The short answer
Most entry-level interviews draw on the same handful of question types: about you, about why you want the job, about times you’ve done something, about how you’d handle a situation, and practical questions like when you can start. Learn what each kind is for, prepare a few true examples, and you’ll be ready for most versions of them, including ones you haven’t seen before.
Five kinds of question
Nearly every question below falls into one of these. Spotting the kind tells you how to answer.
| Kind | Sounds like | How to answer |
|---|---|---|
| About you | “Tell me about yourself.” “What are your strengths?” | Short, relevant, backed by one real example |
| Why this job | “Why do you want to work here?” | Specific reasons about this job and this employer |
| Tell me about a time | “...you worked in a team.” “...something went wrong.” | A real story, using STAR |
| What would you do | “How would you handle an unhappy customer?” | Talk through the steps you’d take, and why. A real example helps if you have one |
| Practical | “When could you start?” “Can you work weekends?” | Honest and clear. It’s fine to say what you can’t do |
“Tell me about a time” questions are often called competency or behavioural questions. Some employers, particularly larger ones, ask a fixed set of them and score your answers, as Prospects explains. Many smaller employers are more conversational. Prepare for both.
How to use the question bank
Each question below has:
- What they’re trying to find out. The purpose. If you understand why it’s asked, you can answer a version of it you’ve never heard.
- A way to shape your answer. A structure, not a script.
- An example. Every example is fictional and from a different person. They’re there to show the shape, not for you to copy. An answer that’s clearly been borrowed tends to fall apart at the first follow-up question.
- Follow-up questions they might ask next.
- Common pitfalls.
Your answers need to come from your own life. If you haven’t worked in a team at a job, use school, sport or volunteering. If you haven’t done something at all, say so honestly and say how you’d approach it. The National Careers Service suggests the same: use examples from volunteering and outside work if your work history is short.
Questions you don’t have to answer
Employers must not discriminate against applicants because of things like age, religion, marriage, pregnancy, sex, race, sexual orientation or disability (Acas lists all nine). They can also only ask limited questions about health or disability before offering you a job. If a question about something like that comes up and it doesn’t seem relevant to the work, you can politely steer back to the job: “I’m not sure that’s relevant, but I’m happy to talk about how I’d manage the hours.” GOV.UK explains what employers can ask about health before an offer. This is general guidance for Great Britain, not legal advice.
The questions
Use the filter to see the questions most likely for your kind of role. Without JavaScript, every question is listed.
The core questions
16 questions that come up in many first interviews. Open one to see what it’s for, a structure, a fictional example and the usual mistakes.
Tell me about yourself.
What they’re trying to find out Usually a gentle opener. They want a short, relevant picture of you: where you are now, what you could bring, and whether you actually want this job. It isn’t a request for your life story.
A way to structure it
- Where you are right now, in one sentence
- One relevant strength, backed by a real example
- Why this job interests you
I’ve just finished sixth form, where I did A levels in biology and psychology, and I’m looking for full-time work while I decide about university. I’ve had a Saturday job at a garden centre for a year, mostly on the tills and helping people carry things to their cars, so I’m used to busy weekends and talking to all sorts of people. I applied here because I’d like a bigger store with more variety, and I’ve heard you train people properly.
Common mistakes
- Reciting your whole CV in date order
- Sharing personal details that don’t help, like age or where you live
- Learning it word for word, so one lost line throws you
- Ending with ’and yeah, that’s it’ instead of why you want the job
They might follow up with
- What did you enjoy most about the garden centre?
- Why not go straight to university?
Why do you want this job?
What they’re trying to find out Whether you understand what the job involves and have a real reason to want it, which suggests you’ll stick at it and enjoy it.
A way to structure it
- Something about the work itself that appeals to you
- A link to something you’ve done or enjoy
- What you hope to get from it
I’ve been into cycling since I was about twelve, and I do most of the repairs on my own bike and my brother’s. In a shop like this I’d be talking to people about something I actually know about, and helping them work out what they need, which I enjoy. I’d also really like to learn the workshop side properly, because at the moment I’m mostly self-taught from videos.
