Killer Questions

Killer questions can be difficult to respond to, but they are just a tactic used by interviewers to understand how you think and react in a given situation.

You might have heard horror stories. An interviewer asks 'What would you have written on your grave stone?', 'Name 10 famous people you would invite for dinner and why?' Such unusual questions are asked to test your composure, your confidence, how quickly you think on your feet and react under pressure.

Interviewers do not ask killer questions to catch you out. The questions on this site are genuinely used as the interviewers feel they reveal the most about a candidate. You should always expect the killer question and be prepared to respond.

Remember, the answers suggested shouldn't be repeated word for word but you should use your own initiative and style.

Questions from category Killer Questions

  1. 'Nintendo Wii' or 'Playstation 3'?

  2. Are you more interested in the bigger picture? or the minute details?

  3. Ask me the question you REALLY want to know about our company? (not the question you think will impress me)

  4. Can you describe a situation where you've had multiple stakeholders, with differing perspectives?

  5. Can you tell me about a time when you have worked outside your comfort zone?

  6. Can you tell me what’s good and what’s bad about your current employer?

  7. Describe a time when you've not had the full 'buy in' of the management team. What did you do?

  8. Do you consider yourself a natural leader or a born follower?

  9. Do you have an other interviews lined up?

  10. Do you have any questions for me?

  11. Do you have any reservations about this role?

  12. Give me examples of your biggest success... and your biggest failure.

  13. Have you ever been fired? And if not – why not?

  14. Have you made any big mistakes or errors of judgement?

  15. How can you turn a negative question into a positive?

  16. How do you think you would get on on 'The Apprentice'?

  17. How to answer questions about your current employer.

  18. How would you feel about being involved in conflict operations?

  19. I've interviewed 20 people - why should I choose you for the job?

  20. If I asked your friends and family to describe you in 3 words - what would they be?

  21. If I offered you the job right now – would you take it?

  22. If we were ready to make an offer, would you be ready to accept today?

  23. If you could change one thing in the perception of customer service – what would it be?

  24. Is the customer always right?

  25. I’d like you to conduct an elevator pitch. Imagine you and I are in an elevator and you have just 1 minute to tell me why you are the best person for this job.

  26. Looking back at your career, what are you least proud of?

  27. My killer question is very simple: What are your big aims in life?

  28. Now this is my killer question, it’s one I find really distinguishes people for me. And here it is: "Tell me something you’re passionate about."

  29. Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a very difficult customer – how did you put it right for the customer and for you?

  30. Tell me about your biggest failure, and why you failed? What did you learn?

  31. Tell me about your biggest success and the thing you are most proud of. Are they the same thing?

  32. Tell me about your favourite product or service. What lessons can we learn from it to make our business better?

  33. This is my killer question – Why us? Out of all the organisations you could have applied for, why this one?

  34. This is my killer question: I've interviewed 20 people for this job. Why should I employ you?

  35. This is one of my killer questions. Tell me about your biggest success... now tell me about your biggest failure.

  36. What are your areas for development?

  37. What demotivates you in a job?

  38. What do you really get a buzz out of at work?

  39. What do you think are the major difficulties facing this industry in the next five years?

  40. What do you think customer service will look like in the future?

  41. What do you think we can offer you?

  42. What do you think will be your biggest challenges in the first few month of this role?

  43. What do your family and friends think of you wanting to join the Royal Navy?

  44. What does this role mean to you?

  45. What gets you out of bed in the morning?

  46. What has been your biggest success at your current employer?

  47. What have we missed, that you think is relevant today?

  48. What haven't I asked you about, that you have prepared for and were ready to talk about in this interview?

  49. What inspires you?

  50. What is the impact of social media on customer service?

  51. What is the most challenging experience you have had?

  52. What is the Royal Navy's policy on drugs?

  53. What mistake is your current employer making at the moment? How can we learn from their error?

  54. What operations are the Royal Navy currently involved in around the world?

  55. What other jobs are you applying for?

  56. What preparations have you made specifically for this application?

  57. What training will you undertake for your chosen specialisation?

  58. What was your favourite job that you’ve ever had?

  59. What will I discover if I check you out on Facebook?

  60. What will you be doing in your first 100 days if you are successful?

  61. What worries you? And what are your anxieties about your career?

  62. What would you do if I gave you the afternoon off and £100 to spend?

  63. What's the meaning of life?

  64. What's the most adventurous thing you've ever done?

  65. What's your perspective on the current marketplace – and what should we be doing to be more successful in it?

  66. When I say the term 'The Energy Challenge', what does that mean to you?

  67. Where are the Royal Marines currently operationally deployed?

  68. Which question would you really like me to ask you?

  69. Who do you think is going to win 'The X Factor'?

  70. Why are you the best candidate for this opportunity?

  71. Why do we have a Royal Navy?

  72. Why is customer service important to the brand and its reputation?

  73. Would you like to be at the top of a poor-performing team? or the bottom of a high-performing team?

  74. You'll have read about our values – what do those values mean to you?

  75. Your CV looks a bit boring...