135 possible interview questions and answers part1

Job Search Login / Register Upload your CV Job Alerts Boost Your Chances For Recruiters

Answers for 135+ Interview Questions and Answers

1. The most popular interview questions

2. ‘Why this company? Why this job?’

3. ‘Tell me about your current or previous jobs’

4. ‘How do your studies relate to this position?’

5. ‘What are your ambitions?’

6. ‘Tell me about yourself’

7. ‘What salary do you want?’

8. Questions to catch you off guard

9. ‘What would you do if, scenario questions?’

Before attending an interview you should rehearse your responses to as many questions that you can. Your success in the interview will depend on the way you answer the questions which are fired at you, and these will be focused on a particular company or particular job, so you should go through your responses just before each interview.

1. The most popular interview questions

Tell me about yourself.
This question invariable crops up early in the interview and is usually fired at the candidate as a 'warming-up question'.

How can you relate your whole life history in a few minutes? You cannot! Obviously, you need your interviewer to be a little more specific before you can give the answer required. So ask your interviewer, ‘What aspect of myself in particular would you like me to tell you about?’ Your interviewer is probably going to ask you to talk about what you’ll like at work, and that’s a lot easier.

Build you answer around response positives such as:

§‘I’m a people person – I like working with people and being part of a team.’
‘I am a very organised person who enjoys getting stuck into a project, and seeing it through from initial concept to the final stages.’
‘I’m an IT freak and spend a lot of my time behind a computer keyboard – both at work and at home.’
‘I’m very ambitious and like worthwhile challenging work.’

“The interviewer wants to know how you are going to behave in the role, so draw on real-life anecdotes to illustrate the points you make,” says Lynn Williams, author of The Ultimate Interview Book (Kogan Page, £9.99).

Sometimes your interviewer will ask about your interests and hobbies and you should pick out leisure pursuits that relate to the job you are being interviewed for. If you want to show that you’re a good team player, you might tell your interviewer, ‘I’m very sociable; I have a wide circle of friends and we spend a lot of time together. I play a lot of sport such as (name a sport, such as rugby or hockey)’.

Why do you want to leave your present job?
It’s one of the trickiest, and most dreaded, interview question and requires a certain amount of diplomacy.

Be positive

The main thing is to remain positive - even if the reason for wanting to leave you present job is due to job satisfaction, poor fit, career threshold, money, office politics, tedium, personality conflict or any of the usual reasons.

The best way to handle the question is to cite plausible and ‘acceptable’ reasons such as job stagnation (no room for progression), spouse’s relocation, the need for new challenge, you were laid off because of a merger or downsize, it is a temporary job or you want a job better suited to your abilities.

Don’t say negative things about your last position

Don’t say anything negative about your present (last) employer or your present (last) job and make sure you can explain your reasons for wanting to leave with a positive spin. NEVER launch into a tirade about how insufferable it is working in your present position or what a total idiot you think your current boss is and so on. Invective will not put you in a positive light.

There’s subtle ways of saying you were under-challenged

You’ve got to have a convincing and rational reason for leaving. Here are a few responses you can make when answering the question: as to why you’re leaving your job:

I'm looking for a position with greater opportunities for advancement.
I'm looking for better pay, because I believe I’m worth it.
I'm looking for more challenging job assignments.

These are clever and subtle ways of saying that you are not exactly challenged in your present position. If possible try to project a positive light on your present job but make an even more positive statement about what you are looking for in your next one, and why.

qMy career goals have changed. If you’re going into a area of the accountancy and finance profession this is a great thing to say. For example, you may be wanting to change from financial control to treasury management. However, companies want people who can step into a job Day 1, so outline how your experiences or knowledge in past jobs have prepared you well for this position.
I was made redundant. If you were laid off as part of a merger, downsizing or staff reduction, say so. Remember; be POSITIVE about discussing your former employer. Don't ever bad-mouth a former boss or position. Try to explain in a positive way why your position was chosen to be reduced or eliminated, or why you were chosen for redundancy in a merger.

