Job interviews have changed dramatically over time. In the early 20th century, Thomas Edison invented a quiz for candidates that applied to work at one of his businesses. They often included broad general knowledge questions about geography and literature, along with more specific questions to do with the actual job role. Thankfully, pop quizzes are less common in job application process in the modern day (although they can still be found out there!), and interviews focus more on specific skills, relevant experience, and company culture fit.
The pandemic has accelerated the shift to virtual interviews and placed new emphasis on remote working capabilities. In 2025, candidates can expect a blend of traditional and modern questions as employers adapt their hiring practices to find the best talent.
The Current Interview Landscape
The UK job market continues to be shaped by remote and hybrid working patterns, alongside rapid technological advancement. These changes have broadened the talent pool for employers and increased flexibility for candidates, but they also demand strong communication and collaboration skills.
AI and automation now play significant roles in recruitment, from application screening to preliminary interviews. This means candidates need to ensure their applications are optimised for these systems and be prepared for potential AI interactions during early interview stages.
In 2025, employers are looking beyond technical skills to find candidates with:
Adaptability and resilience
A growth mindset and willingness to learn
Digital literacy and comfort with new technologies
Strong communication and collaboration skills
Problem-solving abilities
Commercial awareness
These shifting workplace dynamics and technological advances have given rise to new interview questions designed to assess candidates' abilities to thrive in this evolving landscape. Employers are particularly focused on evaluating how well candidates can maintain productivity and wellbeing in increasingly flexible working environments.
Let's examine the most common questions you're likely to encounter in job interviews this year and how best to approach them.
Popular Interview Questions in 2025
Remote and Hybrid Working Questions
With remote and hybrid work now standard, employers commonly ask:
"How do you maintain productivity when working remotely?" This question gauges your self-discipline, time management, and ability to stay focused outside a traditional office. Employers want to know you can remain effective without direct supervision.
How to Answer: Describe your specific productivity system, including your dedicated workspace, daily routines, and digital tools you use. Mention how you minimise distractions, set boundaries between work and personal life, and track your accomplishments. Include a brief example of how this system helped you meet or exceed expectations on a specific project.
"Describe how you've collaborated effectively with team members in different locations or time zones." This assesses your experience with digital collaboration tools and your ability to communicate across geographical distances. Effective remote collaboration is vital for success in today's work environment.
How to Answer: Share a specific example that outlines the collaborative situation, your approach to overcoming distance barriers, and the results achieved. Highlight the collaboration tools you used (Slack, Microsoft Teams, Asana, etc.), how you adjusted your schedule to accommodate different time zones, and your approach to clear communication. Emphasise the positive outcome that resulted from your effective collaboration.
AI Integration and Digital Fluency Questions
As AI reshapes industries, employers ask questions to assess your technological adaptability:
"Have you used AI tools to improve your work?" This reveals whether you proactively use new technologies to enhance efficiency and drive innovation, going beyond basic computer literacy.
How to Answer: Provide 1-2 concrete examples of AI tools you've used and the specific benefits they brought. Mention how you identified the opportunity for using AI, the learning curve you navigated, and quantifiable improvements in efficiency or quality. If you're new to AI tools, discuss your eagerness to learn and adapt, perhaps mentioning courses or tutorials you've completed.
"How do you stay current with technological changes in your field?" This evaluates your commitment to continuous learning and ability to adapt to rapid technological changes.
How to Answer: Outline your strategy for professional development, including specific resources like industry newsletters, podcasts, online communities, or formal training programmes you follow. Mention how you set aside regular time for learning and a recent example of applying a new technology or method you learned. Show enthusiasm for continuous improvement rather than resistance to change.
Adaptability and Resilience Questions
In today's dynamic job market, employers value flexibility and emotional strength:
"Tell me about a time when your role changed significantly. How did you adapt?" This behavioural question explores your ability to handle change, learn quickly, and maintain effectiveness in evolving situations.
How to Answer: Structure your response around a clear example with context, challenges faced, specific actions taken, and positive outcomes. Focus on your proactive approach: how you sought clarification on new expectations, identified skills gaps, and quickly developed needed competencies. Highlight positive outcomes and what you learned from the experience. Frame change as an opportunity rather than a burden.
