Do you think you would be better prepared for your interview if you received the interview questions in advance?

Do you think you would be better prepared for your interview if you received the interview questions in advance? Well, that is exactly what we implemented in DWP, which means in some recruitment campaigns, candidates will get the main interview questions in advance, giving time to better prepare for their interview.

Dr Carla Groom and Cate Fisher are Head and Deputy Head of Human-Centred Design Science in DWP. They give some insight into how they developed and used behavioural questions in advance.

“Our team’s purpose is to spot and improve the assumptions we make about people in the design of our policies and processes. So of course we would try to maximise the effectiveness of the interview process, within the basic parameters set out by the Civil Service Commission.

Reasonable adjustments including requesting questions in advance have long been available for people who know to ask for them, but many people who are neurodivergent go undiagnosed, so why not offer this adjustment to everyone?”

Jess Markham recently applied for a role within DWP, and reflects on her experience of the questions in advance approach. 

“I recently went through a recruitment process for HR Business Partner and was successful, and I’m now settling into my new role, and I feel like the role and the team are a good fit for me!

When I first read on the job advert that the interview questions would be given in advance, I had mixed feelings. I was happy that I would be able to prepare my answers more thoroughly and be able to think of the most relevant examples. I was somewhat worried as well, because knowing my personality I might overthink the questions leading to being even more nervous.

The questions were sent a few days before my interview, which meant I had plenty of time to prepare but not too much time to dwell on them. I found that having the questions allowed me to focus my preparation rather than trying to prepare for what I thought the interviewers might ask. It also allowed me to really reflect on my examples, so when I came to my interview I wasn’t struggling to remember as much.

The interview was still challenging, I had follow-up questions and strength questions that tested my gut reactions, but by having behaviour questions in advance really helped to alleviate my anxiety and perform the best I possibly could.”