Property graduate interview: strengths-based questions
Example strengths-based questions include:
These questions are used to assess your behaviours, qualities and innate strengths â such as how you like to work and what you are motivated by. Recruiters may ask them to see what you would do in a typical workplace scenario, rather than focusing on âwhat you have previously doneâ in work experience or extracurricular activities. These tend to be quick-fire questions.
These questions will also assess whether you will be motivated by the work you will be doing and whether your values align with that of the employer. Consider the employerâs values and try and think about the practicalities of a business. For instance, if JLL asks about an unethical situation, your response can emphasise how you would focus on getting the best result for clients while upholding ethical standards. Ethical behaviour is assessed on the APC and showing an awareness of this can be to your benefit.
Property graduate interview: asking your own questions
Asking questions of your own is the perfect opportunity to find out anything you want to know and to show interviewers you are seriously considering the position. Saying âyouâve answered all my questionsâ would be a serious missed opportunity. Make sure you avoid any questions that have already been answered elsewhere in the interview or on the company website. If youre asking for the interviewers to expand on a subject, be prepared to talk about these topics briefly.
Questions you could ask:
Property graduate interview: commercial awareness questions
Examples of commercial awareness questions include:
Interviewers are interested to see whether you are up to date with news in the property industry and can identify how current events affect the property market. Charlotte di Talamo of Cushman & Wakefield recommends Property Week , Estates Gazette or The Times as news sources. Make sure you can expand on what you have read in the news. Other ways of demonstrating an interest in property include keeping a relevant blog, being active with online networking and becoming a member of a local RICS Matrics group .
You may not be asked directly about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit on the property industry in your interview, but you will be expected to have kept up with the most recent developments and, especially, how the employer you are applying to has been impacted.