It seems like some prospective employers and hiring managers actually l-o-v-e asking these types of teeth-grinding, nail-biting, brow-sweating job interview questions questions. Perhaps, they just want to see how quickly you can think on your feet. Maybe they want to see how well you react to pressure. Or, maybe they just want to make you rethink your choice to join the workforce and consider life as a recluse with the polar bears up in northern Canada… Likely, that is not the case. Why then, do some interviewers choose to ask the really tough questions that appear to have no actual bearing on how you would really perform on the job? Nobody knows. Nonetheless, you should be ready for some of these.
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Why should I hire you?
“Because I need the money? Of course not. Use this question, however, as an opportunity to match your skills to the job requirements and prove that you are the best candidate for the job.
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Why is there a gap in your work history?
Just illustrate that your time off was productive. If you were a stay-at-home mom, then explain that you enjoyed that time, but you are definitely ready and looking forward to getting back to your career.
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What do you consider to be your biggest fault?
The classic! It became as overplayed on job interviews as Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody did on the radio after Wayne’s World hit the box office. The standard answer of course is: “I tend to be a perfectionist.” Ho hum. Of course, back in the day I used to say something like “I am a die-hard Red Sox fan.” Undoubtedly, if the interviewer was a sports fan, this would break the mood nicely and a conversation on the shared interest of baseball may break out. Then the Red Sox went and ruined this for me by winning the World Series in 2004 and 2007. Back to the drawing board on this one. Punctuality is one idea to consider and so is being “obsessed with deadlines”.
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Tell me about a time when standard solutions didn’t work?
The interviewer basically just wants to know that you are capable of thinking outside the box and up to date on all the latest technology. Employers today want employees that aren’t too closely tied to old school practices and legacy thinking.
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Tell me a joke.
Ugh. This was actually recorded as an interview question for a financial analyst at JP Morgan Chase. The only advice here is be smart, don’t say anything that could be construed as offensive in any way, and in this particular situation, stay away from jokes about government bailouts, executive bonuses, etc.
Of course this is just a small sampling of the torture today’s job seeker can encounter. One can never be too prepared. So the thing to remember is just to be as ready as you can be, and perhaps seek the consultation services of a professional firm to ensure yourself of being interview ready and next in line for your dream job.
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