What do you enjoy most in your present job?
This seems to be a fairly straight forward question but is actually a devious question. Your interviewer is tempting you to divulge what you don’t like about your present job. Obviously there are going to be things about it that you don’t like – or you wouldn’t be applying for this new position. If you do state your objections, then it may show that you’ll dislike things about the job on offer too – which isn’t a very positive sign. But if you say that you enjoy everything about your current job, be prepared for the obvious question, ‘So why are you looking for another job?’. Don’t get led down this route, just answer something along the lines of ‘My current job is great and I can’t really put my finger on any part of it that I dislike but I’m just looking to further my career’ and leave it at that. It’s a good tactic to use this question to your benefit and you can this by picking out some aspect of the job you are applying for that will actually further your career.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced at work?
So long as you’ve got an answer up your sleeve, this is a great question. It helps you to shine! You need to explain two things – the challenge itself and then how you dealt with it. Pick a challenge which you successfully dealt with, and if you are seeking work for the first time this could include passing your exams (which were difficult of course!), and explain how you overcame the challenge and the outcome. Be cautioned, this question can also be used by your interviewer in a crafty way to test what you consider to be a challenge so try and make it as formidable as possible – but without exaggerating.

What do you think of your present boss?
Here is a question (one in many) that an interviewer will use to test your loyalty and integrity. The rule is easy to learn – never criticise any of your bosses, current, recent or otherwise. If you get asked this question, whatever your true feelings, the most appropriate reply is ‘I like and admire my boss and get on very well with him, I respect his experience and he is good at his job. He has taught me a lot', and leave it there. You have to remember that the person interviewing you may well, at some point soon, become your boss and is now weighing up your faithfulness and reliability.

What do you know about this company?
This is a great opportunity to demonstrate that you’ve done your homework. People tend to think that if you are really eager to work for them you will have done some research about who they are, what they do and how they do it. Keep to the relevant points – size, turnover, nature of products and markets, growth and business ethos. Keep it brief, but add a bit of sugar by showing that you’ve dug deeper than merely reading the annual report. For example, your knowledge of the corporate social responsibility initiatives of the company (usually detailed on the company’s website) and a remark such as ‘I have to say that I am very supportive of this initiative and it’s good to work for an employer who is concerned about the impact their business has on the environment and about people who are not so well off' would show interest and commitment. To show that you’re up-to-date, a remark such as, ‘I see in the Financial Times that you’ve just signed a very big deal in China’ would go down very well.

What do you think the role of …. (the job position) involves?
When you apply for a job in your usual line of work the chances are you are going to know something about what your new position would entail. For example, if the job is for a credit controller, and you have already been a credit controller, or have studied the role as part of your qualifying professional exams, you will know what sort of work you are going to be involved with. In any case you will have picked up a brief job description of the job role and what responsibilities it carries in the job advert so you should be well armed with knowledge about the job when you attend your interview. But remember, although knowing the job description may help you, you should also bring into your answer the other qualities that may be required, such as team work, leadership ability, communication skills, interpersonal skills, analytical know-how and problem solving skills.

Why do you want this job?
Think carefully about this question. Highlight the positive characteristics about the job which encouraged you to apply for this position. Do not mention the downside aspects of your current job or the job in question. “This is a basic but important question,” says Richard Alberg, a senior vice president at Kenexa, a recruitment and retention company. “We are looking for evidence that the candidate has thought about the job, the company, the brand.” (Reference: Reference: Times Online)

What do you think you can bring to the job?

Another question that gives you a chance to shine. You will have examined the job description and the key responsibilities so you will be able to pick out several significant areas where you feel your skills and abilities will stand out. An answer might be ‘I have experience working in the overdue accounts section where a diplomatic touch is required dealing with tricky customers. I am very sympathetic and am able to defuse conflict situations using my personal skills. As I understand it, this is an important need for this position.

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

Take caution over the way you respond to this question. Don’t simply say ‘sitting in your seat!’, you might think it sounds funny but the interviewer may not share your sense of humour. The remark often leaves a figment of truth hanging in the air and you don’t want your interviewer seeing you as a potential threat to his or her job sometime in the future. Try to be upbeat with your answer but don’t come across as arrogant – if you state a goal and the interviewer knows you cannot fulfil it, your answer will be treated as suspect. Perhaps you could offer up an answer such as, ‘I have always been extremely career focused and ambitious. I would like to keep progressing within my profession and feel that your company will be able to offer me that chance’. “We are looking for an ambition that hangs together, is realistic and coherent,” Alberg says. (Reference: Reference: Times Online)

What is your greatest strength?

