Hi
@Abbie Whitlock , I was wondering if you had any advice on answering situational questions in interviews (e.g. "Imagine xyz happened, how would you react"). Is there a structure I could follow or any tips to keep in mind? Thanks so much
Hello!
For situational questions, I'd say that the graduate recruitment team (or the interviewers) are usually looking at how you think, rather than a "perfect" answer - this means that a light structure can really help keep you focused!
In the past, I have approached it through:
- Start by showing you understand the situation and any competing pressures (e.g. clients, deadlines, risk, etc.).
- Then talk the interviewers through how you would prioritise and respond in practice - this could involve gathering the relevant facts, checking any guidance, and communicating with people where needed. It also helps to explain why you're taking those steps, as this helps the interviewers understand your thought process.
Some more general tips:
- Try not to rush into a solution (and I have been guilty of this in the past!) - it's absolutely okay to pause and think out loud, and talk the interviewers through the steps that you might consider
- Acknowledge any uncertainty or where you would require additional information - you could show that you would ask questions or seek support from others where appropriate
- Link your response to the firm's values - this helps to tailor and personalise your answer to this specific firm
If you can, you could also reference a previous experience that you have had where you did something similar (e.g. "I've faced something similar in X, so I'd approach it by..."). This can help make your answer feel more authentic - however, it is not necessary, and I would avoid trying to force a link!
I hope that assists, and best of luck
