{"id":18803,"date":"2023-04-13T16:36:28","date_gmt":"2023-04-13T16:36:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/?p=18803"},"modified":"2023-04-13T16:36:28","modified_gmt":"2023-04-13T16:36:28","slug":"toughest-ever-job-interview-questions-with-answers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/toughest-ever-job-interview-questions-with-answers\/","title":{"rendered":"Toughest ever job interview questions with answers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s not unusual for interviews to feel like hard work. But some companies make the interview process particularly hard by asking some really tricky questions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019ve found some of the toughest questions from some of the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">toughest companies<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to interview with and given you some top tips and advice on how to answer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Top 10 toughest companies to interview with and common questions<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#McKinsey\"><b>McKinsey &amp; Company<\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#q1\">Tell me about a time you had a conflict and how you managed it<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#q2\">Tell me about a time when you showcased inclusive leadership<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#Thoughtworks\"><b>Thoughtworks<\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#q3\">What have you learned from someone or something recently in your life?<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#q4\">Estimate the demand for electric motorcycles<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#q5\">What is your interpretation of our mission statement?<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#BCG\"><b>Boston Consulting Group<\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#q6\">Who is one of your role models?\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#q7\">Can you give us an example of a time that you had to overcome an obstacle to achieve your goal?<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#Gartner\"><b>Gartner\u00a0<\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#q8\">Tell us a time when you had to influence a decision<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#q9\">Tell me something you\u2019re an expert at and teach me about it<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#q10\">What makes you unique?<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#Bain\"><b>Bain &amp; Company\u00a0<\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#q11\">How do you handle criticism?<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#q12\">What would you do if you were in a room with an elephant?<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#q13\">You made a dramatic mistake with a client and it&#8217;s related to highly confidential data. How do you approach this problem?<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#Rolls\"><b>Rolls-Royce\u00a0<\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#q14\">What is your approach to teamwork?<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#q15\">What is Rolls-Royce famous for?<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#ZS\"><b>ZS Associates\u00a0<\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#q16\">Tell me about a time you failed<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#q17\">Guess how many balls you can fit on a double-decker bus<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#Google\"><b>Google<\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#q18\">What is your favourite food?<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#q19\">Tell me about a time when you saved a company money<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#q20\">What is your favourite search engine on the internet?<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#Stryker\"><b>Stryker<\/b><\/a>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#q21\">Tell me a joke that makes me laugh<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#q22\">Are you more logical or innovative?<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#Procter\"><b>Procter &amp; Gamble\u00a0<\/b><\/a>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#q22\">Rate how much you agree\/disagree on a scale: I would help a disabled person across the street but only if there was no traffic<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#q23\">What do you do if an attempt to fix a problem fails?<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#q24\">What would you do with a team that doesn&#8217;t understand your proposal?<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><a href=\"#Final\">Looking for some more general advice? Jump ahead to read our interview tips at the bottom of this article.\u00a0<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a name=\"McKinsey\"><\/a><\/h3>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/company\/mckinsey-company\">McKinsey &amp; Company\u00a0<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">McKinsey &amp; Company is a global management consulting firm with its main UK office in London. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some of the firm&#8217;s most popular interview questions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"q1\"><\/a>Q. Tell me about a time you had a conflict and how you managed it<\/h4>\n<p><b>What they\u2019re really asking: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a classic interview question that is looking to establish how you work with teammates and customers and how well you resolve conflict.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What to consider: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even though this question is focused on conflict, this is not a place to bemoan a previous colleague or workplace. Focus on key qualities such as leadership and cooperation and what the positive outcomes of this situation were.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Example answer: <\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhen I was working as a Marketing Manager, I had to share a budget with the Communications Manager, who had a team that mirrored my own. Before stepping into the role, both parties had worked on their campaigns drawing from the same budget.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On checking the budget spend, I realised that a lot of the budget had been allocated to a PR campaign which left very little money for my paid marketing team. <\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It turned out that this had happened a few times before and had led to resentment between the two teams.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I approached the Communications Manager for a meeting and established that a lot of their budget was spent on outsourcing lots of the work that my team could do. We, therefore, worked out a more reasonable spend on their campaign and joined forces to work on the campaign together.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moving forward, rather than both teams creating their campaigns, we now work as a wider team on our annual strategy. This has built much stronger links between both teams.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-3522\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/tiendat-nguyen-WY5kuE0R4-k-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Three employees sit holding a conversation around a desk.