As part of your preparation for interview you should develop some answers to the following interview questions. By having these ready in advance you will be able to answer more confidently and concisely on the day.

Categories of interview question

There are only 3 main categories of interview questions

Can you do the job?
Will you do the job?
Will you fit in?

STARB interview technique

When preparing for interview we suggest that you prepare some responses using the S.T.A.R.B acronym. It’s a useful interview technique for answering behavioural interview questions. It helps you tell a story concisely in an impactful way.

Situation – Set the scene
Task – Describe what your responsibility was
Action – Explain what steps you took
Result – What outcomes did your actions achieve?
Benefit – What were the benefits?

Have a few examples ready that you can adjust to suit the question being asked.

Can you do the job?

Questions about your track record and capability.

Examples:
How is your experience relevant to this job?
Tell me about your most significant achievements?

Will you do the job?

Your approach to work and your motivation.

Examples:
What was it like working for your previous employer – highs and lows?
If you get this job, how long will you stay with us?

Will you fit in?

Testing your fit with the company culture and image.

Examples:
How do you get to know and understand new colleagues?
How do you cope with a change of environment?

Common interview questions

Be ready for these questions:

Tell me about yourself
Why do you want this job?
Why did you leave your last job?
Why should we hire you?

“Do you have any questions?”

Give the interviewer something to remember you by

prepare some questions in advance
take the opportunity to restate your interest in the role
be as company and industry specific as possible

12 Golden Rules

Listen carefully to the question
Avoid ‘yes/no’ answers when you can
Speak clearly and stick to the point
Use “I” not “We”
Demonstrate that you have prepared
Check if you have given enough information
Ask for clarification
Give examples to back up your points
Take time to think before answering
Be positive about your skills and achievements
Anticipate, prepare and perform!
Never speak badly of your past employer/boss

We regularly run webinars on preparing for interview at Careers Springboard. If you’re a member you can access previous presentation slides and you can also book a free mock interview.

Useful Resources

What Are The Benefits Of A Mock Interview?

How To Prepare For An Interview

How to answer the most common interview question – Tell Me About Yourself

One of the most commonly recommended books by Careers Springboard speakers for job search and interview preparation is What Colour is Your Parachute by Richard Nelson Bolles.