The Interview

Question &
Answer Book

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The Interview
Question &
Answer Book
Your definitive guide to the
best answers to even the
toughest interview questions
James Innes

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PEARSON EDUCATION LIMITED

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First published in Great Britain in 2012
James Innes 2012
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Contents

Dedication vi
Acknowledgements vii
About the author viii
Introduction ix

1. Essential principles 1
2. The top 10 interview questions 11
3. Fifty more classic questions: be prepared 29
4. The top 25 tough questions: taking the heat 95
5. Fifty less common questions: forewarned is
forearmed 127
6. Ending the interview: your own questions 193
7. The 15 most common interview mistakes and how to
avoid them! 197
Further reading and resources 207
Index of questions 208
Index 212

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Chapter 2
The top 10
interview
questions

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the interview question & answer book

Heres my list of what I consider to be the top 10 questions you are likely
to be asked at interview. You should make sure you think very carefully
through your answers to all these questions before getting anywhere near
an interview room.
1 Can you tell me a bit about yourself?
2 Why have you applied for this vacancy?
3 Why do you wish to leave your current position?
4 Why do you want to work for this organisation?
5 What are your strengths?
6 What are your weaknesses?
7 What has been your greatest achievement/accomplishment?
8 What can you, above all the other applicants, bring to this job?
9 Where do you see yourself in five years time?
10 Youve mentioned x under the Interests & Activities on your CV. Can
you tell me a bit more about that?
You are absolutely certain to get asked at least some of these questions
(or variations of them), if not the whole lot.
Well look at them one by one, alongside possible alternatives and
other closely related questions. Well analyse the interviewers intentions
in asking you the question the meaning behind the question and well
discuss how best you can answer it.

1. Can you tell me a bit about yourself?

Alternative and related questions
Can you talk me through your CV?

The meaning behind the question

This is, of course, an extremely popular question and is just the kind
an interviewer might throw at you at the beginning of an interview so as
to get the ball rolling. They are quite simply placing you centre stage
and hoping you will open up to them. Alternatively, theyre hopelessly
overworked, havent yet had time to read your CV and asking you this
question will buy them some breathing space!

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This is a very broad question and you might consequently be at a loss as

to the approach you should take to answering it.
Theyre not asking for an autobiography. Focus on discussing major
selling points that feature on your CV or application form selling points
which are directly relevant to the job for which you are applying. Dont
start telling them your whole life history.
Whilst they do want you to open up to them and paint a picture of yourself, youre not on the psychiatrists couch here. Keep it professional and
avoid getting too personal.
Besides talking about your career, make sure you have something
to say about your education and qualifications and even your hobbies
and interests.
Its vital to practise your answer for this in advance and to try to limit
your answer to one minute. If you cant successfully pitch yourself in
under a minute then youre going to risk losing the interviewers attention.
How have you described yourself in the Professional Profile at the top
of your CV? A lot of this material can be recycled to help you draft your
answer to this question.

THE TOP 10 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Your answer

EXAMPLE
Im a highly driven individual with extensive management experience acquired principally in the aviation sector. Following
completion of my degree in International Business (which included
a couple of years in Germany) I started my career in administration
and have worked my way up to become an export sales manager.
I believe I combine a high level of commercial awareness with a
commitment to customer care which helps me to achieve profitable growth in a competitive market. I enjoy being part of, as well
as managing, motivating, training and developing, a successful and
productive team and I thrive in highly pressurised and challenging
working environments. I have strong IT skills, Im fluent in German
and Im also a qualified first aider. In my spare time I undertake a
wide range of activities; Im particularly keen on squash and I am
also currently working towards my private pilot licence.

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THE INTERVIEW QUESTION & ANSWER BOOK

2. Why have you applied for this vacancy?

Alternative and related questions
Why do you want this vacancy?
What attracted you to this vacancy?
Why do you think youre suitable for this job?
What is it that you are looking for in a new job?

The meaning behind the question

The interviewer is probing to see:

if you fully understand what the job entails;

how well you might match their requirements;
what appeals to you most about the job.

Your answer
This is another very open-ended question where you might be tempted to
say too much. By taking the time to think through your answer to this question in advance, you will be able to remain focused on a few key points.
Your emphasis should be on demonstrating to the interviewer precisely
how you match their requirements and, in doing so, to demonstrate that
you fully understand what the role entails.
If youve done your research properly then you will have a good idea of
what it is they are most looking for.
Yes, they have asked you what your motivations are in applying for the
vacancy, but try to turn the question round so that the answer you give
tells them why you are the right candidate for the vacancy.

