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1. Pre-prepared Interview Questions
Use this page to prepare some questions for your interview
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2. Why do I want the Job
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Why would I be good at the Job
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Questions you could ask
Remember to believe in yourself, you are right for this role or they wouldn’t have
selected you for interview in the first place! Concentrate on your most relevant
skills and experience and prepare some questions to ask them. Use the list below
to support you.
• What is the most important thing about this role?
• What are your expectations of me in this role?
• Could you talk me through a typical day?
• What pressures can I expect in this role?
• Who would I be working with?

3. • Could I see where I would be working?
• Will there be a hand over or any training for this post?
• How many people do you expect to interview for the role?
• When do you expect to reach a decision?
• What is the next stage of the process?
• What else can I tell you about myself?
Key Strengths:
Examples:
Why I am right for this role:
Questions you may be asked
Employers often ask questions that are designed to discover how you react and
deal with certain situations. Producing relevant and informed answers is not
difficult, as long as you take a few minutes to prepare some possible answers.
Don’t be afraid to ask if you need more information and always remember to
always be yourself.
‘So tell me about yourself?’…
The interviewer is trying to evaluate your communication skills. Be prepared to
talk for around 2 mins. Start anywhere! Be clear, relevant and remember to sit
up straight when you speak. Try and keep good eye contact and don’t waffle.
Know when to stop.
‘Why are you leaving your current post?’…
This is an important question. Don’t bad mouth where you work and don’t bad
mouth any of your colleagues. It’s ok to mention redundancy/company closure
etc. Maybe suggest that due to the structure you don’t feel you are able to make
more of a personal contribution to the role or that you feel that your ability to
take on new challenges is limited and you want to use more of your skills.
‘What are your main career achievements?’…
List them! This doesn’t have to be promotion, it can include a project you handled
well or were a major part of, a cost saving you initiated, maybe it was training
you gave a colleague, as long as you can elaborate and or demonstrate your

4. achievements. Think in advance about what you have done that has made a
difference.
‘Why do you want to join us?’...
Be honest. Think about what most appeals to you about this role and how your
skills are relevant. List 3 main reasons and link them to the ‘most important
thing’ that they are looking for in an applicant.
‘How do you handle pressure or difficult situations?’…
Their idea of ‘pressure’ may be entirely different to what you are used to, so try
and establish what you are getting into. Throw the question straight back to
them! ‘What pressures should I expect from this role?’ If you achieve well in a
high pressure environment, then tell them and give them examples.
‘We expect our staff to use their initiative, describe a situation where you
have done this?’…
They are trying to establish are you a self starter, are you pro active? Do you
need to be told what to do? Describe your work ethic, how resourceful you can
be and give examples of where you have gone ‘the extra mile’ to get a job done.
‘Give us an example of where you have handled things badly? What did
you do to correct the situation?’…
They want to establish are you aware of your faults? Do you reflect on the work
you do? Do you learn from your mistakes? Don’t be afraid to be honest about any
mistakes you have made, as long as you can demonstrate how you have learnt
from them.
‘One of our key areas is…what are your relevant skills, how would you
handle this?...
Think before you speak. They could be trying to establish how organized and or
analytical you are. Ask open questions to get at the root of what they are
actually looking for. Break it down into sections, answer each piece separately.
Give them a summary of how you would ‘solve the problem’. Where possible give
them relevant examples.
‘What are you career expectations, where do you see yourself in 10 years
time?’...
Be realistic! Don’t steam in with you dream of being Chairman by year two or
they will think you are quite mad. Explain of course you wish to progress, in an
ideal world you see you career developing over say a 3 to 5 year span, you
assume it depends on the structure and policy of the organization.
‘Why should we recruit you for this post?’
You chance to sell and close. Give them the 3 most important and relevant skills
that you have and how they are best suited to this role. Don’t be arrogant, but be
confident. Remind them that you really could make a difference and how
employing you would be the right thing to do.

5. Be Prepared!
Know yourself
Prepare as best you can. What are your strengths, weaknesses, achievements?
What questions will you ask? Are you ready for what they may ask you? This is
not the time to bluff! Ask your Harris Hill consultant for support, information and
guidance
Research the company
Your knowledge will be well received! Look at their web site, their recent
events/press releases. Look at their annual accounts. Brochures, advertising
material. Be as well informed as you can.
Dress appropriately
Many organizations have a ‘smart casual’ policy – but never assume! Check with
Harris Hill before hand and then decide what you are going to wear in advance.
Better to be over dressed/business formal then underdressed and too casual.
Arrive early
Get there at with at least 15mins to spare. This gives you time to re read your
prep notes and gives you time to be calm. It sends out a very definite message
about you and your attitude. Being late, no matter what the reason, is just
wrong. Be sure you know your travel options in advance and if parking, be sure
you have the right change.
Be friendly
Support staff matter. Greet the first person you have contact with as if they are
interviewing you. Smile, be polite and be enthusiastic. If you can, ask them
questions. ‘How long have they worked there?’ ‘What do they do?’ People talk to
each other and positive feedback about you from a member of staff an important
factor.
Smile
When you greet the contact/interviewer, remember to smile and shake hands.
The first five minutes of any interview are critical to its success.

6. Know your strengths
Know what your key skills are, what you are good at and what you have
achieved. Be prepared to give examples to support these. Bring any relevant
documentation if you can.
Don’t Waffle
Try to limit you responses to 1-2mins. Be as concise as you can and stay on
track. Try not to get drawn into irrelevant directions. Practice at home in
advance if you can with role play or at least think in advance of what you can
bring to the job.
Be positive about previous employers/colleagues
Don’t slag off where or with whom you work. It’s a no no, no matter how you
feel! Try and focus on what you have liked about your current/previous role and
how you want to transfer and use those skills in this new role.
Ask questions!
Prepare questions in advance and bring them with you. You will be showing them
that you have really thought about the role. This in itself gives a clear message
that you genuinely want the job. Don’t be afraid to refer to these questions to
keep you on track, it shows initiative and that you are organized. If you don’t
understand something, ask for an explanation. Don’t wing it! You want to give the
best answers that you can.
Be clear about your interest
Let them be in no doubt that you want the job. Tell them. Ask what the next
stage would be, when can you expect to hear a decision, Ask them, What else can
I tell you about myself? Get them to say if there is anything else they need to
know about you. You want to leave there with it clearly in their mind you want
tot work for them. Shake hands and say that you look forward to hearing form
them.
Call your Harris Hill contact straight away!
We want to hear how you got on and want to be in a position to handle an offer
of employment on your behalf.