For the long-term unemployed or those workers looking for a change, getting an interview in today’s market may feel like a win in itself. But once you’re in the door, interviewers often put you through an obstacle course of deceptive questions with double meanings or hidden agendas.
It’s important to think of tricky questions and come up with answers that will make you shine. Here are the 10 tricky interview questions you should always be prepared to answer.
1. Question about your Preparation for this Interview.
This is a great opportunity to show how much you know about the industry, company, department or interviewer but also to show your organizational skills. This will reveal how you go about preparing for interviews which could show the interviewer how you will work with deadlines, prepare for meetings with clients and how thorough you might be with assignments.
This is a great opportunity to show how much you know about the industry, company, department or interviewer but also to show your organizational skills. This will reveal how you go about preparing for interviews which could show the interviewer how you will work with deadlines, prepare for meetings with clients and how thorough you might be with assignments.
2. Why have you been out of work for so long?
The way it’s worded is naturally designed to test your resilience. The key is not to take the bait and just answer the intent of the question in a calm, factual manner. The hiring manager wants be assured that you possess initiative even when unemployed, as this drive and tenacity will translate well in a corporate setting. Sample response: “I have been interviewing steadily, but want to find the ideal fit before I jump in and give my typical 110%,”.
The way it’s worded is naturally designed to test your resilience. The key is not to take the bait and just answer the intent of the question in a calm, factual manner. The hiring manager wants be assured that you possess initiative even when unemployed, as this drive and tenacity will translate well in a corporate setting. Sample response: “I have been interviewing steadily, but want to find the ideal fit before I jump in and give my typical 110%,”.
3. Describe Yourself in One Word?
This question can be a challenge, particularly early on in the interview, because you don’t really know what personality type the manager is seeking. Most employers today are seeking team players that are levelheaded under pressure, upbeat, honest, reliable, and dedicated.
This question can be a challenge, particularly early on in the interview, because you don’t really know what personality type the manager is seeking. Most employers today are seeking team players that are levelheaded under pressure, upbeat, honest, reliable, and dedicated.
4. If you could change one thing about your last job, what would it be?
Can you vocalize your problems in a professional manner and come to a diplomatic understanding with your coworkers / bosses? This question tests whether you let problems stew and boil over, or whether you can address them rationally with the benefit of a positive work environment in mind.
Can you vocalize your problems in a professional manner and come to a diplomatic understanding with your coworkers / bosses? This question tests whether you let problems stew and boil over, or whether you can address them rationally with the benefit of a positive work environment in mind.
5. What bugs you about coworkers or bosses?
Don’t fall into this trap. You might get along pleasantly with the interviewer, but this question is meant to see how you get along with others. Kennedy suggests reflecting for a brief time but not sharing any stories or anything specific. Use this as an opportunity to compliment bosses and past coworkers. This will show your positivity and ability to work well with others.
Don’t fall into this trap. You might get along pleasantly with the interviewer, but this question is meant to see how you get along with others. Kennedy suggests reflecting for a brief time but not sharing any stories or anything specific. Use this as an opportunity to compliment bosses and past coworkers. This will show your positivity and ability to work well with others.
6. Where Would You Really Like to Work?
The real agenda for this question is assurance that you aren’t applying to every job opening in sight. you should never mention another company or job title because the point of every interview is to convince the interviewer this is the job you want and you are perfect for it. Use this as an opportunity to share what you know about the company and why you are a perfect fit.
The real agenda for this question is assurance that you aren’t applying to every job opening in sight. you should never mention another company or job title because the point of every interview is to convince the interviewer this is the job you want and you are perfect for it. Use this as an opportunity to share what you know about the company and why you are a perfect fit.
7. Can you describe how you solved a work or school problem?
This is a common interview question, but one that catches many people off-guard. Do you take responsibility for your failings? Or do you deny you’ve ever made a mistake? Everyone messes up, it’s all about how you handle it. Kennedy suggests mentioning a single, small, well-intentioned mistake and quickly following up with an important lesson you learned from the experience.
This is a common interview question, but one that catches many people off-guard. Do you take responsibility for your failings? Or do you deny you’ve ever made a mistake? Everyone messes up, it’s all about how you handle it. Kennedy suggests mentioning a single, small, well-intentioned mistake and quickly following up with an important lesson you learned from the experience.
8. What would you do if you won $5 million tomorrow?
Most people know this question aims to trap candidates for whom work is merely a means to an end, rather than a passion to which they will be dedicated. But it’s also facetious to say you’d stay in your current position if you were to be blessed with such fortunes. It’s perfectly acceptable to say you’d start your own company, charity or project to further your personal development. This question really gets at whether you’re naturally inclined to work, so make sure those imaginary piles of cash would enable some form of future productivity.
Most people know this question aims to trap candidates for whom work is merely a means to an end, rather than a passion to which they will be dedicated. But it’s also facetious to say you’d stay in your current position if you were to be blessed with such fortunes. It’s perfectly acceptable to say you’d start your own company, charity or project to further your personal development. This question really gets at whether you’re naturally inclined to work, so make sure those imaginary piles of cash would enable some form of future productivity.
9. How does this position compare with others you’re applying for?
They’re basically asking: “Are you applying for other jobs?” “The hiring manager is first trying to figure out how active you are in your job search,” If you say, “This is the only job I’m applying for,” that’ll send up a red flag. Very few job applicants only apply to the one single job — so they may assume you’re being dishonest. However, if you openly speak about other positions you’re pursuing, and you speak favorably about them, the hiring manager may worry that you’ll end up taking another job elsewhere, and they won’t want to waste their time. “Speaking negatively about other jobs or employers isn’t good either,”
They’re basically asking: “Are you applying for other jobs?” “The hiring manager is first trying to figure out how active you are in your job search,” If you say, “This is the only job I’m applying for,” that’ll send up a red flag. Very few job applicants only apply to the one single job — so they may assume you’re being dishonest. However, if you openly speak about other positions you’re pursuing, and you speak favorably about them, the hiring manager may worry that you’ll end up taking another job elsewhere, and they won’t want to waste their time. “Speaking negatively about other jobs or employers isn’t good either,”
10. Explain ________ (your industry) to your nephew / grandmother / totally oblivious client.
Are you a good communicator? As a developer, can you explain how the newest product feature operates in a way that the marketing team can process, so they can in turn pitch it to customers? If you can’t explain your job duties in plain English, you probably aren’t well-versed enough in the field to effectively communicate your needs to the coworkers you will interact with on a daily basis.
Are you a good communicator? As a developer, can you explain how the newest product feature operates in a way that the marketing team can process, so they can in turn pitch it to customers? If you can’t explain your job duties in plain English, you probably aren’t well-versed enough in the field to effectively communicate your needs to the coworkers you will interact with on a daily basis.
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