5 Tricky Interview Questions that could Sink Your Interview

Some common interview questions are more difficult to answer than others. It’s always important to be prepared so that you’re not caught off guard during your interview. We’ve selected 5 of the trickiest interview questions that could sink your interview if answered the wrong way. Read on to learn the right ways to answer these tricky questions.

1. Why did you leave your last job? (Why have you switched jobs in the past?)

An interviewer might ask this question to find out whether you were let go or whether you left your job willingly, and they may ask to determine your motivations for doing so. It’s important to be honest when answering a question like this. If you were laid off or let go, explain the reasons. This way you can show that you have a thorough understanding of why your employer chose to dismiss you, and you can focus on explaining why it won’t be a problem in your future role. If you left your job willingly, an interviewer will want to know why so they can judge the possibility of you leaving their company after being hired. An employer will not want to risk hiring someone who changes jobs for arbitrary reasons. The way that you answer this question can either help or hurt your interview.

2. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

This question can be tricky but should always be answered with your prospective company in mind. An interviewer will want to hear what your goals are for your role within the company. It’s best to tailor your answer to align with the company rather than share unrelated goals or aspirations that could indicate that you are not picturing yourself with the company long term. It’s also important to keep your answer realistic. Don’t say you hope to be the CEO when you’re applying for an entry-level position. Always keep your answer to this question professional and avoid sharing more personal goals such as your desire to travel or move out of state. Your answer to this question will help your interviewer judge your stability and career focus. By answering it incorrectly, you could sink your interview and hurt your chances of being hired.

3. What did you dislike about your last job?

A good rule of thumb for interviewing is to project positivity and avoid negativity. This question can be tricky because it invites you to speak negatively about your prior experience. It’s important to answer this question with a level head. Avoid ranting about your previous manager, coworkers, work environment, workload, and responsibilities. Instead, choose one or two aspects of your previous job that could have been improved. Your interviewer wants to determine whether or not you will be happy in the role based on your previous experiences. Be sure that whatever you choose will not be part of your responsibilities in the position you are interviewing for. Answering this interview question the wrong way could disqualify you from the job.

4. What would your last manager say about you?

This question can be tricky to answer, especially if you didn’t have a great relationship with your previous manager. If this is the case, do not try to deflect your answer to cover a different manager. Instead, be honest about your previous experience and focus on what was positive about it. It’s always best to emphasize the good in a bad situation and avoid speaking too negatively. Even if you had a negative relationship with your previous manager, it’s important to consider your previous job performance without the negative emotion. Look back at your performance objectively and find something positive to say. If you aren’t prepared to do so, your answer to this question could hurt your interview.

5. What is your greatest weakness?

This question is another test of your ability to put a positive spin on something negative. Avoid giving an answer that disguises a generally positive work trait as a personality flaw. Examples include “I am a perfectionist”, “I work too hard”, and “I care too much”. A much better way to answer this question is to answer it in two parts. First, give an honest answer about a negative quality that could use improvement. Second, explain the work you do to improve on this quality in yourself. This shows your interviewer that you know your flaws and you are willing to improve in order to perform your best. If you give the wrong answer, this question could seriously hurt your chances of a successful interview.

Answering interview questions the wrong way can sink your interview. It’s important to know what to do in the face of the trickiest questions to ensure that you come out unscathed. Being prepared and answering the right way can help you land the job.

Bradley Staffing Group is a full-service staffing firm based in Wayne, PA. We are committed to matching A-level talent with best-in-class businesses. We are known for placing excellent Executive Assistants. Our knowledgeable and well-trained staff brings a combined 70+ years of staffing experience to our clients and candidates alike. http://bradleystaffinggroup.com/bradley/contact-us/