Mock Interview Answers

In case you haven't noticed already, i have finished university now. Dissertation was submitted months ago, my one exam is complete and it is now time for the job hunt. Not only do i need to decide on what it is that i want to do for the rest of my life, i also need to decide on what i am good at. Hard one.


Ok so initially i was quite scared to actually write any of these down just in case it (a) sounds like complete and utter rubbish or (b) any future employers stumble across my blog (unlikely) and see that i am a complete worrier and decide that i am a useless employee, which is not true!


So anyway, in preparation for any standard questions an interviewer may ask, i shall practice answering as best as i can in hope that this will help when the inevitable day happens. If any changes do need to be altered, PLEASE let me know. You could be changing my life.


Talk me through your career.
Well, I have worked in retail for the past six years where i gained my confidence in communication, achieving goals and targets, working under pressure and the importance of organisation and commitment within companies. Further to this, i have also gained invaluable work experience as both a Press Officer and a PR Assistant. This fueled my ambition to work within PR. I saw exactly how the day-to-day runnings of a Public Relations office worked and how my enthusiasm and hunger for success within the media is best suited to such an environment. I have been committed in all my chosen jobs and am dedicated to growing within companies and being a trusted member of a team.

Tell me about yourself.
I am highly ambitious and strive to learn something new everyday. I enjoy competition and love being active in everything i do. This has translated in my love for travel and writing. I like to keep up to date with everything from soap gossip to political events. I am scared of being left behind. I am inspired my creativity and look to established professionals as my motivation to succeed.

Why should i hire you?
I am looking for that amazing break with a role where i can learn and grow within an established company. I am passionate about learning new things and constantly strive to do well in everything I do. I am organised, conscientious and a bit of a perfectionist. I like to do well and am urged on by the need to succeed on my own and as part of a team. I hate to let people down. I know that the position you are offering suits my great ambition and i hope that with the best intentions i will be a great support to the companies team.

Why are you looking to leave your current employer?
I have enjoyed my time immensely with Starbucks and they have given me invaluable work experience and friendship but it was always to be my part time job. My dream job and passion is in PR and i hope that, on graduating, i came make that dream come true.

What is your biggest achievement to date?
It is not a guaranteed but if i get First Class Honours in my degree i will be extremely happy and it will be my biggest academic achievement. Personally, i have achieved many things that i am proud of: great friends, a great boyfriend, i have travelled and realised who i am as a person.

How would your current manager describe you?
I think he would say i was efficient, organised and extremely talkative. I would hope that the one thing that i have injected into the Starbucks i work in is a positive environment. My role in the Operational Excellence Audit was to raise staff morale and customer communication as part of the Third Place (A Starbucks term for making the customer feel that Starbucks is their "Third Place" after home and work). I hate negativity in the work place.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?
I think a strength and a weakness for me would be ambition. I always want to do well but I struggled initially in deciding what aspect of my life i wanted to do well. I think when i started balancing university with a job and a social life i managed to get that balance perfect and now i know how to direct my ambition to where i want to be.

Why do you want this job?
I think this job will be a fantastic opportunity for me as a recent graduate. It provides me with the mentoring and training i need to grow and also the opportunity for me to work within a high achieving company. I hope that i can continue to learn and develop everyday and that you will appreciate the kind of skills i could bring to your company.

Phew. And that's the question and answer section over. God i hope i can remember all of that when i eventually get asked them (on the presumption that one day i will be interviewed for a job!!)

Here's hoping.

The Animal in Me

On a day where one really must be putting more effort into getting a job i have decided that it is probably best to decide upon which animal i am.

This, of course, is an important aspect of every job-seekers research in preparation for the strange questions interviewers may ask. On the off chance that a future employer will base his/her entire opinion on my self-worth on what animal i would be if such ridiculous things were possible i am indeed prepared.

I would be a lion.

Or so http://www.animalinyou.com/ suggests.

After answering some ludicrous questions the website churn out a ridiculous description of what I (believe I) am and what jobs i am fit for. I will admit, i was completely self-obsessed and answered that i am above-average attractive, am popular and incredibly efficient in the workplace (on my very best days).

Apparently, this is what i am:

The lion personality has the unmistakable presence of nobility. Moving with the unruffled calm of a cat and the dignified gait of someone in command, lions have no need to walk or talk quickly since they're never in danger of being ignored or marginalized. Every now and then, the lion will play to its gruff reputation by dramatically reprimanding a subordinate or impulsively making love to its partner with unsheathed claws. But underneath all its hissing and scratching, it's still a pussycat at heart.

Though my absolute favourite part of the whole thing is the best suited jobs:

Lions are aggressive, predictable and dependable. Others always know where they stand with a lion, and their confidence and leadership abilities make them successful CEOs, company presidents, judges or lion tamers.

I am going to go out on a whim here and suggest that lions are possibly the worst choice for judges. How on earth would they bang the hammer down? Or announce the impending sentence?? As Lion Tamers on the the other hand...

From this i am to disregard this information in favour of my favourite animal: Penguins.

They are, apparently, creative and good writers but are not endeavoured to succeed.

Sod that.

They're beautiful, resilient creatures who work effortlessly to protect and feed their family.
They also look great in hats.