Challenging interview questions

General questions - What initially sparked your interest in this area and
- Tell me about yourself. what did you do to confirm that it was right for
- What are your key strengths? you?
- What are your weaknesses? - What is your ideal working environment?
- Tell me about a big mistake you have made.
- Why should we employ you instead of someone Team work and interpersonal skills
else for this role? - Think about a time when you worked as part of a
- Tell me something about yourself that I wouldn’t team, tell me about what you enjoyed most.
know from reading your application. - What would your team mates say you needed to
- What do people rely on you for? improve about yourself?
- What have you gained from your previous - Give me a specific example of something you did
experiences that would make you useful to us? that helped build enthusiasm in others.
- Do you consider yourself well-rounded? Why? Can - Describe a situation where you had to deal with
you give me examples? someone who didn't like you. How did you handle
- What about yourself do you want to improve? it?
- When was the last time you surprised yourself? - Give an example of when you had to work with
someone who was difficult to get along with. Why
Motivation and values was this person difficult? How did you handle
- Why do you want this job? them?
- What made you apply for this role? - What qualities do you have that make you an
- What other jobs are you applying for? effective team member? Can you give me
- What did you like most and least about your examples?
studies? - What sort of people do you work best with?
- What part of your studies was most challenging? - Tell me about a task you accomplished as a
- If you had an extra hour in the day what would you member of a group which you now believe you
do with it (excluding work or study)? could have done better alone.
- What are your career goals? - Describe a situation in which you have had to learn
- What energises you? how to work with someone who is very different
- Where do you see yourself in five years’ time? from you?
- What would you look forward to most in this job? - Why do people like working with you? Why might
- What are you looking forward to least in this job? they not enjoy working with you?
- What has been your most rewarding experience? - Can you tell me about a time when members of a
- What are your core values and how do they relate team you were in showed confidence in you?
to those of our organisation? - What is the best criticism you have ever received
- Which of your accomplishments are you most from anyone? What did you do about it?
proud of? Why? - When was the last time you lost your temper with
- What other career options have you ruled out? someone? What was it about?
Why? - Can you tell me about a situation where building
- What did you do to find out more about this role? strong relationships with people was important in
- What is the most exciting thing you have ever achieving your goals.
done? - Tell me about a situation where you changed your
- How have your motivations and priorities changed behaviour to make life easier for someone else.
in the last five years? - Can you describe a situation where you have had
- Describe an event in your life which has had a to resolve a conflict within a team?
major impact on you. - Can you think of an example of when you have had
- If you didn’t have to worry about money, how to stand up to someone in authority?
would you spend your time? - Please describe a situation in which you had to
- How long do you think you will be happy in this demonstrate sensitivity and tact.
role? - Can you tell me about a time when you held
- What do you think will be the most challenging yourself back in order to give someone else an
aspect of this role? opportunity?
- What does success mean to you? - Tell me about a time when you helped a colleague
who had made a mistake. What did you do?