Common mistakes
- Only talking about money or hours, even if they matter to you
- A reason that would fit any job, like ’I want to gain experience’
- Saying anything you can’t explain if they ask more
They might follow up with
- What would you say to a customer who knows less about bikes than you?
- Which part of the job do you think would be hardest?
Why do you want to work for us?
What they’re trying to find out Whether you’ve taken a little time to learn about them, and whether something about this employer, not just any employer, appeals to you.
A way to structure it
- One or two specific things you found out about them
- Why those matter to you
- How you’d fit in or contribute
I read on your website that you manage homes for older people across the city, and that you have a tenants’ panel that helps shape decisions. My nan lives in sheltered housing, so I’ve seen how much difference a helpful office makes when something needs fixing. I’d like to work somewhere where the admin actually helps people, and your training scheme for new admin staff was another reason I applied.
Common mistakes
- Generic praise like ’you’re a great company’
- Reciting facts from their website without saying why they matter to you
- Pretending to know more about them than you do
They might follow up with
- What do you think our tenants would need most from someone in this role?
- What else did you find out about us?
What are your strengths?
What they’re trying to find out Whether you know what you’re good at, and whether those strengths match the job. Evidence matters more than the word you choose.
A way to structure it
- Name one or two strengths the job needs
- Give a real example for each
- Link it back to the role
I’d say patience. My little brother is dyslexic and for the last two years I’ve helped him with his reading most evenings. Some nights it takes ages and he gets frustrated, so I’ve learned to slow down and try a different way rather than just repeat myself. I think that’s useful in plumbing, because when a job doesn’t go to plan you need to stay calm and work through it step by step.
Common mistakes
- A long list of adjectives with no evidence
- Picking a strength that has nothing to do with the job
- False modesty, or claiming strengths you can’t back up
They might follow up with
- Can you give me another example?
- How would your friends describe you?
What is something you’re working to improve?
What they’re trying to find out Whether you can reflect honestly on yourself and do something about it. They’re interested in the ’working to improve’ part more than the weakness.
A way to structure it
- A real thing you’re working on, that isn’t essential to the job
- How it has shown up
- What you’re doing about it, and any progress
I find it hard to say no when people ask me to help with things, so in my first year at uni I ended up on three society committees and fell behind on an essay. Now I check my calendar before I agree to anything, and if I can’t do it properly I say so and suggest someone else. This year I’ve stuck to one committee and handed everything in on time.
Common mistakes
- A fake weakness like ’I’m a perfectionist’ with nothing behind it
- Picking something that’s essential to the job, like being late for a role that needs punctuality
- Stopping at the weakness without saying what you’re doing about it
They might follow up with
- How would you handle it if a manager gave you too much to do?
- What else are you working on?
Tell me about a time you worked in a team.
What they’re trying to find out How you behave with other people when it matters: whether you pull your weight, communicate and help the group get somewhere.
A way to structure it
- Situation: what was happening, briefly
- Task: what the team needed to do
- Action: what you personally did
- Result: what happened and what you learned
On my Duke of Edinburgh bronze expedition, our group of five got lost on the second day and two people wanted to turn back. I was in charge of the map that morning, so I suggested we stop, work out exactly where we were, and agree a plan together rather than argue. I found the last checkpoint we were sure of and we retraced our route from there. We reached the campsite about an hour late but together, and I learned that stopping to agree a plan is quicker than carrying on in a muddle.
Common mistakes
- Saying ’we’ throughout so they can’t tell what you did
- A long situation and a short action
- Criticising the rest of the team
They might follow up with
- What did you do about the two people who wanted to turn back?
- What would you do differently?
Tell me about a time you solved a problem.
What they’re trying to find out Whether you notice when something isn’t working and try to fix it, rather than waiting or giving up. Small, everyday problems are fine.
A way to structure it
- Situation: the problem, in a sentence
- Task: what needed to change
- Action: the steps you took
- Result: what happened
I volunteer at my local library on Saturdays, and the children’s reading challenge used paper cards that kept getting lost, so kids were upset about losing their stickers. I suggested keeping a simple sign-in sheet behind the desk as a backup, with each child’s name and how many books they’d read. The librarian agreed, and I set it up and kept it updated. Nobody lost their progress for the rest of the summer, and they’ve used the sheet again this year.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a problem you didn’t really solve yourself
- Making it sound bigger or more dramatic than it was
- No result at the end
They might follow up with
- How did you persuade the librarian?
