Interview Preparation for Other Interview types

Other Interview types

Interviews come in many different varieties and forms

Remember that there is no official specification on what an interview needs to be, and while most interviews do tend to follow a standardized format, the exact make-up and structure of an interview is ultimately determined by the employers and recruitment specialists who administer them. As such, sometimes these employers and recruitment specialists will use creative alternatives or specialized interviews for obscure or highly skilled job roles

Reviewed here are some of the less common interview types, some of which will include question and answer examples if they have not already been covered in other sections

Although they may not follow a standardized interview format, you should follow the same basic preparation steps for these interview types as you would for any other type of interview. See Interview Professional’s, Recommended Preparation Steps in the link at bottom of the page

Below you will find questions and answers to some of the most commonly asked questions in other interview types. Alternatively, why don’t you look at the link at the bottom of the page for the steps we recommend you take to prepare for your next interview

Role Play Interviews

The premise behind the role play interview is that by seeing what a candidate does and how they respond, it provides a great way for an interviewer to assess how suitable that person is for a particular role

A role play interview is an interview where candidates will play out one or multiple scenarios while being observed by an interviewer for the purposes of seeing how they would respond to a specific situation within that working environment. Put simply, it lets the interviewers see how you approach and respond to real-life situations that are relevant to the role you will be doing. In a role play interview you will typically be asked to demonstrate an ability to work under pressure, exhibit active listening and excellent communication skills, along with other key competencies necessary for the role you are applying for

The role play interview will normally (but not always) start with the interviewer presenting you with a short-written overview explaining the scenario and the function that they want you to act out within that scenario, and you are then given several minutes to prepare by reviewing the instructions for it

The typical set up is that one or more of the interviewers will act as a participant within the role play scenario, with another interviewer or interviewers taking notes and assessing various aspects of your responses by evaluating how you perform your role within that scenario

Role play interviews are normally used in roles that require heavy client or customer interaction. They are typically used as part of a more comprehensive interviewing strategy – this might include follow-up interviews, or skill and competency-based assessments, in conjunction with other types of interviews administered on the day; such as a structured or group interview, as part of a more comprehensive way to assess your overall suitability as a candidate

At the end of the role play, it is normal for the interviewer to provide you with feedback on your performance. Remember that this is designed to be both impacting and constructive, and as such, it may tend to draw emphasis to the negative areas where improvements could have been made. Don’t let this get to you! This does not mean that you have not done a good job, it simply means the interviewer will typically highlight the areas where you didn’t do well over the areas that you did, so don’t let it get you down as the interviewer is guaranteed to have noticed both. Feedback is given in this way partly for the practical reason of making you aware of what areas you could improve upon, but more so to test your character and resolve above all. You should convince the interviewer of your capacity to listen and take on board feedback constructively by responding in a positive manner to what is said, impressing upon the interviewer that you have both the strength and character to perform the role for which you are interviewing for

Take all of the same preparation steps here that you would for any other type of interview. This includes researching the company, reviewing the job description, studying your resume, reviewing answers to the most common interview questions, preparing a short personal statement, practicing answers to competency and behavioural-based interview questions, researching salary in the industry, preparing questions to ask the interviewer, and before your actual interview, participating in a practice interview if you can. Understanding what the job is and the requirements of it can be invaluable when going for a role play interview. That’s why of all the preparation steps you can take before a role play interview, researching the job description and participating in a practice interview are the most essential

EXAMPLES OF QUESTIONS ASKED IN THE ROLE PLAY INTERVIEW

Example 1 – Explaining a customer’s financial transaction (Financial)
You are a customer advisor for our banking division. A customer has called because they are querying the balance on their account. While you can see that the transactions add up correctly and have been able to quickly identify that the balance they are querying is due to additional transaction charges, the customer does not believe so and thinks there may be an error. Go through the customers transactions with them, explain what additional fees have been applied, tell them why they have been applied, and reiterate to your customer what their account balance now is

How to prepare
At this point you should prepare by writing down basic actions you might perform, such as leading off with an apology, then giving a brief explanation of the key points regarding the customers transactions, iterating what the exact transaction fees are, and then recapping what you have told your customer. 
Managing your preparation time is one of the most important aspects of the role play interview. Relax and remain focused and try not to let nervousness get in the way. It is essential you use the time you are given to read the brief properly, as it will contain the instructions and parameters you will need to follow for your part in the role play. Read the brief at least twice, the second time noting down all relevant points for the exercise as well as any other noteworthy information pertaining to the scenario. Remember that body language is an essential part of the role play as well, in particular making eye contact with the interviewer. You can show your interviewer how you would respond in a real-life working environment by immersing yourself in that scenario, and maintaining good eye contact is an integral part of that

