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Example interview questions

Behavioural questions

Behavioural questions are common. They seek to predict future behaviour by examining recent past behaviour. 

Use examples from work, volunteering, study, personal interests or club and community involvements.

Examples:

  • Describe a time when you dealt with an aspect of a job that you did not enjoy. How did you handle the situation?
  • Provide an example of a time when you have had to meet competing deadlines.
  • Tell me about a time when you worked in a team that didn't perform well. What was your role?
  • Tell me about a situation when you had to deal with a difficult customer.

Tip: Identify the underlying theme (e.g. teamwork) and use the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action and Result) to answer this type of question.

Open questions

Designed to encourage you to talk.Your responses should demonstrate your strengths, skills and abilities in relation to the position.

Examples:

Your qualifications or education

  • How do you think your education has prepared you for this position?
  • Do you plan to do any further study?

Your career goals

  • What do you expect from this position?
  • What additional skills do you need to develop in order to be successful in this position?

Your work experience

  • What have been your greatest responsibilities?
  • What specific skills have you acquired in your previous position that relate to this job?

Closed questions

Used to gather facts. They require a 'yes' or 'no' or one word answer giving little chance to elaborate.

Examples:

  • Do you have a current Victorian Driver's Licence?
  • Do you have permanent residency?

Tip: Be confident and take the initiative if you feel the answer needs to be longer.

Probing questions

Used to draw you out, or to focus your answer on the information the interviewer needs, for example, 'Tell me more about that', 'How did your co-worker respond?'.

Leading questions

Used to confirm information, or test how your reaction. The response is indicated in the question. 'You will be expected to take on three projects, you don't mind, do you?'

Hypothetical or puzzle questions

Used to test your problem solving skills. The interviewer outlines an imaginary situation and asks how you would deal with it. Your task is to quickly grasp the problem, analyse it, and generate your response or possible solutions. Your problem solving process is usually more important than the answer.

Example:

  • A major client asks you to divulge commercially sensitive information about the business. How would you handle this situation?

Tough questions

Take your time and ask for clarification if you don't understand. If you can request time to think of an appropriate example, ask if you can return to that question later on. Your reaction to a tough question is often as important as the answer you give.

Examples:

  • What can you do for us that someone else can't do?
  • What are your weaknesses?
  • What will you find difficult about this job?

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13th August 2012