If you encounter a stress question, your best bet is to stay calm, diplomatic, and positive in your response. Don't get defensive or allow your confidence to be shaken, and try to answer the question to the best of your ability. If you simply can't answer the question, think about it for a few seconds. Then, with a confident smile and without apology, simply say, "I can't answer that question."
Following are fifty of the most challenging questions you'll ever face. If you're able to answer these questions, you'll be prepared to handle just about anything the recruiter comes up with.
Q: Tell me about yourself.
A: I'm a production assistant with a B.A. in communications and three years of solid broadcasting and public relations experience. I have extensive experience developing and researching topics, pre-interviewing guests, and producing on-location video tapings. I have a tremendous amount of energy and love to be challenged. I'm constantly trying to take on additional responsibilities and learn new things.
I've been watching your station for some time now, and I've been impressed with your innovative approach and your fast growth. I'd like to be a part of that winning team.
This is a perfect opportunity to "sell" your qualifications to the interviewer. Briefly describe your experience, skills, accomplishments, goals, and personal qualities. Explain your interest in the company you're interviewing with, and how you plan on making a contribution there. If you're a recent college graduate, be sure to discuss your educational qualifications as well, emphasizing the specific classes you took that are relevant to the position.
Q: What is your biggest weakness?
A: I admit to being a bit of a perfectionist. I take a great deal of pride in my work and am committed to producing the highest-quality work I can. Sometimes if I'm not careful, though, I can go a bit overboard. I've learned that it's not always possible or even practical to try to perfect your work-sometimes you have to decide what's important and ignore the rest in order to be productive. It's a question of trade-offs. I also pay a lot of attention to pacing my work, so that I don't get too caught up in perfecting every last detail.
This is a great example of what's known as a negative question. Negative questions are a favorite among interviewers, because they're effective for uncovering problems or weaknesses. The key to answering negative questions is to give them a positive spin. For this particular question your best bet is to admit to a weakness that isn't catastrophic, inconsistent, or currently disruptive to your chosen professional field, and to emphasize how you've overcome or minimized the problem. Whatever you do, don't answer this question with a cop-out like "I can't think of any," or even worse, "I don't really have any major weaknesses." This kind of response is likely to eliminate you from contention.
Q: Tell me about a project in which you were disappointed with your personal performance.
A: In my last job for a manufacturing company I had to analyze all of the supplier bids and present recommendations to the vice president of logistics. Because the supplier bids weren't in a uniform format, my analysis often consisted of comparing dissimilar items. This caused some confusion in my final report, and by the time I'd reworked it and presented it to the vice president, we'd lost the critical time we needed to improve our approval process for these bids. In hindsight I should have taken a simpler approach to the problem and not tried to make it so complex or all inclusive. Ever since, I've paid more attention to making recommendations in a timely manner.
Describe roadblocks and what you've done to try to get around them. How have your skills come into play? In hindsight, what could you have done differently? What lessons have you learned?
Q: Tell me about your most difficult work or personal experience.
A: One time my co-worker went through rehab for six months after a wreck, and I picked up a lot of additional work to help him out. I know he would've done the same for me, and it's important for me to have that kind of trust among the members of my work group.
The interviewer will want to know how you hold up under pressure. Describe a situation, either personal or professional, that involved a great deal of conflict and challenge and placed you under an unusual amount of stress. What, specifically, were the problems, and what did you do to resolve them?
Q: What was your greatest challenge in your last job?
A: I had to get longtime employees with few or no computer skills to embrace a new E-mail system. I started by explaining the need for less paper in everyone's job. Then I decided to create a temporary E-mail account with one daily riddle on the system; everyone who responded correctly got his or her name put in a weekly drawing. Each week for one month a person from the drawing won a dinner for four at a nice local restaurant. This idea worked well as a device to get people to use the system.
Describe a problem area that you improved in your last job, emphasizing the solution you devised. If you're relatively inexperienced and can't boast of solving a tremendously difficult or involved problem, like saving the company from a hostile takeover, that's okay. Simply describe a relatively minor problem you've solved creatively, as this candidate does.
O: Tell me about the most difficult problem you've dealt with.
A: That would be the time I was promoted to manage a new department. A co-worker in the department resented me from the beginning. I soon learned that her best friend had been turned down for the position. I actually confronted her about it; I explained that I had once put a relationship of my own to the test working too closely with a friend-we found that we spent all our leisure time talking about work. A few weeks after our talk she admitted that she'd never thought about the potential results of working too closely with a friend. Our working relationship was fine after that.