Go for it. This is a great question – just focus your answer on the key responsibilities of the job to make sure your strength matches one of its important requirements. For example, if the job requires strong IT expertise, provide this as your major strength; if the job requires team leadership skills then show these strengths in your answer.

What is your biggest weakness?

Oops, tricky - after all no one wants to show off their weaknesses although we all know we have them. Because of this, you would come across as very arrogant and too perfect if you tried to wriggle out of the question. The neat way of dealing with this question is to try and turn a ‘negative’ into a ‘positive’. So you could perhaps say 'My biggest weakness is that I’m useless at household jobs – changing light bulbs and fixing leaky taps – but I feel a real sense of achievement once I’ve done it.’ or ‘Standing the first and last rounds in the pub – but then I suppose I’m a sucker’.

How would your colleagues describe you?

This is an opportunity to list your strong points – so grab it. Concentrate on your positive points as a team player – supportive, committed, team based, and so on. With answering this question you can show that you are easy to get on with, a good team member and a pretty amicable person who works well with and on behalf of other people. You could perhaps answer the question as, ‘I’m an open-minded, easy to talk to, trustworthy, staunch team member who is always willing to offer my advice or help colleagues where needed’. But again, don’t over exaggerate by alluding to somebody you are not – if you are not a ‘natural team leader’ don’t pretend you are!

“I like to ask people to consider the third person perspective; they have to think on their feet, and it allows me to assess their self-awareness. I’d also ask what their work colleagues would consider were their strengths and areas for development,” says Geoff Hall, the head of human resources for World Duty Free (Reference: Times Online).

How would you describe yourself?

Obviously this question is similar to the one above. Pick out and emphasise your best qualities and achievements from your career. If you are a popular, considerate, caring person who can be depended on and who, for example would stay working late at night to ensure your targets were reached, then let your interviewer know. The interviewer is simply trying to get a more rounded picture of the type of person you are, to help assess whether you’ll fit within the team of people you’ll be working with.

2. ‘Why this company? Why this job?’

Why do you want to work for this company?

Highlight the positive reasons why you want to work in the company, but avoid aspects such as more money or shorter hours. These would not endear you to a prospective employer.

What interests you about this company’s services (or products)?

Again, your research into the company should aid you in answering this question.

What do you think are the key trends in our industry?

“We are looking to see that they have done their research and have the commercial sophistication to understand the implications of that research,” Alberg says. (Reference: Reference: Times Online)

What can this company offer that your existing employer cannot offer?

Tread carefully here! Again do not mention money. Stress the opportunities for personal growth, new challenges, and so on.

What appeals to you about this particular job?

Whoops – another double-edged sword! Your interviewer isn’t necessarily looking for a response that is clear cut – you know the main reasons why you are applying for the job is because the location is convenient, the package is right, the job is progressive, the company is technologically advanced, and you think you’d enjoy doing it. But the interviewer wants to hear an answer that looks at it from the company’s point of view – not simply from yours. So try not to waffle about benefits and prospects. Talk in terms of your contribution to the company, and be specific about the kind of challenge you enjoy. For example, ‘I’m a very well organised person, and I’m looking for a post which gives me scope to plan and organise, and add value’, or 'I am a very well organised person and this role involves exceptional financial management skills. I react well under pressure because it forces me to perform to my full capacity, which makes me think that I would really contribute’. Obviously, you can shape this answer to whatever position you are applying for.

What skills do you think will be required for this position?

Do some preparation work. Examine the job brief job descition stated in the job advert and frame your responses based on the skills and experience required.

How long do you think it would be before you are making a significant contribution to the department?

The best thing here is to turn the question back on your interviewer, ‘What would be my key performance goals for the first 6 months?’, ‘Are there any specific projects that you would need me to engage in from Day 1?’, ‘Are there outstanding issues that I would need to address quickly?’ The answers to your questions would fuel an answer to the interviewer’s question. If there is no immediacy about your new role, then indicate that you’d expect a week or so to settle in, and would be looking to make a useful contribution within 3 to 4 months.

What do you think is the biggest contribution you can make?

This is similar to the question: ‘What is your greatest strength?’ It’s a great question – just focus your answer on the job description, pick out the significant responsibilities involved with it, and make sure your contribution matches the important requirements. Statements such as, ‘Strong team leadership …’, ‘Expert knowledge of IT systems …’, ‘Extensive experience of credit management …’ and ‘firm knowledge of international accountancy standards …’ would add a popular flavour to your application.

