No matter how experienced or prepped you are for a job interview, at times, these questions are bound to trip anyone up. If you want to prevent any fumble, large or small prepare a few responses to tricky questions like the following 11 examples.
1. “Can you tell me about yourself?”
This sounds like an innocent and straightforward question. But, it can trick you into diving too much into your personal life. Even though great interviewers use conversation to determine culture fit, you want to focus more on your educational background, career, and recent job experiences.
How to answer: Don’t discuss your family or hobbies. Stay on-track by sharing how you can bring value to the organization.
2. “Are you the type of person who checks their email during vacation?”
On one hand you want to convey your dedication to your work, as well as assuring the interviewer that you’re available and reliable. On the other hand, you also want to make it known that you know the value and importance of work-life balance so that you don’t get burned out.
How to answer: Let the employer know that you are 100 percent committed to your work. However, let them know that you also need time away from the office. Make it clear that you will have all of your responsibilities completed before you leave for vacation and that you may be contacted if there is an emergency.
Keep in mind, if you’re like Elon Musk or myself… the answer I’m really wanting may be a little different as I’m running a startup and really want my team working 24/7. If we’re not working harder, faster and longer than everyone else, we will lose the race.
3. “How did you prepare for this interview?”
This question is intended to find out whether or not you really care about this job or if you’re just going through the motions.
How to answer: Demonstrate that you took the time to research the company and industry prior to the interview by sharing information like the company’s background or mentioning the trends occurring in the industry and noting how you can make a positive difference.
To give you an example of the last person I hired. When I asked this person, he began to describe our ecash product. He went into a level of detail that even I didn’t know. He also pointed out three potential problems that neither I nor my team had thought about. That is being very prepared for the question.
4. “What’s your dream job?”
This is another question that’s used to determine how serious you are about working for this specific organization or if you’re just applying for each and every job opening.
How to answer: Keep it simple by responding with “This is the place I’d like to work.”
5. “Where do you see yourself in five years?”
I personally fell into this trap when I was younger by responding that I would like to continue my education so that I could move onto to a better position…in a completely different industry. After six months, I was let go. Not because of my job performance. But because the organization felt that I wasn’t going to be around in the long-run.
How to answer: Companies don’t want to invest in an employee who isn’t planning on staying around, it’s not typically in their business plan to hire people short term. While you don’t have to lie, answer this question honestly by saying that you’re looking for a job that is challenging and that you’re passionate about, along with your future goals. If you believe that this position fits those needs, then explain how the organization can help you reach those goals.
6. “What’s your biggest weakness?”
Responding with the cliché answer of, “I’m a perfectionist” is a phrase that interviewers hear all the time and are usually turned off by. Not only that, it doesn’t explain how you take the steps needed to become a stronger employee or how you overcome obstacles.
How to answer: “Instead of saying your one flaw is that ‘you’re just too committed to excellence or ‘you’re just a perfectionist,’ dig a little deeper,” suggests Randle Browning on Skillcrush. “The key to divulging a weakness is following up immediately with your solution. For example, respond with, “I tend to want to do simple tasks first and more complex tasks later, but I know that the reverse is better for my productivity.”
7. “Why do you want to work here?”
Again, this is a question that shows your interest in the job, as well as showing that you’ve done your homework and are a fit for the company’s culture.
How to answer: Arnie Fertig has five possible answers on U.S. News that will impress your potential employer. These include;
- “I’ve known several colleagues over the years who have worked at your company, and they have all said great things.”
- “I was excited to see on your website that you feature employees talking about how great it is to work for your company.”
- “Your company’s Facebook page is really engaging. I love how you [fill in the blank].”
- “Your company is known for making great products that help people do X. But on top of that, I know of your company’s leadership role in our community through your support of X, Y and Z events or causes. Your products and philanthropy show you to be a company that cares about both the bottom line and about giving back to society.”
8. “Do you like to work alone or as part of a team?”
If you state that you like to work alone, then you may come across as too much of loner that does their own thing. But, if you respond by saying that you prefer working only in groups, then you may seem like an individual who can’t make independent decisions.