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"q2\"><\/a>Q. Tell me about a time when you showcased inclusive leadership<\/h4>\n<p><b>What they\u2019re really asking:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A quick look at the McKinsey &amp; Company website highlights how important inclusion is. The organisation aims to work with diverse colleagues and to do so, needs to create a safe and welcoming environment for all.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This question is all about values, and whether your values align with McKinsey\u2019s. It\u2019s also a way of showcasing your knowledge of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What to consider: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember that equity, diversity, and inclusion covers all protected characteristics. This question is not asking you to cover all of them. Instead, think of one example that you can clearly and concisely explain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Example answer:<\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u201cI believe strongly in ensuring that all employees feel capable of success and have equal access to promotions and pay increases.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Within my most recent team, the more boisterous and confident characters were more likely to speak up in meetings which meant that their work was more widely known by the senior team.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To ensure that all voices were heard, I produced meeting agendas in an editable format so that any team member could add to the schedule up to 48 hours in advance. This quickly led to increased engagement in team meetings and ensured that the successes of the whole team were recognised.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An additional benefit was felt by two of my direct reports who are neurodiverse and prefer meeting agendas in advance.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a name=\"Thoughtworks\"><\/a><\/h3>\n<h3>Thoughtworks<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thoughtworks is a global technology company with 49 offices in 18 countries that is headquartered in the USA. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They provide customers with software design and delivery, tools, and consulting services.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"q3\"><\/a>Q. What have you learned from someone or something recently in your life?<\/h4>\n<p><b>What they\u2019re really asking: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a question that relates to the company\u2019s culture. Employees are expected to follow their curiosity and carve their own paths at Thoughtworks. They\u2019re looking for lifelong learners.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What to consider: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This question does not need to be about learning within your role or career. Learning independently just for the sake of it shows the curiosity that they are seeking.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A love of learning is really important to Thoughtworks, so show enthusiasm for expanding your knowledge.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Example answer:<\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u201cI have recently returned from a three-month stay in Indonesia where I worked remotely to experience a new culture whilst working for my current employer.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before moving, I spent three months studying Indonesian in my own time via Duolingo as I wanted to be able to get by.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When I arrived in Indonesia, I realised that my independent learning had only taken me so far, so I enrolled in immersion classes twice a week at a local school.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As well as this being a fantastic opportunity to get to know the language, it also helped me to learn so much from people of other cultures as my fellow students came from all over the world.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I now feel that I have established both a love of language and a love of different cultures.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-3523\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/scott-graham-5fNmWej4tAA-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A man sat making calculations at a laptop.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"q4\"><\/a>Q. Estimate the demand for electric motorcycles<\/h4>\n<p><b>What they\u2019re really asking: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This question has nothing to do with your knowledge of electric vehicles but with how you would address the question itself. It\u2019s a question where you need to showcase problem-solving.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What to consider: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be quite general and focus on walking the interviewer through your methodology, rather than a specific number.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Example answer:<\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u201cThere\u2019s quite a lot of information I would want to gather before addressing this question.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Firstly I would want to understand how many electric motorcycles are in use globally. Then I would want to compare how many non-electric cars are on the road vs non-electric motorcycles to get an idea of the size of the industry.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I am certain that there will be figures regarding the demand for electric cars and would extrapolate the cars-to-motorcycles ratio to get an initial understanding of demand.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I would also want to look at any changes on the horizon, such as outcomes from COP, the UN, and the Paris Agreement. This would enable me to establish how demand might change soon due to legal and cultural changes. For example, if a country is creating clean air zones in every town and city would all delivery drivers need to move from fossil fuel to electric to continue? If so, demand could dramatically increase.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I realize that at this stage I have not given an exact answer, but I think a knowledge of the methodology that would be required would be vitally important. I\u2019m happy to research this further post-interview to provide an estimated figure.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-3524\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ather-energy-PoxO2O9mSW0-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"An electric motorcycle at the side of the street, plugged in to an electric charging point.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"q5\"><\/a>Q. What is your interpretation of our mission statement?<\/h4>\n<p><b>What they\u2019re really asking: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is an excellent question and requires candidates to have done some serious research into the company.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What to consider: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Top tip, know the company&#8217;s mission.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this case, it\u2019s, \u201cto create an extraordinary impact on the world through our culture and technology excellence.