- What would you have done if they’d said no?
Tell me about a time something went wrong.
What they’re trying to find out Whether you own your mistakes, stay calm, put things right and learn. They’re not looking for someone who never gets anything wrong.
A way to structure it
- What happened, honestly and briefly
- What you did straight away
- How it turned out
- What you do differently now
In my first term at college I was making a steel bracket in the workshop and I measured from the wrong edge, so the holes didn’t line up and I’d wasted the piece. I told the tutor rather than trying to hide it, and he showed me how to mark from a single reference point. I made it again in my own time that week. Now I always check which edge I’m measuring from before I mark anything, and I haven’t made that mistake since.
Common mistakes
- Choosing something that wasn’t really your fault, so it isn’t a mistake at all
- Blaming someone else
- Choosing something serious that raises doubts about the job, like a safety rule you ignored
They might follow up with
- How did you feel when you realised?
- What would you do if you made a mistake on a customer’s job?
How do you manage competing priorities?
What they’re trying to find out How you organise yourself when there’s more to do than time, and whether you ask for help or flag problems early.
A way to structure it
- How you work out what matters most
- A real example of juggling
- How you keep track and when you’d ask for help
Last year I was doing my A levels while picking up my two younger sisters from school four days a week, because my mum works late. I used a wall planner at home with every deadline and every pick-up on it, and each Sunday I worked out which coursework was due first. When two deadlines clashed with a parents’ evening I had to cover, I asked one teacher for two extra days a week in advance, rather than on the day. I got everything in.
Common mistakes
- Saying you never have trouble prioritising
- Describing a system you don’t actually use
- Leaving out when you’d ask for help
They might follow up with
- What would you do if your manager and a colleague both needed something urgently?
- What tools do you use to keep track?
How would you handle an unhappy customer?
What they’re trying to find out Whether you’ll stay calm and polite, listen, try to help within the rules, and know when to get a manager.
A way to structure it
- Listen and let them explain
- Acknowledge the problem and apologise for the experience
- Fix what you can, or explain the options
- Get a manager if it’s beyond you or they’re getting upset
At the cinema kiosk where I worked last summer, a man came back saying his popcorn was stale and he’d missed the start of the film queuing. I let him finish, said sorry, and gave him a fresh one straight away because I was allowed to do that. He also wanted a refund on his ticket, which I couldn’t do, so I explained that and got my supervisor, who sorted it. I’d do the same here: listen first, fix what I’m allowed to, and get help quickly for the rest.
Common mistakes
- Saying you’d give them whatever they want, regardless of the rules
- Arguing about whose fault it was
- Forgetting to mention getting help if it escalates
They might follow up with
- What would you do if they started shouting?
- What if they were wrong?
How do you respond to feedback?
What they’re trying to find out Whether you can be taught. New starters get a lot of feedback, and they want someone who listens and adjusts rather than gets defensive.
A way to structure it
- A real time you got feedback
- How you reacted, honestly
- What you changed
- What happened after
On my hairdressing placement, the salon owner told me I was rushing consultations and not checking what clients really wanted before I started. Honestly, I felt a bit embarrassed at first. But I watched how she did hers for a week, and started repeating back what the client had asked for before picking up any tools. A couple of weeks later she said my consultations were much better, and I had fewer clients asking for changes at the end.
Common mistakes
- Saying you love all feedback, with no example
- Choosing feedback you ignored
- Sounding resentful about the person who gave it
They might follow up with
- What would you do if you disagreed with the feedback?
- What’s the most useful feedback you’ve had?
What would you do if you didn’t understand an instruction?
What they’re trying to find out Whether you’ll ask rather than guess. For most entry-level jobs, guessing wrong costs more than asking twice.
