A Graduates Interview guide

Preparation for any interview is key. So having a good idea of what an interviewer may ask you will most definitely make you feel at ease. This is of course along with extensive research about the company, the role and the industry you are interviewing for.

Top 30 questions a future employer may ask in a Graduate job interview

Tell me about yourself
Tell me about your work experience and how the skills you’ve gained apply to this role?
Tell me something interesting about yourself which isn’t on your CV?
Where do you see yourself in 5-years’ time?
Why do you want to go into (insert sector)?
Why do you want this job in particular?
Why do you want to work with this company in particular?
What do you think will be the best thing about this role?
What do you think you will struggle with in this role?
What can you bring to this company?
What are your 3 main strengths/weaknesses?
Are you competitive?
Which of your previous experiences do you think is most relevant to this role?
How do you organise yourself when you have a heavy workload?
Tell us about a time you’ve improved a system at work?
Tell me about a time when you’ve had to work with internal and external teams/colleagues. Which issues can arise? How would you solve them?
When have you collaborated with another team to help a customer?
When have you turned an unhappy customer into a happy one?
When was the last time you went out of your comfort zone?
Tell me about a time when you’ve acted upon criticism?
Talk me through your skills and why they make you a great candidate?
Describe a group/team project to me and which role you took on?
Tell me about a time when you showed initiative beyond what was expected of you?
How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?
Why did you choose you A-levels?
Why did you choose your university subject?
What do you find most frustrating in a workplace and how do you deal with this?
Tell me something non-academic that you’re proud of?
Tell me, in one sentence, why we should choose you for this job?
Do you have any questions for us?

Energy

You really want to seem like you’ve been looking forward to talking with them and are excited to be there in the interview. Make sure your enthusiasm for the role and company is portrayed clearly, but try not to come across too desperate and as though you are begging for the position.

Voice

If an interviewer asks you a personal question, try changing your tone of voice to grab their attention some more. Try not to keep it monotone or flat throughout. This will allow your personality to be more exposed subtly.

Eye contact

Remember to keep eye contact throughout the interview, this will show you’re engaged and really taking an interest in what they are talking about. However, try not to stare too much making them feel uncomfortable and on edge. This will most likely leave it on a sour note!

Don’t forget to mention

You will be able to gage from quite early on what type of interview it will be. (If you haven’t been told beforehand) but remember to draw on everything from part-time work to hobbies to volunteering or freelance work.

If you’ve written articles or blogs for your university or the local newspaper or helped to run any society events, don’t forget to mention it. After all, they are looking to invest in you as a person not just your CV!

To conclude

Starting the process of finding your first job as a Graduate can be daunting. You must apply to as many places as possible, and dedicate the majority of your time to your job search. Do not be put off if you’re rejected after the interview stage. Ask for feedback where possible and do not let it set you back!

Securing your dream job can unfortunately, be a long and stressful journey with a few hurdles along the way. However, it’s so important to stay on track and focused when applying for roles and interviewing. It’s very rare that people find their dream job on the first try so keep going and stay positive. You never know what’s around the corner!