Answers to Tough Interviewing Questions
From Adviceopedia
In the challenging employment market, it's essential to prepare answers to tough interviewing questions in advance. The easiest way to destroy your chances of landing that dream position is to fall short during this important "getting to know you" session with your prospective employers. These tips will help you succeed and make a memorable impression!
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Basic Answers to Tough Interviewing Questions
Most professionals have been there at some point in their lives. A big job interview looms on the horizon. Your palms are sweaty, there's a giant knot in your stomach and you're worried you'll blow it by saying the wrong thing. You definitely aren't alone – many people are fearful of answering interview questions. Being fully prepared, though, can save you from this agony in the first place. Simply having an idea of how you'll respond in your answers to tough interviewing questions will help you face them with confidence.
Why Should I Hire You?
It certainly seems easy enough! A company should hire you because you're the right person for the job – but that's not exactly the answer an interviewer wants to hear. In order to stand out from the pack of prospective job applicants, who are all gunning for the position, you must explain why you're the ideal candidate for the job.
What makes you stand out? Identify your prior experiences and explain problems you have solved or situations you have dealt with that pertain to the position you're applying for. Though it's good to be passionate and confident, avoid saying these words in your response. The key is to be thorough and detailed.
Why Do You Want to Work Here?
This is a common one, too. Though it could be that you just need a job, it's best to avoid making the employer feel like one of hundreds of prospects you've sent a resume to (however true that may be). This is where researching the company comes in very helpful. Learn about the company's core values, read its mission statement and develop an understanding for what they are seeking in an employee. With any luck, they are all in line with what you are seeking in a job. Therein lays the second reason for a job interview; it's just as much for you as it is for them. Is the company a good fit for you? Why? That is the answer to this question.
How Have You Resolved a Conflict?
In any situation involving at least two people, the key is to get both sides of the story before coming to a solution. Explaining how you've taken charge of a situation and helped resolve a workplace issue is a great way to prove that you're a team player. If this is important to the company, a lot could hinge on your response to this question. Think long and hard about things you've experienced in the office or if you've just graduated, a classroom setting. Perhaps a group project went awry or it became severely disorganized. Maybe there was strife between team members. Give specific examples that turned out well in the end.
What Is Your Greatest Weakness?
Ah, the famous "weakness" question: It can make anyone take pause. It's one of the trickiest interview questions of all, but it shouldn't be. Although it's tempting to announce to the interviewer that, actually, you don't have any weaknesses at all. This is absolutely the worst answer you could possibly give. You also don't want to say something generic, such as "I'm a perfectionist," "I'm too detail-oriented" or "I work way too much." These are vague clichés, at best.
Be honest. This isn't a moment for you to share your worst flaw, but to really stand out! Think of those professional responsibilities that really challenge you. Explain how you've made strong efforts to improve upon skills you lack (such as taking classes) or how you've started double checking your work thoroughly because you have a tendency to work quickly. The key is to state your negative and turn it into a positive by highlighting your ability to recognize a fault and improve upon it. There's almost nothing more impressive to an employer!
Do You Have Any Questions for Me?
The interview will likely culminate with this question. Given that it's quite common to say something like, "No, I think I know everything I need to know," you can probably guess that this is also not the best response you could give. After all, you couldn't possibly know everything about the company – and answering this way gives the impression that you aren't fully engaged or interested. Here are a few questions you might consider asking:
- What do you enjoy about working for the company?
- What is the environment and company culture like?
- Is there an opportunity for growth?
- What, if anything, do you not like about working for the company?
- Why is there an opening for this position?
Don't be afraid to ask anything that's on your mind. Remember, this is an opportunity for you to get to know them, too – and an applicant who shows genuine interest in the job and the company will always impress interviewers.