A way to structure it
- Ask straight away, or as soon as it’s sensible
- Check your understanding by repeating it back
- Write it down if it helps
- Give an example if you have one
I’d ask, even if it felt awkward. When I did a temp job at a warehouse last Christmas, the supervisor explained the returns process really quickly on my first morning. I said, ’Sorry, can I just check I’ve got this right?’ and repeated it back. I’d got one step the wrong way round, so it was worth it. After that I kept a note on my phone of each process until I knew it.
Common mistakes
- Saying you’d work it out yourself
- Saying you’d just copy what someone else does
- Implying you’d never need to ask
They might follow up with
- What if the person was too busy to explain again?
- What if you’d already started and realised you’d got it wrong?
Why should we consider you for this role?
What they’re trying to find out Your chance to sum up why you’re a good fit. They want you to connect what you offer to what the job needs, in your own words.
A way to structure it
- The two or three things the job needs most
- One piece of evidence for each
- Something about your attitude or why you want it
The advert asks for someone organised, good on the phone and comfortable with computers. For the last six years I’ve run our house with three children, including all the school forms, appointments and money, so I’m organised. I volunteer on the phone line for our school’s parents’ association every week. And I’ve just finished a free online course in Word and Excel at my local library. I’m ready to be back at work, and a school office is exactly where I’d like to be.
Common mistakes
- Comparing yourself to other candidates you’ve never met
- Repeating ’I’m hard-working’ without evidence
- Going on for too long. Aim for under a minute
They might follow up with
- What do you think the hardest part of this job would be?
- What would you need from us to settle in?
What are you hoping to learn?
What they’re trying to find out Whether you’re curious and want to develop, and whether what you want to learn fits what they can offer.
A way to structure it
- Something specific to this role you want to learn
- Why it interests you
- A broader skill you’d like to build
Mostly how networks are actually set up and kept secure in a real business. I’ve built a couple of PCs and done the free cyber security course my college ran, but I’ve never seen how it works with hundreds of users. I’d also like to get better at explaining technical problems to people who aren’t technical, because I know that’s a big part of IT support.
Common mistakes
- Something unrelated to the job
- Only learning that benefits you elsewhere, like ’to get experience for my next job’
- Saying you already know everything you need
They might follow up with
- How do you like to learn?
- Where would you like to be in a couple of years?
When would you be available to start?
What they’re trying to find out A practical question. They need to plan rotas and training. An honest answer is far better than a hopeful one you can’t keep.
A way to structure it
- Your honest earliest date
- Anything that limits it, like exams or notice
- Which hours or days you can do, if relevant
My last exam is on the 19th of June, so I could start any time after that. Until then I could do Saturdays, but not weekday evenings because of revision. Over the summer I’m free for any shifts, and from September I’d be able to do weekends and two evenings a week around college.
Common mistakes
- Agreeing to hours you can’t actually do
- Forgetting to mention notice you need to give a current job
- Being vague. Know your dates before you go in
They might follow up with
- Do you have any holidays booked?
- Could you do the occasional late shift?
Do you have any questions for us?
What they’re trying to find out A chance for you to find out whether the job is right for you. It also shows interest. Asking nothing isn’t a disaster, but asking something genuine is better.
A way to structure it
- Two or three questions you really want answered
- Skip any they’ve already answered
- Ask when you’ll hear back, if they haven’t said
Yes, a couple. What would a typical shift look like for someone new, and who would I be working with most? And how do you usually train people who haven’t worked in a café before? Oh, and when are you likely to let people know?
Common mistakes
- Asking about something they’ve already explained
- Only asking about pay and breaks at a first interview, though it’s fine to clarify them
- Asking questions you don’t care about because you think you should
Retail questions
What does good customer service mean to you?
What they’re trying to find out Whether you understand what customers need from shop staff, and whether you’d treat people well when you’re busy or tired.
A way to structure it
- What good service looks like, in plain words
- An example you’ve seen or given
- How you’d do it in this shop
To me it’s making people feel it was easy to ask. When I volunteered on the tombola at our school fair, a lot of older people didn’t understand the ticket system, so I explained it slowly and helped them find their prizes rather than just pointing. In a shop I think it’s the same: being approachable, actually finding the thing rather than saying ’aisle six’, and being honest if you don’t have it.