Discuss the problem briefly and then focus on what actions you took and the results you obtained. Be revealing: Why was this problem personally hard for you? How did you remain objective and professional?
Q: Describe a time when you failed to resolve a conflict.
A: I wasn't able to keep a good employee once who'd been in our manufacturing facility for ten years. His job description was rewritten to require computer skills. I offered to send him to night classes, but he refused the help. I had no option but to replace him. In retrospect, if I'd encouraged him and other employees to acquire new training periodically, he might not have been overwhelmed by the time his position was reworked. Now I'm vigilant about encouraging my group to attend seminars and courses to enhance their job skills and to avoid becoming outdated.
The ideal solution here is to discuss a conflict that wasn't yours to solve in the first place. If you must discuss a personal conflict, focus on the positive steps you'd take if you could go back and do it over again. What have you learned as a result of this experience?
Q: How have you handled criticism of your work?
A: The first time I had a complaint from a client, I found it difficult to keep the complaint separate from my professional service of the account. The client was upset about the downtime on ATM machines. I learned that showing empathy usually calms an unpleasant situation; I also learned that no client is going to be happy with everything, even if that client's overall experience is positive.
The interviewer is looking for an indication of the candidate's accountability and professional character. Describe a specific project or work habit that caused you a problem until you faced up to it and overcame it. Alternatively, you might describe a time you responded objectively and professionally to particularly harsh or unreasonable criticism of your work.
Q: What aspects of your work are most often criticized?
A: I remember in my first job as marketing assistant I spent endless hours analyzing a particular problem. I came up with a revised marketing plan that was extremely well received. Unfortunately, when it came time to present the plan to top management, I hadn't prepared the fine points of the presentation--overheads and slides--and the proposal was turned down. I'd failed to make clear the savings that would result from the plan. I spent the next two weeks working on my presentation, and on my second try management approved it, and my recommendations were carried out to everyone's satisfaction.
This question is similar to the question on weaknesses. Try to give an example from an early job. Discuss what you did to overcome the situation and to improve your work. You could also discuss how the failure has inspired you to pay more careful attention to detail in all your work.
Q: Give an example of how you've handled rejection.
A: I remember in my first job as a marketing assistant, I spent endless hours analyzing a particular problem. I came up with a revised marketing plan that was extremely well received. Unfortunately when I had to present it to top management I didn't put in the necessary time and attention to the actual presentation-overheads and slides-and the result was that it was turned down because I did not make it clear the savings that would result from this new marketing plan. I spent the next two weeks working on my presentation and at my second try I was extremely persuasive and convinced top management that indeed, this was the way to go. They approved it and my recommendations were carried out to everyone's satisfaction.
Ideally, you should cite an example from an early stage in your career. Explain why you met with rejection and describe how you managed to overcome it. Demonstrate your improvement in that area over the years.
Q: What might your current boss want to change about your work habits?
A: I'm a morning person and she's a night owl. I like to come into the office at least an hour early, usually by seven, to get a jump start on my work. My boss likes to come in after nine and work late into the evening. So I think if she could change one thing about me, she'd probably make me into a night owl, too, so that I'd be available during many of the same hours she likes to work.
The interviewer will want to know how you'll fit in with your future boss and co-workers, and will also want to feel confident that he or she has uncovered any surprises about your corporate style. One good way to answer this question is to point out minor differences of preference. Alternatively, you might describe a weakness that you and your boss have worked on and improved.
Q: Tell me about two or three aspects of your last job you'd never want to repeat.
A: I'm glad that I have experience in credit collections because it's enabled me to make better risk assessments. I really didn't enjoy the work, though, and it isn't something I want to do again.
In a constructive way describe two or three things you've done that you didn't especially enjoy or that didn't play upon your strengths. Then describe your strengths and their relevance to the job you're applying for.
Q: Tell me about a situation that frustrated you at work.
A: I was frustrated once when one of my clients, who'd insisted on a high- growth stock, called in a panic because the stock price had dropped more than twenty points in one day. I had a hard time convincing him to ride it out rather than cut his losses. This happened despite my attempts from the beginning to explain the short-term volatility of that stock.
This is another question designed to probe the candidate's professional personality. The interviewer will want reassurance that you are able to hold up under pressure. Describe how you've remained diplomatic, objective, or professional in a difficult situation.
Q: Tell me about one of your projects that failed.
A: I've always had the tendency to be a workaholic, and have the attitude that I can tackle anything and achieve good results. During the hurricane of 1992 my insurance company was inundated with claims. I immediately thought I could handle all the claims in my area and jumped in with both feet to work eighteen-hour days. I quickly realized, though, that there was no way I could complete all of the claims on time, and I had to start to delegate some of the responsibility to my investigators. This experience showed me that no matter how efficient and competent you are there are times when you must either delegate responsibility or ask for help.