Copyright © The Careers Group, University of London. [Date of this version: 30 January 2015]
 - Can you give an example of when you have had to
Prioritising and organising make recommendations about something based on
- Recall a time when you had to complete a complex your analysis of information?
project. What steps did you take to prepare for and - Tell me about a time when your analysis of a
finish the project? How happy were you with the situation was incorrect. What happened? What
outcome? What would you have done differently if should you have done?
given the chance? - Tell me about something that took longer to
- Describe a situation in which a number of things to complete than you expected. Why did that
be done at the same time. How did you handle it? happen? What could you have done differently?
What was the result? - Describe a time when you came up with a creative
- How do you determine priorities in scheduling your solution to a problem.
time? Give examples. - Describe a time when you have had to overcome
- Can you provide a recent example of when you several obstacles in order to achieve something.
were under stress and how you coped? - Tell me about a time when your first solution did
- Tell me about a time you had to handle multiple not resolve an issue. What did you do?
responsibilities. How did you organize the work you - Describe a time when you thought outside the box.
needed to do?
- How do you balance your academic obligations and Decision making and judgement
your non-academic interests? - Give me an example of a time you had to make an
- Give me an example of when you set yourself a important decision on your own. How did you
goal that took a lot of organisation on your part to make it? How does it affect you today?
achieve it. - Can you give me an example of a complex decision
- Can you tell me about a situation in which you you have had to make and how you went about it?
anticipated a problem early on that saved a lot of - What is the best decision you ever made? How did
work later? you make it?
- Tell me about a situation in which your plans for - What is the worst decision you ever made? Why
something went wrong. Why did it happen? What did you make it? What would you do differently
did you do? What could you have done to prevent now if you had to make the same decision again?
it? - Can you give me an example of a time when you
- Tell me about something you have done which found it hard to make a decision about something?
took a lot of planning. Why was it difficult? What did you do?
- Describe a situation in which you have chosen not - Can you think of a situation where something you
to do something you wanted to do in order to were convinced about was shown to be wrong?
achieve something else. What did you do? What had convinced you?
- Give me an example of when you have had to work - What is the riskiest decision you have ever made?
to a very demanding deadline. How did you go How did you make it?
about it? - Describe a time when you had to make a very quick
- Tell me about a situation in which you have had to decision and it went wrong. What did you learn?
make compromises in order to get something done - If you could go back and change a decision you
by the deadline. made in the past, what would it be and why?
- Describe a decision you have made in which there - Can you give me an example of when you have
were a number of variables to take into account? backed your own judgement against that of other
people? What happened? How did you handle it?
Problem solving, analysis and creativity Has it ever gone wrong?
- Describe a difficult problem you had to deal with. - Have you ever had to make a decision on someone
How did you approach it? else’s behalf? How did you approach it?
- Can you give me an example of a situation in which - Can you tell me about a time when you have had to
you have had to analyse complex information in make a decision with incomplete information?
order to make a decision? How did you approach
it? Drive and determination
- Tell me about a problem, outside your studies, that - Tell me about a difficult situation when it was
you found hard to solve. desirable for you to keep a positive attitude. What
- Tell me about a situation in which you had to did you do?
perform background research before solving a - Have you ever undertaken something just to prove
problem. How did you use the research? How did to yourself or others that you could do it?
you ensure you hadn’t missed something - Describe a task that you completed that you didn’t
important? enjoy. How did you motivate yourself?
- Describe a situation in which you had to change the - Give an example of a situation in which you had to
way you approached a problem in order to solve it. demonstrate determination in order to succeed.

