Tackling Difficult Interview Questions

1. Self Related Questions

(i) Tell me about yourself

This may simply be intended to start off the interview in an area in

which you are familiar. The interviewer does not mean to case the
panic which often ensues!

Use this type of question to speak about any good points which you
wish to put across, e.g. perseverance, ability to mix with people etc.
These should be reinforced by concrete examples – from hobbies,
working experience, course of study.

(ii) Why did you choose your course and what are you gaining
from it?

You must be able to give a sound reason for having chosen your course
even if you subsequently changed your mind about its suitability.
Remember thoroughly enjoying your course is a sufficiently good
reason for having chosen it, even if you will not use the degree subject
in your job in a very direct way.

List factors about your course which will be useful in your working life
e.g. ability to research, to analyse, to report.

List factors about your social development while at university. Higher

education is supposed to make you more independent, better able to
mix with people and to assess situations and reach decisions on the
best course of action. It is for these qualities that employers want
graduates. It is up to you to show that you possess these qualities.

(iii) Questions on personal weak points

e.g. change of course, year out, exam failure, lack of mobility, lack of
involvement in organised activities.

These can only be tackled on an individual basis, but in most cases a

satisfactory answer can be found. The secret is to confront the
question in advance and to work out a reply which sounds convincing.
There is a positive way of expressing most situations.
2. Job Related Questions

(i) What do you know about the job and the qualities required
for it?

This hinges on how much homework you have done about the career in
which you profess to be interested. Employers will expect you to have
read information sheets, spoken to people in similar jobs, attempted
related work wherever possible.

(ii) Hypothetical situation questions

e.g. How would you conduct a marketing campaign for our product?

This is the same as the previous question. Do not panic, even if you are
not able to give a completely exhaustive reply, you will create a good
impression if you remain calm and answer sensibly. Use any
information which you have about the work. Try to give a logical
answer. The more you know about the work the easier this will be.
3. Company Related Questions

Why do you want to join this organisation?

This question probes your knowledge of the company and of the sector
of industry or other sphere of activity in which it is involved. Points to
notes are:

Its status vis-à-vis its competitors

Its size and internal organisation

Its range of products or services

Its image to the public

Its training programme

Its promotional structure and scope for diversification

Its security and remuneration

4. Self-Job Matching

Why do you think you could be good at this job?

Before the interview you should look at the strong points in your
personal profile and at the requirements of the job for which you are
applying. Match up the common factors and you will have the answer
to the above question. If there are no common factors do not apply for
the job.
 Why should we accept you?

There are various levels at which this question can be asked

You – as opposed to other students. In answer you should emphasise:

Knowledge and interest in the job

Personal qualities related to the job

Relevant study or work experience

You – as opposed to someone without a degree. In answer you should

emphasise:

Training in assessing situations and reaching

conclusions

Ability to extract the most salient points from a mass

of information

Ability to organise

Willingness to learn practical skills – no "ivory tower"

approach. Stress any practical experience

(iii) Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time

Your knowledge of the value which this experience

will give you to help get where you want to be

Your sense of ambition and feeling of control over

your life

Your willingness to undertake further study and

training
Description of your style of working

1. Describe a challenging problem which required a solution; identify

what you did and the outcome.

Purpose / challenge / role / success / How did you judge / what

did you learn

INITIATIVE

• Taking action to achieve goals beyond what is necessarily called for:

• Originating action

Demonstrating a flexible approach to problem solving

Self starter rather than passive

2. Describe an event where you initially met with some opposition

and the outcome.

Opposition / How resolved / How successful / Did you have to do

more than you expected
Doing whatever it takes

Has focus in the face of obstacles and demonstrates

perseverance

Interacts appropriately with others to move

organisation/team forward

Takes action to achieve goals beyond what is required

3. Please give an account of a situation where you had to learn

something very quickly. What was your response?

Why was it necessary, was it easy, was it difficult, would you do

it differently.

Practical learning

Quickly learns interpersonal and technical skills

Assimilates and applies new job related information taking

into consideration, rate and complexity

4. What aspect of yourself do you currently wish to develop most?

What plans have you made to make this happen?

What made you realise / Describe where you have shown

improvement / best / worst example
 SELF AWARENESS

Has an accurate picture of strengths and areas

requiring development and is willing to
improve

Initiatives action to further improve skills

Make active efforts towards self development

5. Describe a situation where, having started on a task, the

requirements were subsequently changed. How did you respond?

