Tricky Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
Interview questions are meant to trip us up. Even the seemingly “simple” questions can catch us off guard, and we end up giving an answer we wish we hadn’t.
So many interview questions seem to be universal, so why do they still boggle us, and what are the “right” answers? Ashley Sanford wrote a great article outlining some of the most common interview questions and how to ace them. We’ve highlighted a few of our favorites below, but we recommend reading the full article here.
- What are your strengths?: People tend to have a hard time with this one because it’s not always so easy to talk about yourself. What Sanford recommends is to of course gear your answers toward the job your interviewing for. For example, if you’re interviewing for an Administrative Assistant job, you’ll want to mention that you’re detail-oriented, organized, and that you communicate well. Try to stick to 2-3 strengths, and always have an example from another job (the more recent the better) where you used this strength.
- What are your weaknesses?: A similar, but even more challenging question than asking for your strengths. This one is tough, because it seems wrong to tell your potential employer where you need to improve. The best method to handle this is to think of a “weakness” that isn’t central to the job. The more vague, the better. When you tell them this example, frame it in a way that you’ve been aware of it and have taken steps to improve. That way, they’ll know you’ve put thought into the answer and that you’re self-aware enough to recognize where you need to improve.
- Why do you want this job?: Hiring managers are always concerned about retention, and they’ll do their best to weed out candidates who see it as “just a job”. For this one, make sure you talk about the company itself, their mission, and how you can contribute to that position. It’s good to mention the job functions too, but if you focus on the company, they’ll know you want to be there for more than just the job. Make them believe that this placement would benefit you AND them.
Image retrieved from Pixabay under the public domain.
Recent Posts
Feel Good Friday: Return
Happy Friday! Think of “return” not just as turning back but a way to move forward--another “turn” in the game of life and thus another opportunity to forge new paths as you proceed. Take all of the experiences you’ve had during these uncertain times and use them to...
What To Do When Planning to Go Back
With the summer in sight, your return to your workplace is likely approaching. This may feel like an abrupt shift, especially after you’ve established new routines that have helped you succeed while working remotely--which is why today we’re focusing on what you can...
Wednesday Wellness: Return
As we move closer to summer, let the return of this sunny season inspire your return to work. Find joy in returning to your regular workplace rhythms while applying the new lessons you’ve learned in adapting to the unprecedented circumstances you’ve experienced. It’s...
Making Your Return to Work Easy
We know that if you’ve been working remotely, or if you’ve been unemployed during these uncertain times, the prospect of returning to an in-person professional environment might seem overwhelming. But don’t panic! We’ve got ways to help you ease into that transition....
Monday Mood Booster: Return
Welcome back! While it’s important to live in the present and be mindful in completing your work, it’s also necessary to think about the future. There will come a time when you’ll need to get back into the normal swing of things; take a moment now to start...
To the Class of 2021: Congratulations and Welcome!
You’ve spent the last several years working hard on your education, taking steps towards your degree, and finally earning the title of “Graduate.” Congratulations! What you’ve just done is a huge accomplishment. You should be enormously proud of yourself and all of...
Monday Mood Booster: Guidance
Welcome back! We hope you had a wonderful weekend with plenty of chances to connect with those in your life to whom you turn for guidance. This week, we’ll be focusing on just that: guidance. A helping hand can come from both sources familiar and those you might not...
Resilient In The Workplace And Beyond
Today’s examination of ways to expand on your resiliency takes a holistic approach, considering ways both in and out of the workplace to create a more resilient you. You don’t have to tackle that task alone--and shouldn’t be! Know that within your workplace, you have...
Wednesday Wellness: Resilience
As you practice building up your workplace resilience using the skills we’ve shared, remember that your knowledge and capabilities are growing with every step along the way. While these unprecedented circumstances may feel overwhelming, each and every day you’re...
Monday Mood Booster: Resilience
Welcome back! As we kick off the first full week of May, we’ll be focusing on resilience. Just as flowers survive the cold of winter to bloom again each spring, you have the strength to pull through even the most difficult of times. Let these warmer days reinvigorate...
Feel Good Friday: Community
Congratulations--you’ve successfully made it to the end of another week! And we know that even if it doesn’t feel like it, each day you’ve made a difference in your communities. All of the contributions big and small that you make in your workplace add up to important...
Creating Workplace Community Virtually
Amidst this week’s focus on community, we know that it can feel isolating to work from home, with your teammates located far from you. Today we’re looking at ways to establish a sense of connection with your colleagues and employers while completing your work...
Wednesday Wellness: Community
Welcome back to Wednesday Wellness! Whether already you realize it or not, you are a powerful force for change within your communities. Your presence impacts the lives of others. Though simply being there may not feel like doing much, remember that being an active...
Creating A Better Workplace Community
Our focus this week is on creating a better community, in both your workplace and beyond. While creating change in the world at large is an important task to tackle, today we’re turning inward for our first steps towards creating a better workplace community. Since...