Demonstrate the ability here to be humble and to learn from your mistakes. In hindsight, what could you have done differently? How has your leadership style changed because of the experience?
Q: Tell me about a time when your employer wasn't happy with your job performance.
A: That would be during my first week on the job as a paralegal. I gave her two letters that had typos in them. Frankly, I'd simply been a little sloppy--but that's the only example that comes to mind. Ms. Heilman did tell me regularly that she was very happy with my work.
Again, be sure to discuss a relatively minor incident here. Also, show a willingness to accept responsibility for the problem-don't blame others or make excuses. Simply describe what happened and how you successfully resolved the situation.
Q: Have you ever been passed up for a promotion that you felt you deserved?
A: A couple of times in my early career I thought that I was unfairly passed up for a promotion. However, in retrospect I now realize that in all likelihood I wasn't ready to perform in those jobs-and, in fact, the additional training experience I gained remaining where I was proved invaluable in the last few years, as I've made significant progress moving up the corporate ladder. I've also learned to appreciate that being ready for a promotion doesn't necessarily mean it'll happen. There are many external factors that influence the nature and timing of promotions, aside from a person's performance and capabilities.
The interviewer wants to gauge the candidate's self-confidence, as well as his or her objectivity about personal or professional limitations. Give evidence here that you have enough patience to learn what's important before you get bored or frustrated. After you've mastered your own job, would you stay motivated long enough to be productive?
Q: Have you ever been fired?
A: During one of my summer internships while in college I worked for a soft-ware consulting company. Midway through the summer a new president was appointed because of some financial difficulties, and he requested the resignation of my entire group. I was swept out with everyone else, even though my work performance had never been criticized.
If you've never been fired, of course, this is a simple question to answer. But if you have been fired, you'll need to be prepared to discuss the situation in detail and possibly answer a series of very specific follow-up questions. If the termination was a result of a situation beyond your control, such as corporate downsizing, most interviewers will be very understanding. But if you were fired due to poor performance or some other problem, you'll need to admit your fault and convince the interviewer that you've corrected the problem.
Although this may be a difficult question to answer, you should be completely honest. If you aren't, and the recruiter finds out as much from your references, you may be subjected to immediate dismissal, or your job offer may be revoked.
Q: Why have you changed jobs so frequently?
A: My frequent job changes over the last five years have been due to the rapid changes in my profession. My jobs have been based on government contracts, and over the last several years congressional appropriations have been up and down, causing some companies' contracts to be canceled, while other companies land huge, unexpected contracts. This volatility creates some good opportunities, but it also creates a lot of uncertainty. Because your business is based mostly on consumer products, and not on government products, I welcome the opportunity to work in an environment where the business cycle is more stable and predictable.
Be candid here. Personal growth, a larger budget, or other career-enhancing experiences are all valid reasons for moving on. Convince the interviewer that you're interested in his or her company for the long haul.
Q: Why did you stay in your last job so long?
A: I was in my last job over seven years. During that time I completed an advanced technical degree at an evening university and also had two six- month assignments in which I was loaned out to different departments. As a result, I acquired some additional skills that normally aren't associated with that particular job. Therefore, I think I've made good progress and am ready to accept the next challenge.
The interviewer may be curious about your interest in personal improvement, tackling new assignments, and so on. He or she may also be concerned about whether you have a tendency to get too comfortable with the status quo. Demonstrate how you've developed job responsibilities in meaningful new ways.
Q: Tell me about a problem you've had getting along with a work associate.
A: I'm pretty easygoing and tend to get along with most people. But I remember one time when we brought in a new associate who was very bossy-to the point where he offended one of our interns with his attitude. I actually pulled him aside and told him that I found it more productive to ask people for help than to give orders. Unfortunately, my advice didn't seem to help much, but we were more careful when we hired new staff after that.
Avoid discussing a personality clash; focus instead on a difference in work ethic between you and an associate, or something else with which the interviewer is likely to empathize. For example, you might describe someone whose standards of excellence were perhaps less stringent than yours.
Q: Tell me about your least-favorite manager or professor.
A: Well, I've been pretty fortunate as far as managers go, and I didn't have any problems with my professors. In my first job out of college I worked with a manager who was pretty inaccessible. If you walked into his office to ask a question, you got the sense that you were bothering him, so we just learned to get help from each other instead. I wouldn't say he was my least-favorite manager, because he was a good manager in a lot of ways, but I would have preferred that he'd made himself more available to us and given us more direction.