Example Notes
Lead off with an apology
Brief pause to imitate putting the customer on hold
5 transactions in the last 3 weeks, 2 of these have accrued transaction fees
Total balance at the end of the month is £353.42
2 foreign transactions fees of £23.99
Foreign transaction fees were charged for withdrawing money while overseas
Explanation of what the customers current balance is
Recap what you have told the customer

Example 2 – Wayward Sales Agent (Punitive)
You are a supervisor presiding over a team of twelve. One of your team members has not been following the correct procedure when promoting sales; they are logging less calls than they are making, and this is making their sales results look better against their calls ratio when compared with others in the team. Several team members have complained about this, take appropriate steps to resolve the situation

How to prepare
At this point you want to prepare by writing down basic actions you might perform, such as starting off by asking your subordinate to explain themselves so you can find out why they have taken the actions they did, and then explaining what effect this has had on the company and on the team in particular, and outlining what punitive measures you will put in place.
Managing your preparation time is one of the most important aspects of the role play interview. Relax and remain focused and try not to let nervousness get in the way. It is essential you use the time you are given to read the brief properly, as it will contain the instructions and parameters you will need to follow for your part in the role play. Read the brief at least twice, the second time noting down all relevant points for the exercise as well as any other noteworthy information pertaining to the scenario. Remember that body language is an essential part of the role play as well, in particular making eye contact with the interviewer. You can show the interviewer how you would respond in a real-life working environment by immersing yourself in that scenario, and maintaining good eye contact is an integral part of that

Example Notes
Team members actions have had a demoralizing effect on the team
The metrics that need to be achieved are 5% sales for every 100 calls made
Your advisor’s statistics were regularly at 10-13% each month
Using the correct procedures for logging sales, the advisor’s actual metrics would be between 3% -6% depending on the month
They have identified that this has been happening for about 5 months now
Action plan needs to be implemented – pending the outcome of a disciplinary review

Example 3 – An Angry Customer (Retail Complaint)
You are a sales associate in our busy card shop. An angry customer walks in and states the packaging on the cards they bought was damaged at the time of purchase and because of this rain has ruined them. Not only do they want a refund, but they are very annoyed because they have had to take the time to come back to the store. They are raising their voice and disrupting the other customers in the shop. Resolve the customers complaint with minimal disruption

How to prepare
At this point you should prepare by writing down basic actions you might perform, such as asking for a receipt, offering an apology, and a new choice of cards or a refund. Perhaps also building a bit of rapport by asking what the occasion was, or coming up with something to say if you feel it is appropriate not to offer the customer the compensation they are asking for.
Managing your preparation time is one of the most important aspects of the role play interview. Relax and remain focused and try not to let nervousness get in the way. It is essential you use the time you are given to read the brief properly, as it will contain the instructions and parameters you will need to follow for your part in the role play. Read the brief at least twice, the second time noting down all relevant points for the exercise as well as any other noteworthy information pertaining to the scenario. Remember that body language is an essential part of the role play as well, in particular making eye contact with the interviewer. You can show the interviewer how you would respond in a real-life working environment by immersing yourself in that scenario, and maintaining good eye contact is an integral part of that

Example Notes
There are other people in the store, and they are being disturbed by the situation that is unfolding
Other customers are waiting in line behind the complainant, and they are beginning to grow impatient
Start off by apologizing
Ask for a receipt
Ask to see the damaged merchandise and check it over
Offer customer a replacement of cards as an alternative to offering a refund in the first instance
Prioritize being pleasant and building rapport

Case Interviews

The case interview, sometimes referred to as a problem-solving interview, is a type of interview format where you will be presented with a made-up or actual situation involving an issue or problem that needs to be resolved. You will find these types of interviews used in business management, marketing, and high-end sales positions. The purpose behind these scenarios is not only to see if you can solve these problems, but from the perspective of the interviewer, they are looking to observe your thought processes in action, and will be keenly evaluating your critical thinking skills, reasoning, ability to act calmly under pressure, and your analytical abilities amongst other things. That’s why, with a problem or case solving interview, it’s as much about explaining your rational and showing the interviewer how you can effectively think and arrive at your answer; than it is about providing an answer that the interviewer regards as appropriate itself:

There are 2 types of problem/ case interview
the interviewer led case interview
and the candidate led case interview

