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The 11 most Feared Interview Questions
One of the worst and most humiliating situations that any job applicant can find himself in is looking back at an interviewer with a blank stare whilst trying to find the right answer to a question that was asked. When this happens, the applicant loses focus and fails to present qualifications, experience and expertise in a compelling yet truthful manner. Oftentimes this “cat got your tongue” scenario is due to lack of preparation for an interview or a professional history that has been stained with mistakes. Whilst it may not be possible to guess all the questions that an interviewer may ask, it is nonetheless possible to prepare the right answers for “common interview questions”. Below you will find ten popular common interview questions and suggested answers to take into consideration.
Question 1: What sacrifices are you willing to make for our organisation?
Hint: The natural tendency of most applicants is to assume that they should put their necks under the corporate guillotine to create a good impression. Whilst is might be impressive to most interviewers to know they have a professional martyr sitting in front of them, they already know just how far anyone is willing to go given a list of personal and professional factors. Therefore, do not pitch yourself in an unrealistic way; try to keep your answer as honest and factual as possible. A possible answer could be:
Answer: I am willing to make sacrifices that are within my professional and personal reach to make and that ultimately are mutually beneficial when materialised.
Question 2: Were you ever fired in the past and did you learn anything from it?
Hint: If you were never fired in the past, do not just say “NO” and leave it hanging. Try to add something else to your answer to show how professionally mature you are as an individual. For someone that was never fired before, a possible answer would be:
Answer: No, but I believe that if I was fired in the past I would try to see where I went wrong and what were the circumstances that led up to being asked to leave the organisation. From there, I would analyse my own approach and see what changes I need to make. If there is something that I can change then I will change it, if it is something that I have no control over (for example your boss’ attitude) then I would learn how to deal with it.
If you were fired in the past, then a possible answer would be:
Answer: Yes, and that was a turning point in my life that allowed me to mature as an individual and understand different situations and different reactions.
Question 3: How well do you handle stress and tight deadlines?
Hint: If you have worked in a stressful position then this will not be a challenging question to answer; however, even if you have never worked in a stress related environment try to provide a truthful answer.
Answer: In the past I have had the opportunity to work on projects that had sensitive deadlines and that were performed in s stressful environment. This allowed me to hone my skills in respecting tight deadlines and also dealing with stress. So, I would say that I have matured in this respect and that I would deal with it very well.
OR: I have never had the opportunity to work in a stressful environment, but I do believe that it would be a wonderful opportunity for me to mature as a professional.
Question 4: Tell me about yourself.
Your personal life should not be the main topic if this is asked. Try to make mention of proven professional accomplishments and also traits that you believe will be beneficial to the company. A possible answer would be:
Answer: From a professional stand point I am a disciplined person that is result-driven. My competitive personality is often threatening to some, but I regard it as a valuable asset that has allowed me to accomplish great results over the years.
Question 5: What have you been doing to keep yourself abreast of technological changes and new business concepts?
Hint: If you have not been doing anything, then this will be a difficult question to answer; however, if you have been attending different courses and have been an avid reader on various business issues then this should not be a challenge to answer. You can make mention of courses that you have taken and new technological releases that you have learned to apply to your profession.
Question 6: How much would you like to be paid?
Hint: Try to bounce this question back to the interviewer for him or her to reveal what the salary range is likely to be. A possible answer would be:
Answer: I have not had a chance to research or become formally informed about the salary range for this position. What does XX generally pay for this position?”
If you already know the answer based on the job description, then do not try to play smart, the correct answer would be: “Based on the job description I was informed that the salary for this position would be XX, am I mistaken?
Question 7: Where do you see yourself a few years from now?
Hint: Even if you are thinking of owning your own business, keep this to yourself. Also, do not make any reference to occupying specific roles in the organisations. A possible answer would be:
Answer: “I see myself growing with the organisation and becoming involved in a number of projects and courses to hone my professional skills for the future.”
Question 8: How would you handle a personal conflict with your boss or colleague?
Answer: Personally I think a lot of personal conflicts can be resolved with clearer communication lines and some compromise along the line. I would sincerely try to understand by boss’ or colleagues’ perspective to better understand their position. From there I would see what steps can be taken for us to meet each other half way and place the company’s objectives in front of our personal conflicts.
Question 9: What don’t you like in an organisation?
Hint: Try not to harp on the fact that you do not like organisations that do not consider an employee’s rights to higher pay cheques and more days off. The best answer would be:
Answer: “I believe that all organisations have their weak spots, but personally I prefer ones that communicate effectively with their employees and that has a competitive spirit to think outside of the box to be a leader in the industry.”
Question 10: How often do you check your e-mails and social networking accounts on a daily basis?
Hint: This might seem like a harmless question and the naive would assume that the company uses social networking sites and sends e-mails on a frequent basis to employees. What the interviewer is really trying to find out is if you will waste company hours reading your e-mails and doing checks on your social networking accounts. The best answer would be:
Answer: “I do the necessary checks as it relates to the job in question, so if the position entails receiving many e-mails on a daily basis I will check my inbox and social networking account frequently to ensure that all queries are dealt with in a timely manner.”
Question 11: What animal would you be and why?
Hint: Yes you may just laugh at the question, but there have been cases where interviewers asked applicants what animal they would like to be if they had a choice. Try to choose an animal that demonstrates the corporate spirit. Good animals to choose are: lions, dolphins, dogs, whales, cheetahs. Do not say cats, snake or fish; because these animals do not have a team spirit.