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Job Seeking Advice

Preparation for Interview Questions

6 April 2012

You should prepare for questions. Practise questions and answers with a partner or friend to help increase your self confidence.

Some commonly encountered include:

  • Where does your main experience lie?
  • What are / were the main responsibilities of your current / last job?
  • What were the main problem areas in the job?
  • What do you do particularly well?
  • What are your career objectives?
  • Why id you leave your last job?
  • Why do you want to join this section/department/organisation?
  • What appeals to you about the job for which you are applying?
  • Are there any people you find difficult to work with?
  • What do you want to be doing in five years time?
  • What are your strong points?
  • What are your weak points?
  • Why should we employ you?

Practise answers that will be useful in any of the above questions. The phrases you memorise will come back to you in the interview, helping your confidence.

Don't be surprised by the awkward or unusual questions. If one arises stay calm, these questions may be aimed to test you under pressure. Don't be afraid to ask for more time to think or for the question to be clarified.

You will also be asked questions about your knowledge of the subject, so make sure you do plenty of background reading.

Hypothetical questions will also be often asked to check out how you would react in a given situation.

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