"How do you manage stress during periods of high pressure or uncertainty?" This assesses your resilience and coping mechanisms to maintain wellbeing and performance during challenging times.
How to Answer: Describe your specific stress management techniques (exercise, mindfulness, time management) and how they help maintain your performance. Include an example of when you successfully navigated a high-pressure situation using these strategies. Balance self-care with professional commitment, showing you can prioritise wellbeing without compromising results.
Classic Questions That Still Matter
Despite new trends, these fundamental questions remain important:
"Why do you want to work for this company?" This allows employers to assess your research, genuine interest, and alignment with their mission and values.
How to Answer: Research the company thoroughly before your interview and mention specific aspects that resonate with you, such as their mission, culture, products/services, or recent achievements. Connect these elements to your career goals and values. Avoid generic responses or focusing solely on what the company can do for you. Show genuine enthusiasm and demonstrate you've done your homework.
"Can you tell me about a time when you failed and what you learned?" This provides insights into your self-awareness, ability to learn from mistakes, and resilience.
How to Answer: Choose a professional failure that isn't catastrophic or related to character flaws. Describe the situation briefly, take full responsibility without making excuses, and focus primarily on what you learned and how you've applied those lessons since. Show that you view failures as growth opportunities and can analyse your performance objectively.
"Where do you see yourself in five years?" This explores your career aspirations and whether the role aligns with your long-term goals.
How to Answer: Strike a balance between ambition and realism. Connect your goals to the position and company you're interviewing with, showing how this role fits into your career path. Demonstrate commitment to growth within the organisation rather than using them as a stepping stone. Show that you've thought about your career development whilst remaining flexible about the exact path.
How to Prepare for Your 2025 Interview
Research Beyond the Basics
Go deeper than the company website. Explore their social media, recent news, and industry reports. Understanding their values, culture, and achievements helps you tailor your answers effectively. If possible, research your interviewer on LinkedIn to understand their background and role.
Prepare STAR Method Examples
For behavioural questions, structure your answers using the STAR method. It’s a tried and tested structure that interviewers will expect you to use:
Situation: Set the context
Task: Describe your responsibility
Action: Explain what you did
Result: Share the outcome, quantifying results where possible
Choose examples relevant to the skills in the job description.
Practice Your Digital Interview Presence
For virtual interviews:
Ensure a professional, uncluttered background
Test your internet connection, video, and audio
Maintain eye contact with the camera
Dress professionally
Be mindful of body language
Minimise distractions
Prepare Your Own Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, it’s your turn to ask questions of your potential employer. Ask insightful questions about team dynamics, company culture, current challenges, or professional growth opportunities. This demonstrates engagement, shows your interest, and helps you determine if the role is right for you.
Remember, a job interview goes two ways, so make sure you take the opportunity to ask the questions you need to see if the company is a good fit.
Common Interview Mistakes to Avoid
Not Explaining Transferable Skills
Especially when changing industries or roles, clearly connect your past experiences to the new position's requirements. Don't just list previous responsibilities—articulate how they've prepared you for this opportunity, and explain where they would be used in the role.
Neglecting to Show Continuous Learning
Highlight recent courses, certifications, or ways you stay updated with industry trends. This demonstrates adaptability and commitment to professional development, particularly important for modern roles where changes in technology occur constantly.
Focusing Too Much on Technical Skills
While technical expertise matters, don't overlook soft skills. Communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence are highly valued in today's work environments. Provide examples that showcase these interpersonal abilities alongside technical proficiencies.
Also make sure to highlight your experience and achievements. Show how your use of your skills made a measurable impact in previous roles.
Final Thoughts
The interview process is a mutual exploration—an opportunity for both the employer to assess you and for you to evaluate the role and company. By preparing for these common questions and avoiding typical mistakes, you'll be well-positioned to succeed in 2025's job market.
At Select Recruitment, we understand the changing interview landscape and can provide personalised guidance for your job search. Our team of recruitment consultants has extensive experience placing candidates across various sectors. If you're looking for support with your interview preparation, get in touch with us to discuss how we can help you navigate your next career move.