1. General Personal Business Adviser Job Interview Questions:
☛ Why do you want to work here?
☛ Having looked at our business, can you see any opportunities we're missing at all?
☛ What are your strengths/weaknesses?
☛ How did you prepare for this interview?
☛ Why did you leave your last role?
☛ Describe a situation in the past where you've had to improvise.
☛ Where do you see your career progressing to?
☛ What's your favourite book?
☛ What salary would you be looking for?
2. Can you tell us why do you enjoy business development?
Say that you feel that business development is the heart of a healthy business and it is extremely rewarding to see a business grow on the back of your decisions and actions.
3. Can you tell us why do you think you're good at sales?
If you have a proven track record in sales, say so and give some examples. Mention how you are a good listener, good at interpreting a person's motive and intention and that you feel confident in closing deals.
4. Can you tell me what motivates you in your work?
Hitting targets and achieving goals is your main motivation. Say that you are motivated by the desire to do a great job and to help improve business.
5. Tell us what do you consider to be your weaknesses as Personal Business Adviser?
What your interviewer is really trying to do with this question-beyond identifying any major red flags-is to gauge your self-awareness and honesty. So, “I can't meet a deadline to save my life” is not an option-but neither is “Nothing! I'm perfect!” Strike a balance by thinking of something that you struggle with but that you're working to improve. For example, maybe you've never been strong at public speaking, but you've recently volunteered to run meetings to help you be more comfortable when addressing a crowd.
6. Can you tell us what are your lifelong dreams?
If your dreams don't relate to the job closely, make sure you highlight aspects of the job that will help develop the skills that will help you with your dreams. Ideally, you want your dreams to relate strongly to the career path you're interviewing for though.
7. Tell us what attracted you to this role as Personal Business Adviser?
To answer this you need to show a good understanding of the company and say that you are keen to be part of a dynamic team to help the company grow and develop. The aim of business development is to develop growth opportunities, so you must show a keen interest in working with their products and services.
8. Please explain what is your greatest professional achievement?
Nothing says “hire me” better than a track record of achieving amazing results in past jobs, so don't be shy when answering this interview question! A great way to do so is by using the S-T-A-R method: Set up the situation and the task that you were required to complete to provide the interviewer with background context (e.g., “In my last job as a junior analyst, it was my role to manage the invoicing process”), but spend the bulk of your time describing what you actually did (the action) and what you achieved (the result). For example, “In one month, I streamlined the process, which saved my group 10 man-hours each month and reduced errors on invoices by 25%.”
9. What are your greatest professional strengths as Personal Business Adviser?
When answering this question, interview coach Pamela Skillings recommends being accurate (share your true strengths, not those you think the interviewer wants to hear); relevant (choose your strengths that are most targeted to this particular position); and specific (for example, instead of “people skills,” choose “persuasive communication” or “relationship building”). Then, follow up with an example of how you've demonstrated these traits in a professional setting.
10. Can you tell us why are you leaving your current job?
This is a toughie, but one you can be sure you'll be asked. Definitely keep things positive-you have nothing to gain by being negative about your past employers. Instead, frame things in a way that shows that you're eager to take on new opportunities and that the role you're interviewing for is a better fit for you than your current or last position. For example, “I'd really love to be part of product development from beginning to end, and I know I'd have that opportunity here.” And if you were let go? Keep it simple: “Unfortunately, I was let go,” is a totally OK answer.