Answering this question will be a little bit like walking across a loaded mine-field, so beware! Keep in mind that the interviewer doesn't want to learn about your former supervisors; he or she does want to learn about the way you speak about them. Though the interviewer may bait you to make a negative statement about your former employer, doing so can create a host of problems. Even if your claim is completely true and entirely justified, the recruiter may conclude either that you don't get along well with people or that you shift blame to others. The best way around this dilemma is to choose an example that's not too negative, touch upon it briefly, and then focus the rest of your answer on what you learned from the experience.
Q: Who's the toughest employer you've ever had, and why?
A: That would be Ms. Henson at Franklin Associates. She'd push people to their limits when things got busy, and she was a stickler for detail. But she was always fair, and she rewarded good, hard work. I'd call her a tough boss, but a good boss.
Again, you should avoid making negative statements about your previous employers, at all costs. Turn the question around with a positive, upbeat response, as this candidate does.
Q: Have you ever had to work with a manager who was unfair to you, or who was just plain hard to get along with?
A: Actually, I've never run into that. Of course, my current boss has to work under time constraints-just like everyone else-and she sometimes has to phrase things succinctly if our department is going to meet its goals. But I've never considered that unfair or hard to handle. It's just part of the job. My supervisors and I have always gotten along quite well.
Never, under any circumstances, criticize a current or former employer; no matter how many times the interviewer gives you the opportunity to do so. What the interviewer is trying to find out here is not whether the candidate has worked for difficult people, but if he or she is willing to bad-mouth them.
Q: What are some of the things your supervisor has done that you disliked?
A: The only thing I really don't like is to get feedback in front of others. I want to hear good or bad feedback in private, so that I have time to think and react to the issue without other distractions. I believe that's the fair way to improve learning or to change future behavior.
Again, avoid being overly negative when talking about your ex-boss or man-ager. Discuss a relatively minor example or one with which the interviewer is likely to empathize. Put a positive spin on your answer by describing what you learned from this difficult situation.
Q: How do you handle tension with your boss?
A: The only tension I've ever felt was once when we both got too busy to keep each other informed. My boss overcommitted me with a short deadline, not knowing that I was bogged down with another client problem. I believe firmly in the importance of staff meetings so that co-workers can respect the demands on each other's time.
The safest ground here is to describe an example of a miscommunication in your early relationship with a boss and how you resolved it. The interviewer will want to know how you avoided a recurrence of the problem.
Q: What are your salary requirements?
A: I'd expect a salary that's comparable to the going rate for someone in my field with my skills and expertise. Salary, however, isn't my only consideration. I'm most interested in this opportunity because I think it represents a good match between what you're looking for and my qualifications. What kind of figure do you have in mind?
Recruiters want to weed out people whose financial goals are unrealistic. This question is a direct hit-it forces a response about a touchy subject. If you mention a salary that's too low, you may seem uninformed or desperate; too high, and you may eliminate yourself from further consideration. It's best to turn the question back on the recruiter. Ask the salary range for the position; then ask the recruiter to consider how your qualifications compare to the average requirements for the position.
Q: What is your current salary?
A: I currently earn an annual salary of thirty-five thousand dollars with full benefits.
By all means, if you're asked about your salary history, don't embellish. More and more companies are starting to verify applicants' pay history, some even demanding to see W-2 forms from job seekers. If you get the job, a falsehood discovered even years later may be grounds for immediate dismissal. Don't leave yourself open to this kind of trouble.
Q: Would you be willing to relocate to another city?
A: I'd prefer to be based here, but it's certainly a possibility I'd be willing to consider.
You may, even in some first interviews, be asked questions that seem to elicit a tremendous commitment on your behalf, such as this one. Although such questions may be unfair during an initial job interview, you may well conclude that you have nothing to gain and everything to lose with a negative response. If you're asked such a question unexpectedly during an initial job interview, simply say something like "That's certainly a possibility" or "I'm willing to consider that."
Later, if you receive an offer, you can find out the specific work conditions and then decide if you wish to accept the position. Remember, at the job-offer stage you have the most negotiating power, and the employer may be willing to accommodate your needs. If that isn't the case, you might wish to explain that upon reflection, you've decided you can't (for instance) relocate, but you'd like to be considered for other positions that might open up in the future.
Q: Does the frequent travel required for this work fit into your lifestyle?
A: The frequent travel in this consulting position is no problem for me or my family. I was recently married, but my wife is an airline flight attendant, so neither of us follows the typical nine-to-five routine.
