How to answer most difficult questions in a job interview

job interview

A proper preparation before facing a job interview can make the difference between who stays at the dock or sails to the world of work.

The difficult questions during the interview are not random. They are very thought by the interviewers to inquire about the candidates and, in this way, to determine if they are going to fit in the job and in the company . We must bear in mind that sincerity is fundamental.

However, it is convenient to know a series of usual questions and be forewarned when responding . This will prevent a blunder, stay blank or answer something that could hurt you.

Answer these 5 difficult questions to answer and learn how to hit the spot during your job interview. Go for it!

What are your needs for job interview?

best job interview

Nobody likes to admit that he has weaknesses, and even less in front of his possible future boss. But denying them, in this case, is not the right choice. A good way to answer is to talk about those in which we work to overcome, and thus be able to say that measures have been taken to improve them. Demonstrate capacity for criticism and self-knowledge is always positive .

For example, the correct thing would be to say:

“Sometimes it has not been easy for me to be part of the teams due to my shyness, but I have participated in different group dynamics and I think I am improving my communication skills and adapting to the environment”

And not: “I have no weakness”.

What did you like least about your other job?

the job interview

You have to be especially careful with this question, because it will never benefit to insult you or your previous boss or belittle your previous company. Instead, focus your objections on the absence of what you were looking for your future .

A possible answer could be:

“I needed new challenges that would allow me to achieve greater goals in the future.”

Instead of:

“I had no chance of growing up because I did not have a good relationship with my boss.”

Why do you have a “hole” in your work history?

questions in a job interview

You should not feel intimidated by this question. Being unemployed for a while is not that unusual, and you can even take advantage of it by highlighting the courses, volunteer work, collaborations … that you have done during that time.

It is possible to transform what a priori could be a weakness, into an advantage, making you see that in that period of time your skills have been increased .

You could answer :

“The last company I worked for made cuts in personnel and they had to do without me, that period has been very productive because I had time to do a negotiation course and perfect my English.”

Instead of:

“They fired me and I have not found another job so far.”

Why should we hire you?

This question can be a great opportunity for you. You have to show confidence and not be afraid to say that, honestly, you think you are the best person to perform this job .

Without exaggerating, focus on highlighting the characteristics that differentiate you from others and make a difference.

Another good method is to research about the company in question that can hire you and highlight some of your skills that may fit your needs or goals.

For example :

“I am a willing person, willing to learn and give my best, I have the ability to always offer a little more than what is required of me, I am creative and when I am assigned a responsibility, I look for how to add value.”

And not simply:

“I need a job”.

Is there something you want to ask me?

Before attending a job interview, as with the previous question, you should have the insight to inform yourself about the company . In this way, you will see that you have an interest in the company to which you aspire to be a part. They will realize that you are a curious and inquisitive person, who does not conform to anything and knows what he is facing.

A possible answer would be:

“I have seen that in recent times you have started to market X product, why did you opt for this line of business?”

And not simply:

“Everything has been clear to me”.

Regardless of the questions you face, honesty, positivist and self-confidence are the key ingredients when it comes to giving correct answers.

Hard questions to answer in a job interview

most difficult questions in a job interview

“Can you tell me about yourself?”

This may sound like an innocent and direct question, however, it can deceive you to the point of digging too much into your personal life. The great interviewers through the conversation determine aspects such as culture; You must focus on the academic background, your professional career and recent work experiences.

How to respond: do not talk about your family or your hobbies. Stay focused on sharing information about how you can be a good asset to the organization.

 “Are you the kind of person who checks your email during the holidays?”

On the one hand, you want to convey the dedication and passion you have about your work, you want to assure the interviewer that you are available and that you are reliable; In the same way, you must make it clear that you know the value and importance of the balance between work and life away from it.

How to respond: Allow the employer to know that you are 100 percent committed to your work. However, let him know that you also need time away from the office. Make it clear that you will have all your responsibilities completed before going on vacation and that in case of an emergency you can be contacted.

Keep in mind that if you are like Elton Musk or like me … the answer you are looking for may be a bit different, especially if I am starting my business and I want my team to work 24/7. If we do not work harder, faster and longer than the others, we will lose the race.

 “How did you prepare for this interview?”

This question is intended to find out if you really care about this particular job or if you are there by pure mechanism.

How to respond: show that you took the time to research the company before the interview, share information about it, for example, company background, or mention the trends that occur within the industry and observe the effects positive things you can achieve in the person interviewing you.

To give you an example, when I asked that question to the last person I hired, he began to describe our product ecash. He went into a level of detail that even I did not know, also pointed out three possible problems that neither I nor my team had thought about. That is to be prepared for the question.

What is the work of your dreams?”

