Answering the question asked

At an interview, you need to make sure you are answering the right question. This sounds simple, but with interview nerves or poorly phrased questions, it’s not as easy as it sounds.

This is particularly true in Public Sector interviews, with tight timings and the clock ticking. The more the interview panel have to bring you back on track, the less chance you have to score well. If you don't answer the right question they might even take your answer and move onto the next question, leaving you with a poor score.​

To help keep you on track, really listen to the question. Repeat the question to yourself, out loud if you want. Take a sip of water to buy yourself a moment to gather your thoughts. Don't just start answering if you are not sure what they are looking for.

​It's ok to ask an interviewer to repeat a question or to clarify the focus of a question. It’s really important that you answer the question you are being asked, so asking for the question to be repeated or clarified is absolutely ok and interviewers won’t mind doing this. Better to ask than to answer the wrong question. ​