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Example answer:<\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u201cThe Thoughtworks mission around creating an extraordinary impact on the world through culture and technology is one of the main reasons that I am here today.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To me, this is all about going over and above as a company. This isn\u2019t just about creating tech but creating a positive change in the world.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I was impressed to find out that Thoughtworks has 40% women and underrepresented gender minorities in tech roles, so clearly diversity and equity matter.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I want to build a career where the culture aligns with my values. I am very active in my community and volunteer as a community IT teacher.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I also hope to do excellent work which is why I am always striving to learn new things and innovate.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To me, your mission statement is about the alignment of values and innovation.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a name=\"BCG\"><\/a><\/h3>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/company\/boston-consulting-group\">Boston Consulting Group\u00a0<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BCG is a management consultant with 21,000 employees worldwide in over 100 offices.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some of the company&#8217;s key values include partnerships, social impact, integrity, and diversity.\u00a0<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"q6\"><\/a>Q. Who is one of your role models?<\/h4>\n<p><b>What they\u2019re really asking: <\/b>This is a question that is used to establish who and what inspires you and how well your values align with the company\u2019s values and mission statement.<\/p>\n<p><b>What to consider: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s important to be authentic and to avoid cliches like Mother Teresa, Gandhi, or Barack Obama.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Choose someone who has qualities and skills you admire, that you can replicate in your working life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Example answer:<\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u201cOne of my role models is my secondary school Chemistry teacher. They were a first-generation immigrant just like me and were the first person in their family to go to university.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What inspired me most is how much they were admired by all the students.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They went over and above when it came to teaching and supporting us all through some tough years of school and were so patient.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This teacher inspired me to pursue a career in sciences and now, as a manager, I take a lot of what I learned from them. I am supportive of my team, am always looking at ways to problem solve, and try to be kind in everything I do.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-3525\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/jeshoots-com-5EKw8Z7CgE4-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A blackboard on which are written various formulae.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"q7\"><\/a>Q. Can you give us an example of a time that you had to overcome an obstacle to achieve your goal?<\/h4>\n<p><b>What they\u2019re really asking: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a really common question and can be applied to anything from web development to marketing to the service industry.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This question aims to understand your problem-solving skills, understand how you communicate, and your resourcefulness and resilience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What to consider: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Focus on the positive, rather than the negative, so rather than criticizing the cause of the obstacle, focus on key qualities such as teamwork and ingenuity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Example answer:<\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u201cRecently I was working with a large client that had over 1,000 employees across 10 locations. My goal was to deliver a report on their current equity, diversity, and inclusion results alongside some recommendations.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The client decided that they would like to publish this information as part of their LGBT+ Pride Month celebrations, over a month ahead of the deadline.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I wanted to find a solution that worked for my client so I set up a meeting with my team to understand what priorities we were all working on. We realised that with our resources we could not produce the entire report in time without missing other clients&#8217; deadlines.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I went back to the client suggesting that we produced and finished the chapters of the report that focused on LGBT+ inclusion as well as an executive summary of the report as a whole. This meant that the client had relevant and publishable data and actions in time for their event and that we were able to deliver quality work.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a name=\"Gartner\"><\/a><\/h3>\n<h3>Gartner<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gartner is a consultancy firm that delivers insights, guidance and tools to executives and their teams in over 100 countries.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is repeatedly one of Fortune&#8217;s Most Admired Companies, so unsurprisingly it\u2019s very competitive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"q8\"><\/a>Q. Tell us a time when you had to influence a decision<\/h4>\n<p><b>What they\u2019re really asking: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a question that evaluates your skills of persuasion and determines if others respect you in a professional setting. When you influence a colleague, that person respects you enough to change their mind or accept your idea.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What to consider:\u00a0 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Numbers are really useful here. Focus on either the number of people you influenced or on the seniority of the person you influenced. It\u2019s particularly impressive when you can influence those more senior to you, such as the executive board.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Example answer: <\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAs finance manager in my current role, I am responsible for all departmental budgets. This year, I was faced with new challenges that were created by rising inflation. This meant that our annual budgets would not stretch in the ways they had previously done. I wanted to ensure that we were still operating profitably over the next 12 months.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I spent time working with each senior team member to understand the budget lines that were essential, nice to have, and none essential and used this to inform a slimmed-down spending budget for 2022\/23.