Category: Challenging Questions

Answering the Interview Question “Who Has Inspired You?”

Everybody has had a mentor, hero, or supervisor who has been inspiring.  Interviewers sometimes ask applicants “Who inspired you?” or “Who has been the biggest influence on your career?” or “Who is a role model for you in your professional life?”  While it may not necessarily be a tough question to answer, it can throw you if you’re not prepared. Read More

Answering the Question “Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?”

Where do you see yourself in five years?  It’s a question many people face in interviews, yet don’t take the time to prepare for it.  You may be tempted to envision where you’ll be in five years on a personal level, but that’s not an appropriate way to answer the question. Read More

How To Answer “What Do You Know About Us?”

“What do you know about us?”  It’s a common but puzzling question that gets asked at many interviews.  Last week we talked about how to research companies.  Today, how to present the information you gathered in a way that shows you did your research and highlights why your skills and background would be an asset to the company. Read More

The Art of Telling An Effective Story

Preparing for an interview can be an exhaustive process.  Do you have the proper wardrobe? Do you know how to get to the office?  Do you know every piece of your resume and why you put it on there?  If you have all of this down, you probably feel pretty prepared, but you forgot something.  Do you have effective stories to tell? Read More

Revealing Questions to Ask in a Job Interview

We’ve all heard you should come to an interview prepared to ask questions. But asking the right questions and responding to what you hear can be the secret to landing the job.  While questions show your preparedness and interest, they are also a critical way to learn what the hiring manager is really looking for. Read More

Answering the Question “Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?”

One question you can almost always count on hearing in an interview is why you left your previous job.  Whether you were laid off, fired, or left by choice, the question must be answered thoughtfully because the reasons for leaving a past job are used as a gauge for your stability in future jobs.

Prepare an answer that will draw Read More

A Step-By-Step Guide to Answering “Tell Me About Yourself”

Can you define yourself in 15 seconds or less? The ability to clearly state who you are and the value you bring to the workplace is an important and challenging part of job search.  You will use it when networking, interviewing, during chance encounters and at events.

The most classic use of your self-definition is when someone asks you, “So, tell me about you . . .”  This question is a good starting place for creating a strong self-definition. Read More