Common mistakes
- A definition from a textbook with no example
- Saying ’the customer is always right’ without thinking about it
- Only describing how you’d like to be treated
They might follow up with
- Tell me about a time you had great service somewhere.
- What would you do if you didn’t know where something was?
What would you do if you thought you saw someone shoplifting?
What they’re trying to find out Whether you’ll follow the store’s procedure and keep yourself and others safe. They don’t want heroics, and the right answer usually depends on the store’s own policy.
A way to structure it
- Don’t confront or chase
- Tell a manager or security straight away, using whatever system the store has
- Keep a note of what you saw if you’re asked
- Say you’d follow their policy and ask what it is
I wouldn’t approach them or try to stop them, because that could put me or customers in danger, and I might have got it wrong. I’d tell my manager or security as soon as I could, quietly, and describe what I saw. I’d want to know what your store’s procedure is so I could follow it properly. Is that something you cover in training?
Common mistakes
- Saying you’d chase or tackle them
- Saying you’d ignore it
- Accusing anyone in your answer of anything based on how they look
They might follow up with
- What if you were on your own on the shop floor?
- What if it was someone you knew?
The queue is long and a customer on the shop floor asks you for help. What do you do?
What they’re trying to find out How you prioritise under pressure, and whether you communicate rather than ignoring one person to serve another.
A way to structure it
- Acknowledge the person so they don’t feel ignored
- Work out what’s most urgent, and follow any store rule about tills
- Get help from a colleague if you can
- Come back to anyone you’ve asked to wait
I’d tell the customer I’d seen them and wasn’t ignoring them. If I was meant to be on the till, I’d stay there and call for someone to help on the floor, or ask them to wait a few minutes and make sure I went back to them. If I wasn’t on the till, I’d quickly see whether their question was a ten-second one. When I worked the bar at our cricket club’s summer fete, I did a lot of ’I’ll be with you in two minutes’.
Common mistakes
- Saying you’d drop the queue to help one person, or the other way round, without explaining why
- Forgetting to come back to the person waiting
- Not mentioning asking colleagues for help
They might follow up with
- What if the customer got annoyed about waiting?
- What if there was nobody to call?
What would you do if you’d finished your tasks and it was quiet?
What they’re trying to find out Whether you show initiative. In cafés, bars and shops there’s almost always something useful to do, and they want someone who looks for it or asks.
A way to structure it
- Ask a supervisor what’s needed, or check any list
- Name practical things you’d do
- Show you’d stay ready for customers
I’d check with whoever was in charge first, in case there was something they needed. If not, I’d look for the jobs that make the next rush easier: restocking cups and napkins, wiping menus, checking the toilets, prepping for closing. When I worked at the leisure centre café over summer, quiet spells were when we did all of that, so we weren’t scrambling later.
Common mistakes
- Saying you’d wait to be told
- Saying you’d go on your phone
- Listing jobs without showing you’d still watch for customers
They might follow up with
- What if your supervisor said there was nothing to do?
- How would you decide what to do first?
Hospitality questions
How do you stay calm when it gets really busy?
What they’re trying to find out Hospitality has rushes. They want to know you’ll keep going, stay friendly and keep standards up when it’s hectic.
A way to structure it
- What you actually do in the moment
- A real example of a busy situation
- How it went
I focus on one thing at a time and keep a list in my head of what’s next. At my sister’s wedding I helped the caterers serve 90 people because two of their staff didn’t turn up. It was chaos for an hour. I just took one table at a time, cleared as I went, and checked with the lead waiter whenever I wasn’t sure what came next. Afterwards they offered me casual shifts, which is partly why I’m applying for hospitality work now.
Common mistakes
- Saying you never get stressed
- Describing a technique you don’t really use
- Making it sound like you’d cut corners to keep up
They might follow up with
- What do you do if you make a mistake when it’s busy?
- How do you know when to ask for help?
What would you do if a customer told you they had a food allergy?
What they’re trying to find out Whether you take allergies seriously and follow procedure. Getting this wrong can make someone seriously ill, so the right answer is careful, not clever.