I see that you have no substantial experience in the type of work involved in this position. How will you cope?

Say that you are the type of person who intends to succeed at everything you do and that you are extremely committed and will do whatever it takes to achieve what is required.

What would you say if I told you that you were over qualified for this position?

By asking this question the interviewer is expressing an anxiety that you’ll quickly become bored and leave. If you have reservations on this front yourself then in your own best career interests you should already be looking for other vacancies. If you are determined to go for this particular post then you should put forward your best answer which would probably take the form of, ‘I am pleased to know that you think I’ve got strong qualifications. They will, of course, enable me to make a bigger contribution sooner than someone with less ability’.

What do you want to get from this new job?

Make sure your answer fits in with the company who is interviewing you. A suitable reply would be that you are looking for a new job where you can apply your existing skills and learn new ones.

What would stop you from accepting this job?

Careful here. Naming anything would give your interviewer the impression that you’re less than 100% committed to the job. You could tell them that it all appeals to you, but this is pretty glib and lacks creditability. The best thing is to latch on to one task that is relatively unimportant but at the same time universally unpopular, such as filing invoices or customer remittance advices, ‘I can’t say that I find filing paper terribly inspiring, but it’s something that must be done, so it’s got to be done well. That’s just the way I look at it. It certainly would not stop me from accepting this job which I am extremely eager to fill’’.

Why should we employ you?

The answer to this question will be based on your previous experience and achievements which relate to the company. At the end you could add that you think there is a good fit between you and the job, and do ask your interviewer for his or her opinion.

Are you able and prepared to relocate?

If you are, say so. If you do not want to move then you do not have to accept the job - try and come across as someone who is positive.

Are you willing to travel if the job demands it?

Again if you are, say so. You want to sound positive, so ask your interviewer how much travelling is involved before you make a decision about the job.

3.‘Tell me about your current or previous jobs’

Why have you been so long with your present (past) employer?

The question seems to imply that you might have got yourself into a rut, grown stale, become narrow focused and should have moved earlier. Your answer will need to dispel these implications and contradict your interviewer’s unspoken worry. For example, ‘I’ve been with (name present employer) for several years but I’ve been engaged in a variety of different roles’, or ‘The job was expanding constantly, so I experienced frequent changes in my responsibilities and work without actually changing employer. Also I had a one year secondment tour in USA’.

Why have you been such a short time with your present (past) employer?

This is a difficult question and the implication is obvious. The interviewer thinks that you might be a job hopper and doesn’t want to take on someone who is going to leave in only a few months. Let’s face it, the recruiter isn’t going to employ someone who’ll only stay with the company 6 months or so, and then will be off again to another employer. Recruitment involves a costly process, possibly as much as 25% of your first year’s package, so your new company will want to get full value from hiring you and will have a payback time in mind. Al least the interviewer is only concerned about your record with a single employer – your current company, so you will need to reassure him or her that you are more stable than your CV suggests, ‘I intended to settle in my present company for several years, but unfortunately the position did not expand in the way I envisaged and I now need to widen my experience and more fully realise the potential that my skills give me’.

Are you a job hopper?

This is the previous question but far worse. Your interviewer can see from your CVthat you’ve had a very erratic job history and have only stayed for short periods with several other employers, as well as your present employer. Nowadays people tend to change jobs every two to six years, but more frequently than this looks worrying to a prospective employer. You’ve got your work cut out! It would not help your case to try and justify why you have left each job, in turn. This would emphasise the problem and deepen the worry of your interviewer. Far better to give a catch-all reason for changing jobs so frequently. You would need to come across as being sincere and convincing, so go for this type of approach, ‘I’d like to find a company that I can settle down in and make a real contribution and I’m desperately worried that I have not been able to do so yet. I’ve found up until now that I’ve had to switch employers in order to keep taking on more challenging work which is commensurate with my qualification and abilities. What I’m looking for is an employer that is dynamic and progressive enough to provide me with challenge and stimulation and allow me to contribute fully in the way I know I am able. I sincerely believe that your company could offer me this type of employment.’

How long do you expect to stay in this job?

