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Behavioural Interview Questions

Behavioural Interview Questions

Below you will find a list of possible interview questions with tips on how best to answer them.

It is important not to give one-line answers. Instead, think about "How can I sell myself to this company?" This approach will help you develop strong, relevant responses.

Don't make up experiences or achievements that you can't support, as you may be caught out during the interview. When answering questions, avoid rushing your response. Employers want to see that you have taken the time to think before answering.

Q1. "So, tell me about yourself."

This question is often used to assess your personality, preparation, communication skills, and ability to think on your feet.

Prepare a summary covering:

  • Your current or most recent role.

  • Your key job-related strengths.

  • A brief overview of your career history.

  • How your experience relates to the position you are applying for.

Q2. "Why did you leave your last job?"

Respond positively by focusing on reasons such as:

  • Better career advancement opportunities.

  • Promotion opportunities.

  • Greater responsibility.

  • More variety in your work.

Q3. "Why do you want to do this job / work for this company?"

Demonstrate your knowledge of the company and explain why your skills and experience make you a strong fit for the role.

Q4. "What do you think you have to offer this company?"

This is your opportunity to highlight your strengths by focusing on the skills and qualities that are most relevant to the position.

Example: "I have strong sales skills, work well in a team environment, and am excited about contributing to the new markets your company is developing in the Asian region."

Q5. "What do you think this position involves?"

This question assesses whether you have researched the role, listened carefully during the interview, and can clearly summarise your understanding of the position.

Q6. "What do you know about the company?"

Demonstrate your interest by discussing:

  • Your research into the company.

  • Its primary business and industry.

  • Its size and major clients.

  • Current projects or recent achievements.

  • The sources you used to gather this information.

Q7. "What do you believe are your key strengths?"

Prepare examples that demonstrate your strengths and explain how they helped you succeed in previous roles while supporting your application for this position.

Q8. "What do you believe are your weaknesses?"

This question is an opportunity to show self-awareness. Choose a genuine but manageable weakness and explain how you have worked to improve it.

Example: "I can become very focused on the projects I am working on, but I have learnt to prioritise my workload and maintain balance."

Q9. "Why have you had so many jobs?"

If you have worked in several industries or changed jobs frequently, explain the positive reasons behind your career moves.

  • Learning new skills.

  • Exploring different career paths.

  • Travelling overseas.

  • Gaining valuable experience relevant to the position.

Q10. "What do you enjoy most about your current / last job?"

Focus on aspects of your work that closely relate to the competencies required for the position and explain that you are looking forward to further developing those skills.

Q11. A question requesting confidential information about a previous employer

This question may be testing your professionalism and discretion.

Politely explain that you are unable to disclose confidential information, such as sales figures or internal business information, because you respect confidentiality and would expect the same standard from your future employer.

Q12. "Where do you see yourself in five years' time?"

Demonstrate ambition while showing that your long-term goals align with the position and the company's opportunities for growth.

Q13. "Do you work well under pressure?"

Answer confidently and provide a real example of a time when you successfully managed pressure and achieved a positive outcome.

Q14. "Tell me about when something went wrong."

Q15. "Tell me about a time when you encountered conflict in the workplace."

Q16. "Have you ever had to deal with conflicting deadlines? How did you decide which task to complete?"

These questions are designed to assess the competencies required for the role. Use examples from your previous work experience and finish each answer by explaining what you learned or how the experience helped you improve.

Q17. "Do you have any questions you would like to ask?"

Always prepare questions for the interviewer. Asking thoughtful questions demonstrates genuine interest in both the role and the organisation.

Some examples include:

  • What do you see as being the main focus of this position?

  • Am I correct in saying that the position involves mediating between Departments A and B while monitoring and developing new approaches?

  • I'd like to ask about the organisational structure. Are publications produced nationally or individually by each regional office? How are the budgets controlled and allocated?

If your questions have already been answered during the interview, let the interviewer know specifically which topics were covered. This demonstrates that you prepared thoroughly and listened carefully throughout the interview.