75 Interview Questions A Graduate Recruiter Could Ask You

I started brainstorming the other day: wouldn’t it be nice to have a comprehensive list of questions that a graduate recruiter will ask you during an behavioural interview? As such, Grad Tips provides just that - with the caveat that not all recruiters act the same, so they may or may not choose different variations of the questions I have provided below.

1. Who are you?
2. What is your academic background?
3. What is your work experience / work background?
4. Why did you choose to study the degree / qualifications / you have studied?
5. What is your honours thesis about?
6. Would you consider studying more (tertiary) further in the future?
7. Why did you apply for XYZ?
8. What do you know about XYZ?
9. Why do you think XYZ is for you?
10. What do you admire the most about this company?
11. Who do you look up to in life, and why?
12. Who are our major competitors?
13. And… why have you chosen to apply for us over them?
14. What do you know about the role you are applying for?
15. As a whole, explain what XYZ does as an organisation?
16. What are your (1,2,3) favourite (cultural values, signals, pledges) within XYZ, and why?
17. Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
18. What are your career goals?
19. If you could list 3 things that you are looking for in life what would they be and why?
20. [3 random questions I’ve heard before] If you needed to find a needle in a haystack how would you answer?
21. [3 random questions I’ve heard before] If you were a drink, what drink and why?
22. [3 random questions I’ve heard before] What came first, the chicken or the egg?
23. Give an example of a team conflict situation that you resolved.
24. Give an example of a team situation where you effectively lead (as a leader)?
25. What do you think you can offer this company / XYZ?
26. Why did you quit your last job?
27. If you were in my position, what qualities would you be looking for in an employee?
28. Can you give me an example of your creativity?
29. Can you give me an example of how you provided motivation in a team?
30. Can you give me an example of project management, and how you managed the team?
31. Can you give me an example of a task / event / something that you were the key organiser?
32. How well do you work under pressure?
33. Give an example of an impending deadline and how you tackled it?
34. Did you meet your deadline? Did you not? How?
35. What do you like the least about this company?
36. What do you like the least about this position you are applying for?
37. Are you applying for other jobs? (outside this role)
38. Explain the steps you would take when provided a task that you have no experience or knowledge whatsoever in.
39. Are you more of a project leader, or a team player? Why?
40. Where do you see the greatest challenges are for this company in the short term?
41. Where do you see the greatest challenges are for this company in the long term?
42. What do you believe your weaknesses are?
43. What do you believe your strengths are?
44. Here is a problem (randomly gives you a piece of paper) how do you solve it?
45. How much money do you expect to be paid in this position?
46. Why did you leave your last position?
47. Why did you take up so many jobs in the past?
48. What is your ideal dream 20 years from now?
49. What do you do to wind down after a hard days work?
50. Tell me of the most fun you’ve had at work.
51. Would you be willing to take a pay cut to work at this organisation?
52. What do you believe your weaknesses are?
53. Why should I hire you?
54. What are your biggest accomplishments to date?
55. What are you most proud of and why?
56. What is the most difficult position (work or university or college) you have been in and why?
57. Give an example of a situation where you had to deal with a difficult person, and how you overcame it.
58. Give an example of a client situation where you went outside your square of thought / comfort zone to help.
59. On your resume, it says you like traveling, however you’ve listed that you’ve not been many places. What’s holding you back?
60. How willing are you to travel interstate / overseas for work?
61. What are your 3/4/5 core values or beliefs in life, and why?
62. If I rang you tomorrow and told you were successful, however you need to work overseas full time for a year - how would you feel?
63. When is it best to contact you?
64. What is your preferred method of contact?
65. You’ve not provided any references. Can you provide some references for us to do some background checks?
66. What pet hates do you have when it comes to a work environment?
67. Closed Office plan or Open Office Plan? Why?
68. How long would you work for us should you be successful in your hire?
69. If you had enough money to retire, would you do it now, or would you keep working?
70. Do you know anyone in this company (i.e. referral)
71. What did your previous managers / leaders think of you?
72. Are you willing to work overtime, overnight, or weekends to get the job done?
73. …leading on to: If not, if you had a deadline of 9am the next day, would it be done by then? why / why not?
74. If there is something in work that you would like to be famous and renowned for, what would it be and why?
75. And lastly… the golden question: Do you have any questions you would like to ask us?

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