- Why do you want to leave your current job?
This could be to do with your career or your company and is often a combination of the two. It is important not to be negative about current circumstances and stress the positive reasons for change such as opportunities for growth, new challenges or the chance to develop new skills.
- Why do you want to work here?
Your reply will demonstrate you have researched your prospective employer and you can use this question to highlight how the company’s attributes will bring out the best in you.
- What job would you like to have in 5 years time?
Your answer should acknowledge that you have things to learn and show that you have the commitment to the company to learn and grow with them. It can also show how strong your desire to progress and demonstrate that you feel this can be achieved with them.
- What do you have to offer us?
Align your answers with the job description so you can highlight how your skills match the job point by point.
- What are your greatest achievements?
Your answer should be job related and could be a significant past project or initiative which had a positive impact. If it was an achievement as part of a team, that can also show your ability as a team player, but stress your part within it.
- What are your weaknesses?
Turn your weaknesses into positives – if you are aware of them you can always be conscious of taking steps to avoid them! Think about allowable weaknesses such as a lack of knowledge or experience which is an opportunity for development.
- How do you work under pressure?
Use this as an opportunity to highlight your organisational and planning skills or ability to prioritise. Think of an example of a past experience and if negative then add what you have learned from it to end on a positive.
- How do you handle criticism?
You need to show that you can accept direction and that where the criticism is explained it is something that can be learned from. In the right environment it can open up an opportunity to do something in a different way.