Tough Interview Questions and How to Deal with Them

There can never be enough preparation. Students or job seekers who prepare for hours on end are always somehow stumped by a question that is asked during their interview. Companies looking at potential candidates not only want to see what type of person you are, they want to see how you react in difficult and awkward situations - sound like an interview to you? Here are some really debilitating questions that make even the toughest of candidates think twice.

Tell me about yourself.

Ok, so what do I say? I'm 5'11, I like basketball, cookies, and walks on the park. When a company asks you to describe yourself, they don't want you to list interests, hobbies, or how expensive your cell phone is. Anyone can spit out adjectives and nouns. What your interviewer wants to hear about is some of the things you enjoy doing, or something about you that emanates a quality. They want to hear about personal qualities that are not only fitting in terms of being a good person with outstanding moral character, they want someone who has qualities that will help them on the job. If you're interviewing for a management position, speak about your experiences with leadership roles and how you succeeded. What they're interviewing you for is a job, so make sure you stick to the point.

What is your worst quality?

Please, don't say nothing. Likewise, don't point out all of your faults like you're a bad apple. You can say you're being honest, but you're shooting yourself in the foot. Instead, try to limit your response to a quality (or qualities) that you have trouble with, but wouldn't necessarily affect you on the job. If you interview for a public speaking position and say that you get nervous during public speaking, count yourself out already. Everyone is nervous, but try to stay away from something that would blatantly spell out rejection. Saying something around the lines of "I really enjoy working on projects by myself because I want it to be my best effort. Even so, I don't have a problem working with people, and I'm currently improving my ability to work well in a group." Sentences like these show that you do have faults, but not only are you trying your best to improve where you know your weaknesses are, you don't disqualify yourself for the job.

Why do you want to work here?

Be prepared. This question is almost always asked, and people are never prepared. If you want to answer this question correctly, you need to have sufficient knowledge of what the company, does what their history is like, and why they're a good company. For one, interviewers never want to hear something bad about the company they work for. Secondly, stating something that shows you've done research is sure to impress them. Your interviewer will think, "Hey, I think this guy really DOES want to work here. Look how much he knows about us!"

Tell us about a conflict you had with someone and how you handled it.

Although tempting to speak bad about a person or organization, NEVER EVER say anything degrading or negative. Being that you want to work for a company, you will most definitely encounter conflicts or disgruntled employees during your daily work. Companies want someone who is able to solve these problems with the ability to keep a cool and calm head, and at the same time moderating both sides. For a simple answer, talk about a time you spent mediating an argument by satisfying both sides. If you had a personal problem with another individual, talk about how you sat down and talked to the other person, exchanged viewpoints on the argument, and made a compromise. Managers hate having to get into an argument and delegate punishment or responsibilities. They would rather have you be able to work it out on your own. Plus, you keep morale up and people will see you as a responsible and mature employee.

What are your salary expectations?

Oh boy, be expected to hit with this one. You don't want to say anything low, because that's what you'll probably be getting. You don't want to say anything high, because that could be the last nail in your coffin. Before you come to the interview, you should have a good idea of how much the job pays. Be sure to know the average figures of what a job is like in the industry you are interviewing for. Even better if you know a friend who works at the company, because you guys can talk it over before your interview.

If you previously held a job elsewhere, you can also talk about how much your past salary was. By talking about these things, you give the interviewer a good idea of what you would like to get paid, without going on the offensive by seemingly forcing them to give you a certain amount.

If you don't want to give a concrete value, you can always state that you would like to negotiate based on a total compensation package, as there are a lot of benefits to being an employee of a company, not just a bi-weekly paycheck.

Why did you leave your last job?

Once again, say nothing negative. This only makes you seem like the type of disgruntled employee to throw a tantrum if you don't get what you want. Make sure to structure your reason for leaving your job around something that is professional. If you didn't like it, just say that you are trying to finding ways to explore new environments and gain more insight and experience in the industry.

If you got fired, try to elaborate on the reasons you think it happened, but don't make it seem like you are begging for sympathy, nor do you want to make it sound like you are a bad employee.

The list goes on and one, but these are just some of the questions many people falter on. Companies intentionally make these questions a part of their repertoire, so as to see if you are quick to be emotionally involved, or if you can make your way around cautiously, pointing out that you do have faults as a person, but you are a valuable addition to any company. And remember, never say anything to provoke someone who holds your future in their hands.