EXAMPLE
Ive applied for this vacancy because its an excellent match for
my skills and experience and because it represents a challenge
which I know Ill relish. I clearly already have extensive experience
as a senior quantity surveyor, including previous experience of rail
and station projects an area Im particularly interested in. I enjoy
managing multiple projects simultaneously. I also enjoy overseeing and coaching junior and assistant quantity surveyors. Im used
to dealing directly with clients; developing productive working

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3. Why do you wish to leave your

current position?

THE TOP 10 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

relationships with clients is definitely one of my strengths. This role

is exactly the sort of role I am currently targeting and I am confident
I will be able to make a major contribution.

Alternative and related questions

Why do you wish to leave your current employer?
What do you plan to say to your current employer in your letter
of resignation?

The meaning behind the question

The interviewer is trying to understand your motivation to change jobs.
They clearly want to know why you want to change jobs but they also want
to know how serious you are about changing jobs. Are you really committed to moving or are you just wasting their time?

Your answer
There are a whole multitude of reasons for wanting to leave your job but
they wont all be positive selling points for you.
Positive reasons include:

wanting a greater challenge;

wanting to diversify;
seeking greater opportunities;
seeking further advancement;
taking a step up the career ladder.
Negative reasons include:

problems with your boss;

problems with a colleague;
a financially unstable organisation;
personal reasons.
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If your reason for wanting to leave your job is a positive one then your
answer will be easy enough to construct. Explain to the interviewer what
your motivations are and how the move to your next job will help you to
achieve your goals. You are making a positive move for positive reasons
and intend to achieve a positive outcome simple as that.
If, however, your reason for leaving your job is in my list of negative reasons, then giving the right answer is going to be somewhat trickier. Because
each of the situations is so different, I will deal with each of them in turn.
Problems with your boss: Having problems with the boss is the
top reason people give (in surveys) for changing jobs. However, you
should never say anything negative about either a current or a previous
employer. It isnt professional; it doesnt portray you as someone who is
particularly loyal and it will reflect badly on you.
In almost all cases, I would recommend that you avoid citing this as a
reason. Criticising your current employer is considered one of the top
mistakes you can make at interview and will most likely cost you the job
regardless of whether or not your criticism is justified. Aim to give an
answer which focuses on the benefits you will experience in moving to
your new job rather than making any reference to your having had problems with your boss.

BLOOPER!
Having delivered a particularly devastating critique of their current
employer, one candidate was rather shocked to discover that their
current employer was in fact the interviewers brother-in-law.
Problems with a colleague: Maybe you want to leave because of a
persistently unpleasant colleague. However, explaining this to the
interviewer will most likely open you up to expressing bitterness or
recrimination traits that are not attractive to a potential employer.
Again, you should aim to give an answer which focuses on the benefits of
moving to your new job, rather than drawing attention to your problems.
A financially unstable organisation: You may well have decided to leave
your job before your employer finally goes bankrupt, but you dont want
to be labelled as a rat leaving a sinking ship. It doesnt say much for your
loyalty. Avoid giving this as a reason.
Personal reasons: There are many different personal circumstances
which might cause you to wish to leave a job for example, you might simply
want a better worklife balance. However, if possible you should avoid giving
personal reasons as an answer and instead leave the interviewer to believe
you are leaving in order to pursue a more promising opportunity.
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EXAMPLE
I would simply tell them that, after careful consideration, I have
made the decision to move on to a new challenge. Naturally, Id
thank them for the opportunities with which they presented me
during the course of my employment, reassure them that I will,
of course, do my best to help ensure the seamless transfer of my
duties and responsibilities before leaving and wish them all the
very best for the future.

THE TOP 10 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

As for asking what you would write in a resignation letter, you should
remember that, when it comes to resignation letters, it is well worth
being as nice as possible about the matter. Harsh words in a letter of resignation could easily come back to haunt you in the future not least if
you ever need a reference out of that employer.

4. Why do you want to work for this

organisation?
Alternative and related questions
What is it about our organisation that attracts you?