A question posed for the same reason as the last two questions. It’s vitally important therefore to intimate that you would intend to work for this company for several years minimum and you could give an answer along the lines of ‘I admire the goals of your company and like the way it’s structured and I would want to settle in it and grow and develop within it. So, I would expect to work for you for a lengthy period of time providing my career continues to develop, and I can see clear indications that it will’.

How long have you been looking for a new job?

If you have been unemployed for a long time this may be a rather tricky question to answer. But be honest. If you have been away on holiday or done some voluntary work you could mention this.

Are you talking to other organisations as well as us

Another question out there in the minefield! You want to show your interviewer that you are in demand, because it makes you a more attractive prospect and if you are appointed may held to lever up your remuneration package. At the same time you may put your interviewer off, particularly if the recruitment exercise is still at an early stage. The best thing to do, without lying, is to let them know you’re doing well, ‘I would prefer this company because I like its goals and progressive policies, but I’ve reached the final stage of interviews with two other companies which I have applied for as part of my contingency strategy’.

How much does your last job resemble our position?

Your interviewer is trying to see how well you would suit the role you are applying for. So you should highlight how close the jobs resemble each other rather than emphasise the differences. When it comes to discussing the differences it will support your position if you can show that either you have done something similar in a previous position or that you can quickly adapt and pick up the new skills.

What are the main differences?

You answer must be honest but you may be able to stretch the truth slightly. Emphasise the similarities in the two positions rather than their differences. You could perhaps draw comparisons by saying things like, ‘The work is similar but you have a turnover three times as high, and can offer me much more opportunity to add real value while at the same time advancing my career’, or ‘the work is similar, but my present employer is not growing and investment is not being put into systems improvements, consequently we are in a rut which I find very frustrating’.

What do you think of your present (last) company?

You should stress the positive aspects of your present (last) company explaining how good a company it was to work for. Tell your interviewer about the training and development support you received or the hands-on experience you gained and how useful this would be in the role you are applying for.

What is your present (last) boss’s greatest weakness?
Whoops, very tricky! Your interviewer is anticipating being your boss, and there is a danger that you might bring up his or her own weakness. A shot in your own foot, so to speak. Try to twist the answer to give it a positive shine, such as, ‘It’s hard to think of a weakness really, but I suppose her biggest weakness was always being prepared to shoulder most of the extra work, and stay behind in the evening while the rest of the team went home’.

What would your boss say about you?
Take caution here – your interviewer is your prospective boss! He or she will be looking to see how well you will fit into their own organisation. They want you to be an effective hard-working member of their team, but they don’t want you to be too arrogant or ambitious. Such people are often difficult to work with. Always be prepared to eat a bit of humble pie in the interview, so describe yourself as a dutiful, reliable, and willing subordinate.

What motivated you to join your present (last) company?
Always be positive about your reasons for joining and leaving a company. Be very careful that you remain upbeat about your present employer. Don’t make negative comments. If you do, your interviewer would wonder what you would say about his or her company when you leave.

Did they live up to your expectations?
The answer is “Yes”, but time has moved on and you now need more scope to develop your true potential.

Why are you looking for a change of employer now?
This is another of the ‘minefield’ questions – so don’t get blown away! It’s likely that you’re looking for a change of employer because your job doesn’t pay very well and you want a higher salary package (probably your interviewer does as well, but that’s another thing!) , or that it’s tedious, or you think your current boss has an IQ of about 25 and you can’t stand the sight of him, or you don’t like working with Betty in A/P any more. But lets face it you not going to say any of these things. The best answer would be along the lines of, ‘I feel that I have outgrown the position I am in and believe my personal qualities could be put to much better use in a more dynamic and focused company where I can extend my contribution further as a full and participating team member. I think this company fits the bill! I am really loyal to (name existing employer) but the company doesn’t have the resources or infrastructure to let me advance in the ways I want to’ and leave it at that. Don’t be negative about the job you are leaving – it will not place you in a positive light.

Explain the organisational structure in your present (last) company and how the finance department fitted into it.
A truthful, factual answer is required. It’s easier to focus on the position of the head of finance. For, example if the chief finance officer is on the board, then the finance department functions as an independent entity. You might also make mention of the place and role of the Audit Committee, if appropriate.

Explain the organisational structure in the finance department of your present (last) company and how you fitted into it.
This sort of question may be used to find out whether your existing (past) position is at a comparable level to your new job. If the new job being discussed is seen as an advancement you will need to show that you are ready for a more demanding role. You may be able to show that you already have the necessary experience and personal skills for this next step up. For example, you could have acquired this from deputising or shadow-working in your existing (past) position.

