Ten Tough Interview Questions and Ten Great Answers

Mental fear of the unknown is often what produces the physical symptoms of nervousness. In addition to preparing yourself physically, you need to prepare yourself mentally. The best way to prepare mentally is to know what may be coming. Fear of the unknown can only exist when there is an unknown. Take the time to understand some of the standards when it comes to interviewing questions.

The following are some of the most difficult questions you will face in the course of your job interviews. Some questions may seem rather simple on the surface such as Tell me about yourself, but these questions can have a variety of answers. The more open ended the question, the wider the variation in the answers. Once you have become practiced in your interviewing skills, you will find that you can use almost any question as a launching pad for a particular topic or compelling story.

Others are classic interview questions, such as What is your greatest weakness? Questions most people answer improperly. In this case, the standard textbook answer for the greatest weakness question is to provide a veiled positive such as: I work too much. I just work and work and work. Wrong. Either you are lying or, worse yet, you are telling the truth, in which case you define working too much as a weakness and really do not want to work much at all.

1. Tell me about yourself.

   It seems like an easy interview question. Its open ended. I can talk about whatever I want from the birth canal forward. Right?

   Wrong. What the hiring manager really wants is a quick, two- to three-minute snapshot of who you are and why you are the best candidate for this position.

   So as you answer this question, talk about what you've done to prepare yourself to be the very best candidate for the position. Use an example or two to back it up. Then ask if they would like more details. If they do, keep giving them example after example of your background and experience. Always point back to an example when you have the opportunity.

   Tell me about yourself does not mean tell me everything. Just tell me what makes you the best.

2. Why should I hire you?

   The easy answer is that you are the best person for the job. And dont be afraid to say so. But then back it up with what specifically differentiates you.

   For example: You should hire me because Im the best person for the job. I realize that there are likely other candidates who also have the ability to do this job. Yet I bring an additional quality that makes me the best person for the job--my passion for excellence. I am passionately committed to producing truly world class results. For example . . .

   Are you the best person for the job? Show it by your passionate examples.

3. What is your long-range objective?

   Make my job easy for me. Make me want to hire you.

   The key is to focus on your achievable objectives and what you are doing to reach those objectives.

   For example: Within five years, I would like to become the very best accountant your company has on staff. I want to work toward becoming the expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel Ill be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities which might be presented in the long term. For example, here is what Im presently doing to prepare myself . . .

   Then go on to show by your examples what you are doing to reach your goals and objectives.

4. What is your greatest weakness?

   Most career books tell you to select a strength and present it as a weakness. Such as: I work too much. I just work and work and work. Wrong. First of all, using a strength and presenting it as a weakness is deceiving. Second, it misses the point of the question.

   You should select a weakness that you have been actively working to overcome. For example: I have had trouble in the past with planning and prioritization. However, Im now taking steps to correct this. I just started using a pocket planner . . . then show them your planner and how you are using it.

   Talk about a true weakness and show what you are doing to overcome it.

5. If I were to ask your professors to describe you, what would they say?

   This is a threat of reference check question. Do not wait for the interview to know the answer. Ask any prior bosses or professors in advance. And if theyre willing to provide a positive reference, ask them for a letter of recommendation.

   Then you can answer the question like this:

   I believe she would say I'm a very energetic person, that Im results oriented and one of the best people she has ever worked with. Actually, I know she would say that, because those are her very words. May I show you her letter of recommendation?

   So be prepared in advance with your letters of recommendation.

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