This is another question that is used to determine how important it is for you to work for this specific organization or if you are only applying for each job vacancy.

“Where do you see yourself in five years?”

I fell into this trap when I was younger by responding that I would like to continue my education in order to reach a better position, in a completely different industry. After six months, they fired me, not because of my work performance, but because the organization felt that I was not going to be with them in the long term.

How to respond: companies do not want to invest in an employee who does not plan to stay there, in his business plan is not hiring people for short term. While you do not have to lie, answer honestly to this question by saying that you are looking for a challenging job, that you are passionate and that you go hand in hand with your future goals. If you think this position fits those needs, explain how the organization can help you achieve those goals.

“What is your greatest weakness?”

Answering with the cliché: “I’m a perfectionist” is a phrase that interviewers listen to all the time and usually does not work. Also, it does not explain how you take the necessary steps to become a stronger employee or your way of overcoming obstacles.

How to respond: instead of saying that you are too committed to excellence or that you are simply a perfectionist, go a little further. The key to talking about a weakness is that you immediately explain a solution. For example, he responds with: “I tend to want to do the simple tasks first and the more complex ones later, although I know that the opposite is better for my productivity”. Recommend Randle Browning in Skillcrush.

“Why do you want to work here?”

Once again, this is the kind of question that shows your true interest in the job, just as you did your homework and you do fit in with the company’s culture.

How to respond: Arnie Fertig in US News describes five possible answers that will impress your recruiter:

“I know several colleagues who have worked at your company for years and all have told me great things.”

“I am thrilled to see that on their website employees leave comments about how good it is to work for your company.”

“Your company’s Facebook page is really attractive, I like how that aspect works.”

“Your company is known for making great products that help people do X things, but besides that, I know the leadership role of your company in our community through your support for X, Y and Z events or causes. To name a few, their products and philanthropy show that they are a company that cares as much for the economic benefit as for the society “.

“Do you like to work alone or as a team?”

If you say that you like to work alone, then you can be seen as someone who is responsible for doing your things. But, if you respond by saying that you prefer to work in groups, then you may look like an individual who is not capable of making his own decisions.

How to respond: you must make it clear that you enjoy both types of labor relations. List the pros and cons of each type of work. For example, working in a group allows you to learn new skills and exchange ideas. However, you also like the freedom to work independently since that way you can perform tasks faster and without interruption.

 “Why did you leave your last job?”

Do not use this as an opportunity to speak ill of your former employer or company. That will alert the interviewer as soon as he comes in contact with your references.

How to respond: be honest and honest. Do not focus on the negative. Instead, detail everything you learned from your previous job or how the experience helped you grow. However, the reason you left was that it was time to explore new opportunities and leave your comfort zone.

“Have you ever been asked to compromise your integrity by a colleague or a supervisor?”

This is a question that tries to prove your ethics and morals. The reason why it can be complicated is because it can take you down a road where you could speak ill of your former employees or employers. Even worse, you could share confidential information, or say something about the internal practices of your previous company.

How to respond: Honesty, clarity and punctuality. As for your recruiter, behave like a professional before him and do not share any kind of private information.

“What are your economic claims?”

This question can make both parties feel uncomfortable. In addition, the interviewer is not allowed to negotiate or discuss your salary. The purpose of this question is to know if the company can afford you.

How to respond: Investigate and deduce what is the salary in the industry and market in which you develop. Pay scale recommends these two possible answers for the following questions:

Question: What salary range are you looking for? “Let’s talk first about the requirements and expectations of the job, so that I can have an idea of what I need.” That is a soft answer for a soft question.

Question: What do you mean in terms of salary? “I’m interested in finding a job that fits my needs, I’m sure the salary they handle is consistent with the rest of the market.” In other words, I respect myself and I want to believe that the company is respectable.

When you answer any of the above questions, be yourself and do not try to be something that you are not. In the end you can not hide the truth. Be faithful to the person inside you. If an interview is not going as well as you expected, maybe it means it is not for you. At some point before getting a job, I interviewed about 26 times with 17 companies. I was about to throw in the towel, but I kept going.

This must be the first week in a new job

40% of people who intend to leave their position will do so during the first month , while another 10% will do the same before the first year, according to a study conducted for this reason it is necessary to make them feel important from day one.

Finally, despite all the preparations, a job interview is an experience full of nerves. To make matters worse, interviewers have many questions that can easily get in the way of the interviewee. These questions are not malicious. They try to get a clear idea of the candidate to make sure they are qualified for the job and that they can be a good element for the company. Over the years I have hired hundreds of people and interviewed thousands of candidates. As someone who hires, taking candidates out of their control state allows me to see how they can develop under pressure in the workplace. No matter how experienced or prepared you are, sometimes these questions are designed to trip anyone.

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Author: Roger Walker

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