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I recognise that finance is not easy for everyone to understand so when I presented the annual budget to the board I made sure that everything was clear. In essence, I had found simple economies to deliver the same level of work at a marginally lower cost, without the need for redundancies. Based on our new pricing model, I was also able to demonstrate projected income and profit to ensure that our investors were happy.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I then gave detailed feedback to each department regarding their updated budget.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although some people were disappointed they were able to recognise that this was best for the business and best for our employees.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"q9\"><\/a>Q. Tell me something you\u2019re an expert at and teach me about it<\/h4>\n<p><b>What they\u2019re really asking: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It might not seem like it at first glance but this is a common sales question. You\u2019re being asked to think on your feet and sell that you\u2019re an expert in something.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is also a great way of understanding who you are outside of work, your personality, and what makes you tick.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This isn\u2019t a question you should take too seriously and can involve answers related to your personal life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What to consider: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Think of this as a sales or marketing transaction. You need to immediately demonstrate authority to build trust in the interviewer that you are teaching.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Example answer: <\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI love cooking. It\u2019s a great way of understanding people and cultures, and I particularly enjoy making things that are unusual or exotic.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I cook with firm tofu a lot, and after a lot of trial and error, I\u2019d say I\u2019m an expert in getting it right. The key with firm tofu is to press your tofu so it takes on marinade or gets really crispy when you bake or fry it. You don\u2019t need to use a specific press, simply put the tofu on a plate with some plates or books on top and leave it for a few hours. This will get rid of loads of moisture.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Without doing this, the texture of the tofu can be a bit watery and it\u2019s a reason a lot of people don\u2019t like it. By pressing it, you\u2019ll become an expert in great tofu too.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-3527\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/edgar-castrejon-bG5rhvRH0JM-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A woman and man cooking together.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"q10\"><\/a>Q. What makes you unique?<\/h4>\n<p><b>What they\u2019re really asking: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is about who you are as a person. This could be a unique skill or something quirkier.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What to consider: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read the room! If the interview room is quite light-hearted you could give a far less serious answer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Example answer: <\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019ve been on 3 different quiz shows. Outside of work, I love expanding my general knowledge and I find quiz shows super fun to do.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I managed to win \u00a31,000 once, which I spent on a holiday.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a name=\"Bain\"><\/a><\/h3>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/company\/bain-company\">Bain &amp; Company<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bain &amp; Company is a management consultancy working across a range of sectors, from non-profit to public and private organisations. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The company prides itself on being a great place to work.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"q11\"><\/a>Q. How do you handle criticism?<\/h4>\n<p><b>What they\u2019re really asking: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a behavioral question that interviewers ask to really understand your personality. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This isn\u2019t a question about what criticism was received, rather it&#8217;s about how you handled that criticism.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What to consider: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Show that you have learned something from the criticism and that this will benefit the company that you are applying to. If you can, make the example relevant to the role you\u2019re interviewing for.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Example answer:<\/b> <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI was tasked with creating an advertising campaign for a large food and beverage company who were looking to start a substantial recruitment drive.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As part of this project, I needed to create a new employer brand and Employer Value Proposition. I developed four new employer values and a brand that aligned with them.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The client was not happy with one of the values in particular, as they felt it was too similar to what one of their competitors had.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the meeting, I apologized for this oversight and asked if I could run a small focus group with employees across the business to come up with an alternative.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following the focus group I was able to come up with a new value and make some tweaks to the other three.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was a learning curve, but it created a much better outcome that the client was happy with. I now ensure employee engagement is part of the projects I develop from the very start.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"q12\"><\/a>Q. What would you do if you were in a room with an elephant?<\/h4>\n<p><b>What they\u2019re really asking: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Say what now? This is a question that can be read in two ways. Firstly, you can take it as a metaphor for there\u2019s an \u201celephant in the room\u201d i.e. an awkward situation rather than a 15,000 lb animal. But you could also take this as a problem-solving question, what would you do if there was an actual elephant?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a question that is meant to disarm you a bit and see how you think on your feet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What to consider: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a tough question, but read the room and decide whether to answer an elephant as an animal vs a metaphor. We think the animal problem is a bit more fun!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Example answer:<\/b> <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSo for fun, I\u2019d like to address this question as if a huge African elephant were standing right in the middle of this room.