Gallup interview

What is it?

The Gallup Organisation has helped Standard Life Investments select talented employees over a number of years. Founded by Don Clifton, a psychology graduate, this organisation uses interview techniques to highlight qualities which make people succeed in particular jobs or occupations. Rather than focusing on what is wrong with people, Gallup looks at success, and tries to understand what makes it happen. They have found that successful people talk and think differently from average or low performers.

Everyone has consistent, recurring patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviour; Gallup calls these patterns Life Themes. The Gallup interview attempts to draw these out of the candidate and weighs them against key competencies, needed in the prospective role.

What will I be asked?

The Gallup interview can be conducted on the telephone or face to face and is recorded for accuracy. You are asked a series of questions and your answers, which are completely confidential, are analysed later.

The questions are designed to provoke top of the head responses and should be answered spontaneously. Although some of the questions may not seem relevant, every one is significant to identifying your key characteristics. Also, every role in the company has an interview tailored to it and has been thoroughly researched and piloted.

There is no need to prepare in advance, but thinking about your previous experiences will help. Try to relax. This type of interview does not restrict your answers, and you can be as open and honest as you like.