Each presents the interviewee with different challenges as well as different opportunities. As the name implies, in an interviewer led case interview, it is the interviewer who will direct the interview with one or several different types of problem-solving questions. These may be related, or unrelated, to a specific overlying issue or problem. The goal here, like with any other interview, is being able to answer every question you’re presented with to the best of your ability

The candidate led case interview is used to mimic solving a problem in an actual work environment. Not dissimilar in many ways to a role play interview, in the candidate led case interview, the ownness is on you, the interviewee, to present a feasible outline and strategy for dealing with the problem you are presented with

There are many different types of case interview questions, some are designed to be more light-hearted and fun in their outlook, while others will be more serious and challenging. All will have a specific purpose and look to challenge and test you in different ways. Often, you will encounter a mixture of different types of problem-solving questions in a case interview, especially in an interviewer led case interview

The main types of questions you may face in a case interview go as follows:

Brainteaser questions

Are logic puzzles or riddles, which may not focus on a specific business area in particular, but will require unconventional thinking or a lateral approach to arrive at an answer

Market Sizing questions
Like the name implies, market sizing involves questions designed to gauge your skill at evaluating the marketplace, and for determining the size and potential opportunities that a given market represents.
With these types of questions, there may not be an established baseline for your response, meaning there may not be a right or wrong answer as such, instead a lot of what the interviewer will be interested to see here is your decision making and thought process in action. That’s why with these types of questions, once you have given your initial answer, follow-up questions or extra variables on top of the original question may be introduced

Profitability Framework questions
For this type of question, the interviewer starts by giving you an overview containing historic and factual business data on a company, and then in the form of a scenario they will ask you how to resolve issues related to profitability and sustainability regarding this. They will include scenarios such as how to achieve and increase it, scenarios relating to declining profitability, (including factors such as managing and reducing operating costs), as well as scenarios on cost comparison options too

Market Study Framework questions
These pertain to questions concerning profitability as relates to diversification, increasing a customer base, as well as increasing overall revenues. In these questions you will address underlying factors such as competitors, strategies on diversification, and supply and demand issues

Consulting Math questions
These are problem solving questions that involve competency regarding your core maths skills. Consulting math questions mimic the real-world application of maths skills used in a business environment, and you will not normally use a calculator when answering these types of questions

Merger and Acquisition Case Framework questions
These types of questions incorporate elements from all different types of the problem-solving spectrum, such as consulting math questions, market sizing and market study framework questions

EXAMPLES OF QUESTIONS ASKED AT THE CASE INTERVIEW

Example 1 – A Brainteaser Question
I can run but can’t walk, I have a mouth but can’t talk, a head but can’t think, and a bed but can’t sleep, what am I?

How to answer this
This seems like it is the type of question deliberately asked to get you feeling more comfortable and talkative, and as such, might be the type of question you would expect the interviewer to lead off with. And while this is partially true, in this type of interview, every question directed at you is designed with one overarching purpose in mind; that is to get to know you better and to learn how you think. The short answer on how to respond to this question would be simply to give the best answer you can. However, a more appropriate way to respond here is not only to answer to the best of your abilities, but to make sure you talk the interviewer through your decision-making process and the rationale you used to arrive at your answer, this way, the interviewer understands the effectiveness of your decision-making abilities – remember that even if you answer some of the questions incorrectly, there is still every chance that you could get the position if the interviewer is impressed enough with the rationale and thought processes you used to arrive at your decisions with

Example
‘Based on the description, the mention of a mouth, a head, and walking, my initial thoughts are a living creature of some kind. A snail or insect is the first thing that comes to mind; however, the last piece of the riddle intrigues me. It mentions that this is something that doesn’t sleep, but as far as I am aware insects do sleep. This would be the only type of creature I can think of that fits with what you’ve described, so at this point I would have to say I’m going to alter my thinking and try to approach this question in a more non-linear fashion. If we look at the last part of the question, we need to consider what could still have all of these characteristics but yet not sleep. As I have exhausted all the references I can think of to living creatures, I would have to surmise that this is an analogy to something that is inanimate instead. At this point, the term, ‘riverbed’ comes to mind. This fits with the rest of the description, therefore, the answer to this question is a river’.

Example 2 – Market Sizing Questions
How many new cell phones will be sold in 2020 in the European Market? What percentage of growth has there been in this market over the last 5 years, and what do you estimate that the current annual value of the European cell phone market is currently?