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With my health and safety hat on I\u2019d first assess how to ensure the safety of everyone in the room, including the elephant. I\u2019d look at the potential exit routes and calmly guide people from the room, and the building as a whole.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I would then have to start working out how the elephant entered the room and if there is a way for the elephant to safely leave in the same way. As we\u2019re on the eighth floor, this would be hard to know.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I\u2019d contact the local zoo, to enlist specialist help and work with our security and risk assessment teams to find ways of preventing this animal from entering again.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once the elephant is safely removed with professional supervision, I\u2019d try and resume business as usual as soon as possible for the organization. I would also create a process to ensure that this is dealt with as efficiently as possible in the future.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-3528\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/will-shirley-sbyEMIcFx34-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"An African elephant.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"q13\"><\/a>Q. You made a dramatic mistake with a client and it&#8217;s related to highly confidential data. How do you approach this problem?<\/h4>\n<p><b>What they\u2019re really asking: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a situational question that does not need to rely on an experience you\u2019ve had before. It could be a worst-case scenario for this employer.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The interviewer is interested in how you act under pressure and your integrity as an employee.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What to consider: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a hard question, so pause to plan your answer before going into it. In your answer, you\u2019ll need to show honesty and problem-solving, so make sure you include these key buzzwords.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Example answer:<\/b> <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI think that honesty is the best policy and will always hold my hands up if I make a mistake.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this scenario, I would first ensure that any data sent is halted until this is resolved. I would then raise this with my manager to understand if there is a protocol for a situation such as this and to establish who is best placed to speak to the client. If for example, a member of the senior leadership team has a strong relationship with the client\u2019s CEO I would hope that we could work together to find a solution.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If there is no protocol I would suggest that time is of the essence and work to establish the scale of the problem so that I can give the best possible picture to my client and to understand what can be done.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Armed with a thorough understanding of what happened, how it happened, who this affected, and what can be done, I will then present this to the client before taking any next steps.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As this is an emergency I would also ensure that any other meetings or priorities are pushed back so that I can focus on solving this issue.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a name=\"Rolls\"><\/a><\/h3>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/jobs\/company\/rolls-royce\">Rolls-Royce<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rolls-Royce is a multinational aerospace and defense company that designs, manufactures, and distributes power systems for the aviation industry.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rolls-Royce cars has been part of BMW since 2003.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"q14\"><\/a>Q. What is your approach to teamwork?<\/h4>\n<p><b>What they\u2019re really asking: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In every job, there\u2019s an element of teamwork but different organisations have different ways of working. Rolls-Royce wants to establish your style of working, and if that fits into its culture.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A quick look at the Rolls-Royce careers site details core values of trust, integrity, and safety. The first two can easily be integrated into a teamwork-focused question.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What to consider: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is no right answer to this question. If an organisation is not the right fit for you, then it\u2019s best to find this out at an interview, rather than answering in an insincere way.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Example answer: <\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI enjoy working in a team that\u2019s collaborative where we trust one another and we listen to one another. I think it\u2019s really important that whoever you are in an organization you feel you have a voice and something you can contribute. Time and time again, I find that ideas come from the most unexpected places which is why teamwork is so integral to success.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I currently work in a small team of 10 engineers who each bring various skills and experience. We catch up regularly to discuss progress and when we\u2019re together our main focus is problem-solving. Our meetings and workshops are a safe space where everyone is respected.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We also trust each other to do what needs to be done, so for more than half of the day, we work independently on our parts of the project. I think this creates a fantastic way of working.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-3530\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/hannah-busing-Zyx1bK9mqmA-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A group of people all bring their hands together.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"q15\"><\/a>Q. What is Rolls-Royce famous for?<\/h4>\n<p><b>What they\u2019re really asking: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rolls-Royce has a longstanding history, dating back to 1884 when Henry Royce established his mechanical business.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The interviewer wants to know that you\u2019ve done your homework researching the company.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What to consider: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Realistically, the person asking the question will know more about the company\u2019s history than you. So focus on what you do know rather than what you don\u2019t. By adding in a few key facts such as dates or names of products you can make your answer sound very impressive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Example answer: <\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cRolls-Royce is famous for innovation. From the company\u2019s development of the Eagle engine in 1914 to the pathway to net zero with the aptly named Spirit of Innovation all-electric aircraft, it\u2019s clear that Rolls-Royce has been at the forefront of aviation engineering for well over a century.