Your goal in a job interview is to demonstrate to the interviewer
a high level of assurance that you would be a good fit for the job. One
way to build the necessary assurance the interviewer is seeking to
respond to tough questions with well thought out authentic answers.
Unsuccessful job hunters frame their answers to downplay any weakness by parroting answers they find in interview preparation guides. Interviewers who see this approach easily conclude the candidate lacks authenticity, may be hiding something critical, and take points away. Often this ends the candidate's chances of getting a job offer.
Attempting to reframe a weakness or a difficult situation with only an affirmative answer can backfire on the candidate. Here are the most common tough job interview questions that job hunters make the mistake of attempting to turn a possible liability only into a strength.
1. "Everyone has things they need to improve, what is the thing you need the greatest improvement?" Here is the answer many candidates get out of an interview guide. "I tend to take the job home with me, and I'm frustrated when others are not as interested in the job as I am."
Trying to turn a supposed weakness into a strength, and saying something negative about others will not impress a reasonably skilled interviewer.
An effective answer to this type of question, and a follow-up question about your number two weakness should follow these guidelines: (1) Outline the problem, something that is job related and unique to you; (2) What specifically you did to overcome the problem; and (3) Results achieved.
Now you have an authentic answer to a tough interview question.
2. "Tell about a time you did not get along with your supervisor (a co-worker)?" Don't tell the interviewer that you never had a disagreement with you supervisor or a co-worker. This answer is unrealistic, displays a lack of skills in dealing with confrontations and in the interviewer mind is probably a lie.
Go back to the guidelines in answer number one. Make your answer unique to you and authentic. Tell the story, roadblocks overcame and a positive outcome and what you learned. Give examples of what you learned to successfully deal with other issues in this area.
3. "Tell me about something you tried and it failed?" To often the candidate will try to finesse this question by not admitting there were ever associated with a project or idea that failed.
This is the wrong way to answer this type of question. Is it really authentic to say you were never associated with failure? Everyone, in one form or another tried something that failed. The best way is to learn valuable lessons is through failure.
This is the way to frame the answer. Describe an initiative or project. Tell honestly everything you did to keep it from failing. Discuss why it failed and what you learned from the experience. Now take what you learned and relate how it helped you succeed in a related project.
This approach to answering tough interview questions is honest; is unique and clearly shows your authenticity and your ability to learn from adversity. All will build the necessary assurances in the interviewers mind that you are the leading candidate for the position.
Unsuccessful job hunters frame their answers to downplay any weakness by parroting answers they find in interview preparation guides. Interviewers who see this approach easily conclude the candidate lacks authenticity, may be hiding something critical, and take points away. Often this ends the candidate's chances of getting a job offer.
Attempting to reframe a weakness or a difficult situation with only an affirmative answer can backfire on the candidate. Here are the most common tough job interview questions that job hunters make the mistake of attempting to turn a possible liability only into a strength.
1. "Everyone has things they need to improve, what is the thing you need the greatest improvement?" Here is the answer many candidates get out of an interview guide. "I tend to take the job home with me, and I'm frustrated when others are not as interested in the job as I am."
Trying to turn a supposed weakness into a strength, and saying something negative about others will not impress a reasonably skilled interviewer.
An effective answer to this type of question, and a follow-up question about your number two weakness should follow these guidelines: (1) Outline the problem, something that is job related and unique to you; (2) What specifically you did to overcome the problem; and (3) Results achieved.
Now you have an authentic answer to a tough interview question.
2. "Tell about a time you did not get along with your supervisor (a co-worker)?" Don't tell the interviewer that you never had a disagreement with you supervisor or a co-worker. This answer is unrealistic, displays a lack of skills in dealing with confrontations and in the interviewer mind is probably a lie.
Go back to the guidelines in answer number one. Make your answer unique to you and authentic. Tell the story, roadblocks overcame and a positive outcome and what you learned. Give examples of what you learned to successfully deal with other issues in this area.
3. "Tell me about something you tried and it failed?" To often the candidate will try to finesse this question by not admitting there were ever associated with a project or idea that failed.
This is the wrong way to answer this type of question. Is it really authentic to say you were never associated with failure? Everyone, in one form or another tried something that failed. The best way is to learn valuable lessons is through failure.
This is the way to frame the answer. Describe an initiative or project. Tell honestly everything you did to keep it from failing. Discuss why it failed and what you learned from the experience. Now take what you learned and relate how it helped you succeed in a related project.
This approach to answering tough interview questions is honest; is unique and clearly shows your authenticity and your ability to learn from adversity. All will build the necessary assurances in the interviewers mind that you are the leading candidate for the position.