The interview process and recruitment process for hiring a veteran with military experience or for roles within the British Army, Royal Navy, or Royal Air Force is unique. However, most army interview questions and techniques follow the same principles as those we use in the recruitment process to identify the best candidate for jobs in other business sectors. Therefore, Hiring Managers and employers, both within and outside the armed forces, can become a competent and effective interviewer by following the interview tips provided in our guide.

Quick Links

• How to Prepare for an Armed Forces Job Interview
• Armed Forces Job Interview Tips
• Armed Forces Interview Techniques
• Armed Forces Interview Questions to Ask
• Armed Forces STAR Interview Questions
• How to Address Salary in Armed Forces Interviews
• Questions Armed Forces Candidates Might Ask Employers
• Armed Forces Weakness Interview Questions
• How to Follow Up With Armed Forces Candidates After Interviews
• Armed Forces Interview FAQs

How to Prepare for an Armed Forces Job Interview

Before you can prepare to interview armed forces candidates, you need to attract candidates to your position. You can use a free job description template and job advert template to craft job descriptions ready for job board advertising. The job description is an invaluable document, and can later be used as a basis for your armed forces job profile or civilian job interview.

Conducting interviews for armed forces roles requires a specific preparation. As an interviewer, you’ll need to understand the unique nature of basic training and military service and its demanding physical and psychological challenges. Start by clearly defining the role’s requirements and responsibilities. Research the necessary skills, abilities, and characteristics ideal for the job during a typical day. Familiarise yourself with military terms, ranks, and units to effectively communicate and talk with candidates.

Moreover, prepare to assess not only a candidate’s qualifications and experience but also their resilience, adaptability, leadership ability, confidence, and commitment — traits that are integral to success in the armed forces. Create a comprehensive list of army interview questions that will help you evaluate these aspects.

Finally, keep in mind the structure and formal nature of military interviews. While maintaining a professional atmosphere, try to create a comfortable work environment, where the person can confidently present their skills and experiences.

To assist you in interviewing the best candidates, you should take the time to understand what does an armed forces professional do? The best route to completing this task is to review armed forces job descriptions. Example armed forces job descriptions, sample armed forces job descriptions, or an armed forces job advert provide a wealth of information on the job role of an armed forces professional. This begins with an armed forces job summary, followed by armed forces key job responsibilities, armed forces duties, and armed forces tasks. The job description is finished with an armed forces job spec, comprising armed forces skills and armed forces job qualifications.

Armed Forces Job Interview Tips

As an interviewer who recruits for armed forces roles, your aim should be to gain a comprehensive understanding of the candidate’s physical fitness, mental resilience, leadership capabilities, and commitment to service. Here are a few tips to guide your process:

• Familiarise yourself with the candidate’s military background if any. Understand the specific roles they’ve held and their achievements in those roles.
• Be ready to assess physical readiness indirectly. You can’t test this in a standard interview, but you can ask about their fitness routine and how they maintain their health.
• Use scenario-based questions to assess their ability to solve problems and use decision-making skills under pressure.

Armed Forces Interview Techniques

In an armed forces interview, it’s crucial to delve deeper than a candidate’s surface-level qualifications. Begin with a thorough review of their CV, focusing on key areas of their military experiences if any, leadership roles, and achievements. Pay attention to the specific challenges they’ve overcome through initiating innovative solutions, as these can provide insights into their resilience, adaptability, and ability to work alongside other team members.

Using scenario-based and behavioural questions can help you assess a candidate’s problem-solving abilities, decision-making process, and leadership style. These types of questions allow candidates to draw from their past experiences, providing you with a practical context to evaluate their potential.

Finally, be prepared to discuss the demands and commitments of military service. It’s essential to gauge the candidate’s understanding and readiness for the unique challenges and lifestyle associated with armed forces roles.

Armed Forces Interview Questions to Ask

When interviewing for armed forces roles, consider asking a selection of the following 20 army interview questions:

1. Why do you want to join the armed forces?
2. How have you prepared for the physical demands of this role?
3. Can you provide an example of when you showed leadership?
4. How do you handle high-stress situations?
5. What is your understanding of the lifestyle and commitments of this role?
6. Have you ever had to make a difficult decision under pressure? How did you handle it?
7. Can you give an example of a time when you had to adapt to an unexpected situation?
8. What is your strategy for maintaining physical and mental health?
9. How do you approach teamwork in challenging environments?
10. How have you handled a situation where you had to follow orders that you didn’t agree with?
11. Can you describe a time when you had to handle criticism or feedback?
12. How do you react in situations where quick decision-making is crucial?
13. How do you handle conflict within a team?
14. What motivates you to perform under challenging circumstances?
15. Can you provide an example of when you had to demonstrate resilience?
16. Have you had experiences with managing or supervising others?
17. Can you discuss a time when you had to uphold high ethical standards?
18. How do you maintain focus and precision in high-pressure situations?
19. What strategies do you use to communicate effectively within a team?
20. Can you describe a time when you showed initiative?