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s a brand that people trust, and it\u2019s a brand that has a huge impact on the way we travel for business and pleasure. Rolls-Royce has successfully made the world a lot smaller. <\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I want to be part of Rolls-Royce\u2019s future as an innovative engineer.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a name=\"ZS\"><\/a><\/h3>\n<h3>ZS Associates<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ZS Associates is a management consulting and professional services firm that focuses on consulting, software, and technology.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The company has over 12,000 employees.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"q16\"><\/a>Q. Tell me about a time you failed<\/h4>\n<p><b>What they\u2019re really asking: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Failure can reveal a lot about your resilience, temperament, openness to learning, and ability to receive and take on board feedback.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are qualities that employees are looking for that won\u2019t necessarily show up on your resume.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What to consider: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This isn\u2019t the time to share your biggest failure. If you share a monumental failure at an interview it will likely leave a bad impression.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Focus on learning rather than failing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Example answer: <\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI was recently responsible for rolling out a new website for my employer.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On publication, we realised that one of the pages had not been proofread before going live, so there were a few typos. <\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I quickly resolved the issue.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moving forward I have added a second review to all new web pages before they go live. This has been added to both the policy documentation and on the Content Management System, preventing unchecked material from going live.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-3531\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/the-blowup-UN4PadDppAU-unsplash-1024x654.jpg\" alt=\"A shop frontage, on which is written the quote: &quot;If you never know failure, you will never know success&quot;.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"654\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"q17\"><\/a>Q. Guess how many balls you can fit on a double-decker bus<\/h4>\n<p><b>What they\u2019re really asking: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This may feel like an absurd question but questions like this are quite common in roles that require a knowledge of mathematics, analytics, or statistics. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The question is asking how you would address this, rather than looking for the right answer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What to consider: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make some assumptions such as how big the bus is, and how big the ball is, and talk about your methodology.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Example answer: <\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWithout knowing the size of the bus or the ball, I won\u2019t be able to give an exact answer. To get the correct answer I would first need to find out the average cubic foot size of a double-decker bus, and the average ball size based on how many people globally play each sport.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As an initial guess, I could assume a double-decker bus is around 2500 cubic feet based on the estimated height, length, and width of the bus I got here today. Knowing that some balls are really big, such as beech balls, for ease I would choose a football which is about a cubic foot. So 2,500 footballs in a double-decker.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the balls were deflated, there would be scope for adding substantially more balls to the bus.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a name=\"Google\"><\/a><\/h3>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/company\/google\">Google\u00a0<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you don\u2019t know about and don\u2019t use their products daily, then you\u2019ve probably been living under a rock.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google is a vast multinational software company that not only has its synonymous search engine but a range of other products and services including email, analytics, and drive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"q18\"><\/a>Q. What is your favourite food?<\/h4>\n<p><b>What they\u2019re really asking: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a question designed to put you at ease. It\u2019s fun and conversational. However, it\u2019s easy to worry that this is a trick question. It\u2019s not. Show how you can think on your feet and if possible inject a bit of personality.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What to consider: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An easy example and why it\u2019s your favourite.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Example answer: <\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt would have to be my grandma\u2019s daal. It reminds me of so many happy times during my childhood. <\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For me, family is so important and this is something that can connect me with my grandma whenever I make it.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-3532\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/jimmy-dean-ooVDgeb0J4A-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A family enjoying a meal together.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"q19\"><\/a>Q. Tell me about a time when you saved a company money<\/h4>\n<p><b>What they\u2019re really asking: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even big companies like Google are always looking for ways to save money, especially during an economic downturn.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They\u2019re looking to hire employees that are a good investment, so they want to see how you\u2019ve made processes more efficient.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What to consider: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Numbers, numbers, numbers. If you can show how you\u2019ve saved a company more money than they pay you in a year, then you\u2019re someone that a new company will want on its team.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Example answer: <\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIn my previous role I led a small product team, with five developers on staff.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Historically we had always outsourced a portion of our work to some overseas consultants but as time progressed, more and more mistakes were made. This meant that it would fall on my team to amend and even re-do this work.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I crunched the numbers and realised for the cost of the outsourced work, we could afford to double our team of developers, and in reality, we only needed to hire two at a mid-senior level.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I, therefore, ended the relationship with the external agency and made two hires. Not only did this save my team \u00a3200,000 a year but it was also far more efficient. As a team we were wasting 20 hours a week, reviewing and amending content, and we gained that time back.