ClickAJob News

The most popular question job applicants are likely to be asked in an interview has changed, new findings show.

HR consultancy A&DC used an online competency-based-interviewing (CBI) tool to conduct the research, according to Recruiter.

Results say that whereas six months ago the most popular question was about stress tolerance, employers are now asking how applicants manage conflicting demands.

According to Recruiter, the question most likely to be asked now is: "Describe an occasion where you had a number of conflicting demands on your time. How did you deal with this?"

Principal consultant of A&DC Rory Fidgeon said that the reaction to the credit crunch was "far reaching, even in the interviewing process".

"That made sense – in expanding markets, organisations need to innovate, diversify and push strategic agendas," he continued.

One Personnel Today employment judge, Jane Liddington, recently warned employers to watch out for job applicants trying to take advantage of discrimination laws by submitting two CVs and leaving their ethnic minority blank on one of them.

ClickAJob Marketing Manager Anders Jensen also urges caution.

"Interviews and CVs both throw up claims that need to be substantiated," he asserts.

"With jobs so competitive, candidates are often tempted to make wild statements – anything and everything, as long as they are successful," he says.

"So it’s not just the questions you ask, it’s the background you must ask for – references, certificates, testimonials – you need to satisfy yourself that they’re authentic and truthful."

"To be really properly prepared, you should even have most of your interview questions verified in advance," he says.

"Every claim a candidate makes should be backed up by solid proof."

"Which makes it far more important HOW a question is handled than WHAT the actual answer is," he continues.

"You can still be as thorough and probing as you like, just don’t allow yourself to take chances."