Tough Interview Questions & The Answers That Will Impress Potential Employers

Tough Interview Questions & The Answers
That Will Impress Potential Employers

Contact Heather at heather@comerecommended.com

Introduction

• If you’ve made it to the interview round during
your job search, congratulate yourself! The
hiring manager obviously thinks you could be a
good fit for the position and wants to learn more
about you.
• Now you’ll need to prepare for any tough
interview questions you may encounter – and
determine how you’ll answer those questions.

Contact Heather at heather@comerecommended.com 3

What We’ll Discuss Today

• The toughest interview questions hiring
managers ask & how to answer them
– What are your weaknesses?
– Why did you leave your last job?
– Tell me about yourself
– Tell me about the worst boss you’ve ever had
– Why should I hire you?
– Give me an example of a time when…
– Where do you see yourself in five years?

• Interview do’s and don’ts


Tough Interview Questions & Great Answers

• “What are your weaknesses?”
– No “correct” answer
– Don’t share weaknesses related to the job at hand
– Take a weakness and put a positive spin on it
– Tell the employer how you’re improving upon it
– Don’t give a strength disguised as a weakness (for
example, “I am a perfectionist.”)



• “Why did you leave your last job?”
– Employers want to see if you’ll talk badly about your
former employer
– Don’t give into the temptation!
– Even if you left for negative reasons, an interview is not
the proper place to share dirt about your last employer
– Stay professional
– Great answer: “The cultural fit wasn’t right for me at that
organization. This company would be much better
because of [something in the culture you’ve researched].”



• “Tell me about yourself.”
– Keep your answer concise but comprehensive
– A prepared elevator speech (30- to 60-second pitch about
yourself) is a great tool to use for answering this question
– Talk about accomplishments, traits, education and
experience
– Resist the urge to drone on and on – the interviewer will be
asking more questions
• No need to share your life story!



• “Tell me about the worst boss you’ve ever had.”
– Again, resist the temptation to divulge dirt on past
experiences
– Don’t vent frustrations
– Great answer: “I’ve had all types of bosses, and some
were much better than others at managing and
communication.”
• It’s broad enough so you don’t come across as
unprofessional, but still answers the question



• “Why should I hire you?”
– To answer this question, you need to have a strong handle
on your fit at the organization—which requires some
research
– Perhaps you see that the organization lacks a clear
marketing strategy, something you have experience in
creating and implementing
– Depending on what you find and your unique selling
points, answer confidently and show the hiring manager
how you will benefit the organization if they hire you
– Talk about past accomplishments
– Make them want to hire you



• “Give me an example of a time when you had to
[work in a team, think on your feet, work with a
difficult client, etc.]…”
– This is where the accomplishment stories in your cover
letter and resume can come in handy
– The worst thing you can do when asked to give an
example of something is to panic and fail to come up with
one
– Come prepared with several stories that you can share
about past experiences to show that you are capable in a
variety of situations



• “Where do you see yourself in five years?”
– Show that you’ve thought about sticking around the
company and possibly moving up in the organization
• But don’t say you see yourself in your interviewer’s
position!
– Discuss how your skills and traits can help you excel at the
current position and benefit the company in the future
– Don’t share anything too personal, such as plans to start a
family or travel the world, which could take you out of the
running for the job


Interview Do’s & Don’ts

• DO show up on time or five minutes early
– Drive to the building beforehand to (1) determine how
much time you’ll need to get there and (2) ensure you
know where it is

• DON’T arrive late or too early
– Your first impression is an important one
– The interviewer might feel awkward if you’re sitting around
waiting for too long
– … and they’ll likely be annoyed if you’re late
• They’re probably interviewing other candidates and on
a tight schedule



• DON’T forget about your body language
– Here are several examples of body language don’ts (from
CareerBuilder.com):
• Rub the back of your head or neck. Even if you really
do just have a cramp in your neck, these gestures
make you look disinterested.
• Sit with your arms folded across your chest. You'll
appear unfriendly and disengaged.
• Cross your legs and idly shake one over the other. It's
distracting and shows how uncomfortable you are.
• Lean your body towards the door. You'll appear ready
to make a mad dash for the door.


• DON’T forget about your body language
– Body language do’s (from CareerBuilder.com):
• Sit up straight, and lean slightly forward in your chair.
• Show your enthusiasm by keeping an interested
expression. Nod and make positive gestures in
moderation to avoid looking like a bobblehead.
• Establish a comfortable amount of personal space
between you and the interviewer. Invading personal
space (anything closer than 20 inches) could make the
interviewer feel uncomfortable and take the focus away
from your conversation.



• DO be courteous and respectful of every
employee at the organization
– You make your first impression at the receptionist or
secretary
– Make it a positive one!

• DO bring extra resumes and/or your portfolio to
the interview
– The hiring manager might not have a copy in front of them
or it could get lost in the shuffle
– Your portfolio is a great tool to use to share examples of
past work



• DO give detailed examples along with your
answers
– Use accomplishment stories, past work assignments and
projects and workplace situations to explain your point

• DON’T answer questions in one word
– A simple “yes” or “no” often isn’t enough explanation

• DON’T inquire about salary/benefits/vacation/
etc.
– There’s an appropriate time and place for this—and it’s not
during your initial interview



• DO ask for the interviewer’s business card and
hand them one of your own
– This ensures you have the proper spelling of their name,
their email address and telephone number

• DO be honest and be yourself
– Don’t exaggerate or lie during the interview
– The hiring manager will likely find out and you’ll diminish
your chances at landing the job



• DO ask great questions
– It shows your interest in the organization
– It conveys passion about the opening

• DO close the interview telling the interviewer(s)
you want the job and asking about next steps
– This helps to determine when you should follow-up and
gives you a general sense of the timeline for the opening

• DO write a thank you card after to the interview
– Genuinely thank the employer for their time
– Reiterate things you spoke about during the interview


Leveraging Your Personal Network

• Ask for recommendations or introductions
– Have personal network connections contribute to your
recommendations on various sites, write positive things
about you on your Wall, or introduce you to someone they
know in your field

• Inquire about job shadow or informational
interview opportunities
– See if you can set up a time to learn more about a
contact’s job or industry

• Set up in-person get-togethers via Facebook
– Go out for lunch or coffee with a friend to strengthen your
relationship

Thank you!
For more tips: blog.cachinko.com

Join us for our next job seeker webinar on:
July 27, 2011: How Your Friends Can Help You
Job Search


Tough Interview Questions & The Answers That Will Impress Potential Employers

Tough Interview Questions & The Answers That Will Impress Potential Employers

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