How did you feel/How did you overcome feelings / How did you
recognise to meet deadlines

ADAPTABILITY

Can vary behaviour as the situation demands

Can and is willing to adapt to changes and ambiguity

within job

Maintains effectiveness in varying environments and with

varying tasks, responsibilities, modifying behaviour to
reach a goal

SAMPLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

1. Why do you want the job?

2. Why do you think you are a suitable candidate?

3. What are your ambitions?

4. What are your interests?

5. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

6. How would your best friend describe you?

7. What did you gain from your part-time job?

8 How do you organise your week so as to keep on top of your

studies?

9. What job has given you most satisfaction? Why?

10. Have you ever been in charge of people?

11. What have you learned about managing people from

your part-time jobs?

12. Have you ever had responsibility for handling a large

amount of money?

13. Have you ever been in charge of a project?

14. Have you ever had to learn a new job or skill? How did
you set about it?

15. Think about any part-time job you have had. How could
you improve the way it was done?

16. Why did you choose your course?

17. What do you expect to get out of your course?

18. What part of your course have you enjoyed the most?

19. What have you found the most difficult part of your
course and how have you tackled it?

20. What would you change about your course?

 21. Describe a situation where you worked with other
students. What contribution did you make?

22. Tell me about yourself

23. Why did you choose your course and what are you gaining
from it?

24. What do you know about the job and the qualities required
for it?

25. Why do you want to join this organisation?

26. Why do you think you would be good at the job?

27. Why should we accept you?

28. Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

29. Describe a challenging problem which required a

solution; identify what you did and the outcome.

30. Describe an event where you initially met with some

opposition and the outcome.

31. Please give an account of a situation where you had to

learn something very quickly. What was your response?

32. What aspect of yourself do you currently wish to

develop most? What plans have you made to make this
happen?

33. Describe a situation where, having started on a task,

the requirements were subsequently changed. How did you
respond?

34. Give an example of when you used your initiative.

35. Have you ever worked with someone you found it

difficult to get along with?

36. Give an example of how you have adapted when the

goal posts have been moved in the middle of a task?
 37. What does initial training involve?

38. Describe the role of an Investment Banker? Financial

Advisor? Management Accountant? etc

39. What type of tasks would you expect to carry out in

your first few months?

40. What is the structure of ……company name…?

41. What are you most proud of?

42. What would you do if you were in a team and someone

wasn’t pulling their weight?

43. Give an example of a time you were in a team and

something didn’t go according to plan?

44. How would your team mates describe you?

45. Why are you applying to … company name..?

46. What would you say the secrets are to a successful team?

47. What encouraged you to study finance?

48. What do you like about your current course?

49. Apart from the financial side what do you think working
here would be like?

Finally…..

HAVE YOU ANY QUESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK?

WHAT SHOULD YOU ASK?

Your questions can demonstrate your awareness of the company. Ask

about recent developments, training opportunities and things which
occur to you as you read the literature or website. Don’t ask anything
that has been previously explained in the brochure.

Categories in which you could ask questions are:

 The organisation:
what are its major
current projects and
likely future
developments (areas of
expansion and
contraction?)

The work and

training: variety of
work and typical
project timescales,
deadlines, pressures.
What training will you
receive?

Colleagues: who
would you be working
with – extent of contact
with others outside and
inside the organisation

The location: where

would you be and for
how long? How much
travel, mobility
required?

Timing: how long will

you have to wait before
hearing further?

Sample Questions

Where does this position fit into your overall organisation?

To whom should I report?

Is there anything unusually demanding about the job I

should know about?

What do you see as the priorities for someone in this

position?
 How are employees evaluated and promoted?

What type of on-the-job training is available?

Does the job involve travel? If so, how much?

Does your company encourage its employees to undertake

further education and training?

What are the company’s plans for the future?

What are the biggest challenges facing the company?

Ending the Interview

No matter how well prepared we may be for an interview we have

been we quite often walk out thinking "Now why didn’t I say that..".
Though this shouldn’t be the cause of sleepless nights, it can be used
constructively. Try to learn form your experience. Could you have
answered certain questions more clearly and precisely? Did you draw
enough attention to your useful experiences and skills? Did you have
adequate knowledge of the job? Jot down a few notes on these points –
they may stand you in good stead if you come to be interviewed again

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