How To Answer The Three Worst Interview Questions

There’s no good reason for a job interview to work like an oral exam, where the interviewer asks you questions and you answer them.

Asking a candidate a series of questions is definitely not the best way to learn about the candidate, their background and interests or their capabilities.

However, in the working world old habits die hard, and the Q and A style interview is still the common type.

I prefer a conversational interview style and candidates prefer it to, as my periodic LinkedIn polls on this topic make clear.

But in any case, you’re going to have to answer interview questions at most interviews so it pays to know how to answer them – especially the trickiest questions.

Here are sample answers to three of my least favorite interview questions (if you like them, all the better!).

Try these answers or your own variations and let us know what you think!

Remember, the goal here is not to give the “right” answer.

Almost every candidate memorized the “right” answer to these questions long ago, so if you repeat the same tired, cliched answer you won’t stand out at all.

Your goal is to be memorable to your hiring manager (or whomever is interviewing you) so it’s better to give a thoughtful, non-standard answer to a question – even a bad interview question – than the standard answer that anybody would give.

I’ve shared three examples here – a common, unfortunate interview question followed by the standard, conventional (unexciting and forgettable) answer and then a non- traditional answer from our Empowered Interviewing™ methodology.

What’s Your Greatest Weakness?

Traditional answer: “I used to be disorganized but I solved that problem by doing X or Y.

Now I’m very organized. I use a daily to-do list and a productivity app to keep everything straight.”

Empowered Interviewing™ Answer: “I used to stress about what I thought were my weaknesses, reading articles and even taking courses sometimes.

Then it hit me that I need to focus on getting better at the things I like to do and am good at now, like in my case illustration and design.

I can make a much bigger impact in those areas than by getting two percent better at something I’m not cut out for, like Excel spreadsheets.

What’s your take?”

Why Should We Hire You?

Traditional answer: “I’m smart, I’m a hard worker, I’m punctual and I’m a great team member. I would do a great job here. My boss has always said I’m one of the most productive members of the team.

If you give me a chance, you won’t be disappointed.”

(The problem is that every candidate will say something like this, unless they reframe the question.)

Empowered Interviewing™ Answer: “Let me tell you what I’ve heard so far in my interviews here and you can tell me if I’m close to the mark. I heard that you’re launching a digital notebook product in April and great user documentation is a priority.

After that, there are lots of documentation updates to do. I love to take the perspective of someone who’s never seen or used these products.

Apart from user documentation, I heard there are technical specs to be revised and several infrastructure projects.

What did I miss?”

Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?

Traditional answer: “I’d like to be working here, having learned a ton over the coming five years, and pursuing interesting projects.”

Like the previous two questions, this is a poor question and hard to answer because – how would you know where you’ll be in five years?

None of us could have predicted the upheaval of the past five years, but here we are.

Empowered Interviewing™ Answer: “I’m really interested in digital marketing right now.

As a Finance person I hadn’t really understood digital marketing but there are actually numerous applications for it in the Finance function, especially in our interactions with customers.

I’m fascinated by it and I imagine I’ll pursue that interest over the next few years.”

If you’re getting interviews but not job offers, sign up HERE for my free Interviewing Boot Camp series of tips and interview ideas to get you the job you deserve!

I’m sharing interview advice in preparation for leading my Interviewing Course next week.

When you sign up for my Interviewing Boot Camp messages you’ll also join the early bird list for the course.

The more prepared you are, the stronger your interviews will be.

Here’s to you!