For any of our graduate connexions reading this – CONGRATULATIONS! Completing a degree is a massive feat! But we know all too well that now the real challenges begin! Graduation is a bittersweet event, because you have achieved one great thing, but now you are starting from scratch for another great thing – your career!
All good things come with practice but when you are fresh out of uni or tertiary education, you may not have had any practice or exposure to many workforce interviews – and this is what we hope to prepare you for!
The good news is, a lot of hiring managers know that you are fresh out of the books and are applying for your first real position, so the expectation hiring managers usually have for experienced interviews is by no means the same as it is for a graduate position. What they do expect is for you to show up and be your authentic self, professional and eager to kick-start your career, and to do it with them!
We know the stress of answering questions the “right” way and putting the best foot forward can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, there are constructive ways to answer interview questions and make an excellent impression on employers! Here are a few questions and tips:
- TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF
Usually, we would say this question is about summarising your experience. But in the case of a graduate, you need to highlight your strongest qualities and any sort of experience you have had. We like to relate this question to giving an elevator pitch – if you were stuck in an elevator with the hiring manager from your dream company, and you have 30 seconds to a minute to pitch yourself – what would you say? We’ve put together a short video which can explain elevator pitches further.
This is why it’s important to summarise, use very clear examples and be concise. Introduce yourself; what you studied; why you chose the profession/industry; what makes you passionate about it; what you are most excited about as you enter the workforce; and what you hope to learn. This is one of the biggest qualities any employer looks for in any employee: the willingness to continuously learn and develop. You can really showcase your passion for your industry by using examples such as awards you achieved at university, or any projects you worked on and what you got out of the experience. Don’t just talk about grades – employers want to know about how your examples could demonstrate how you would solve problems, be innovative or creative in the position you are applying for, and what value you would add to the team.
For more insight into answering this question, take a look at our YouTube video with advice from our own recruiters!
- WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WEAKNESS?
We aren’t going to give you simple examples of weaknesses you can spit out like a quick google search would. The reason being, it is not about what you say, it’s about how you say it.
Think of this question as an opportunity to be honest, but to also focus on improvement. Remember, employers always look for growth opportunities in any hire, and that everyone has flaws which can be improved upon. Choose one or two weaknesses and ensure you use descriptive examples to appropriately answer the question. For example, when was a time your weakness impacted your work – be it with study or work experience?
Any time we talk about using examples in interviews, you MUST structure them using the STAR method. This is a well-used tool, which many hiring managers use to mark the suitability of your answers. So, apply this to your chosen weakness: What was the situation where you realised your weakness had impacted your productivity? What was the task at hand you were doing? What was the action you were required to undertake to solve this? Finally, what was the result of your weakness impacting you and the action you took to resolve it? Then, direct their attention toward your ability to conquer your weakness and what your lesson was. How would you turn it around in the future, now that you are more aware and in tune with it?
- WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS?
Ultimately, the purpose of this question is to see whether you have the attitude and desire to evolve with the company – essentially, will you be a good investment for them. Employers look for graduates who have the willingness to learn and grow within their business, and not use the job as a stepping stone into another company in 1 or 2 years’ time. While some graduate positions may be a contract/temporary role, there are always chances for extension and you must always treat it as though you have an opportunity to prove your skills and capabilities and remain with the company should you be given the opportunity. We’ve also got a video on how to answer this question – straight from advice from our recruiters!
- DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME?
Always answer this question! If you enter an interview without some prepared questions for the hiring manager, it can give the impression that you are either unprepared or not as eager. Additionally, this is almost always the last question, so its likely to be the one to leave the lasting impression. As Indeed Australia advises, requesting clarification on new information learnt during the interview can show the employer that you are a keen listener. Asking about any reservations the interviewer might have about your skillset or experience, could help you better justify why you’d be an exceptional candidate. Enquire about how the rest of the application process works and when you might hear from them again. If there are gaps on the roles and responsibilities that the hiring manager hasn’t addressed, ask for clarification. If all of these questions you came prepared with were answered, your golden nugget is ask about their company culture and values. Ask what they believe their employees enjoy most about working with them. Ask how their values are lived throughout the organisation. Ask them what THEY personally love most about working with the organisation or how they live the values.
Interview questions can be daunting for many graduates, but focusing on how to strategically answer them can set you up for success in any interview room. While it is best to research and practice how to answer beforehand, the most important thing is to be the most passionate and professional version of yourself.
For more tips on interviews, make sure you check out our tips and tricks videos and our downloadable resources from our website!