The meaning behind the question

The interviewer is analysing your motivations and probing your expectations of their organisation. Why do you want to work for them in
particular? Whilst this question doesnt directly ask what you know about
their organisation, in order to be able to answer it effectively you are
clearly going to have to demonstrate that you have done your homework.

Your answer
BLOOPER!
One interviewee answered this question by saying, Because youre
in Mayfair. He didnt get the job.
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THE INTERVIEW QUESTION & ANSWER BOOK

If you have done your research properly you will already be fairly well
informed as to the organisation you are applying to join. However, the key
to answering this question is how to communicate that knowledge to the
interviewer whilst tying it in with why you want to work for them.
Your focus should be on what in particular attracts you to their organisation. Well cover the closely related but more generalised question,
What do you know about us as an organisation? in the next chapter.

EXAMPLE
Im particularly attracted by how progressive an organisation you
are. Ive seen how your sales levels have grown the past few years
and Im aware of your plans to expand into the United States. Yours is
an organisation which is rapidly developing and evolving and thats
exactly what Im looking for. I want to work for an organisation which
is forward-thinking and isnt afraid to tackle new challenges.

5. What are your strengths?

Alternative and related questions
What are you good at?
What do you consider yourself to be good at?

The meaning behind the question

With this question the interviewer wants to achieve the following:

Identify what your key selling points are.

Establish whether or not these strengths are relevant to the role
they are interviewing for.

Gain some insight into your character how self-confident (or

arrogant) you are.

Your answer
Everyone has their strengths. The key to answering this question is not
to rattle off a long list of what you consider your strengths to be. Instead
you should highlight a smaller number of specific strengths which will
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be most appealing to the company. Discuss each one briefly and, most
importantly, identify how these strengths relate to the requirements of
the job you are applying to undertake. You can even elaborate on one of
your strengths by mentioning a specific relevant achievement.
Choose your strengths carefully. It can be hard to say anything very
interesting, for example, about the fact that you are very meticulous and
pay great attention to detail. However, if the recruiter is looking for someone to lead a team then you can mention team leadership as one of your
strengths and cite an appropriate example or achievement.

EXAMPLE
I believe my key strength is that I combine experience of traditional
film production with extensive experience in the online arena. Im
very aware of current trends in new media and am able to demonstrate excellent creative judgement. Im also very good at juggling
multiple projects simultaneously; in my current role I frequently have
as many as half a dozen different projects on the go at any one time
and Im committed to completing them all on time and on budget.
This clearly requires extremely strong project management skills.
Word of warning
If you dont give the interviewer at least one specific example to back up
your statement then be prepared for them to ask you for one.

6. What are your weaknesses?

Alternative and related questions
What are you not good at doing?
What do you find difficult to do and why?
In what areas do you feel you need to improve?

The meaning behind the question

With questions of this kind the interviewer wants to achieve the following:

Identify any weakness which might actually be detrimental to your

ability to undertake the role.
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See how you react when faced with a somewhat tricky question.
Assess how self-aware you are and how you define weakness.

Your answer
Some might consider this to qualify as a tough interview question and
think it should be in Chapter 4. But believe me there are much tougher
questions than this! I would only classify this question as tricky rather
than tough. Whilst it is superficially a somewhat negative question it is
in fact full of opportunities for you to turn it round to your advantage and
make your answer a positive point.
Dont be perturbed by the question or let it throw you off balance. Your
answer should be right on the tip of your tongue because we will work
on it right now. The first thing to make clear is that you should only ever
discuss a professional weakness, unless the interviewer specifically
requests otherwise (unlikely).
Your first thought might be that you are tempted to say quite simply, I
dont really have any particular weaknesses. But this is definitely not the
answer the interviewer is looking for and is definitely not the answer you
should be giving them.

BLOOPER!
Telling the interviewer your weakness is Kryptonite as one candidate did is unlikely to amuse an interviewer
The interviewer wants to know that you are able to look at yourself
objectively and criticise yourself where appropriate. If you honestly dont
think you have any weaknesses then you risk coming across as arrogant if
you say so and nobody wants a perfect candidate anyway.
Clearly you dont just want to come up with a straightforward list of
what you consider your weaknesses to be. You basically have two choices:

Talk about a weakness thats not necessarily a weakness at all.

Talk about a weakness that you turned (or can turn) into a strength.
The problem with the first option is that you risk running into serious
clich territory. Im talking about the kind of people who answer:
I would have to say that my main weakness is that Im a perfectionist.

