Ten Tough Interview Questions And Ten Great Answers
produces the physical symptoms of nervousness.
In addition to preparing yourself physically, you
need to prepare yourself mentally. The best way
to prepare mentally is to know what may be
coming. Fear of the unknown can only exist when
there is an unknown. Take the time to understand
some of the “standards” when it comes to
interviewing questions.
The following are some of the most difficult
questions you will face in the course of your job
interviews. Some questions may seem rather
simple on the surface—such as “Tell me about
yourself”—but these questions can have a variety
of answers. The more open ended the question,
the wider the variation in the answers. Once you
have become practiced in your interviewing skills,
you will find that you can use almost any
question as a launching pad for a particular topic
or compelling story.
Others are classic interview questions, such as
“What is your greatest weakness?” Questions
most people answer improperly. In this case, the
standard textbook answer for the “greatest
weakness” question is to provide a veiled positive
such as: “I work too much. I just work and work
and work.” Wrong. Either you are lying or, worse
yet, you are telling the truth, in which case you
define working too much as a weakness and
really do not want to work much at all.
The following answers are provided to give you a
new perspective on how to answer tough
interview questions. They are not there for you to
lift from the page and insert into your next
interview. They are provided for you to use as the
basic structure for formulating your own
answers. While the specifics of each reply may
not apply to you, try to follow the basic structure
of the answer from the perspective of the
interviewer. Answer the questions behaviorally,
with specific examples that show that clear
evidence backs up what you are saying about
yourself. Always provide information that shows
you want to become the very best _____ for the
company and that you have specifically prepared
yourself to become exactly that. They want to be
sold. They are waiting to be sold. Don’t
disappoint them!
Tell me about yourself.
It seems like an easy interview question. It’s open
ended. I can talk about whatever I want from the
birth canal forward. Right?
Wrong. What the hiring manager really wants is a
quick, two- to three-minute snapshot of who you
are and why you’re the best candidate for this
position.
So as you answer this question, talk about what
you’ve done to prepare yourself to be the very
best candidate for the position. Use an example
or two to back it up. Then ask if they would like
more details. If they do, keep giving them
example after example of your background and
experience. Always point back to an example
when you have the opportunity.
“Tell me about yourself” does not mean tell me
everything. Just tell me what makes you the best.
Why should I hire you?
The easy answer is that you are the best person
for the job. And don’t be afraid to say so. But
then back it up with what specifically
differentiates you.
For example: “You should hire me because I’m
the best person for the job. I realize that there
are likely other candidates who also have the
ability to do this job. Yet I bring an additional
quality that makes me the best person for the
job--my passion for excellence. I am passionately
committed to producing truly world class results.
For example . . .”
Are you the best person for the job? Show it by
your passionate examples.
What is your long-range objective? Make my job
easy for me. Make me want to hire you.
The key is to focus on your achievable objectives
and what you are doing to reach those objectives.
For example: “Within five years, I would like to
become the very best accountant your company
has on staff. I want to work toward becoming the
expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I
feel I’ll be fully prepared to take on any greater
responsibilities which might be presented in the
long term. For example, here is what I’m
presently doing to prepare myself . . .”
Then go on to show by your examples what you
are doing to reach your goals and objectives.
How has your education prepared you for your
career?
This is a broad question and you need to focus
on the behavioral examples in your educational
background which specifically align to the
required competencies for the career.
An example: “My education has focused on not
only the learning the fundamentals, but also on
the practical application of the information
learned within those classes. For example, I
played a lead role in a class project where we
gathered and analyzed best practice data from
this industry. Let me tell you more about the
results . . .”
Focus on behavioral examples supporting the key
competencies for the career. Then ask if they
would like to hear more examples.
Are you a team player?
Almost everyone says yes to this question. But it
is not just a yes/no question. You need to
provide behavioral examples to back up your
answer.
A sample answer: “Yes, I’m very much a team
player. In fact, I’ve had opportunities in my work,
school and athletics to develop my skills as a
team player. For example, on a recent project . .
.”
Emphasize teamwork behavioral examples and
focus on your openness to diversity of
backgrounds. Talk about the strength of the team
above the individual. And note that this question
may be used as a lead in to questions around
how you handle conflict within a team, so be
prepared.
Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or
professor? How was it resolved?
Note that if you say no, most interviewers will
keep drilling deeper to find a conflict. The key is
how you behaviorally reacted to conflict and what
you did to resolve it.
For example: “Yes, I have had conflicts in the
past. Never major ones, but there have been
disagreements that needed to be resolved. I've
found that when conflict occurs, it helps to fully
understand the other person’s perspective, so I
take time to listen to their point of view, then I
seek to work out a collaborative solution. For
example . . .”
Focus your answer on the behavioral process for
resolving the conflict and working collaboratively.
What is your greatest weakness?
Most career books tell you to select a strength
and present it as a weakness. Such as: “I work
too much. I just work and work and work.”
Wrong. First of all, using a strength and
presenting it as a weakness is deceiving. Second,
it misses the point of the question.
You should select a weakness that you have been
actively working to overcome. For example: “I
have had trouble in the past with planning and
prioritization. However, I’m now taking steps to
correct this. I just started using a pocket planner
. . .” then show them your planner and how you
are using it.
Talk about a true weakness and show what you
are doing to overcome it.
If I were to ask your professors to describe you,
what would they say?
This is a threat of reference check question. Do
not wait for the interview to know the answer.
Ask any prior bosses or professors in advance.
And if they’re willing to provide a positive
reference, ask them for a letter of
recommendation.
Then you can answer the question like this:
“I believe she would say I'm a very energetic
person, that I’m results oriented and one of the
best people she has ever worked with. Actually, I
know she would say that, because those are her
very words. May I show you her letter of
recommendation?”
So be prepared in advance with your letters of
recommendation.
What qualities do you feel a successful manager
should have?
Focus on two words: leadership and vision.
Here is a sample of how to respond: “The key
quality in a successful manager should be
leadership--the ability to be the visionary for the
people who are working under them. The person
who can set the course and direction for
subordinates. The highest calling of a true leader
is inspiring others to reach the highest of their
abilities. I'd like to tell you about a person whom
I consider to be a true leader . . .”
Then give an example of someone who has
touched your life and how their impact has
helped in your personal development.
If you had to live your life over again, what one
thing would you change?
Focus on a key turning point in your life or
missed opportunity. Yet also tie it forward to
what you are doing to still seek to make that
change.
For example: “Although I’m overall very happy
with where I’m at in my life, the one aspect I
likely would have changed would be focusing
earlier on my chosen career. I had a great
internship this past year and look forward to
more experience in the field. I simply wish I
would have focused here earlier. For example, I
learned on my recent internship…” …then provide
examples.
Stay focused on positive direction in your life and
back it up with examples.
Comments
Post a Comment