Armed Forces STAR Interview Questions

When asking STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) interview questions for armed forces roles, consider the following:

• Can you describe a situation where you had to make a tough decision under pressure? What was the task at hand, what action did you take, and what was the result?
• Tell us about a situation where you had to display exceptional leadership. What was the task, what actions did you take to lead your team, and what was the outcome?
• Describe a situation when you had to adapt to a significant change or unexpected circumstance during an operation. What was the task, what action did you take, and what was the result?

How to Address Salary in Armed Forces Interviews

Discussing salary in armed forces interviews requires a nuanced approach. As an interviewer, remember that compensation in the military isn’t just about the base pay; it also involves allowances, benefits, and potential bonuses.

In the initial stages, focus on understanding the candidate’s skills, qualifications, and suitability for the role. However, if a candidate asks about remuneration, provide a brief overview of the military’s pay structure, including the aforementioned elements.

Towards the end of the interview, if you feel the candidate is a strong fit, you may delve deeper into the matter of the specifics of the salary package. It’s essential to maintain transparency when you talk about pay scales, promotion prospects, and benefits throughout the conversation to ensure the candidate can make an informed decision.

Questions Armed Forces Candidates Might Ask Employers

Candidates may ask a range of questions during an armed forces interview, including:

• Can you tell me more about the day-to-day responsibilities of this role?
• What physical fitness standards do I need to maintain for this position?
• How are promotions and advancements handled in this role?
• What training and development opportunities are available?
• How is the transition handled from civilian life to military life?
• Can you describe the typical career path for this role?
• What is the company’s culture and support systems for mental health?
• How does deployment work in terms of locations and durations?
• What are the service commitments for this role?
• What are the possibilities for further education while serving?

Armed Forces Weakness Interview Questions

To identify potential weaknesses in armed forces candidates, consider the following questions:

• Can you describe a time when you struggled with physical demands? How did you address it?
• How do you handle criticism or feedback?
• Tell me about a time when you failed to meet a goal. What happened, and how did you handle it?
• Describe a situation where you had difficulty making a decision.
• How do you react when you don’t agree with orders or instructions given to you?

How to Follow Up With Armed Forces Candidates After Interviews

After conducting an armed forces interview, it’s crucial to maintain clear communication with the candidate. Firstly, give them a rough timeline of when they can expect to hear back from you. Following this, make sure to stick to the given timeline.

Once a decision has been made, promptly inform the candidate, irrespective of whether it’s positive or negative. If the candidate was successful, discuss the next steps forward, including any further assessments, background checks, or administrative requirements.

For candidates who were not selected, providing constructive feedback can be beneficial. It not only maintains a positive relationship with them but could also help them in preparing their future applications. Finally, thank all candidates for their time and effort, thereby upholding the respect and dignity associated with armed forces roles.

Armed Forces Interview FAQs

Here we answer the frequently asked questions of recruiters, employers, applicants, and army veterans:

WHAT ARE THE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS FOR ARMY?

Army interviews often focus on the candidate’s physical fitness, mental strength, and motivation for joining. An open-ended question may include:

• Why do you want to join the Army?
• How have you prepared physically for Army life?
• Can you provide an example of a time when you demonstrated leadership?
• How do you react under high-stress situations?
• What do you understand about the lifestyle and commitments of being in the Army?

WHAT ARE GOOD QUESTIONS TO ASK A MILITARY OFFICER?

When interviewing a Military Officer, it’s beneficial to ask questions that provide insight into the person, their leadership style, decision-making processes, and experiences. For example:

• How do you handle decision-making under pressure?
• Can you provide an example of a situation where your leadership skills were tested?
• What was the most challenging operation you’ve been involved in, and how did you handle it?
• How do you maintain morale within your unit during tough times?

HOW DO I PREPARE FOR A MILITARY INTERVIEW?

Preparation for a military interview should involve thorough research on the specific branch of the military you’re applying to. Understand the expectations, duties, and lifestyle associated with military service. Prepare to discuss your physical fitness and share examples of your leadership, teamwork, and resilience. Brush up on current events, particularly those related to national security or military affairs. Practice your responses to common interview questions, but remember to stay genuine in your responses.

WHAT ARE THE 10 MOST COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS?

Common interview questions include:

1. Tell me about yourself. (Provide a brief, concise summary of your professional background and key achievements.)
2. Why are you interested in this role? (Detail how your skills and experiences align with the job requirements and explain your interest in the company/industry.)
3. What are your strengths? (Provide examples of your strengths and explain how they’d be beneficial in the role.)
4. What are your weaknesses? (Discuss a weakness but focus on what you’re doing to improve.)
5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? (Align your career goals with the opportunities provided by the company.)
6. Why are you leaving your current job? (Maintain positivity and focus on seeking new challenges/opportunities.)
7. How do you handle stress or pressure? (Provide examples of your stress management techniques or resilience.)
8. What are your salary expectations? (Research the industry standards beforehand and provide a realistic range.)
9. Can you provide an example of a challenge you faced at work and how you dealt with it to succeed? (Use the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to structure your response.)
10. Do you have any questions for us? (Ask insightful questions that reflect your understanding of the role and the company.)