The way we all do job interviews could be about to majorly change

This could be very good news! (Picture: Getty Images)

While there are several questions that crop up time and time again in job interviews, you just never quite know what you’re going to be asked on the day.

Some people will thrive on the spot and be able to craft illuminating answers to anything thrown their way, but others may find themselves struggling to articulate what they want to say, overcome by stress or anxiety.

In a bid to try and make the interview process fairer for everybody, the John Lewis Partnership (John Lewis and Waitrose) has shared interview questions for all job levels online so that a candidate’s performance isn’t impacted by nerves.

The company claims this move will give them the best chance to find the right person for the role. They add that applicants will also be asked follow-up questions, so the procedure will still be ‘rigorous’ and that they won’t know which order questions will be asked in.

Recruitment experts have been divided over the decision from John Lewis, with some arguing it will make answers less ‘authentic’.

But others believe it’s a great idea and could soon be adopted by many other major companies in the UK, meaning job interviews as we know them could be about to majorly change.

The John Lewis Partnership is sharing job interview questions online for all of its roles. (Picture: Getty Images)

‘I firmly believe that we should give candidates their interview questions prior to the interview,’ says Zoe Adjey, a lecturer in HR at the University of East London.

‘The example that John Lewis is setting is one of incredibly good practice that will likely become the industry norm in the future.

‘An interview is not an exam; it’s not a test of how much you know. Instead, it is an opportunity for both the company and the candidate to meet and confirm if they are suitable for one another.

‘Providing the interview questions in advance will give candidates the opportunity to give their best possible answers, highlighting areas of their experience, skills, and knowledge that make them the best fit for that company.’

Top tips for answering interview questions:

Peter Duris, CEO and Co-founder of Kickresume, a CV and cover letter builder, shared some top tips for those preparing answers to interview questions, urging people to think about what their responses actually reveal about themselves.

‘One of the most important things to remember is that when the interviewer asks you a question, they’re not necessarily looking for a specific answer, but they are looking to see what your answer says about you. For example, the well-known head scratcher “What is your biggest weakness?” this is a question that aims to test your level of self-awareness.

‘In this sense it doesn’t matter so much exactly which weakness you decide to talk about, as long as it isn’t one that precludes you from doing the job! You should also aim to give an answer that can be interpreted positively and demonstrates your commitment to growth.

‘Make sure you find the time to research the company before the interview. When you are asked “What do you know about us?” it’s good to be able to explain in your own words what they do — don’t just recite the about us section off their website.’

He adds: ‘You might also find that researching typical salaries for the position helps you come up with a reasonable answer for the question they are likely to ask about your salary expectations.’

So, what happens if this does become common practice?

In addition to helping reduce anxiety around job interviews, which is a major win for all of us, Victoria McLean, the CEO and founder of career consultancy City CV, claims it will also help ‘improve the diversity of candidates applying’ for jobs.

‘Having questions in advance can really help neurodivergent people, such as those with autism or dyslexia, people who suffer from anxiety, or even those who are natural introverts,’ she said.

‘The National Autistic Society recommends that employers provide questions a few days in advance, as autistic people can have more difficulty processing information quickly, so I think it’s a positive move. Anything that helps with inclusivity in the recruitment process has got to be a good thing.’

But it’s not only the candidates that would benefit from being able to look at the questions before the interview, as there are several advantages for the employer as well, according to David Rice, a HR expert at People Managing People.

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‘Set questions means no matter who the interviewer is, the candidate is getting the same experience and you can’t have a biased interviewer impact the process as much,’ he explains to Metro.co.uk.

‘Also, it allows the interviewer to focus less on what they’re going to ask and more on how the person responds to it, the content of what they say and what sort of follow up questions might need to be asked.’

But with the good comes the bad, and David warns that with everyone being asked the same questions, the ability to stand out ‘may become the defining factor in getting a job’.

‘If your delivery is off or you’re not feeling particularly charismatic that day, it might make the interview difficult. The temptation to over prepare will be there for some people, making their interview feel more like some kind of verbal test they’re trying to pass than a conversation about a job.’

Whether or not big companies will follow in John Lewis’ footsteps and start sharing interview questions in advance we’ll have to wait and see, but one thing is clear; there definitely seems to be more pros than cons for the change.

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