25 Tricky Inter-WPS Office

25 Tricky Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
What salary are you looking for?
Whenever possible, I suggest that candidates not provide a specific answer to this question until the
negotiations phase, after a position has already been offered. To defer the discussion, try returning the
focus back to the interviewer and noting: “It’s hard to discuss salary without knowing more about the
job or responsibilities.”
Or, if you are discussing a specific job: “What is your range?” Then relate your experience to the salary
range without being precise: “I think my experience would put me near the high end of your range,
don’t you?”
What were you making in your last job?
If at all possible, do not volunteer information about your past salary. A diplomatic way to put the salary
question aside is to reply, “I was well compensated in my previous company, but really do not wish to
prejudice myself here by being too high or low. Can we delay this until after we’ve looked at all the
aspects of your current needs? What is your range for this job?”
Have you ever been fired?
If the answer is yes, have a good explanation worked out and tested with friends. For instance: “We had
a change in general managers, and although I had been doing a great job as you can see from my
accomplishments, I was let go for one of his former associates.” Or: “The company decided to close
down its California operation and offered me a job in Chicago. We would like to stay in this area, so
that’s why I’m looking around.”
Can you work under pressure?
Indicate that you can and ask the interviewer how much pressure is involved in the position. Learn what
the interviewer means by pressure. The definition can vary significantly from person to person and
company to company. If you are a pro at pressure jobs, describe a few accomplishments.
What did you think of your last supervisor?

Whatever your true feelings might be, stay positive. This is not the time or place to list your boss’s
shortcomings or frustrating behaviors. I suggest responses like: “She was the kind of person I could learn
from.” Or: “We were able to communicate well and things got done quickly.”
What is your greatest strength?
Before interviewing, reflect on your personal strengths and make a list of them (e.g., “natural number
sense,” “able to multitask,” “good with people,” “able to teach others,” etc.). Then tie each of them to a
professional accomplishment.
When asked this question in an interview, answer with the strength you feel best fits the position being
discussed, and be sure to offer the anecdote that goes with it. Conclude your response by asking the
interviewer if this is the kind of quality that would help his or her company.
What is your greatest weakness?
As with your strengths, prepare a list of weaknesses beforehand. This time, tie each weakness back to
what could also be considered a strength. Your answer can be, for example, “I like to get things done.
Sometimes I get impatient, but I’m getting a handle on it.”
Or maybe you have actually come up with a way to mitigate your weakness: “I’m a stickler for details,
but I do not want to be a micromanager. So at my last job, I asked each staff member to devise their
own checklist of weekly tasks. It gave them some autonomy and satisfied my desire for quality control.”
You’ve moved around a lot; how long would you stay with us?
Make sure that your answer doesn’t make you seem indecisive, fickle, or uncommitted. A good answer
might be, “I’m seeking a long-term opportunity where I can learn and grow. Does this come with the
position we are discussing?”
What motivates you?
Resist the temptation to joke, “A steady paycheck!” Try to tie your motivation to the work being done at
this specific company. In addition you could mention things like the opportunity to learn and grow, to
work with smart people who are passionate about their jobs, to innovate, and to contribute to the
success of an organization.
What do you not like to do?
This is a loaded question. A positive reply might be, “I’m the kind of person who does whatever is
necessary to get the job done. When I do run into something disagreeable, I try to do it first and get it
behind me. I have no particular dislikes.”
How would your boss, coworkers, and subordinates describe you?
Be ready to give some examples of the kind of team player you represent. If you are not into office
politics and have harbored good relationships at work, mention it. And remember that the interviewer
may ask your references the same question. I strongly suggest meeting with your references before the
interview stage in order to talk through your career goals and how they can best support them.
What is the toughest part of being a manager?
A good reply is: “To surround myself with people who are better than I am in their individual
specialties.”
Why do you want to work for our company?
Your reply could be based on the company’s reputation for products, management, international scope,
technology, or as a nice place to work and grow. The most important thing is to avoid generic answers.
Know the company’s products, policies, and potential for you.
Why should we hire you?
If you know the job requirements and can match them with some accomplishments, briefly share those
anecdotes. Then say, “If there are opportunities to do that and more here, then this is a great fit. What
do you think?”
What has been your biggest failure?

Discuss this question with friends, mentors, and possibly your references before the interview. If at all
possible, think of something you were later able to correct. Then the story isn’t just about a failure, but
also about a learning experience.
What kind of day-to-day schedule did you have in your last job?
The interviewer isn’t looking for a minute-by-minute breakdown of a typical day. Stress action,
performance, and results rather than administrative work.
How do you feel about the progress you made in your last position?
Rather than discuss your feelings, per se, stress your accomplishments. For instance: “When I started
with the Blake Company, I was given responsibility for their operations in Mexico and Costa Rica. After I
turned them around, they made me general manager for Mexico and Central America. How are your
international operations performing?” An answer like this communicates great information about your
value as an employee while still conveying positive feelings about your progress.
Did you have any frustrations in your past job?
Frustrations are a normal part of any job, and interviewers know this—so don’t claim you didn’t have
any. Relate some of the bottlenecks you experienced, but more important, indicate what you did to
overcome them.
Do you like to compete?
Competition is great as long as it does not sacrifice the rest of the team. If you are competitive, I suggest
relating that quality to the total company effort and not to your personal ambitions.
How long do you think it would be before you could make a contribution to our company?
Don’t be in a hurry when providing an answer to this question. There normally is a period of transition
before a new hire learns the ropes. You might say, “If the transition goes according to plan, I would
guess relatively soon. What would you expect?”
What was the last book you read?

You do read. Saying that you don’t in this setting is a misstep. But be careful not to fib. Your interviewer
may have read the same book!
Don’t you feel that you are overqualified for the position?
Ouch! If you have a lot of experience and the company is thinking of hiring a younger person, you may
get this kind of query. A good answer is: “I imagine my experience would make me more valuable
sooner!”
Do you mind working for someone of the opposite sex or someone younger than you?
It’s the job that counts. Stick to the job specification and don’t get sidetracked on implications.
How do you take criticism?
Most people have problems taking criticism. If the criticism is part of a formal evaluation program where
you can learn and improve, that is fine. “I would welcome the opportunity to learn how to do my job
better. Do you have a formal program for employee evaluation?”
How do you spend your free time?
Be reasonable. This is not the time to mention that you like jumping out of planes, even if it is true.
You may not be asked these specific questions in your interview, but know how you want to answer
them will ensure that you're prepared to discuss a wide variety of topics that might come up. You don't
want to have to formulate a complicated answer in the midst of an already nerve-wracking situation.

25 Tricky Inter-WPS Office

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

25 Tricky Inter-WPS Office

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

25 Tricky Inter-WPS Office

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

25 Tricky Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

What salary are you looking for?

What were you making in your last job?

Have you ever been fired?

Can you work under pressure?

What did you think of your last supervisor?

What is your greatest strength?

What is your greatest weakness?

What motivates you?

What do you not like to do?

How would your boss, coworkers, and subordinates describe you?

What is the toughest part of being a manager?

Why do you want to work for our company?

Why should we hire you?

What has been your biggest failure?

Did you have any frustrations in your past job?

Do you like to compete?

What was the last book you read?

How do you take criticism?

How do you spend your free time?

You might also like