How to answer this
Market sizing questions are questions that tend to be asked in interviewer led case scenarios. The answers you give to such questions will depend on the situation and context in which they are asked, as well as the market you are being asked about. Stay sharp when answering these questions, and remember that the interviewer may change the specifications of a market sizing question after you have given your initial answer

(For many types of market sizing, market and profitability related questions, MECE can be a very useful approach to employ when outlining your strategy and the interviewer may look for evidence of this paradigm in your thinking. MECE is a methodology that big businesses employ when approaching challenging business-related issues. It is employed as means to deal with issues holistically and uniformly as concerns market-based problems or strategies. It is a problem-solving framework that operates on the principle that all the relevant factors involved in any specific market, problem, or situation are either ‘mutually exclusive’ or ‘collectively exhausting’, depending on the specific factor itself. An interviewer presenting a case interview may well want to see evidence of MECE methodically employed in your strategy or outline when it comes to your case interview answers)

Example
‘Based on my knowledge of these markets I would estimate that 20 million new units will be sold in 2020. This is inspite of the fact, that in answer to your 2^nd question, there has been a gradual decline as the market has levelled off, at around 0.7percent over the last 5 years. It is also reflected in the current value of the market which I estimate to be worth somewhere within the region of 9 billion US dollars annually, although with no real innovation in current product ranges, this is also slowly declining’.

Example 3 – Profitability Framework Questions
Such scenarios can include questions related to profitability, for example, ways to increase or stop losing profit, or generalized questions pertaining to specific aspects of the company’s overall viability

How to answer this
Go into detail with your answer. Not only tell the interviewer what you would do, but also explain why you would do it! Make sure the interviewer gets to see your thought process in action

(For many types of market sizing, market and profitability related questions, MECE can be a very useful approach to employ when outlining your strategy and the interviewer may look for evidence of this paradigm in your thinking. MECE is a methodology that big businesses employ when approaching challenging business-related issues. It is employed as means to deal with issues holistically and uniformly as concerns market-based problems or strategies. It is a problem-solving framework that operates on the principle that all the relevant factors involved in any specific market problem or situation are either ‘mutually exclusive’ or ‘collectively exhausting’, depending on the specific factor itself. An interviewer presenting a case interview may well want to see evidence of MECE methodically employed in your strategy or outline when it comes to your case interview answers)

Example
‘In this industry, the most successful companies are ones with high visibility and a great brand reputation. I would increase revenues by embarking on an aggressive online marketing strategy to grow the customer base and solidify its brand reputation. I would also look to reimage the packaging on our products by adding more colour and a bigger logo to make them look more appealing to the consumer’.

Lunch/ Dinner Interviews

In this type of interview, an employer will take a prospective candidate out to lunch or dinner. They will proceed to have lunch/ dinner with the candidate, and also conduct the interview with them at the same time. The purpose of this type of interview is two-fold. While it is first and foremost conducted as an interview much in the same way as any other; that is, to determine your suitability for the role in question, it is also done to get to know you better as a person too. That’s why these types of interviews are conducted for jobs where you will have bespoke interaction with customers for high-end goods or services, or where you will be working closely with the person who is interviewing you, such as in jobs like a personal assistant, or for positions where you will be working in small, high-end business environments

Whereas in a normal interview you will be evaluated on several different types of criteria to determine your eligibility for a role, in a lunch/dinner interview the criteria is slightly different because the interviewer is more interested to see how you are as a person, and a large part of the prerogative is for them is to find out what you would be like to work with. Many times, you will be working with the interviewer directly. Therefore, in a lunch/dinner interview there is normally a personal investiture in this from the perspective of your interviewer, which is why they are taking the time to get to know you in this more social and relaxed kind of surrounding 

