General Interview Questions Flashcards
Tell me about yourself
I am currently a gap year student who has recently completed her A-levels in English Literature, Maths and Spanish. Alongside my studies, I had the opportunity to volunteer at my local Citizens Advice, through which I discovered a desire to help others, prioritising the development and well-being of vulnerable people in my local community and acting with integrity. It is then that I undertook several work experience placements at local law firms, expanding my understanding of commercial law and exposing myself to professional conduct in the workplace.
At present, I have 2 part-time roles which I complete alongside my studies, which has developed my teamwork and time management skills. I believe this structure strongly mirrors that of a degree apprentice, prioritising and managing work deadlines alongside education and therefore making me an apt candidate for the role.
I am searching to take on a new long-term role as a degree apprentice and would be excited to work for a company that champions innovation and diversity, with challenging yet rewarding responsibilities and clear opportunities for growth.
Describe yourself in 3 words
If I were to describe myself in 3 words, it would be driven, creative and reliable.
I believe my distinguishing trait is my drive, which allows me to be resilient and commit to a goal even when instances become difficult. A clear example of this is my Grade 8 piano certificate, evidencing over a decade of ambition and hard work.
This leads nicely on to my second point which is my creativity. Of course, I like to express this artistically through music and other forms of art, but applying this to a solicitor apprentice, this creativity has allowed me to problem solve effectively and innovate, for example being a key organiser for my school’s first Culture Day Showcase, as a celebration of diversity in the school body.
Finally, I chose the word reliable because I always try to act with integrity, whether that would be with my colleagues or with clients. Working in customer-service jobs for the past 5 years has taught me the most important thing is to set the customers expectations clearly, meaning you take responsibility for your actions and help to solve problems the way you said you would. Applying this to a solicitor apprentice, I hope to be a reliable producer of high standard work in drafting and correspondence as well as supporting my team members when necessary.
What is your greatest weakness?
I would say my greatest weakness is a combination of my desire to produce all my work to the highest of my ability alongside my desire to complete tasks as quickly and efficiently as possible. In the workplace and in my studies, I have found these two impulses often clash frequently, particularly when I have to manage lots of deadlines all at once, which leads to guilt and burnout thus worsening my overall performance. Therefore, to combat this, I have learnt to shift my mindset to focus on the realistic needs of the client and the demands of the work, instead of my often over-inflated perfectionist tendencies. For example, in my current part-time role I was asked to complete a visual painted design as a marketing tool for our next event. Now whilst my original intention was a design that was much more elaborate, I was only given a time duration of 4 hours to complete it. Therefore, I adjusted my design to something much more simpler but still effective and more suitable for the timeframe I was given.
Why should we hire you?
You should hire me because I am committed and I learn fast. What sets me apart is my extensive experience in music and art makes me a candidate who is extremely resilient and has learnt to utilise their creativity as a driver to problem solve effectively and boost customer engagement. Combined with my 2 roles in customer service, I am a strong team player with great interpersonal skills, who is driven by customer-oriented goals and strengthening relationships and enterprise.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
As a school leaver, I have clear goals for both my career and personal life. Primarily, I obviously hope to be a 5th year apprentice eventually working towards my SQE.
On a professional level, I would like to have gained a strong foundation in 5 legal seats, building a strong network of professionals as well as understanding Weightmans as a company through opportunities in business services.
Furthermore, on a personal level, I envision myself to be a much more confident and capable individual, continuing to strive to perform to the highest of my ability and collaborating effectively with my coworkers. Most particularly, I hope to participate in a number of charity and CSR initiatives similar to the Weightmans Wave Riders dragon boat race or Macmillan coffee mornings and potentially desiring to organise my own initiatives with other apprentices to promote giving back to the community and the importance of EDI.
How do you handle pressure?
I believe it would be dishonest of me to say that I enjoy or thrive constantly under pressure but I understand it is a necessary part of the workplace, particularly working with deadlines and external clients. From my experience working in hospitality as a barista and food server, the most effective method I have found of handling pressure is completing tasks one at a time so I don’t become overwhelmed. As an analytical person, I find that simplifying and streamlining tasks through organisation and prioritisation helps with my mindset greatly, which is the best way to complete them to my highest potential without burnout, which is why I value Weightmans’ wellbeing initiatives such as a Wellness Week to aid employee mental health. In fact, I saw that a part of the organisation of this was a yoga and wellness break which I have actually implemented myself in the past to aid my mental health during exams and found this to be very effective for handling pressure.
