
Why have you applied for this job and this company? Why now? Where does it fit into your career plans? These questions are often the backbone of every interview, and if you deliver unconvincing answers with undoubtedly influence how an employer perceives your commitment to the role and company.
4. Why YOU?
What can you bring to the role and company? What are your strengths, skills, qualities and experiences that enable you to do this job well? Prepare 4 or 5 key selling points that you have cherry-picked from your CV that summarise your main strengths. It is also useful to consider the ordering of these top 4 or 5, in case you are asked to be concise and name just one or two key qualities - this will help you highlight the most important that are relevant to the job. If you are unclear what your abilities are, then ask friends, family and colleagues for their views on what you're good at.
5. Anticipate potential assumptions
If you're applying for a job that involves a salary reduction from your current or previous job (however small or significant), or is a lower level position (e.g. moving from a Management role to an Officer role), or perhaps you don't meet all the requirements of the role, then expect to clarify and explain yourself at interview. Do not assume the recruiter will automatically know or understand your situation - any ambiguity on your part will raise warning flags to the employer. The key here is to anticipate if this may be an issue that needs to be clarified if you're asked about it at interview, and to prepare your answers in advance.
6. Identify the missing pieces
If you have any gaps in your CV, be ready to explain what these are and the reasons for them. These could be poor grades, re-sits, lots of temporary jobs, periods of unemployment, a career break, or ambiguous dates on your application. Be honest and talk simply about your experiences, and consider, if appropriate, what you may have done differently or what have been barriers to you. Ensure you are not creating doubt and uncertainty in the mind of the recruiter, for example if you have been unemployed for several months, and you have done very little during this period - what will a recruiter conclude? Perhaps that you have little motivation, no drive nor ambition, or you do not aspire to develop yourself…? Why would a recruiter seek such a potential employee? Never lie nor fabricate the truth into a complex web of information that you cannot remember or does not make sense.