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You risk sounding like you plucked your answer straight out of a 1990s
manual on interview technique.
Personally, I prefer the second option: Talk about a weakness that you
turned (or are turning) into a strength.
You are answering the interviewers question by highlighting a
definite weakness, but you then go on to reflect positively on this by outlining the active steps you have taken or are taking to overcome it. You
are demonstrating a willingness to learn, adapt and improve and you
are demonstrating that you have the initiative required to make changes
where changes are due.
Choosing a weakness that has its root in lack of experience and therefore has been (or is being) overcome by further training is ideal because it
is a weakness that is relatively easily resolved.

THE TOP 10 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

I have a reputation for working too hard; I often push myself far too hard in
my work.

EXAMPLE
When I first started my current job my first few months were an
uphill battle dealing with a backlog of work I inherited from my
predecessor. I recognised that I have a weakness when it comes
to time management. I have since been on a time management
course, read a couple of books on the subject and I believe Ive
made a lot of progress. But its something Im still very vigilant of.
I make a concerted effort to apply the principles Ive learned every
day and to put in place procedures which enable me to most effectively prioritise and process my workload.

This is a good and comprehensive answer meeting all of the objectives

weve outlined above.
Word of warning
Do be prepared for the interviewer to ask the follow-up question, OK.
Thats one weakness. You must surely have more than one weakness?
Well cover this question in Chapter 4: The top 25 tough questions: taking
the heat.

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7. What has been your greatest

achievement/accomplishment?
Alternative and related questions
What are your biggest achievements?
What are you most proud of?
What was your biggest achievement in your current/last job?
What has been the high point of your career so far?

The meaning behind the question

Unless they qualify the question by specifically mentioning, for example, your last job, it is important to remember that the interviewer isnt
necessarily looking for a work-related achievement. They are looking for
evidence of achievement, full stop. However, a work-related achievement
is normally what theyll be expecting.

Your answer
Youll want to make sure you have thought through this question carefully
before the interview and have selected both a key professional achievement as well as a key personal achievement; cover both bases.
Try not to go too far back; try to pick a recent achievement. If youve
included an Achievements section in your CV (which I would recommend
you do) then this will be a good starting point for you to generate ideas.
Describe clearly to the interviewer:

what it is that you achieved;

what the background and circumstances were;
what impact it had on your career/life.
What was the benefit? Try to phrase this in such a way for it to be selfevident that this would also be a benefit to any prospective employer.

EXAMPLE
My greatest achievement so far in my career would probably be
winning the Manager of the Year award last year. I made numerous
operational changes at my branch, including a massive reduction in

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stock levels which significantly boosted our working capital. I also

drove up sales levels, especially by increasing the uptake of aftersales insurance packages. The net effect was that we smashed the
previous branch sales record by an impressive 37 per cent and
profits rose in line with this. This directly resulted in my promotion
to the management of the flagship Edinburgh branch.

8. What can you, above all the other

applicants, bring to this job?
Alternative and related questions
What makes you the best candidate for this job?

The meaning behind the question

The interviewer is directly asking you what your unique selling point is.
Theyre looking for at least one significant reason that you should be their
No. 1 choice for the job.

Your answer
Well, what does make you the best candidate for this job?
Ill level with you this isnt necessarily a top 10 question in terms of
how likely you are to get asked it. However, it is very much a top 10 question in terms of the importance of your having prepared an answer to it.
You need to go into each and every interview with a thorough understanding of what it is that you have to offer. If you dont know what it is that
youre offering then how can you hope to be able to sell it effectively?
If you do get asked this specific question then dont be afraid to answer
it quite candidly. Its a bold question and warrants a bold answer. The
interviewer is really putting you on the spot to sell yourself. But do be very
careful to avoid coming across as arrogant because thats the last thing
you want to do. Its a fine line you need to tread.
Feel free to cite an example from your past where you demonstrated
that you are someone who is capable of going the extra mile. Its all very
well to say that youre someone who gives 110 per cent (although it is a bit

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THE INTERVIEW QUESTION & ANSWER BOOK

of a clich) but if you can actually throw an example at your interviewer

then youre going to be a whole lot more credible.

BLOOPER!
One ex-army candidate for a management role replied, I can shoot
someone at 300 yards. What is more amazing is that they actually
got the job! This is a rare example of a sense of humour working to
the candidates advantage.

