What strengths interviews are
Instead of 'tell me about a time', they ask 'what energises you?', 'what do you avoid?', 'what does a good day look like for you?'. Firms use them (EY, Nestlé, RBS among many) to test fit and self-awareness.
There's no STAR here. Answers are shorter, more instinctive, and delivered fast — often 15–20 questions in 30 minutes.
How to answer well
- Answer honestly and quickly. Long deliberation reads as low self-awareness.
- Give one line of feeling, one line of evidence: 'I love problems where I have to sort competing priorities — I ended up doing that most weeks in my summer job at X.'
- It's fine to say what drains you. Firms want realists, not people who claim to love everything.
"I'm passionate about everything, and I never get tired of any part of my job."
"I'm energised by open-ended problems and drained by repetitive admin — that's why I liked my dissertation and disliked coursework marking."
Why this works — Contrast + evidence = credible self-awareness.
The motivation half
Motivation questions test two things: do you actually want this firm, and will you still want it in two years. Reference something specific about the firm, and link it to a pattern in your own choices.
"'Why us' answers that could apply to five competitors are worth zero. I want to hear one thing you noticed that only applies here."