Find out how to answer tough interview questions
When it comes to interviews, you need to be ready for (almost) anything.
This video about job interviewing at Heineken – no matter if it is staged or real – is a good example of unusual and unexpected situations you may have to face.
Without going so far – while there are some questions you’ll frequently hear – there are others that may be less obvious, and more challenging (if not tough!). And these will make you think. So, it is worth preparing for them. This is why we’ve compiled some interview questions we heard, and that we believe will make you think . . .
Tell me a story
Puzzled?! You might think it is a ridiculous question, but you still have to answer. It’s a bit like when your higher management gives you a new complex project without saying much about it.
The reason for this question is likely to get an insight in your personality, creativity, and ability to cope with ambiguity.
What to do? First of all, think of what kind of story the interviewer wants to hear. You may ask for clarification, to show that you are thoughtful and you don’t just start talking without having a purpose or something relevant to say. Once you understand better the request, then you can create your story structure, tell it in a short and nice way, showing what the situation/problem was, your role and what you did, what learnt, and what the outcome was.
Tell me the worst employment situation you faced
Even the worst employment experience teaches you something. Whether it was a bad boss, poor environment, amateur management or just a bad fit, the key is to turn that negative job experience into a positive. Even if you had legitimate complaints about any of those cases, you can’t say so.
Be cautious about making comments and badmouthing about former coworkers or supervisors, but at the same time show that you are able to voice a problem when it arise and you can “put the fish on the table”. Take responsibility for your part in the experience. Why couldn’t you anticipate / manage / mitigate the situation? Will you do the same with the new employer and colleagues?
Even if the situation was awful, it’s critical to remain professional and remove emotion from your explanation.
How do you deal with a strong personality?
Dealing with difficult people is often a reality, a fact. And this is about your interpersonal skills. The interviewer want to understand if you will find ways to deal with difficult people, or if you will run away and hide, or if you will clash with them.
Respond concisely in a way that indicates your ability to get along with any profile. Again, stay professional, separate the person from the issue, demonstrate composure.
Interesting? Useful?
Let us know if you want to hear more of these type of questions. We are here to share.