A way to structure it
- Take it seriously and note exactly what they said
- Never guess about ingredients
- Tell the kitchen or manager and follow the venue’s allergy procedure
- Check back with the customer if there’s any doubt
I’d take it seriously and write down exactly what they’re allergic to, not rely on memory. I’d never guess whether a dish was safe, even if I thought I knew. I’d check with the kitchen or the manager and follow whatever allergy procedure you have, and I’d make sure the order was clearly marked. If we couldn’t be sure a dish was safe, I’d tell the customer honestly rather than risk it.
Common mistakes
- Saying you’d reassure them that a dish is probably fine
- Not mentioning the kitchen or a manager
- Treating it as a minor request
They might follow up with
- What if the kitchen was too busy to answer?
- What if the customer said it was ’only a mild’ allergy?
What would you do if you’d finished your tasks and it was quiet?
What they’re trying to find out Whether you show initiative. In cafés, bars and shops there’s almost always something useful to do, and they want someone who looks for it or asks.
A way to structure it
- Ask a supervisor what’s needed, or check any list
- Name practical things you’d do
- Show you’d stay ready for customers
I’d check with whoever was in charge first, in case there was something they needed. If not, I’d look for the jobs that make the next rush easier: restocking cups and napkins, wiping menus, checking the toilets, prepping for closing. When I worked at the leisure centre café over summer, quiet spells were when we did all of that, so we weren’t scrambling later.
Common mistakes
- Saying you’d wait to be told
- Saying you’d go on your phone
- Listing jobs without showing you’d still watch for customers
They might follow up with
- What if your supervisor said there was nothing to do?
- How would you decide what to do first?
Apprenticeship questions
Why have you chosen an apprenticeship rather than university or full-time college?
What they’re trying to find out Whether you’ve thought about what an apprenticeship involves, working and studying at the same time, and chosen it for real reasons.
A way to structure it
- What appeals about learning on the job
- Something about how you learn or what you want
- Why this field in particular
I learn best when I’m doing something, not just reading about it. My best grades were in the practical parts of my courses, and I’ve always liked seeing the result of what I’ve done. I looked at university, but an apprenticeship means I learn from people who do this every day and get a qualification while I’m working. Electrical work in particular, because I like the problem-solving side of tracing a fault.
Common mistakes
- Running down university or college
- Making it all about earning money
- Not knowing what the apprenticeship actually involves
They might follow up with
- How do you feel about the college side of the apprenticeship?
- What do you know about what the job involves day to day?
How will you manage working and studying at the same time?
What they’re trying to find out Apprenticeships mix work with off-the-job training. They want to know you’ve thought about the workload and have some way of keeping on top of it.
A way to structure it
- Show you understand it’s both
- A time you’ve balanced more than one commitment
- How you’d organise yourself
I know it’ll mean full days at work plus college work, so I’d need to be organised. This year I’ve been doing my A levels while working twelve hours a week at a garden centre and playing netball for the county. I keep a weekly plan on my phone and do coursework on the same evenings each week, so it doesn’t pile up. I’d do the same with an apprenticeship, and I’d speak to my mentor early if I started falling behind.
Common mistakes
- Saying it will be easy
- Not knowing that apprenticeships include off-the-job training
- No real example of balancing things
They might follow up with
- What would you do if work got very busy near a college deadline?
- Who would you go to for help?
Tell me about something you’ve made, fixed or taught yourself.
What they’re trying to find out Practical curiosity and the ability to learn. For an apprentice they care less about what you already know and more about how you go about learning.
A way to structure it
- What it was, briefly
- How you learned to do it
- A problem you hit and how you got past it
- What it taught you
My mum makes celebration cakes as a side business and was taking orders over Facebook messages, which kept getting lost. I taught myself to build a simple website using a free website builder and a few videos, with an order form that sends her an email. The first version didn’t work on phones, so I had to learn how to change the layout. She’s been using it for eight months now. It made me realise I like building things that solve real problems.
Common mistakes
- Saying you haven’t done anything like that. Think wider: cooking, bikes, games, crafts, hair, cars
- Overstating your skill level
- Leaving out the part where something went wrong, which is often the most interesting bit
They might follow up with
- What would you do differently if you built it again?
