We recently asked over 50 Finance and HR professionals
What questions really get asked at interviews!!

Here are our findings : The top 10 most commonly asked questions at interview.

1. What would your current line manager target as your immediate area of improvement i.e where do you need to improve most?
2. What attracted you to apply for this job?
3. Why do you think your skills are a good fit for this job?
4. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
5. What do you know about our company?
6. What are you good at?
7. Tell me about your last mistake?
8. Tell me about a problem you came across at work and how did you deal with it?
9. Do you have any questions for me? / What question haven't I already asked you?
10. How would your boss, friend or colleague best describe you?

The most commonly asked question in our survey was a "self awareness question" - what is your area of improvement. We think this is  very similar to the old fashioned "weakness question". What can't you do rather than what can you do. Interesting isn't it!

If you have a pending interview we throughly recommend having an answer for the "most commonly" asked questions (above). Our research also highlighted that questions can be so broad that it's almost impossible to prepare for every single question. Therefore, try not to panic!

Our findings did highlight that a lot of interviewers ask "competency based questions" around the job role. It's worth studying the job duties of the role you are applying for and having some real life examples ready, to offer evidence that you have done and can do the tasks.

Another common theme was that many interviewers told us they ask "situational" questions - what would you do in this circumstance, as well as questions to try to get to know you as a person. Also, questions focusing on behaviours at work, are you "self aware of how others see you?" and finally conflict questions for example "when you are faced a difficult situation at work how would you deal with it?"

If you would like support in preparing for an interview we would love to hear from you. Or if you are an employer keen to adapt or change your interview process/style but don't know where to start we also would be delighted to give you support,

Clare

September 2023