EXAMPLE
Having now been working in this industry for over a decade, I have
developed successful relationships with key decision makers in
numerous companies, enabling me to achieve a sales conversion
rate much higher than average. This is undoubtedly a very challenging role, requiring considerable drive and determination, but I
believe my previous sales record is clear evidence that I am more
than capable of achieving what it is that you need.

9. Where do you see yourself in five years

time?
Alternative and related questions
How long do you plan to stay/would you stay in this job if we offer it
to you?
What are your long-term career goals?
How does this job fit into your long-term career plans?
How far do you feel you might rise in our organisation?

The meaning behind the question

The interviewer is trying to ascertain what your long-term career ambitions are. They want to get a better understanding of your motivations.

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Your answer

THE TOP 10 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

They will normally be looking for someone who is keen to learn, develop
and progress. However, they are recruiting for a specific role and they will
want someone who is prepared to commit to that role for a reasonable
period of time.
You may think this question is just a clich and doesnt really get asked
in practice. Trust me it does and far more frequently than you might
imagine.

Yes, lots of people will think theyre displaying a great sense of humour/
ambition/self-confidence to reply, Doing your job! I wouldnt recommend
it, though because it will all too easily come across as arrogant and
aggressive.
Avoid being too specific. Its very difficult for most people to know
exactly what job they will be undertaking in five years time and so it can
come across as unrealistic to quote a specific job title you are aiming for.
Try to present your answer more in terms of what level you hope you will
have reached what level of responsibility, of autonomy. Its also a good
idea if you can phrase your answer to communicate that you hope you will
still be with this same organisation in five years time.

EXAMPLE
Five years from now I expect I will have progressed significantly in
my career and be making an even greater contribution. Having
proved my value to the organisation I would hope to have been given
increased responsibilities and greater challenges. Ive clearly given a
good deal of thought to working for you and I can see that there are
indeed a lot of opportunities both for promotion and for ongoing professional development. My career is very important to me and I want
to push myself hard to deliver the very best of which Im capable.

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THE INTERVIEW QUESTION & ANSWER BOOK

10. Youve mentioned x under the Interests

& Activities on your CV. Can you tell me a
bit more about that?
Alternative and related questions
What activities do you enjoy outside work?
What are you interested in outside work?

The meaning behind the question

There are a variety of possible reasons an interviewer might ask this
question:

Theyre trying to get some insight into your personality

and character.

Theyre testing to see how truthful youve been on your CV.

Theyve run out of other questions and are killing time!
Besides knowing whether youre capable of actually doing the job, most
employers are keen to know what sort of a person you would be like to
work alongside. Employers are generally keen to have a diversity of characters within their team and are always on the lookout for someone who
can add a new dimension to the team.
Whilst nobody has yet conducted a survey specifically to research this,
there is plenty of anecdotal evidence of recruiters deciding to call someone in for an interview purely as a result of what theyve included on their
CV under Interests & Activities. I, for one, will admit to having done so
when hiring.

Your answer
This is a very simple question to answer provided, as always, that youve
prepared for it in advance. If you have a hobby that makes for an interesting talking point at the interview then it will reflect positively on you as
an individual.
You should, of course, be able to back up anything youve listed on
your CV. If you mention chess to give your CV some intellectual clout, but
havent actually played since your were at school, then you could well
come a cropper in your interview if your interviewer turns out to be a
chess fan and asks you which openings to the game you favour.

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EXAMPLE

THE TOP 10 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Its always a good idea if you can subtly slip in mention of any positions
of responsibility you hold outside work. If your passion is, for example,
football, and youre also the captain of the local team then do say so.
Besides the obvious selling point of football being a team activity (and
hence your being a team player), youve immediately communicated your
leadership qualities, your ability to take responsibility for others, your
ability to commit yourself to a project, etc.

Ive always been fascinated by planes. I remember my first flight

as a child; it was a thrilling experience. Even though I understand
the science behind it, Im still in awe each and every time I see a
plane clear the runway. Its quite an expensive hobby to pursue but,
as soon as I could afford to do so, I started taking flying lessons. I
gained my private pilot licence, went on to qualify as an instructor
and Im now a senior member of my local flying club. Whilst its not
something Ive ever wished to pursue as a career, I do enjoy giving
the occasional lesson and generally participating in the club community. Its definitely something about which Im very passionate.

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