Job interviews can be taxing because of the complex questions and their tricky answers. Then comes the most challenging questions job seekers encounter and get rejected due to a common misconception that they are general questions and don’t need much attention.
That’s how the drill goes wrong! Yes, you got that right. Those questions that you were considering the easiest ones are the most tricky ones and need all your focus, attention to detail, and diplomacy to answer them to get hired for the position you are giving the interview.
What are those questions? Worry not! They are listed below with the solutions on how you can answer them to become the green flag your potential employer is looking for.
5 Hardest Job Interview Questions and Their Answers
1. Tell Me About Yourself. The First Job Interview Question
When your hiring managers ask this job interview question, they are not asking about your whole life journey. They want to know about the attributes of your experience and background that make you suitable for this position (answer briefly).
So, tell them about your strengths and accomplishments you think are sterling about you and how they helped you prepare for this role. For example, tell them about your working experience for a specific role and how you managed your time while completing your responsibilities. What strategies have you followed to save time and cost (if applicable), and how have you contributed to the company’s growth? Plus, the things you can bring to the table with your experience complimenting the offered position.
2. Why Should We Hire You?
The intent of asking this question is to determine if you truly understand the requirements for the role and have the ability to fulfil them. Your job interviewer wants you to convince them that you have the potential and qualifications to fulfil the job requirements for the role offered to you more than any other candidates.
Therefore, it is advisable to thoroughly read and understand the job description before the interview and practice your answers in advance. Focus on the skills, qualities, and keywords in the job description and construct your answer aligning them with the job requirements.
3. How Do You Manage Stress (at the Workplace)?
By asking this question, your recruiters want to evaluate your resilience and distinguish if you can handle any stressful situation occurring on the job while managing job responsibilities. To respond to this, don’t say you start meditating, though it’s a practical approach to manage stress.
To answer this question appropriately and effectively, explain to them how you handled workplace pressure in your previous (current) job. For example, tell them you handled customer complaints and concerns, late deliveries, and other work-related concerns. It will assure them that you can handle workplace pressure for the position they are interviewing you for.
4. Where Do You See Yourself in the Next Five Years?
There’s always uncertainty about the future. No one knows what will happen in the next two or five years. Hence, giving an exact answer to this question is nearly impossible. By asking this question, your interviewers want to know whether you will stay with the company for the long term. To answer this, don’t tell them I will start my own business by then, or worse, I will be financially independent and would like to retire from the job.
You can provide a satisfactory answer by telling them you will earn the knowledge and learn new and desired skills to excel in your domain. Ensure you align your answers with the requirements for the role and company objectives.
You can turn the situation around by asking back your interviewer about their planning for the next five years for the company. It will turn the discussion about them, and they will find you are genuinely interested in the position and will stay with them for the long run if you get hired.
5. Was There Anything You Disliked (Hated) About Your Previous (Current) Company?
Remember, your interview is not a place to start badmouthing or venting about your previous employer, job, or company. By asking this question, your interviewers want you to answer with diplomacy and deal constructively with adverse situations.
Keep your focus on the positives even if you have many things to disagree with your previous employer or boss. Try to answer in a way that reflects that you and your employer were in a good equation. Ensure giving a thoughtful answer to this question, as it can make or break situations for you. Don’t sound adverse or cunning.Â
Conclusion: Prepare these Questions and Ace the Interview like a Champ!
By answering these five trickiest questions smartly and strategically, you can ace your interview and be a shining star before your employers. However, these are not the only hardest questions you will face. There are some other questions your hiring managers or interviewers may ask, such as “Tell me about the time you failed and what steps you took to overcome it.
Don’t worry. We have some proven job interview tips and tricks to help you pass any job interview easily. For a job search, you can register with the Remark Jobs job portal and get your favorite job quickly.