Intro To Our ‘Interview Prep’ Series

Last week, I reached out on LinkedIn to hear about the challenges students face when searching for internships and graduate positions. A resounding response highlighted interviews and assessments as the primary hurdles.

In response, I am dedicating the next four editions of The Job Seeker Hub Newsletter to help you tackle these challenges head-on.

First up, let's break down the types of questions you might encounter in interviews and why companies use them:

1. Competency-based questions: These delve into specific skills and behaviours necessary for the job. Think of them as asking for evidence of past performance. For instance:

   • "Can you tell me about a time when you had to resolve a conflict within a team?"

   • "Describe a situation where you had to adapt to a significant change in a project."

   Companies use competency-based questions to gather concrete evidence of your abilities, helping them assess your suitability for the role more accurately.

2. Strength-based questions: Unlike competency-based questions, these focus on your inherent strengths and preferences. They aim to identify your natural talents and preferred working styles. Examples include:

   • "What do you enjoy most about working in a team environment?"

   • "Can you tell me about a time when you felt most confident and effective in your work?"

   Companies use strength-based questions to uncover what energises and engages you, believing that leveraging your strengths leads to higher job satisfaction and performance.

3. Motivation questions: These aim to uncover what drives you and what you're passionate about. They help assess if your aspirations align with the company's culture and goals. Examples include:

   • "What initially attracted you to our company?"

   • "Can you describe a project or task that you found particularly motivating? What made it so?"

   Companies use motivation questions to understand your motivations and gauge your potential fit within the organisation.

In the first edition of this series, we'll explore competency-based interview questions.

Following that, we'll explore 'strength-based' questions. While less common, they focus on your inherent strengths and preferences. For instance, "What do you enjoy most about working in a team environment?"

Then, we'll tackle motivation questions. These aim to uncover what drives you and what you're passionate about. Expect questions like, "What initially attracted you to our company?"

In the last edition of this series, we'll provide you with answers to a selection of the most frequently asked interview questions for each type.

Feeling anxious about interviews or unsure how to prepare? Make sure to follow the next four editions of The Job Seeker Hub for comprehensive guidance.

Best regards,

The Job Seeker Hub

OPPORTUNITIES of THE WEEK:

1)NatWest Financial Programme (Financial Build Skills)

Are you looking to develop or improve your financial literacy? The NatWest Thrive programme, with the support of experienced mentors from NatWest Bank, will help you to build the positive attitude to money and self-belief you need to pursue your dreams. It's split into three sessions: Own Your Vision, Money Talk, and Money Mindset. These mentors will guide you through the programme, ensuring you build the necessary financial skills. Sign up for the different sessions here.

2) Nelsons Virtual Insight Programme

Nelsons is running a two-and-a-half-day virtual insight programme. This programme will consist of engaging and interactive discussions with a variety of our employees, with plenty of opportunities to ask questions. The first day (Monday, 29th July) will focus on routes into law. The second day (Tuesday, 30th July) will consider how our different legal teams operate. Both days will start at 9.30 am and end at 12.30 pm. There is also a chance for those who attend both sessions to be offered a weeklong, in-person work experience in 2024! Find out more here.

3)AlphaSights Insight Day

Do you wonder where life may take you after university? Or maybe you have ideas about where you’d like to take your life? You have many great options in front of you; come learn about one of them with AlphaSights—the role of an Associate on our Client Service Team. The Insight Days are an opportunity for students graduating in 2025 to develop their commercial confidence, adaptability, resilience, negotiation and critical thinking skills by learning from our leaders and undertaking interactive workshops with our teams. Candidates must be fluent in English and either German, French, Spanish, Swedish, Italian, or Dutch. Find out more and apply here.

IN THE NEWS:

1. Paramount Global is currently at the center of acquisition talks, with Sony Group and Apollo Global Management reportedly putting forth a $26 billion proposal. This offer, if accepted, would involve an all-cash deal for Paramount shares and taking on its existing debt. Shari Redstone, the controlling figure at Paramount, has been considering various merger proposals, including one from David Ellison of Skydance Media, who happens to be the son of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison.

2. Teen clothing retailer rue21 has initiated bankruptcy proceedings, aiming to shut down its stores and auction off its brand. This marks the third occasion the company has sought legal protection, highlighting the challenges faced by mall-based retailers. Majority-owned by Blue Torch Capital, rue21 filed for Chapter 11 on Thursday in Delaware, citing assets and liabilities ranging from $100 million to $500 million.

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Got questions, ideas, or want to say hello? Connect with me on LinkedIn —I'd love to hear from you!

PS: The Job Seeker Hub LinkedIn page is up and running, and we have a lot planned for the rest of the year! Make sure to follow us to stay updated with our content and events.