There are several things you should take into consideration when attending a lunch/ dinner interview. Firstly, remember you won’t be going into an office reception area, but instead heading straight into the restaurant directly. With this in mind, try and arrive 10mins – 15mins before the interview is scheduled to begin (as this is not a place of work the interviewer may not have shown up, so don’t worry if they are not there yet)! Also, try and make sure you know the location of where you are going beforehand, either by studying the travel route online or by visiting it in person. Doing so will help you to arrive on time, and will help reduce your travel anxiety on the day so you can stay focused on the task at hand.
Another one of the most important things to remember in this type of interview setting is your dining etiquette. This is something you would not ordinarily have to think about in a normal interview, but in a lunch/ dinner interview, it is very important. Much as in the same way that during a conventional interview the interviewer will carefully be noting your appearance, in this interview setting they will not only be noting your table manners, but your overall etiquette as well. So make sure you keep your elbows off the table and sit up straight. Don’t talk with food in your mouth. When dining, be sure to use the correct cutlery. If you need to leave the table or interrupt your meal for any reason, place your knife and fork in an inverted V shape on your plate. Once you’ve finished your meal, place your knife and fork together and leave them at the 4pm position. Also, fold your napkin and place it to the left of the plate when not in use.
When ordering food, be tactful with what you order. While this is an interview, it is also a social event, and you should treat it as such. This means that you don’t need to pick the cheapest thing on the menu, (doing so might signal a degree of unease which could make your host feel awkward), but with that being said, you definitely shouldn’t pick the most expensive thing either. The tact to take here is to choose something you like, but something that’s reasonably priced in relation to what’s on offer in the restaurant. Also, be mindful of what you’re ordering and don’t order items that may be too messy or awkward to eat.
The other big thing you need to consider is what you are going to wear. While it may be held in a different type of interview setting, it is still an interview, and how you dress should reflect that. When considering how to dress for your lunch/ dinner interview, you should first and foremost consider the type of position you’re applying for

With this type of interview, it will often indicate on the invitation letter as to what type of dress style the interview will be conducted in. The main clothing types for interviewing are business formal, which is the most formal style of attire used for interview dress wear. Business professional, which is a more relaxed version of formal interviewing attire, and business casual, which is still a smart but largely more informal style of dress. Lunch/ dinner interviews are more informal than standard interview types, so most times a more relaxed dress style (of either business professional or business casual) will be a more appropriate choice. As the styles and ranges of jobs are too varied to give specific advice for individual attire on, the general advice would be to consider the role carefully as you will normally be able to tell based on what the role is on how you should orientate your dress style. For more information, you should visit our Interviewing Attire section

The other consideration would be the type of establishment where the lunch/ dinner interview will be held. There are many types of establishments where a lunch/ dinner interview could possibly take place. This could be anything from a casual eatery, a normal dinner, or an upscale restaurant. Anything less than a highly rated (4-5 star) restaurant gives you leeway in what you can wear; and allows you the freedom to be more casual, and more creative, in your choice of attire. It also allows you to dress in a more seasonable fashion as well. (If it is a high-end 4-5 star restaurant however, a formal suit and tie will normally be required). Other than that, when choosing what to wear, it’s simply a matter of following the general rules and guidelines on what to wear when interviewing, and keeping in mind that as this is an unconventional interview situation, you can usually pick clothing that is more relaxed and creative, taking into account you’ll want to choose something that’s non-restrictive for eating. Remember that whenever attending a lunch/ dinner interview, what is most important is that you take the time and the effort to make the best impression you can. See. INTERVIEWING ATTIRE

Lastly, in this informal setting you may overlook simple things like making sure your phone is switched off, so make sure that it is. At the end of the interview thank your host, but there is no need to offer to pay the bill, as the procedure will be for the interviewer to do this. The questions you will be asked in a lunch/ dinner interview can be wide and varied, although will be similar to the questions asked in the main types of other interview formats, that’s why you should still prepare beforehand by following our recommended interview preparation steps. See link at bottom of page

This is a highly unconventional interviewing environment, so in this type of setting try to relax enjoy the experience as much as you can. This will hopefully reflect in a more conversational tone that will be apparent when answering your interviewer’s questions and will help you come across as more relatable and likeable to your interviewer

EXAMPLES OF QUESTIONS ASKED THE LUNCH/ DINNER INTERVIEW

1. Why don’t you start by telling me a bit about yourself

What is this question
This is always meant to serve as a bit of an icebreaker question. It’s a good starting point from the perspective of the interviewer as it causes you to open up, and so provides a great way for them to get to know you better by providing them an insight into your personality and background. At the same time, it gets you to start talking and gets you feeling more comfortable in your interview surroundings

How to answer this
Remember that this is a very informal setting for an interview, so you should try to personalize this answer as much as possible. In any type of interview you should try to have a great conversation with the interviewer, and in this type of interview you are actively encouraged to maximize this level of conversation as much as possible: that’s why in many ways this is the perfect question to start off with. Begin by giving a brief overview of yourself, where you’re from, and any notable places you’ve lived. Next, mention or 2 or 3 of your main interests, perhaps providing a little insight into why you like them, and what skills or lessons you’ve gained from them. (Try to place specific emphasis on any skills or experience that might be useful to the role you are interviewing for). From here you should be able to move seamlessly onto your education and work background. Start with your least current job first, touching on past job roles, until you reach your present occupational status. Mention only the job roles that are on your C.V. It also makes your answer much stronger if you can close it with a relevant goal or aim you have for the future. Try and prioritize answering the question but focus on making it as conversational as possible. Don’t worry if you veer off topic, the most important thing in this type of setting is that you are able to establish a strong rapport and have as much of a quality conversation with the interviewer as possible

