Interviewing Graduates: Top 6 Questions to Ask Grads Who Have No Professional Work Experience

The process and the candidate, are very different from your usual hire when it comes to hiring graduates.

The candidate is coming into this role straight out of university, so it is unreasonable to expect them to have multiple years of hands-on experience under their belt or for them to know exactly what they are doing or what you are talking about.

Because of this, employers usually put hiring graduates into the ‘too-hard-basket’ and miss out on the many benefits of hiring a graduate employee.

Why should businesses consider hiring grads?

Hiring a graduate can be an exciting opportunity for both your team and your business. Graduates bring in fresh perspectives and ideas, as well as the most up-to-date industry knowledge and learnings that they gathered through their degree.

When starting their first job out of university, graduates are enthusiastic to learn and make a good impression. You can almost think of a graduate as being like a sponge. They have no pre-existing industry experience, so they will be absorbing all the workplace practices you surround them with. This is your chance to mould the perfect employee, teaching them to do tasks the way you like them to be done.

Of course, there are risks to hiring grads

However, there are some risks associated with hiring graduates. Job hopping has become a common trend for graduates and younger employees. Gen Z are not afraid to switch jobs if they’re unhappy in their current one. So, it is important to be mindful of retention and gain a better understanding of how you can strengthen retention in your business.

Hiring graduates often requires a greater investment of company resources. They typically need more training than experienced employees, along with trainers who can offer extra patience and understanding. However, once graduates find their footing, they quickly become capable contributors and they’ll be sprinting faster than you knew possible.

Despite the potential risks and challenges, we always encourage employers to hire graduates if they have the capacity to do so. There are several ways to avoid the risks and a lot of it comes down to asking the right questions throughout the interview process. Luckily, we’ve recruited many graduates and want to share some of our interview questions that will help you gauge the candidate’s attitude and cultural fit.

Six Top Questions to Ask Graduates in a Job Interview

1. How do you handle challenging situations? Graduates may not have extensive corporate workplace experience, but they’ve likely faced challenges in their academic or personal lives, or day jobs. Asking this question allows you to gauge their resilience, adaptability, and how they approach problem-solving without requiring relevant work experience to draw from. This is especially important since they’ll encounter a steep learning curve in their first role.
2. Can you provide an example of how you previously handled conflict with peers, coworkers, or supervisors? This question helps assess their interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, and ability to maintain professionalism—traits that are critical for integrating into a team.
3. Can you provide an example of a time when you had to problem-solve and think creatively? Graduates often develop creative thinking and problem-solving skills through coursework, group assignments, or extracurricular activities. This question highlights their ability to transfer those skills to the workplace and shows whether they can approach problems with fresh ideas and a proactive mindset.
4. How do you stay organised and prioritise tasks in a fast-paced environment? Many graduates are stepping into a structured workplace for the first time. Asking about their organisational skills offers insight into how well they’ve managed competing deadlines during university, internships, or part-time jobs. It also helps you understand whether they can adapt their time-management strategies to professional settings.
5. Can you tell me about a project you worked on that you’re proud of? Graduates may lack a lengthy professional portfolio, but they’ve likely invested significant effort into academic projects, internships, or volunteer initiatives. This question gives them an opportunity to showcase their skills, dedication, and ability to achieve results. It also reveals their strengths and passions, which can guide you in evaluating their potential fit for your team.
6. What is something new you’ve learned recently, and how did you go about learning it? Graduates are at the beginning of their careers and will need to absorb a lot of new information quickly. This question is especially relevant because it reveals their curiosity, willingness to learn, and ability to adapt—key traits for a graduate navigating their first professional role.

Additional Areas to Explore in the Interview

As you find yourself getting to know the candidate, you’ll be inclined to ask them more questions in the interview. Since graduates may lack extensive professional experience, focus on areas that showcase their soft skills, enthusiasm, and ability to grow into the role. Here are some areas to consider:

Ask About Extracurricular Activities, Volunteer Work, or Part-Time Jobs
Graduates who have engaged in activities outside of their studies often demonstrate responsibility, time management, and a willingness to take on new challenges. These experiences can also reflect how well they balance priorities and commit to tasks over time.

Delve Into Their University Experience
Graduates’ academic journeys provide valuable insights into their dedication, interests, and how their degree influences their career aspirations. Were they active in student groups, passionate about certain subjects, or involved in internships or industry placements? These details can reveal their drive, curiosity, and readiness to transition into the workforce.

Understand Their Career Goals and Aspirations
While graduates might not have a fully mapped-out career plan, their goals can help you assess their alignment with your company’s vision. Understanding their ambitions also allows you to gauge whether they’re likely to grow with your company or view the role as a short-term stepping stone.

Additional Questions to Consider

• What inspired you to pursue your degree, and how do you see it applying to this role?
• What challenges did you face during university, and how did you overcome them?
• Did you participate in any industry-related projects, internships, or competitions during university? If so, what did you learn?
• What do you think is the most important skill for someone in this role, and how do you plan to develop it?
• What excites you most about starting your career?

Why These Questions Are Great for Grads

Graduates bring enthusiasm, fresh perspectives, and potential, even if they lack extensive professional experience. These questions focus on key traits like adaptability, problem-solving, and eagerness to learn, helping you assess mindset and motivation over technical expertise.

By exploring their academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and career aspirations, you can uncover their transferable skills, work ethic, and cultural fit. This approach helps you identify candidates who, while inexperienced, have the drive and attitude to grow into valuable team members.

Hiring graduates is about finding someone ready to learn, adapt, and contribute to your team. Ask the right questions, and you’ll find the talent with the potential to thrive.

If you need help with graduate recruitment, reach out to our consultants here—we’d love to assist!