The twenty MUST KNOW questions to succeed at graduate #interviews

Preparing for interview is best done by practicing typical interview questions. Here are 20 questions you must prepare in advance.

I've identified in bold what an employer is looking for from each question, so see my definitions at the end of the questions.

Questions about the company

Passion and drive - What do you find interesting about this role?

Passion and drive - What have you found out so far about the job?

Business acumen / interest in the job - What do you think are the main challenges facing the company or industry?

Business acumen - What might be the main challenges about this placement/ grad job?

Questions about your course

Passion and drive - Why made you choose your course?

Strengths and weaknesses - What do you enjoy about your course?

Specialist knowledge or employability - How is your course relevant to this role?

Passion and drive - What did you enjoy doing outside your course?

Questions about your work experience

Strengths and weaknesses - What have you enjoyed about your work experience / placement / PT job?

Employability skills and behaviours - How is your work experience relevant to this position? and Why?

Questions about you

Professionalism - How would a friend describe you/ your personality?

Self management - What skills do you think will help you in this position?

Resilience - Describe a situation where you have had to deal with a setback or disappointment.

Passion and drive - Where do you see yourself after graduation?

Questions about your behaviour is different situations

Project management skills - Describe a project or activity which you have planned and taken through to a conclusion? Objectives? what did you do and what were the outcomes?

Approach to teamwork - Give an example of working in a team, how did you contribute to the team?

Problem solving - Describe a complex problem. What were the issues how do you analyse and solve it? did you learn anything?

Leadership - Do you lead by example?

Employability components descriptions

Communications Skills

The ability to confidently inform and deliver information to a range of audiences, using a range of techniques 

Teamwork

The ability to effectively support group goals; while understanding the needs of others and interaction between group members.

Leadership and Management

The ability to successfully influence other towards the achievement of goals; and develop and coordinate tasks that achieved desired outcomes.

Problem Solving and Creativity

The ability to effectively develop a range of ideas; filter and evaluate options; choose and implement the 'best' solutions across a range of tasks. 

Professionalism

Demonstrate behaviours and awareness of personal habits required by industry and commercial environments

IT and Numeracy

The ability to use a range of business technology to solve problems in a variety of settings.

Self-management

The ability to determine personal priorities and understand the need to manage short and long term goals.

Passion and Drive

The ability to make an outstanding contribution to the working environment through effort and observable enthusiasm.