Example
‘I’m from New York, where I stayed all the way up until my early adult years. I’m really into music and art, and in such a big and diverse city there was so much of it to explore that at first, I didn’t want to leave. In the end though I’m glad that I got out and expanded my horizons. I’ve always had a gift for numbers and after high-school it was a natural progression for me to get into finance. I moved to Denver and got a bachelor’s degree in business and finance from the University of Denver. Since then, all my professional life has been dedicated to working in the financial services industry, and in each new role I’ve undertaken I’ve grown and gained new skills along the way. I started off as the first line of contact for clients by providing administrative and financial support services including audio typing, filing, and assisting with the financial queries of my clients. It was great fun, and from there I worked my way up to group leader, and then eventually to a fully-fledged financial advisor. I love the finance industry, and I’ve always found that my strong work ethic and ability to communicate clearly and persuasively have always been really great qualities to have when assisting my clients, and I’d love the chance to utilize these same skills and qualities for your company’.

ALTERNATIVE ANSWER

2. How did you hear about the position?

What is this question
This is another icebreaker question. It keeps the conversation between you and the interviewer moving forward, gets you talking, and thereby helps you start to feel more at ease. It is another great question to open up the conversation with in this more relaxed type of social setting. An altogether more practical reason for this question is that companies spend a great deal of time and effort to attract quality talent, so they ask this simply because they want to know how effective their recruitment methods are and are interested to know what other recruitment sources might be out there. The interviewer will also be listening to see if you mention anything regarding friends or family. In the vast majority of industries being referred by, or knowing someone who works at a company is a big plus, and a lunch/ dinner interview is no exception. Employing a friend or family member of someone who works at a company is seen as a good hiring practice; and as such, candidates referred by a friend or family member are viewed by employers as having the potential to be more loyal and reliable because they already have a pre-established connection to the company

How to answer this
Keep your tone conversational, a straightforward answer is all that is required here.
If you saw the advertisement on an online job site, say so. If you heard about the opening through a friend or family member, tell the interviewer this. Like any other part of the interview, any opportunity you have to respond to a question gives you a chance to put your own positive spin into the answer 

Example
‘I was made aware your company had job openings through an online advertisement I saw when I was browsing online. Being the tenacious person I am, I followed through on it, and I’m thrilled that I did so because it’s brought me all the way here to this conversation I’m having with you today’.

ALTERNATIVE ANSWER

3. Tell me about what you did in your last/ current position

What is this question
The interviewer is asking this so they can get a feel for the types of duties you’ve performed in prior roles, enabling them to better assess whether or not you have the experience and qualities their looking for. Listing your experiences on your C.V is one thing, but talking about them in person is another. The interviewer wants to hear about your work experiences and the duties you’ve performed in your own words. They will also be listening to the tone you use and to how enthusiastic you sound when recalling them

How to answer this
Sound as enthusiastic as possible when describing any current or previous job duties. With questions like these, remember that it is imperative to link any previous duties you are describing to the role you are applying for. Emphasize and highlight any strong points and accomplishments, making sure you go into as much detail as possible. Most importantly, with a question like this your answer should contain solid examples of the duties and skills you are outlining to make your answer as effective and authentic as possible

Example
‘In my last position I worked in a role very similar to this one, where I managed my company’s business diary, meeting rooms, coordinated internal and external business meetings and conference calls, and provided ad-hoc administrative support within the office as required. I enjoyed these duties immensely as I found they provided me with a good balance of interaction between my co-workers and our clients. It was a smaller company than this one, and we worked in a close-knit team environment where we each had a specific role to play in order to contribute to the companies success. As I gained more experience, I found that my role within the business developed too, and I was given additional responsibilities, such as managing the monthly expense allocations and liaising with our clients and suppliers to arrange their deliveries. These additional responsibilities added a new dimension to my workload which made the job even more exciting. In one situation I can recall, a client was getting anxious because it had been 7 days and they hadn’t received their order yet. It wasn’t until they made us aware that we realized it hadn’t been sent by our supplier. I sent off an email straight away and we got the issue resolved that afternoon. Consequently, I provided feedback to upper management as I believed there was a failure in communication that needed to be resolved as we should’ve been notified of any issues straightaway. Following on from this, the next month new procedures were instituted that enabled us to receive a secondary duplicate alert notification within 24 hours, this was sent via email to our company admin inbox to notify us if an order hadn’t been shipped on time – and it was things like this that made me really proud of what I was able to do within my role. Overall, I loved my job and found that being honest and reliable and having a can-do attitude was all that it took to be successful when performing my duties’.

