The 3 Interview Questions You Should Prepare For

25 Apr 2023

It’s very rare that you’ll know what you are going to be asked at an interview. But, there are some questions which, if asked, you need to make sure you answer in the best possible way, otherwise your chances of success will be greatly diminished. Here at Our Bob, we’ve all seen candidates scoring badly simply because they were lost for words, or fudged their answers so badly they didn’t stand a chance of getting the job.

Here are the ones you really need to think about beforehand:

1. Why do you want to leave your current job?

There could be a million reasons here, including: my manager doesn’t treat me fairly; I don’t like the people I’m working with; the pay is awful; the pension’s no good; or that old classic – my ex-partner works there, and it’s a bit awkward.

Your potential new employers really don’t want to hear any negative reasons, and for the most part, any of the answers above will probably get your interview off to a poor start. Focus on the positives – a few ideas you should think about are:

I would like to try working in a different environment
I’m ready to take my career to the next level
I am looking for something more challenging
I’ve heard great things about your company as employers, and I’m very keen to come and work with you

Any answers you give to this question should always show the interviewers that you are keen to develop yourself, and are positive about making a career move for the right reasons.

2. What is it about our company that interests you?

Now here’s your chance to really make a positive impression. Your interviewers will want to see that you’ve done at least some homework – this shows them that you’ve done more than just send your CV in, and that you’ve made an effort to find out what the company is all about.

Again, the wrong approach to this would be (and we have seen these)

My sister / mother / cousin works here, and it means we could car-share. This is too much of a personal cost consideration, whereas interviewers expect you to be looking at the bigger picture, such as company values, etc.
I’ve heard that you offer discounted personal loan schemes, and I’m looking for a new car. Again, this is too much about personal financial benefit versus what you can bring to the job and how you can benefit the company.

Some great examples we have seen include:

I’ve seen that you are really involved with the local community, and that really impresses me. This shows you have done your research into the company and shows that their work in the community is having some level of impact. Your interest in it may even mean that you get involved in it should they employ you.
I have heard from friends that you offer great personal development opportunities for your staff, and that’s something I really value. This is a classic answer that shows you are ambitious and keen to improve your skills, both on a personal level and for the benefit of the company as a whole.
I really like the brand / product / service you offer, and I want to be associated with it. This is a great compliment for a company, as their products are their lifeblood and having enthusiastic brand ambassadors amongst their staff will definitely help with overall team spirit

So, again, all positive stuff which will make your interviewers think you have a valid, positive reason to join their team. No interviewer wants to think that you only want to join their company to pay the bills or to get by. They want to feel like you are an enthusiastic person who is attracted to what their company has to offer. You may not feel as positive as you sound but that is a matter for you rather than the interviewers.

3. Tell us about your strengths and weaknesses

It’s a bit of an odd question, but it’s appearing all too often and is one you should have thought through in advance.

When talking about your strengths, focus on the skills / behaviours / experiences you have under your belt that you know they are looking for. Some great ones to think about would include teamwork, organisation skills, communication and customer service.

It won’t ever be enough though to just give them a list. When you give a header, i.e. teamwork, explain where you’ve demonstrated your skill, e.g. in my last job, I was responsible for inducting new members of staff, and helping to integrate them into the team. You should have a few stories rehearsed in advance that you can reach for in order to demonstrate these skills.

When it comes to weaknesses, it’s a bit more difficult. You really don’t want to list a number of failings. Just pick one, and have a good think about why it’s a weakness, but then work out how you’ll overcome it.

Having a plan to improve on a weakness and being comfortable enough in yourself to be able to concede that you have a weakness are actually the things that are being probed for here. The worst answer you can ever give for this question is that your weakness is perfectionism. It is cliched and can come across a bit blasé as well, which interviewers don’t like.

Your potential new employer will want to see that you're self-aware, and that you are keen to improve yourself so that you can iron out any weaknesses as they are identified. A continuing commitment to self-improvement within the workplace is always something that will win you points with potential employers.

So, just three questions, but three vital ones. There are many many more you could and will have to deal with, but the important point to remember in all of this is: go into your interview fully prepared for as many questions as you can.