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Department spending is now always something I review over the first six months in a post.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"q20\"><\/a>Q. What is your favourite search engine on the internet?<\/h4>\n<p><b>What they\u2019re really asking: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ok, so it\u2019s pretty tempting to say Google off the bat right? But this is a question to assess if you\u2019re a people pleaser or a challenger and how well you know Google\u2019s competitors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What to consider: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Googlers are going to be looking for people who love Google but pick a competitor and give a good reason why it\u2019s getting close to being your favourite. Show how and why you could support Google in its transition to beat its competitors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Example answer: <\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI think it\u2019s safe to say that Google has been the king of search engines for the last couple of decades.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I am however blown away by the recent injection of OpenAI\u2019s ChatGPT technology into Bing which has transformed the way we can search. It\u2019s something that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With AI search on the horizon with Google and Bard, I\u2019m excited to bring my User Experience skills to ensure that this is a product that is just as high quality as all of Google\u2019s products, and I am certain this will soon surpass the new Bing.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a name=\"Stryker\"><\/a><\/h3>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/company\/stryker\">Stryker<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stryker is a leading medical technologies company that specialises in creating products that make surgery more efficient, reduce trauma, and improve techniques.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s a huge company with over 46,000 employees globally and has been named one of Fortune\u2019s Best Workplaces for five years in a row.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"q21\"><\/a>Q. Tell me a joke that makes me laugh<\/h4>\n<p><b>What they\u2019re really asking: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Employers want to see how you react to unexpected situations, and often this isn\u2019t a question you\u2019ll have prepared for.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They\u2019re looking at how you think on your feet, how personable you are, and how creative you can be.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What to consider: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make sure you keep it clean. A joke in an interview setting should never be at the expense of anyone, nor should it use crude language. Keep your jokes short and to the point. You could tell a simple knock-knock joke or a pun that\u2019s relevant to your role or industry.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Example answer: <\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhy can\u2019t vampires work in consulting?&#8230; because they refuse to meet with stakeholders.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OR\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNow that I\u2019m working remotely, I reward my team by telling them to visit my website for cookies.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-3533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/nick-fewings-l342TpsxXU-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A picture of an egg with the phrase: &quot;You crack me up&quot;.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"q22\"><\/a>Q. Are you more logical or innovative?<\/h4>\n<p><b>What they\u2019re really asking: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The interviewer wants to know what skills you\u2019d bring to the workplace and there isn\u2019t a right answer. If you\u2019re applying for a role in finance or operations then logic would be most relevant. In a creative role, innovation is key.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What to consider: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stryker publishes their company values and the top of that list is \u201cmeaningful innovation\u201d, so they\u2019re looking for the answer to be innovation regardless of role.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Doing your homework on a company in advance is important.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Example answer: <\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI identify as an innovator which is why I\u2019ve applied to Stryker. The company\u2019s \u201cmeaningful innovation\u201d value struck a chord with me.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One example of innovation that springs to mind was during my most recent role. Our most popular product was flying off the shelves but the profit margins were minimal.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I realized, through market research and user testing, that some elements of the product were redundant and we were creating an expensive product that did too much.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I immediately got to work developing a slimmed-down product, and within 6 months this was market ready. Our profit margins went up, and our consumers received a drop in cost. It was a win-win. Within another 6 months, this product alone had sold over 100,000 units, generating a net profit of half a million pounds.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a name=\"Procter\"><\/a><\/h3>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/jobs\/company\/procter-gamble\">Procter &amp; Gamble<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Procter &amp; Gamble is a huge consumer goods company that employs over 2,800 people in the UK and Ireland.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The company looks after several household brands such as Fairy (fairy liquid), Ariel (laundry), and Oral-B (toothpaste). <\/span><\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"q23\"><\/a>Q. Rate how much you agree\/disagree on a scale: I would help a disabled person across the street but only if there was no traffic<\/h4>\n<p><b>What they\u2019re really asking: <\/b>Procter &amp; Gamble is an organisation that thrives on integrity, it\u2019s one of their key values. Therefore they want to see how you would react to this situation outside of work.<\/p>\n<p><b>What to consider: <\/b>The interviewer does not want to hear that you would never stop to help someone, this is a question where they want to know if you\u2019re a good person.<\/p>\n<p><b>Example answer: <\/b><em>\u201cI strongly disagree with this statement. Regardless of the situation, I would strive to find a safe way of supporting a disabled person in need.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Of course, I would need to assess the risks. For example, is there a safer way across the road such as a nearby crossing I could guide this person to? Secondly, where is the person at this present time? If they are already halfway across the road, how can I communicate that I will be there to help them but am finding the safest route?