Were you promoted at any time in your present (last) company?
Your interviewer is trying to assess you potential for advancement and work progression. Your response would depend on your situation and track record, and as always an honest answer is called for. You might adopt this kind of approach, ‘The company I currently work for is not big enough to offer much scope for promotion between positions, however since I started working there I have been given more and more responsibilities and my salary level has increased correspondingly’, or you could say, ‘Promotion is slow in the company I work for, but it does operate a merit rating scheme and I have reached the highest scale in my employment band.’

Were you given any extra responsibilities beyond your original job description in your present (last) company?
A similar question to the last one. Go to your interview armed with such information and be prepared to be positive about your record when you discuss it with the interviewer.

How did you get on with your present (last) manager/supervisor, colleagues and subordinates?
The wise thing to say is that, ‘I got on well with everyone’. Always put a positive shine when you respond to such questions. Remember the interviewer might be wondering how you would behave as his or her subordinate and trying to assess how well you would fit into their team.

What do you do on a Monday morning in your present (last) job?

Stress the positive things you did including your achievements. Even if some or much of it was routine data-entry or filing, you can still show your interest in the way it was tackled and your commitment to seeing it done well. It would be a nice touch to add, ‘I never really had the Monday morning blues’.

What do you do on a Friday afternoon in your present (last) job?
Now is not the time to talk about ‘Happy hours that extended through the afternoon and well into the evening!’ Friday is often deadline day, and you could point out that you were required on occasions to work late on a Friday and even found it necessary to return on the Saturday morning.

What responsibilities do you have at month end in your present (last) job?
This is a ‘facts’ question and one that does not require a ‘political twist’. Make sure you have all the available information ready. Keep you answer brief and to the point. Short sentences will be in order. You might add that some months are more difficult than others, and quarterly interim reporting complicates what is involved – if that is the case.

What responsibilities do you have at year-end in your present (last) job?
The question requires much the same preparation and response as for the previous question.

Have you reduced costs for your present (last) last employer?
If you have reduced costs say so - companies are always looking for ways to reduce costs

How could you have reduced costs if you were given free rein?
Your interviewer is assessing how creative you are. Think of some examples before you attend the interview and be ready with them, for example, ‘I think we could have reduced the receivables payment time if the invoices had been dispatched more promptly. In fact I would liked to have seen the supervision of the invoice processing system become part of the remit of the treasury team’.

Do you feel you advanced and developed satisfactorily in your present (last) job?
Remember – this is the main reason why you are leaving your present job. Your answer would probably be similar to, ‘I like the company I work for, but I feel that my progress is stunted because the company is small, and its systems, infrastructure and technology are not sophisticated. The reason why I am eager to join your company is because you are sophisticated and forward looking.’ It doesn’t hurt to be a bit creepy!

What do you dislike most in your present (past) position?
You really like your work, remember? There’s a juggling act required here. If the present (or past) job is very similar to the job you’ve applied for, then you must, after due pause for meditation, state, ‘I really can’t think of anything that I dislike about my job or the people I work with’. This might encourage your interviewer along the view that you can be hired because you may well be motivated to work hard most of the time. If the present (or past) job is significantly different from the new position, then you have more scope. Perhaps, you might say, ‘I really enjoy my work and the people I work with. But occasionally I get a little frustrated by working in a small company culture, where the systems, infrastructure and technology are not very sophisticated’.

What problems did you encounter and how did you handle these problems?
Do some preparation work for this question, and have a few problems ready to describe if you need to. Stick to the problems that you were able to solve, i.e. 'I had problem A, which I later managed to resolve by doing B'. Show that you are a person who can solve problems rather than someone who lets things get on top of them. Janet Gray, the HR and IT director at Jarvis Hotels, says: “I want to know about the processes and skills used and that they came to a reasonable solution. I want to know how quickly they react, whether they take risks and whether they are able to think off the wall.” (Reference: Reference: Times Online)

How can you attend this interview while you’re employed elsewhere?
Tread carefully – there’s a trap here! It’s likely that you have phoned in sick or else told your boss that you had to stay home for an appointment with the plumber. Don’t let on, otherwise your interviewer will wonder what your work attendance will be like and how often you will phone in as “sick”. It’s also unlikely that you would have informed your present boss that you are attending interviews, unless redundancy is imminent. The best approach in the interview is to say something like, ‘I’m owed some holiday and I have taken a day off from work to attend this interview. If my boss asks me how I spent the day I will tell him that I have attended this interview’.