Copyright © The Careers Group, University of London. [Date of this version: 30 January 2015]
- Tell me about a situation in which you have had to - Can you think of a time when a misunderstanding
cope with various setbacks. on your part led to problems?
- Tell me about something you gave up on. What - What is the most challenging presentation you
else could you have done to succeed? have had to give? What did you do to make it
- What sort of tasks do you normally put off doing successful?
whenever you can? - Describe a time when you achieved a win-win
- Give me an example of when you delivered more result with someone who had competing needs.
than was expected of you. - Tell me about when you have persuaded someone
- Can you give me an example of when you persisted to change their mind about something.
with something even though you were beginning - Can you think of a time when you have had to
to lose hope of success? choose carefully how best to communicate with
- Tell me about something, other than your studies, someone?
that you have had to work really hard to achieve. - What is the most significant communication failure
- What is the most boring thing you have forced you have been responsible for?
yourself to do? - What have you done recently to improve your
- Tell me about a time when you’ve pushed yourself writing skills?
to the limit.
Commercial awareness and customer focus
Adaptability and initiative - Tell me about a recent business news story that
- Describe a situation in which you had to change you found interesting. Why?
your approach to a task in order to complete it. - Can you give me an example of when you have
- Can you give an example of a situation when you done more than your duty in order to provide a
have had to adapt to an unexpected change? good service to someone?
- What do you find it hardest to adapt to? - What attributes do you have that would instil client
- Describe a situation when you have taught yourself confidence? Tell me how you have used them.
a new skill in order to complete a task. - Can you give me an example of when you’ve saved
- Can you give me an example of any tasks or money for an employer?
projects you started on your own? - What do you think will be the most important
- Tell me about a crisis you have had to deal with. issues facing this sector in the next five years?
- Can you give me an example of when someone - Can you give me an example of when you have
criticised your work? How did you respond? sought to understand someone else’s job in order
- Tell me about when you completed a task without to do your job more effectively?
all the resources that you would have ideally - Are there things that our competitors are doing
needed. that we should be worried about?
- Can you give me an example of when you spotted - Can you think of a situation in which you have
something important that needed doing without given a bad impression of an organisation you were
having to be told? representing to a client? What did you do? What
- Have you ever asked for feedback about your would you do differently now?
work?
- When was the last time you changed your mind Leadership
about something? - Give an example of your ability to motivate people.
- Tell me about a time when you improved - How do you get the best out of people? Can you
something using your own initiative. give me an example?
- Tell me about a time when you have used your free - Describe a situation in which you took
time to gain new skills or knowledge in order to be responsibility for achieving something.
better at something. - What skills have you developed that will make you
- When did you last volunteer to do something that a good leader?
you weren’t 100 percent certain you could do? - What attributes do you need to work on in order to
become a good leader?
Communication and negotiation - Describe a time when you had to change your
- Tell me about a time when you demonstrated good leadership style.
written communication skills. - Tell me about a time when you found it necessary
- Tell me about a time when you demonstrated good to make an unpopular decision.
oral communication skills. - How would you describe your leadership style? Can
- What is the most difficult thing you have had to you give me an example of it in practice?
explain to someone? How did you do it? - Tell me about a time when you have spotted and
- When was the last time you had to use your utilised other people’s talents.
negotiation skills to get what you wanted? - Tell me about a time when you have had difficulty
delegating work to others.

Copyright © The Careers Group, University of London. [Date of this version: 30 January 2015]
- Give me an example of when you took the - Can you describe a task in which you have had to
responsibility for a team failure. follow very stringent procedures?
- Tell me about a time when you had to give
feedback to someone on their performance in a Personality and interests
task. - If you could spend a day with any person living or
- Can you give me an example of a situation where dead, who would it be?
you have had to carefully balance approachability - Tell me about a situation that really tested your
and authority? patience. What did you do?
- Tell me about the best and the worst people you - What was the last book you read for pleasure? Tell
have worked for. What lessons about leadership me why you think I should read it.
have you gained from those experiences? How - What’s your favourite film? Why?
have you applied them yourself? - How is your personality reflected in the kind of
- Describe a time when you helped someone to activities that you enjoy?
develop their skills. - If you had to sum up your personality in three
- Tell me about a time when you had to deal with words, what would they be? Can you give me
someone who was not pulling their weight. examples to demonstrate these attributes?
- Tell me about an interest that you outgrew. Why
Professionalism and diligence did you outgrow it?
- What does professionalism mean to you? Can you - If you were an animal, what animal would you be
give me an example of when you put it into and why?
practice?
- Can you think of an example that demonstrates Critical reasoning brain-teasers
your commitment to integrity and honesty? - What is the best shape for a manhole cover? Why?
- Tell me about a time when you have made an - Approximately, how many baby’s nappies were
ethical stand that has cost you something. used in the UK last year?
- Tell me about something you have done in which it - How many hairs are there on a dog?
was important to pay attention to detail over a - How many table tennis balls will fit into a 747
long period. How did you maintain your accuracy? aeroplane?
- What is the biggest risk you have taken? - How many gents’ barbers are there in London?
- Can you describe a task which required a great deal - What is the angle between the hands on a watch
of concentration? when the time is 3:45?
- Give me an example of when you have spoken out - How many different ways can you think of to find a
against something which you didn’t think was right. needle in a haystack?
- Describe a situation in which a lapse of
concentration on your part led to difficulties.

Copyright © The Careers Group, University of London. [Date of this version: 30 January 2015]