<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>I was once faced with a situation where a disabled woman had dropped her shopping halfway across a busy road. I made sure that I could get to her aid as quickly as possible, while also making myself very visible so that cars would stop. I helped her up, got her to safety, and then found first aid support at a nearby shop.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>It\u2019s so important in society, and in work that we respect one another.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-3534\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/patrick-tomasso-fMntI8HAAB8-unsplash-1024x769.jpg\" alt=\"A woman sat at a laptop, smiling.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"769\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><a name=\"q24\"><\/a>Q. What do you do if an attempt to fix a problem fails?<\/h4>\n<p><b>What they\u2019re really asking: <\/b>So often in interview questions, the employer wants to establish what you would do if a problem arises, but this question goes one step further. Your plan to solve an issue has failed. This is a question about accountability and problem-solving.<\/p>\n<p><b>What to consider: <\/b>Doing the same thing twice is not the right strategy. You need to think outside the box.<\/p>\n<p><b>Example answer: <\/b><em>\u201cI think it\u2019s important in these situations to look within. Am I lacking specific skills or knowledge to get this project through the line, and who can I turn to for support? <\/em><em>I would spend time reflecting on what has been done so far and what hasn\u2019t worked.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>In a recent sales role, I was struggling to get a plan signed off by a client. I spoke to the client for feedback and still what I was sending through was not working for the client. <\/em><em>I turned to a member of my team for ideas and advice. It was so valuable to get an outside perspective and together we came up with some clearer messaging for the client. This meant that the project was signed off.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>However, had this project continued to fail, I think it\u2019s important to still take learnings from this. None of us can get everything right 100% of the time, but learning and striving for improvement helps us grow!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"q25\"><\/a><b>Q. What would you do with a team that doesn&#8217;t understand your proposal?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>What they\u2019re really asking: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a tricky situation that we all face in the workplace. This question wants to see how you communicate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What to consider: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try and think of an example you can use.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Example answer: <\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhen I was working agency side we worked with a company who was based overseas in the US. Although English was a shared first language, I quickly realised that there were a lot of differences in our communication styles.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We were pitching an out-of-home marketing strategy, across London\u2019s tube networks, using fun idioms and puns.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The client immediately didn\u2019t understand what on earth we were talking about. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We had to change the way we were communicating. Firstly we referred to London\u2019s subway and secondly, we translated the phrases into Americanised language so that it was side by side on our deck. We helped them get in on the joke and quickly they understood the proposal and we ran it.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 3-week campaign led to over 500,000 new web visits!\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a name=\"Final\"><\/a><\/h3>\n<h3>Some final tips<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take a breath before answering a question. Asking for a glass of water when you arrive can be a great way of creating a pause. When the interviewer asks the question, take a sip of water so that you have time to think.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relax as much as possible. We\u2019re all human and if you stumble or worry about your answers it\u2019s worth remembering that these are mistakes we all make.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use real examples, and draw in numbers as much as possible. For example, how much you grew something or the amount of money you made.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The STAR method is a great way of planning your answers to situational questions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Situation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A real story that you have experienced that needed a solution. This can be from a past job, school, college, or any hobbies you have.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Task: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What you needed to do to resolve this situation and the steps that needed to be taken.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Action: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here you describe your role in the actions that were taken. This should show a personal trait like leadership or budgeting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Results:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> What happened next and what were the results? Try and use numbers and statistics here or reflect on any lessons learned.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feeling ready to apply for your next job? Check out the latest roles on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adzuna<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/11\/svg\/1f4a1.svg\" alt=\"\" \/> Read more: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/the-10-most-common-cv-spelling-mistakes-to-avoid-at-all-costs\/\">Top 10 CV spelling mistakes to avoid at all costs<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It&#8217;s not unusual for interviews to feel like hard work. But some companies make the interview process particularly hard by asking some really tricky questions. We\u2019ve found some of the toughest questions from some of the toughest companies to interview with and given you some top tips and advice on how to answer.\u00a0 &nbsp; Top<a class=\"moretag\" href=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/toughest-ever-job-interview-questions-with-answers\/\"> Continued \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":18804,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1109,1111],"tags":[1112],"class_list":["post-18803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-finding-a-job","category-interviews","tag-featured"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18803","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/58"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18803"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18803\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18804"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18803"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18803"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18803"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}