If you're comfortable divulging information about your family situation, now is the time to do so. The interviewer is concerned here that the candidate may not be able to travel as much as the job requires. Emphasize your flexibility, or explain why travel wouldn't be a problem, in order to alleviate these concerns.
Q: Would you be able to work extended hours as necessary to perform the job?
All I'm accustomed to working long hours during the week. I usually work until at least six-thirty, because I get a lot done after the business office closes at five. I can make arrangements to be available on weekends, if necessary, though I do prefer to have at least twenty-four hours' notice.
Your response should match closely the position you're applying for and should reflect a realistic understanding of the work and time required. Ask about seasonality of work, if you're unsure, and show a willingness to work occasional extended hours.
Q: Sell me this stapler.
A: This is a professional-quality stapler, designed to be functional as well as attractive. It will help you reduce clutter on your desk by enabling you to fasten pages together. And since papers relating to the same subject will now be attached, you'll be more efficient and will save time searching for papers. Finally, its sleek shape and black color are coordinated to match the rest of your office furniture.
With this kind of question the interviewer will want to determine how quickly you think on your feet, as well as your ability to communicate effectively and succinctly. Be prepared to give a thirty-second speech on the benefits and advantages of virtually any common office object, from a paper clip to a telephone, particularly if you're interviewing for a sales position.
Q: Why should I hire you?
A: I offer over fifteen years of expertise in management, including electronic assembly for a major computer manufacturer, and injection-molding operations for a prominent plastics company. Because I have the ability to adjust and learn new skills quickly, I've often been called upon to start new operations. I'm confident on the basis of my skills and experience that I can help improve production by leading a team effort directed at achieving your company's goals.
You'll usually encounter this question toward the end of a job interview; how you answer it can make or break your candidacy. Instead of reiterating your resume, emphasize only a few of your strongest qualifications and relate them to the position in question. Even if you're not asked this question, you should be sure to wrap up the interview by saying something like, "I'd like to emphasize my interest in the position. Particularly after speaking with you today, I feel stronger than ever that I'm the right candidate for the job.
Q: Prove to me that your interest is sincere.
A: I know that a lot of people want to get into television because of the money or because they just want to be on camera. But to me communicating well is an art and the television industry is the ultimate test of how well one communicates. Working in television isn't like working for a newspaper, where if a reader misses a fact, he or she can just go back and reread it. A television news story can go by in a flash, and the challenge is to make sure the audience understands it, learns from it, and, in a broader sense, can use the information to better their lives or their situations. It's the way television can evoke action that's always made me want to be a part of the industry.
I'm particularly interested in this station because I like your focus on the community. Though the on-air products have a great look, it's to your credit that the station seems to remain focused on the tradition of local news and what matters to its audience. The special reports that emphasize town politics that go on location each week to a different town for a live shot, that explain the big issues facing a community, make the viewer feel that the station is a part of the community. In my opinion this is a great way to maintain a loyal audience.
Being unprepared to answer this question can eliminate you from further consideration. On the other hand, if you're able to demonstrate a strong interest in the company and in the position, you'll have an advantage over the competition.
Q: What would you do if I told you that I thought you were giving a very poor interview today?
A: Well, the first thing I'd do is ask you if there was any specific part of the interview that you thought I might have mishandled. After that I'd think back and try to remember if there had been any faulty communication on my part. Then I'd try to review possible problems I had understanding your questions, and I'd ask for clarification if I needed it. Finally, if we had time, I'd try to respond more fully and appropriately to the problem areas you identified for me.
Interviewers like to ask stress questions like these to see how well you hold up under pressure. Your best bet is to stay calm, relaxed, and don't allow your confidence to be shaken.
Q: You have seven minutes to convince me why you're the best candidate for this position. Go.
A: Instead of following a traditional question-and-answer format for a job interview, some recruiters have been known to ask no more than this one question. Only the most prepared candidates will survive this type of interview. If you run into this question, your best bet is to discuss various sales themes emphasizing throughout one or two of your strongest qualifications for the position.
Q: How would you respond to a defaulted form Z-65 counter-derivative renewal request if your manager ordered you to do so, and if the policy under which the executive board resolves such issues were currently under review?
A: Sometimes recruiters ask seemingly impossible questions, just to see how you'll respond. It's not so much that they want to see you squirm in your seat as that they want to judge how you might respond to pressure or tension on the job. No matter how you may feel at the time, being subjected to a ridiculous question like this one is probably a very good sign. If you're asked a tough question that you simply can't answer, think about it for a few seconds. Then, with a confident smile and without apology, simply say something like "I don't know, but if you hire me, I'll sure find out for you."
