What’s your greatest weakness?
This is a common question and it’s difficult because they’re asking you to reveal something negative about yourself. One of the best ways to approach it is to mention weaker characteristics, which work to the employer’s benefit such as ‘I’m a perfectionist’ or ‘I’m impatient to get results’. You should also explain how you plan to address these issues.
Have you ever been unpopular or disliked at work?
The interviewer wants to know if you’ve ever had to do something at work which made you unpopular. It’s not a bad thing as it means you can make tough calls. You should be able to give an example, but watch out about appearing too cutthroat!
Why should I give you the job?
This is probably the only time it’s OK to blow your own trumpet. After doing your research you should try to figure out what the prime qualities they may be searching for are. Emphasise these as your strengths and what you’ll bring to the table.
Creative testing
Some employers like to use a different kind of questioning to examine key skills. For example, ‘Give me five alternative uses for a paper clip’. The key is to think outside the box and not be afraid to be a little unorthodox with your answers.
Questions like ‘How many nappies were sold in the Greater London area in 2014?’ show that you can apply logic and basic general knowledge by calculating roughly how many people live in Greater London, how many are female and around the age of giving birth, and how many nappies does a baby use a week.
Remember to breathe
It’s alright not to answer immediately, and taking the time think about the question isn’t a bad thing. The key is to stay calm and take a breath rather than barging in with a rash response. Remember, pause, think, breath, speak!