The 5 Most Dreaded Interview Questions



The 5 Most Dreaded Interview Questions

Article published in The Synergist, November 1999

Jeffery E. LaBelle

The same tired and dreadful interview questions are STILL being asked. You probably know a few of them, but might be surprised by others. This article will focus on what I consider the 5 most difficult interview questions to answer IF you are not prepared. If you spend time preparing HOW you will answer them and the points you will want to cover, you won’t be tongue tied when the times comes to speak up.

The recommendations for answering these questions are simply methods for ensuring that you provide the interviewer with the appropriate information they are looking for, and not superfluous fluff – which wastes both of your time. In no way should these suggestions be considered the ONLY methods of conveying information to the interviewer.

1. Icebreakers - How are you? Did you get lost? Do you know much about our company?

Seemingly simply, yet very telling. No interview question is innocent, and all questions count!

What they are really seeking – These are great questions to get a feel for the personality (verses the work qualifications) of the interviewee.

Answer – Remember that a good chunk of the interview is finding out if there is a “match” between the interviewee and the company. By the time you get to the interview, your qualifications are fairly well known. Keep in mind that both of you are seeking a good fit, so in answering these little icebreaker questions, be positive, proactive, and project competence.

2. Tell me about yourself.

This is actually a statement than a question. It will likely be one of the first verbal interactions you will have with your interviewer.

What they are really seeking – Most interviewers use this as a springboard into getting an initial impression of you; and as we all know, initial impressions can be difficult to shake, so make it good. Since the statement is about as open-ended as you can get, sometimes there’s a hidden agenda in asking it. Some interviewers are really seeking how you approach an issue so obtuse that there is a multitude of options in solving it.

Answer - Don’t fall into the trap of starting to ramble on about your high school debate awards. Your best bet is to try to zero in on what they would like to know about you, then go from there. You should be prepared for this question, and be able to provide a 2 minute description of your work history, and any other pertinent skills and abilities applicable to the job you are interviewing for.

3. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Although I personally think that this question doesn’t have a lot of relevance to the open position, and is little more than fortune telling, it is still used today.

What they are really seeking – Interviewers typically want to know if you can be counted on for additional duties/responsibilities as the position scope expands. Sometimes they wish to determine your personal direction because your resume may indicate digressions, or it may not appear that you are in this field for the long haul.

Answer – If you see yourself in a leadership role with increasing responsibilities in the company, say so. If you see yourself topped out in the job you are interviewing for, and will eventually be seeking opportunities at another company, keep that to yourself. Your best bet is to provide the impression you are more than capable of executing additional responsibilities, whatever they may be, which makes your potential to be a productive member of that company’s team seem that much greater.

4. What are your greatest weaknesses?

There are so many ways to ask this question, (biggest failures, other’s criticisms, skills lacking), but they all fall into the same line of thinking. Also, greatest weakness questions are almost always paired with greatest strength ones.

What they are really seeking – The interviewer is likely trying to discover traits or characteristics to weed you out from the herd of interviewees.

Answer – Nobody is perfect, but this is no time to confess all your shortcomings either. It’s usually best to bring 3 weaknesses AND 3 strengths to the table. Choose one “good” weakness and discuss how you have, or are working to, overcome it. “Good “ weaknesses are things like taking on too great a workload, volunteering too much, or completing work yourself instead of delegating more. Keep this one short and brief. Consider a weakness conquered long ago, but be careful because the interviewer may follow up by asking for a current one – causing you to reveal 2.

5. Do you have any questions?

Even though this comes at the end of the interview, you are by no means off the hook. This part is still a very important part of the interview.

What they are really seeking – This question is an extremely powerful indicator of an interviewee’s interest in the position. The candidate who says, “no” is more often than not viewed as uninterested, bored, ready to leave, or in the least unimaginative – not traits you really want to project.

Answer – Never, ever, say “no”. Even if this question comes at the end of a gattling gun chain of interviews, you should always have more relevant questions to ask. More than likely, the interviewers will discuss your performance following your interviews, and if you keep asking the same 2 questions to all interviewers, that fact will come out. Research the company, and write a list of questions beforehand…lots and lots of questions.

Bgin preparing your thoughts on how you will answer these above 5 questions. I guarantee that the majority, in some form or another, will rear their ugly heads.

Finally, don’t memorize! No interviewer I know likes to be put through the agony of having to listen to a memorized speech during an interview. Just speak naturally, keeping in mind your prepared points, and you’ll do just fine.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download