24 Difficult Interview Questions and How to Answer them

1

Impossible to answer fully. Select strengths, skills, achievements and particularly benefits to other employers which your research shows will be of greatest interest to them. State very briefly your background and positions held. Do not speak for longer than a few minutes. Keep eye contact with your interviewer, and be sure that you have their interest.

2

Focus on what you think the company needs based on the Job Description. Be sure you know something about the situation you have in mind before you try to answer. Then you can relate some of your past experiences where you have succeeded in solving problems that appear similar to those of your prospective employer. You can also mention an achievement that you think will impress.

3

You should be able to list and concisely explain 3 or 4 essential strengths that are relevant to their needs. A couple of examples of benefits to previous employers will substantiate this.

4

Try to pick accomplishments that ear on the challenge you may have been discussing. Stay away from ancient times. Again substantiate with examples of savings or improvements by past employers you have worked for.

5

Respond with a strength which, if over-done can get in your way and become a weakness. For example, you might say: "My ambition to get the job done sometimes causes me to press a little too hard on staff or my organisation, but I am aware of the problem and believe that I have it under control." Alternatively, deal with your need for further training in some new aspect. Do not claim to be faultless.

6

Indicate your desire to concentrate on doing the immediate role well - you are confident that the future will take care of itself. You do not want to convey the idea that you have no desire to progress, but you need to avoid statements which might indicate you put your personal career before doing a good job.

7

If you have already done your homework, you can say that you have studied the published information and are thus aware of the basic facts. If the company has a set of values - feel free to list them. However, you might also want to state that you would like to know more - and then be prepared to ask some intelligent questions. Do not try to show off and recite all you have learned, but merely let your knowledge flow in a brief and concise manner.

8

Indicate that from the study of their company, many activities and problems would give you a clear chance to contribute to the company - through experience and skills. If you can honestly say so, explain your admiration for the company and what it is that impresses you.

9

Keep your answer opportunity orientated. Talk about the chance you would have to perform and get recognition. How your contribution in helping to solve problems is both rewarding and fulfilling to you.

10

A good company needs good people with the appropriate experience. Explain that you are willing to bet that your accomplishments in other companies can be repeated here.

11

The answer to this question depends on whether you have had management experience or not. If you haven't then talk about your expertise and experience. Say how you get the best result out of your team, say how you enjoy helping to ensure your manager achieves their objectives.

12

Keep your answer orientated towards your past achievements and the task to be done. Explain how you go about getting work done. Be proud of your own record. Be positive.

13

Getting things done, and planned on time within budget. Ensuring the customer gets the best possible service. Stress how important customer satisfaction is to you. Find the reasons why and justify the answer.

14

Be careful here. Emphasize the positive and do not carry on at length about the negatives. This is not the place to be critical about previous employers especially when the interviewers are not able to verify your claims.

15

Be specific and brief - avoid getting emotional and defensive about it. Keep to criticism from your manager - never a customer.

16

"I can handle it; it is a way of life in the business world".

17

Be honest; mention some of the things you read in order to keep yourself up-to-date in your professional field. However, it is fitting to show balanced interests by your recreational reading too.

18

If you see creative people as the ones holding pencils and brushes than think: a resourceful person. If you are being asked this it is likely the company needs someone resourceful, so YES if you are. Be prepared to give a couple examples where you have solved problems, where solutions weren't readily available.

19

Balanced and human. Mention two or three useful traits i.e. self-motivation, honest, hard-working, totally reliable, integrity, etc. Avoid over-qualifications for yourself.

20

Be ready to present at least 3 - preferably in a way that relates them to the potential employer's needs.

21

This is a very important question, and you can afford to take your time and answer in steps. When talking about your relationships with associates, be prepared to state your philosophy of co-operation and particularly how specialists are available to help you with complex problems.

Concerning managers, indicate your keen interest in understanding the expectations of your manager, so that you and your organisation can build your goals in a way that will support their goals. You may also want to talk about how you keep your manager informed; how your manager was supportive and understanding which helped you to give ongoing support to him and the team.

22

Your answer should show that you lead a balanced life. Avoid throwing in so many outside activities that it casts doubt on how much time you have left for your job. Remember that your hobbies and recreations can be quite revealing as to your own personality - not an issue, just something to keep in mind if you have not built rapport with the interviewer.

23

If you are not actually attending or planning to attend formal classes, be ready to explain what sort of outside reading (of books or magazines) or attendance at professional seminars you undertake in order to keep yourself up to date with developments in the industry you are applying to.

24

A good way to respond to this is to say very clearly that you are capable of doing the job well. You might like to add that your last employer thought highly of you. This is an ideal point at which to emphasize your strengths, skills and achievements while projecting confidence.