- How do you usually learn something new?
Office and admin questions
Which computer programs are you comfortable using?
What they’re trying to find out A practical check of your current skills, and honesty about them. Most office roles expect some training, so an accurate answer matters more than a long one.
A way to structure it
- What you use confidently, with an example
- What you’ve used a bit
- What you’d need to learn, and how you’d learn it
I’m confident in Word and Google Docs. I wrote all my college assignments in them, including tables and headings. In Excel I can enter data, sort it and use simple formulas like totals, which I used for my coursework budget, but I haven’t done pivot tables or anything advanced. I’ve used Outlook on work experience for emails and calendar invites. If you use a system I don’t know, I’m happy to learn it, and I’m quick with step-by-step guides.
Common mistakes
- Claiming ’advanced Excel’ you couldn’t demonstrate
- Saying ’all of them’
- Undervaluing what you know from school or college
They might follow up with
- Can you describe a spreadsheet you’ve made?
- How would you learn a system you hadn’t used before?
How do you make sure your work is accurate?
What they’re trying to find out Admin work often involves data, money, names and dates where small mistakes matter. They want to know you have habits that catch errors.
A way to structure it
- The checks you actually do
- A real example
- What you do if you find a mistake
I check things against the original rather than just rereading what I typed. When I was treasurer for our youth club, I recorded every subs payment in a spreadsheet and matched it against the cash tin and the bank statement each month. Once the totals were £5 out, and I went through line by line until I found a payment I’d entered twice. I also find it helps to check important things after a short break, with fresh eyes.
Common mistakes
- Just saying ’I’m a perfectionist’
- Saying you never make mistakes
- No specific habit or example
They might follow up with
- What would you do if you found a mistake someone else had made?
- How do you stay accurate when you’re rushed?
How would you handle confidential information?
What they’re trying to find out Many office roles involve personal details about customers, patients or staff. They want to know you understand discretion and would follow the rules.
A way to structure it
- What confidential means in practice
- Habits you’d follow
- An example of being trusted with something private
- Asking about their policies
I’d only share it with people who need it for their work, and I’d follow whatever data rules you have. In practice that means locking my screen when I leave the desk, not talking about people’s details where others can hear, and never taking anything home. At my placement in a GP surgery reception, I was trained not to repeat patients’ names and dates of birth out loud in the waiting room, so I’m used to thinking about who can hear.
Common mistakes
- A vague ’I’d keep it private’ with no detail
- Mentioning anything confidential from a past placement in your answer
- Not saying you’d ask if unsure
They might follow up with
- What would you do if a friend asked you about someone who’d been in?
- What if you weren’t sure whether you could share something?
Where to start if you’ve only got an evening
You don’t need to prepare every question. In this order:
- Tell me about yourself. Nearly always asked, nearly always first.
- Why do you want this job? Two specific reasons.
- Three true stories you can shape with STAR: one about working with people, one about a problem, one about being relied on.
- Your questions for them. See questions to ask.
- Practical answers. When you can start, which hours you can do, anything you need them to know.
Those five cover most of what comes up.
Try
Prepare the three you’re dreading
Look through the bank and pick the three questions you’d least like to be asked. For each, write notes, not a speech. Your notes stay in this browser.
Your answers are saved in this browser only. Nothing is sent to us.
Then practise them out loud in the Practice Room. It asks one question at a time, lets you reveal hints when you want them, and never grades you.
In short
- Most questions are one of five kinds: about you, why this job, tell me about a time, what would you do, practical.
- Understand what each question is for, then answer from your own life.
- Prepare three to five true stories; one story can answer several questions.
- Examples are there to show the shape. Don’t learn someone else’s answer.
- You can decline questions that aren’t relevant to the job, politely.
Sources and further reading
- Top 10 interview questions National Careers Service
- Interview advice National Careers Service
- Competency-based interviews Prospects
- Following discrimination law in recruitment Acas
- Disability rights: employment GOV.UK
Checked against these sources on 14 November 2026. Rules and rates change: if something here looks out of date, tell us at hello@cvbuffed.com. How we check our guidance.