Interviews vary from employer to employer, but a handful of questions come up again and again. Preparing for them takes the surprise out of the day and leaves you free to concentrate on the questions that are specific to the job.
"Tell us about yourself."
This is usually the first question and sets the tone. Give a two-minute professional summary: your current situation, your relevant experience and why you are interested in this post. We have a full guide to this question.
"Why do you want this job?"
Connect three things: what the job involves, what you are good at, and what you want to do next. Show that you have read the advert and know what the organisation does. Avoid answers that are only about you, such as "I need a stable income", even if that is true.
"What are your strengths?"
Pick two or three strengths that are relevant to the post and give a brief example of each. "I'm organised" is a claim; "I'm organised — in my last role I kept a tracker of every open procurement request, which is why our unit had no late payments last year" is evidence.
"What is your weakness?"
Choose a real but manageable weakness, and focus on what you are doing about it. For example: "I used to find it difficult to say no to extra work, which put pressure on my deadlines. I now agree priorities with my supervisor when new work comes in." Avoid weaknesses that are central to the job, and avoid disguised boasts such as "I work too hard".
"Where do you see yourself in five years?"
Show ambition that fits the organisation: developing in this role, taking on more responsibility, completing a relevant qualification. Avoid saying you plan to leave the field or start your own unrelated business.
"Why are you leaving your current job?" or "Why did you leave?"
Keep it positive and brief: looking for growth, a closer fit to your skills, a contract coming to an end. Never criticise a previous employer, even if you had good reason to leave.
"Tell us about a time when…"
These are competency questions. Answer them with the STAR method, explained in our guide to competency-based interviews.
"What do you know about us?"
Prepare by reading the organisation's website, annual report or strategic plan, and recent news. Mention its main work, a recent development and how the post contributes to it.
"What are your salary expectations?"
For public service posts, the salary level is fixed in the advert, so you can confirm that the advertised salary is acceptable. In the private sector, research the market rate for the role, give a realistic range, and clarify whether you are talking about basic salary or total cost to company. Our guide to negotiating your salary covers this in more detail.
"Do you have any questions for us?"
Always have one or two. Good questions show interest in the work:
- "What would success look like in the first six months?"
- "What are the biggest challenges facing the team right now?"
- "How is the team structured?"
- "What are the next steps in the process?"
Practise, then relax
Write short notes for each question, practise out loud with a friend, and then put the notes away. In the interview, aim to sound prepared but natural. Signed-in users can also generate interview preparation notes for any job on this site, based on the advert and their profile.