Interview Trick Questions: Maybe Not So Tricky
They say honesty is the best policy. And that’s true. Even in an interview. However, sometimes its the presentation of the answers you might give, or the particular example youhavehas chosen, that probably you could have done without in the interview. Maybe you have been in a situation where you have said something followed by some awkward silence and looks, or perhaps you completely missed it, and were totally blind sided when you didn’t get picked for the job; you may have thought you nailed that interview!
Interviews seem straightforward enough don’t they. A simple question followed by a truthful answer. But yet so many lose out on positions because of the interview process, and seem to not quite understand what is the cause.
Everything goes into an interview. The way you dress, how early or late you arrive, your mannerisms, body language, and facial expressions. However, here we will be talking about the more difficult questions you might get that can sometimes trip you up.
One common example is the variations of “what is your weakness.” Oftentimes the error here is simply answering the question. Despite how the question may be phrased, it is important to note the questioner is not asking you to lay out all your weaknesses. Common advice given out is to give a weakness that sounds like an advantage to the employer, such as “I work too hard,” or “I’m too detail oriented.” The issue with these answers is that they have become cliche.
It is better to give an honest answer, but then explain how you overcome your challenge, or how it has made you better.
For example, “I typically work better in teams, but I have taken on a lot of personal projects in my life so that I can develop my independent working skills,and I have found that I have gained the confidence now. Having worked on my weakness, I actually think I can better incorporate independent workers into a team, and help advise team members as to how they can work independently on certain tasks effectively.”
See what you did there….
Another common area where interviews can get awkward is when the interviewer at the end asks “do you have any questions.” You might think to yourself, “yes, you have not listed the salary, but can I ask that?” Or alternatively, “no, I’m just here to answer yours.” However, with these thoughts in your mind, the typical answer given is simply “no, thank you.”
However, this is a golden opportunity to show your high interest and knowledge about the organization and job position. It is an opportunity to bring in a question that is less to do with the answer, but rather shows your creativity anf forethought into the job. Additionally, you may ask a question that demonstrates you have taken the time and effort into learning about the vision and mission of the organization.
It’s interesting how these things may seem rather small in the grand scheme of a job position, and even an interview, but if you can learn to utilize your experience in the interview with answers that can help you stand out, especially during these types of questions, your chances are elevated. Coach Avy can work with you to analyze your answers, develop better ways to showcase yourself inan interview, specifically prepare for interviews you may have, and assist in mock interviews and feedback.
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