Resources

Interview questions

There are some common questions that occur at many interviews and to help you along the way we’ve listed some that can help you prepare.

Tell me about yourself
Think of your main attributes, making sure they are relevant to the job which you are applying. Describe the range of skills which you hold and outline your qualifications that you have as well as any previous work experience and career history.

What’s been your main achievement to date?
If you have previous work experience then give an example of your main achievement in a working environment and outline why you think it has been your stand-out achievement. If you’re applying for a job straight from school, then try and give an example of where you have exceeded your or others expectations.

What is the most difficult situation you have been in and how did you deal with it?
Interviewers will ask this question to see if you can problem solve so try and think of an example where you have overcome difficulty in a work or school environment. Explain how you identified the problem, what options were available and what the positive outcome was.

What are your key strengths?
The majority of interviewers will ask this question so it’s important to be prepared. Don’t just list the strengths that you feel you have but focus on 3-4 main strengths and expand on them applying them to the job which you are trying to get. You should be able to give examples to back up your points so make sure you think of these before the interview.

What are your weaknesses?
Everybody has weaknesses so the biggest mistake you can make is to say you don’t have any! This can be a difficult question to answer but try and make the answer a positive one. So for example saying you have a lack of experience rather than your lack of ability and always try to finish on a positive note where possible.

Why have you applied for this particular job?
The interviewer will be looking for evidence that you’ll fit the particular job. It’s important at this stage that you have a good understanding of the company and the advertised role so that you demonstrate that you have you’re your research. You might also want to describe the attributes of the organisation as well as what interests you most about the company. The interviewer will also be looking to see how you’ll fit into the team.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
The company wants to see that you are ambitious and have an idea of where you want your career to take you. They want to see that you don’t just see this as ‘any other job’. They want to see that you have thought about the career possibilities and that you are ambitious and career driven, whilst demonstrating you’ll make a positive impact on the organisation.

What can you bring to the organisation?
When answering questions of this nature, go through the attributes of the company and match your skills, knowledge and experience to their characteristics. This question is a great opportunity to sell yourself once again so remember key points prior to the interview.
 

Example CV

If you're unsure of where to begin when it comes to writing a CV, simply download our example here. You can also refer to the guidance notes in our Apprenticeship guide, which is available to download here.

Download the template