The aim of an interview is to obtain as much information from you as possible in an allocated time frame. The employer will base the decision on a number of areas including skills, knowledge and abilities, personality and cultural fit, attitude, presentation, availability and references. A range of questions will be asked of you to assess as many of these things as possible and as such a typical interview will contain many standard questions, for which you can be prepared.

Here are some potential questions to practice your answers.

• Tell me about yourself

• What kind of position are you looking for?

• Why do you want to work in this industry/company?

• Why did you leave your last position?

• What did you like least/most about your last position?

• Can you give me some examples of the most difficult problems you encountered in your previous position? How did you resolve them?

• Why should we hire you instead of other applicants?

• What can you offer this company?

• What do you know about the company?

• Why did you apply for this position?

• What skills/qualities do you think would be important to this job?

• What are your strengths/weaknesses?

• Where do you see yourself in 2 to 5 year’s time?

Whilst you may not be asked all of these questions, you can expect to be asked some of them, or a variation on them. Think about what your response may be and rehearse how it may sound.