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  • Tell me about yourself?

Unlikely to be asked if you are an Executive of a major blue chip but deliberately open questions will fathom how prepared you are for the interview.

If you do nothing else prepare a short summary about yourself including back ground, motivations, experience and skills - highlighting notable achievements. Conclude your summary by explaining why you are there and what you are looking to achieve in your career in the future.

  • What are your strengths?
  • What are your weaknesses?
  • What hobbies do you have?
  • What do people who know you well say about you?

These types of questions will test your poise as much as anything else so having a rehearsed response is not going to do you any harm.

Always put a positive spin on answering questions about weaknesses and what people think of you rather than regaling all your funny but anti-social habits.

Try and turn weaknesses into an accidental positives like ‘I perhaps put too much emphasis on the quality of my work and this sometimes detracts from my speed of response to Clients’. This is ideal if the company is looking for a diligent employee.

A very high proportion of people fib about what the do outside of work to sound more interesting. A white lie about interests won’t get you in to trouble if you get found out but an elaborate and conceited fabrication is for sitcoms only.

Watching TV, socialising or surfing the web does not constitute a hobby worth mentioning at an interview, even if it totally consumes you.

  • Why do you want to work for this company?
  • Where do you want to be in 5 years?
  • What interests you most about this position?
  • What did you like/dislike about your last role?
  • Why are you looking to leave your current employer?
  • Have you applied for other positions?
  • What do you want to get out of your next move?

Expect to have your motives and values questioned; a lack of focus will quickly ruin your chances.

  • What are your greatest achievements?
  • What do you find most difficult about your current role?

Equally they will want to know what kind of performance and limitations they can expect from you if they do employ you.