No, it’s not an 80’s hit. It’s the reality of many interview questions – they are tricky by design. Why? It’s simple. Employers ask these questions to better understand a candidate’s attitudes and motivations. We’ve compiled a list of common interview questions that can catch candidates off guard. By preparing your answers in advance, you’ll walk into your interview with greater confidence.
Why are you looking, or why did you leave your last job?
Answer this question in a positive and forthright way. Candidates often make one of two mistakes. They either give a vague response that suggests they’re hiding something or offer a negative, defensive reply.
What do you know about our company?
Be prepared to share three things you learned during your research. For example, explain what the company does, mention its sales volume, or reference a recent positive news story. Don’t stall on this one – show the interviewer you’ve done your homework!
Tell me about yourself.
Interviewers may also ask, “Tell me about your background,” or “Tell me about your accomplishments.” Regardless of how the question is asked, prepare a one-minute career overview that highlights your professional background, accomplishments, strengths, and career goals. Then, explain why those qualities make you a strong fit for the role. Keep your answer concise. This is a brief introduction, not your entire work history.
What do you want to be doing in five years?
Communicate your goals without being overly specific. If your answer is unclear, you may appear to lack direction. However, if you’re too specific, you could raise concerns a red flag if your answer doesn’t match what the company has to offer long-term. If you’re looking for rapid advancement, be sure to point out that you understand the commitment necessary to achieve your objectives.
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Be prepared to talk about two or three functional strengths and one or two intangible characteristics that you regard as strengths. It helps to frame your comments by saying: “My supervisor said…” or “I feel that.…” It is best to address the weakness by saying: “I’m working on…” or “I would like to learn more about…” or “In my last performance review my supervisor suggested.…”
The “I can’t think of any weaknesses” response may give the interviewer the impression that you are afraid to admit weaknesses or you are not coachable. Similarly, saying your biggest weakness is that you are a perfectionist or you work too hard isn’t as powerful as sharing how something impacted your work and detailing how you overcame it.
What salary are you looking for?
Of all tricky interview questions, salary can be the trickiest. The further along you are in the interview process, the more specific you should be. If this is asked during the first interview, you may not know the nature of the long-term opportunity and the overall benefits yet, so you’re not in the position to give a specific number.
However, it’s best to answer the question rather than avoid it. One way to answer might be – “my current base is in the low $60s, and I am eligible for up to 10 percent in incentive compensation. Of course I would like to move forward, but my primary motivations are the experience I will get and the opportunity to keep learning and growing.”
This answer gives the interviewer an idea about the salary range you would entertain, but you have left your options open to accepting a higher or lower offer, depending on your interest. In addition, you minimized the chance of shutting yourself out of the job, because you didn’t give a specific number that was outside of their hiring range.
Why are you interested in our company?
Provide a specific reason why the position fits your career plan, and point out something about the company that appeals to you.
Tell me what you like to do outside of work.
Often, employers ask this question to be friendly and break the ice. In addition, they may use it to see what kind of work/life balance you are looking for and to determine whether your outside interests will conflict with your job. It is important to describe a couple of activities to show that you are well rounded. Philanthropic interests are great to mention here. This is also the time to highlight any involvement or leadership activities in the community.
When it comes to answering the tricky interview questions, keep the following general advice in mind:
- Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification. If you don’t understand a question, it’s better to ask the interviewer to explain than to risk stumbling.
- Don’t “over answer.” Be careful not to get off track or talk a long time without making sure you are providing the information the interviewer is seeking. If interviewers want more detail, they will ask for it. At the same time, there are very few if any questions where a simple “yes” or “no” answer is sufficient. Give examples or explain briefly whenever possible.
