1) Why do you want to work in recruitment?

This is likely to be one of the first questions, the person interviewing you wants to hear an honest answer. Think about what has motivated you to enter this industry? 

Do you:

• Enjoy working in a fast-paced environment?
• Like to help others fulfil their career goals?
• Strive for progression within your own career?
• Enjoy the prospects of making money?

Mentioning that you understand this career involves working in a fast-paced environment, shows the employer that you are prepared for the challenges the industry holds. From this question, they’re likely waiting for you to mention that the prospect of money is a key motivator. If this is a motivational aspect of the job for yourself, speak up and be honest, this will imply that you are an honest individual. However, speaking about money should be kept to a minimum, you don’t want to come across as that is your only motivation.

Overall, just be honest!

2) What do you think is the key to a successful career in recruitment?

This question is asking a lot more than just “What do you think is the key to a successful career in recruitment?”. They’ll want to know how your previous experience will support you in this position, as well as if you understand the demands of the recruitment industry. This is your time to shine and bring in previous experiences and your knowledge of the industry.

Nigel Wright’s Associate Director, Richard Morgan, found there to be four core components to have a successful career in recruitment: resilience, work ethic/principles, teachability, and connecting to the company values. Richard Morgan suggests that all of these points indicate if the candidate is likely to cope with the extensive workload and setbacks of the industry.

3) What are your career goals?

The interviewer wants to hear about your overall aims and what you want to progress into. This will highlight if you have ambition, drive, and overall confidence that you can meet these goals. You want to come across as a strong individual, so have this all figured out before you go to the interview. 

4) How would you deal with daily setbacks?

Setbacks are a part of day-to-day life, the interviewer wants to know if you can handle regular setbacks, as well as within the recruitment industry. Using examples of setbacks you have encountered to highlight your ability, will further your skills to be resilient and resolve the issue. This is found to be one of the key aspects to a recruitment consultant's success, potentially as this could highlight your drive and overall personality as an individual. 

Regarding how you deal with setbacks, you can also highlight to the interviewer if you can cope with feedback and constructive criticism. This will indicate if you can receive, consume and work on the feedback positively. Therefore, before the interview ensure you have thought out to answer this question especially, and remember feedback, positive or negative, is there to help you grow and progress.

5) How do you like to spend time outside of work?

As the interview gets towards the end, the employer is likely to want to get to know you better as an individual. What do you do in your spare time? What type of person you are? And, if you have any hobbies? This is likely to uncover if your personality is a good fit for the company’s work environment. 

By joining the recruitment environment your prospective employer might be expecting certain types of hobbies that portray you to have personality traits that are fit for this type of industry. For example, hobbies that involve a competitive nature will further portray to the employee that you have what it takes to be a part of this industry. 

Overall, preparation for the interview is very important. These are only a few of the questions you could be asked, there are so many more. Just make sure you take a deep breath and remember to be yourself, bring in past experiences that will help you stand out, and show that you are the right fit for this industry.