Ever been thrown off by an interview question or unsure about what the interviewer is REALLY asking? Here are the top five trickiest questions broken down so that you can understand what your interviewer is really trying to ask.
- What is your biggest weakness?
- The problem with this question is that in order to provide a full answer, you have to go against instinct and tell the interviewer about one of your shortcomings. When answering this question, it is important to keep in mind that everyone has strengths AND weaknesses, so don’t feel like telling an interviewer about a weakness will prevent you from getting the position. It is important, however, to expand upon your answer (rather than merely stating your weakness) by talking about the different ways in which you are overcoming your weakness and trying to improve yourself.
- Tell me about a time when you failed
- Don’t let this question scare you! What your interviewer is really trying to get at is how you were able to stay resilient and cope with setbacks in the face of failure. Therefore, make sure you emphasize the way in which you bounced back from the failure and the lessons that you learned from this past mistake.
- Why do you think you will be successful in this job?
- This question is not an invitation to boast, but rather, a chance for the interviewer to not only learn about your strengths, but also how well you can match these strengths with the skills needed for the position. Remember to answer this question in a way that focuses on specific skills and qualities that may be needed for the role!
- Have you had a bad experience with an employer?
- This question requires you to think on your feet and come up with a diplomatic answer. One thing you should NEVER do is to attack your previous employer. Instead, focus on how you and your previous employer were able to resolve any conflicts.
- Where do you expect to be in five years’ time?
- Answering this is trickier than you might think! The goal is to sound optimistic and enthusiastic rather than arrogant. Therefore, it is important to tailor your answer to reflect the nature of the sector and the organization/ company you are applying to work with. Talk about specific skills you would like to develop and how those skills can help you get to where you want to be.