1. "Tell me about yourself"

What to say: A brief summary of your degree, your most relevant experience, and why you're excited about this specific role. Keep it focused and forward-looking. Example: "I'm a final year Business Management student at the University of Manchester. Over the past two years I've completed two internships in marketing, most recently at a FTSE 250 company where I led a social media campaign that increased engagement by 40%. I'm passionate about data-driven marketing and I'm looking to bring that experience into a graduate scheme where I can continue to develop."

2. "Why do you want to work for us?"

What to say: Reference something specific — a recent company initiative, a value that resonates with you, or a particular aspect of their graduate programme that aligns with your goals. Example: "I've been following your expansion into sustainable packaging and I'm genuinely excited by the direction the business is taking. Your graduate scheme specifically stood out because of the rotation structure — the opportunity to work across three different departments in year one aligns perfectly with where I am in my career."

3. "What are your strengths?"

What to say: Pick two or three genuine strengths and attach a brief example to each one. Example: "One of my key strengths is organisation. During my final year I managed a part-time job alongside my dissertation and two group projects simultaneously. I used structured weekly planning to meet every deadline without compromising on quality."

4. "What is your biggest weakness?"

What to say: Choose a genuine weakness that isn't critical to the role, and crucially, explain what you're actively doing to improve it. Example: "I've historically been someone who takes on too much rather than delegating. I've been working on this by being more intentional about sharing responsibilities in group settings, and I've already noticed a difference in how efficiently teams I'm part of operate."

5. "Tell me about a time you worked in a team"

Situation: Set the scene briefly. Task: What was your role? Action: What did YOU specifically do? Result: What was the outcome? Example: "During my second year, our group was tasked with delivering a market analysis presentation to a panel of industry professionals. Two team members had conflicting ideas about the direction. I took the initiative to facilitate a structured discussion where each person outlined their reasoning, and we agreed on a hybrid approach. We delivered the presentation on time and received the highest mark in our cohort."

6. "Where do you see yourself in five years?"

What to say: Show ambition within the context of the role you're applying for. Demonstrate you've thought about your development seriously. Example: "In five years I'd hope to have progressed to a management position within the business, having built deep expertise in my chosen specialism. I'm particularly interested in developing my commercial skills and I see this graduate scheme as the foundation for that journey."

7. "Tell me about a time you failed"

What to say: Be honest about a genuine setback, focus on what you learned, and explain how it changed your approach going forward. Example: "In my first internship I underestimated how long a research project would take and missed an internal deadline. I apologised to my manager, worked late to complete it and from that point I started building buffer time into every project plan. I haven't missed a deadline since."

8. "Why did you choose your degree?"

What to say: Be honest and connect your answer to where you're heading professionally. Example: "I chose Economics because I've always been fascinated by how markets and human behaviour intersect. It's given me strong analytical and quantitative skills which I believe are directly transferable to a commercial role like this one."

9. "What do you know about our industry?"

What to say: Reference current trends, challenges or developments in the sector. Show you've read beyond the company's own website. Example: "The sector is going through a significant shift driven by AI and automation. I've been following how leading firms are adapting their operating models and I found your recent investment in digital infrastructure particularly interesting — it suggests you're positioning for long-term growth rather than short-term cost saving."

10. "Do you have any questions for us?"

Ask things like: - "What does success look like in this role in the first six months?" - "How has the graduate scheme evolved over the last few years?" - "What do the most successful graduates on this programme have in common?"

How to Answer the Top 10 Graduate Interview Questions (With Example Answers)

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