There are plenty of articles on the web promising to tell you the answers to common interview questions. Don’t bother memorising these ‘answers’. Interviewers aren’t looking for perfect scripted replies. They are giving you the chance to tell them something about yourself that could swing them in favour of choosing you for the job. Here are five common interview questions and the approaches you should take to answering them.

1.What can you tell me about yourself?

The interviewer already has your CV and they will have read it, so you don’t need to list off your job history. An interviewer doesn’t want to hear about your hobbies and holidays either. Preparation for this question should consist of thinking about which of your personal qualities and experiences are relevant to the position that you are applying for.

2.Where do you see yourself five years from now?

This question is a favourite with interviewers because the answer should reveal something about the interviewee. How prepared you are for this common question will give an interviewer an insight into how ambitious you are – ambitious people think about this sort of thing a lot. In addition to this, you may give away how realistic your expectations are. A lot can be achieved in five years. Think about what you will be getting out of the role you are applying for.

3.Why do you want to work here?

This is an opportunity to show that you have done some research into what the company does. Talk about what you can bring to the company and talk about your expectations of the company. For instance, you may want to gain experience in a particular area in which the company is highly regarded, but for which you must first receive training. It is perfectly acceptable to bring this up at interview. 

4.What did you find challenging in your previous role and how did you deal with it?

The question has two parts. In the first instance, you must show that you are aware that you have limitations. In the second, you have a chance to show how you used this awareness to better yourself. 

5.When have you exercised leadership?

Leadership doesn’t solely consist of telling others what to do. On the contrary, some of the best leaders will foster a collegiate atmosphere that enables everybody to work together to solve a problem. Giving an example of a time that you did this is better than giving examples of times that you told a team to do something and they did it.

There are loads more tips on interview technique, as well as writing CVs and cover letters, over on the candidate resources page of our website.