Interview questions in the public sector
These are the questions to prepare for in a job interview in the public sector: 6 job-specific questions with tips for good answers, the most common questions in every interview, and questions you can ask the employer. With Selja you can also practise the interview for the exact job you have applied for.
Job-specific questions in the public sector
Tell me about a case where the regulations did not give a clear answer.
Show how you researched the rules and practice, discussed it with colleagues and justified your conclusion in writing.
How do you make sure everyone is treated equally?
Talk about following rules and procedures, documenting your assessments and asking for a second opinion when in doubt.
How do you explain a rejection to someone who disagrees or is upset?
Show that you are clear and respectful. You explain the reasons in plain language and tell them about their right to appeal.
How do you prioritise when you have many cases and deadlines at the same time?
Describe your system: an overview of deadlines, what is urgent, and that you speak up early if you cannot get everything done.
How do you write so that the recipient understands?
The public sector puts weight on plain language. Give an example of a decision or letter you made easier to understand.
What do you think about working in a politically governed organisation?
Show that you understand the role: you give professional advice, are loyal to decisions and keep professional and political matters apart.
Common questions in every job interview
Tell me a little about yourself.
Keep it to one or two minutes. Start with who you are professionally, highlight two or three experiences that are relevant to the job, and finish with why you are applying right now. Skip your whole life story.
What are your greatest strengths?
Choose two or three strengths the job actually requires, and give a short example of each. A strength without an example is just a claim.
What is your greatest weakness?
Choose something real that is not crucial for the job, and explain what you are doing to improve. Avoid tired answers like saying you are a perfectionist.
Why did you apply for this job?
Link what you know and enjoy to what the job involves. Mention two specific things in the job ad that appealed to you, not just that you need a job.
What do you know about us?
Read their website, recent news and LinkedIn page beforehand. Mention something specific, such as a product, a client or an initiative, and say why it interests you.
Tell me about a time you solved a difficult problem.
Use STAR: briefly describe the situation, what your task was, what you did, and what the result was. Spend most of the time on what you did yourself.
Tell me about a time you made a mistake.
Choose a real mistake, take responsibility without blaming others, and spend most of the time on what you did to put it right and what you do differently now.
Tell me about a disagreement with a colleague. How did you resolve it?
Show that you listen and focus on the issue, not the person. Finish with how you worked together afterwards.
What are your salary expectations?
Research the pay level for the job beforehand. Give a range instead of a single figure, and justify it with your skills and responsibilities. The hourly pay calculator here can help you convert between hourly and annual pay.
When can you start?
Check your notice period before the interview, and give a concrete answer. If you are flexible, say so.
Answer with the STAR method
When you are asked for an example, the STAR method gives an answer that is concrete and easy to follow:
- Situation: Where were you, and what happened? Keep it short.
- Task: What was your responsibility or goal?
- Action: What did you do, step by step? Spend most of your time here.
- Result: What was the outcome? Include numbers if you can.
Questions to ask the employer
Which types of cases will I work on most?
Makes the job concrete, and lets you point to relevant experience or studies.
How large is each employee's caseload, and how are cases allocated?
Tells you about the workload, and how much time you get for each case.
What is the training like in the regulations and case systems?
Shows that you want to do the job correctly, and tells you how quickly you are expected to work independently.
What does a normal week look like in this job?
You get a concrete picture of the daily work, and can see whether the tasks match what was in the job ad.
What are the most important goals for the first six months?
Shows that you are thinking about delivering from the start. The answer tells you what is actually expected of you.
How do you measure success in the role?
You find out what you will be assessed on, and whether the goals are clear or vague.
What are the biggest challenges the person who gets the job will face?
A mature question that gives an honest picture of the job. Feel free to say briefly how you would tackle them.
Practise the interview with Selja
The best thing you can do before the interview is to practise the questions for that exact job out loud. Interview practice in Selja creates questions from the job ad and your CV. You answer by speaking or writing and get feedback on every answer, so you know what to say differently before it counts.
- See the interview questions for your profession for free.
- Create your CV and cover letter for the job in under a minute, so you get the interview first.
- CV example in the public sector
- How to prepare for a job interview
Frequently asked questions
What do they ask in a job interview in the public sector?
You get both common questions, like "Tell me a little about yourself", and job-specific questions, for example: "Tell me about a case where the regulations did not give a clear answer." and "How do you make sure everyone is treated equally?"
How do I prepare for an interview in the public sector?
Read the job ad and find the three most important requirements. Prepare a short example for each, ideally with the STAR method, and practise out loud. Have two or three questions ready for the employer.
Is there a tool for practising an interview in the public sector?
Yes. With interview practice in Selja you practise the interview for the exact job you have applied for, speaking or writing, and get feedback on every answer. You can see the most common interview questions by profession for free, and Selja also creates your CV and cover letter for the job in under a minute.