4. ‘How do your studies relate to this kind of job?’

These are questions of a type that are often asked of candidates who are entering the profession or applying for work for the first time.

Why did you choose a career in accountancy and finance?

Be positive about your reasons. If you have changed careers make a rational and convincing argument as to why you did so. Express enthusiasm for the accountancy and finance profession. You could say something like, ‘I have always been good at figures and took an interest in accountancy since a teacher at school told me that I had an aptitude for such work. My interest has only heightened since I started studying for the ACCA exams. I am extremely pleased that I am part qualified and look forward eagerly to my first position’.

What are your career goals?

This same question is covered in the ‘What are your ambitions?’ section. It is risky to commit yourself to achieving career goals that seem high and difficult. The interviewer might think that you’re capable of over-reaching, which would place some of your other answers in doubt. Perhaps you might say, ‘The business environment changes so rapidly these days, that it’s hard to look beyond only a few years. But I do know that I want to get ahead in the accountancy and finance profession and will work extremely hard to achieve this aim’.

Which subject did you enjoy most in your (ACA/ACCA/CIMA/ etc.) studies?

Be ‘economical with the truth’ – it would be wise to make sure that the subject you liked most is closely related to the position you are applying for. Incidentally, you could have enjoyed it most, even though it was not the subject that you scored highest at in your exams.

Which subject did you find easiest?

Again, it would be a matter of common sense to make the subject you found easiest to study closely related to the position you are applying for. Again, you could have found a subject easy to study even though you were not awardedvery high marks for it in your exams.

Which subject did you find most difficult?

An honest answer is called for although you may need to stretch the truth. Don’t make your hardest subject relate to the knowledge and skills you need for the position you are applying for.

Which subject did you receive the highest exam score in?

An honest answer is called for. Have evidence ready in case it’s asked for.

Which subject did you receive the lowest exam score in?

An honest answer is called for. Have evidence ready in case it’s asked for. Only show what’s on the computer print out. You may be able to avoid showing failure grades.

Which subjects do you think relate most to this job?

Examine the brief job description provided in the job advert and relate its requirements to the subjects you have studied. If you received good grades for theses subjects, and have not previously been asked, make sure your interviewer is made aware of your high scores.

How do you think a professional qualification will help you in this job?

This is a great question – so go for it. Your interviewer needs to know your enthusiasm for the work and your level of motivation. Put a very positive shine on what you have studied and what you are doing. Try not to waffle too much about challenges and money. Keep your answer reasonably brief, for example ‘I think the subjects I have studied provide me with a lot of basic knowledge, but I am aware that this needs to be supported with practical application, which at this time I need. The exam syllabus is progressive and focused and my studies should give me an excellent advantage when I become involved in hands-on work which I am eagerly looking forward to. I am very pleased and proud that I have qualified (or that I am part-qualified)’.

Some people say that study is all theoretical and lacks practical application. What do you say?

Attack the basis of this question. Your interviewer is obviously implying that theoretical knowledge is not important – or more likely is trying to edge you on to see how you react. Stand your corner. You could say, ‘Most theorists have developed their hypothesis from visiting companies and studying what is going on in practical terms. In the accountancy and finance fields we could cite research into ABC, financial model building, the construction of key performance indicators, bench marking and control systems. This means that theory is often the flipside of practice. Where would software have come from without the theoretical input?’.

How did you apply practical situations to your studies?

The point here is that the interviewer wants to have some idea of your practical slant. The only answer you can really give is to pick out the practical aspect of your studies – financial statements, auditing case studies, strategic scenarios (most of which are based on real-life events) and exam questions which are progressive and based on practice. You might say, ‘The part I liked most about my studies was the practical side of it. Producing financial statements and solving business problems gave me a real lift. I am really eager to get involved with real hands-on work’.

Are you pleased that you have qualified?

Of course – is your interviewer mad? On a saner level, impress the interviewer that you chose the profession by choice, worked extremely hard at your studies, are very proud of your achievements and intend to progress within the profession.