4. What will you be able to bring to our team?

What is this question
A common principle that many interviewers use when deciding on a new hire is to determine if a candidate can bring anything into the company which it doesn’t already have, (in terms of their skills, personal qualities, or experience) and one of the main reasons this question is asked is to see if anything you say stands out in your answer. They are also listening to see if the skills and qualities you outline in your answer match up with the requirements they are looking for

How to answer this
There are 2 things you need to do in your response to make sure you give an effective answer here. Firstly, ensure you emphasize your best personal qualities and strongest work-related accomplishments. Secondly, you need to effectively link the things you mention to the requirements set out in the job description

Example
‘I’ve spent numerous years working in the hospitality industry, so first off I will bring all my skills and years of experience with me to the role – this includes all the great times I’ve had working alongside customers and colleagues alike. It also includes a proven ability to organise and manage front desk staff, handle reservations and payments, and accurately interpret and enforce health and safety standards in the workplace.  I’ll also bring with me a highly enthusiastic can-do attitude and great work ethic as well. I believe what really sets me apart however is the approach that I take. I am very proactive when it comes to the duties I perform. I believe in creating a positive experience for both my colleagues and customers alike, and I am quick to take on and acknowledge customer feedback so improvements can be made whenever necessary. I have a genuine passion for what I do and enjoy the work greatly. I am really excited about this opportunity and believe I can make a great addition to your team.’

ALTERNATIVE ANSWER

5. Would you like to ask me anything?

What is this question
This question should always come at the very end of your interview.
The interviewer is extending you the courtesy of asking if you have any questions for them. They are doing this to give you the opportunity to get answers to any queries you might have, or to clarify anything you’re unsure of

How to answer this
You never want to respond by telling the interviewer you have no questions at all. This question is all about having something to say when you are asked. Having something to ask the interviewer shows them that you have been engaged in the topics you’ve covered during the interview, and it also signals to the interviewer that you are interested in the job itself. Not having anything to ask signals the exact opposite. The interviewer is giving you this opportunity to clarify any points, clear up any concerns, and most importantly to ask about things that interest you about the role and the company. That’s why you should always prepare and rehearse 2 or 3 questions to ask them at the end of your interview.
There are a few effective tactics you can employ when composing your questions. To start with, you can base some of your questions around what you learn about the company during STEP 1 of your interview preparation – Research the company. Also, you can choose questions from Interview Professionals Top List of Questions for the Interviewer. Ideally, any questions that you ask should tie in with yourself and reflect well on your motivations and aspirations for the role. Be sure to stay away from asking about salary or benefits, and make sure the questions you ask are open-ended to give your interviewer the chance to respond with long, well thought-out answers

(If you think of another question before the interview starts, or if you pick up on something that is said during the interview that you want to clear up (outwith salary and benefits related questions), don’t be afraid to deviate from the list of rehearsed questions that you’ve prepared. Remember that the interviewer is giving you this opportunity to clarify any points and clear up any concerns that you may have about the role. So while it is fine to take this opportunity to impress upon the interviewer that you are not only interested in the role, but that you are looking to make a name for yourself within the company, don’t neglect to ask questions regarding genuine concerns or issues that you have as well)

Example
‘Yes, thanks for asking, there are a few questions I have for you. Firstly…’

Sequential Interview’s (Non-Example Overview)

Sequential interviews, (sometimes referred to as serial interviews), are several interviews that are given back-to-back in quick succession in place of a single interview. The reasoning behind this practice is that an employer can get a more comprehensive assessment of your skillset and personality by using a sequential series of interviews to evaluate you with

Sequential interviews can vary regarding the types of interviews they are comprised of. They will typically be compromised of a mix of structured, semi-structured, and unstructured formats, but may be compromised of any of the other types as well such as stress, behavioural, telephone etc.