Do you think that your qualification will further your career?

This represents a mix of the previous questions but with use of different words. Your answer could be framed as follows, ‘Yes I am extremely pleased that I underwent the rigour of qualification. I think it will provide an extremely good springboard to allow me to rise very quickly within my profession. My qualification will be of benefit to my employer because it will enable me to very quickly assimilate working practice and make a real contribution in a very short period of time’.

Would you still pick the accountancy and finance profession if you could start again?

The answer is “Yes” of course, otherwise you wouldn’t be applying for the position. Say something like, ‘I am dedicated to my chosen profession. My goals are quite clear, in the next few years I want to do everything possible to be a valued accountant and to progress in the accountancy and finance profession, and I think the opportunities to do that in this company are excellent.

5. ‘What are your ambitions?’

Why did you choose a career in accountancy and finance?

“I look for goals and conscious decisions. It is best if people have fallen into roles to explain it in terms of seizing opportunities, that’s much more positive than the idea that they have been forced into decisions,” says Sally Temple, the succession and recruitment manager for the UK electricals division of DSGI.

What are your career goals?

It is risky to commit yourself to achieving career goals that seem high and difficult. Your interviewer might think that you’re capable of over-reaching, which would place some of your other answers in doubt. Perhaps you might say, ‘The business environment changes so rapidly these days, that it’s hard to look beyond only a few years. But I do know that I want to get ahead in the accountancy and finance profession and will work extremely hard to achieve this aim’.

How does this position fit in with your career goals?

A similar question, but one in which you can bring in the position you are applying for, ‘My goals are quite clear, in the next few years I want to do everything possible to progress in the accountancy and finance profession and I think the opportunities to do that in this company are excellent.

Do you think that you’ve progressed in your career?

If you progressed faster than normal you should say so. If growth was not as good as expected then be careful how you phrase this.

Would you expect promotion?

Be definite here. You are ambitious, and there’s no reason why your interviewer should not get a feeling that you are ambitious. But don’t be too ambitious – you might even make your interviewer feel insecure about his or her own position! The answer is one of promotion linked to merit, ‘I would hope to have the opportunity of being promoted once I have demonstrated my contribution to the company, and shown that I have the potential to even increase my value’. You could also show how this position suits your medium-term career goals, ‘That’s why I want to join a large progressive company so there’s lots of opportunities when I’ve gained the right level of knowledge and experience’.

What motivates you?

Play down the part money plays in your motivation. Indicate career progression, the ability to contribute and add value, opportunity to learn new skills, good team relationships, and so on. Perhaps you might say, ‘I am motivated by doing a job well and perform at my best when stretched’.

Are you aggressive?

If you mean by this someone who gets things done, then the answer is "Yes". You need to defuse the implications of this question.

Do you feel you are ready to take on greater responsibilities?

Show how you have progressed throughout your career and how you have welcomed and taken on responsibility for your own actions and the work of others. If you have not really had many work related responsibilities you can mention other responsibilities you have had outside work.

Are you competitive?

Your answer depends on the sort of job you are doing. If you will be working as part of a team you will need to show that you can work in the best interests of the team and not just for your own benefit.

Would you compete for my job?

Depending on the position you are applying for you may want to sound reasonably ambitious, but do not come across as someone who is looking to take over the interviewer's position as soon as possible.

Do you prefer to work in a small, medium or large company?

Remember where you are! If the company interviewing you is a small to medium sized enterprise say that you enjoy the more intimate atmosphere of a small organisation which produces good team spirit. At a large company comment that you enjoy the stability and progressive culture of working in a large and established organisation.

What would your best job be?

Again, remember where you are! Describe the job in terms of the criteria they have used to describe their job. An ideal job might include things like challenging work, a fair rate of pay for the job, amenable colleagues, inspiring career prospects, conducive team atmosphere, scope to learn new skills, opportunity to apply existing skills, and so on.

Are you considering any other positions at the moment?

If you are say so, but do not give too many details away - it will weaken your negotiating position later. If you do not have any other job offers at the moment just say that you have a few irons in the fire.

Have you ever been sacked ( fired)?

If you have, you will need to handle this question with great care. Try and put yourself in as favourable light as possible without being too dismissive. If you have later been able to correct any deficiency which resulted in you being fired you should tell the interviewer.

What will your referees say about you?

Say that you expect excellent references.