The way that a sequential interview works is that you will participate in several interviews, each with different figures from the company you are applying for. These will be people like the company hiring manager, a senior member of staff from the HR department, a direct line manager, and possibly other senior managers in the business. Each of these people will have a different area they will be looking at and evaluating you on, and as such, will be focusing on different skills and competencies. For instance:
a hiring manager may be more interested in your skills and prior experience,
a direct line manager may be more interested in your teamworking qualities,
an HR administrator may be more concerned with your background and qualifications,
a senior manager may be focused on your overall attitude and the desire you show to work for the company

Although these interviewers will each be focusing on different competencies, one thing that is often said about the sequential interview is that some of the questions can seem quite repetitive. This does not necessarily have to be construed as a bad thing, because as an interviewee you should view this as an opportunity to polish how you word your responses over the course of several interviews. However, with this particular aspect of sequential interviewing, as you may be giving the same responses to near identical questions, it leads us into considering the area of repetitious answering
Repetitious answering: when answering identical, or very similarly worded questions in a sequential interview, it is essential you stick to a couple of basic points. If you have given the same answer to one interviewer for a question, you should give exactly the same answer to another interviewer if they ask the same question somewhere else in the sequential interview process. Don’t change details or make embellishments in your subsequent answers, as this will lead to discrepancies with what the interviewers will see when they compare their notes (and in any sequential interview process your interviewers will definitely compare their notes)

It will make them feel uncertain and possibly suspicious regarding your answers if they have noted different responses and details in their respective notes. Instead, rather than adding on embellishments or providing alternative answers if you are asked the same questions, try to keep your answers consistent. What will impress your interviewers when they compare notes about you is instances where you have linked your answers to other related responses you’ve given over the course of the sequential interview. For example, if the first time you were asked about what value you will be able to add to the company, you have answered that you will bring several year’s worth of experience to the role, and a sure-fire track record of proven results which includes improving productivity by 8 percent in your company’s quarter one results. Where you have been asked this same question in two more of the interviews elsewhere in the sequential process, these next two times you incorporated into your response a point you’d made in a previous interview question regarding your educational qualifications and how well they matched the requirements of the role, and that this was why you believed you’d had such a good track record in your last job. In this instance it would lead to a slight inconsistency that the interviewers would pick up on. However, if you’d linked your educational background into your first answer as well, and gave the same details the other two times this question was asked, utilising this same technique in several of the other answers you’d given throughout the course of the sequential interview process – even while other candidates may have also given strong answers, by linking parts of your answer back to the points made in previous answers, it can start to lead to you standing out above them, and can ultimately lead to you being offered the position

A sequential interview can consist of anywhere from 2 to 6 interviews, and can take place over anywhere from 1 to upwards of 10 working days. This is why one of the most important aspects involved in any sequential interview is the preparation you take at the interview stage itself. Because a sequential interview can potentially go on for several days, preparation isn’t just done before the interview, but in some instances, is also performed during the actual interview process as well. You will normally be interviewing with several different people within the company, sometimes over several days. Because of this, it means when one interview is ending, you can immediately start to prepare for the next one, and a great way to do this is by asking your current interviewer about the person you will be interviewing with next. In the sequential interview, it is actually considered good practice at the end of your current interview to ask your interviewer the name, and a little bit about your next interviewer; and if your interviewer knows, they will certainly tell you! Not only does this signal to an interviewer how interested you are in the role, but it is also advantageous because it can provide you with further talking points both in your current interview, and in the next one to come, giving you an avenue to keep the conversation going with those interviewers and build a stronger rapport throughout, (that’s because there is a good chance they will mention something that you’ll be able to pick up on and start a conversation with, such as that interviewers hobbies, or where they went to university, etc…)

As this is a sequence of interviews, it is very important you know how these will be scheduled. Make sure you ask and get proper clarification on what the exact sequence of interviews will be. If they are scheduled over the course of several days, then you will have time to prepare for each interview as you would a normal one, ensuring you get plenty of rest and preparation each night before the next. If they are all scheduled on the same day, ensure you make extra preparations, such as bringing a different cheat sheet for each interview type. Knowing your scheduling, especially when you have back-to-back interviews, is very important so you can plan how to allocate your time for preparation and revision on the day (so if you decide to use a single interview cheat sheet make sure you amend this accordingly)!

With the sequential interview, it is useful to remember that thank you notes are normally well received too. Remember to get each interviewer’s name and take notes from each interview regarding what went well as soon as that interview has finished, and if you decide to send a thank you note, do this a day or so after your interview with the person in question, irrespective of whether or not you have additional interviews as part of the sequential interview process still pending

Now that you’ve seen some of the most common questions asked in other interview types and the most effective ways to answer them, next, why not have a look at the steps we recommend you take to prepare for your next interview in the link at the bottom of the page

INTERVIEW PROFESSIONAL’S – RECOMMENDED PREPARATION STEPS FOR YOUR NEXT INTERVIEW