Category: Challenging Questions

Answering: Why Do You Want this Job?

The interview question “Why do you want this job” or “Why do you want to work here?” is a variation on “What interests you about this position and our company?” In a dating situation, this is the equivalent of “Why me?” or “Why are you interested in me?”  Your answer should be about why this employer is unique and special in your mind and how your skills are a match to their needs. Read More

What Have You Been Up To Since Your Last Job?

A common situation many job seekers face is having an employment gap on their resume.   A gap could be due to either being out of work, or taking a job that does not require your qualifications and education and does not align with your career development.  While having a period of time during which you were not working is nothing to be ashamed of, you need to be prepared to confidently discuss it, if it comes up in an interview.

If you have had a lengthy job search, answering that you have been looking for another job is not going to impress the interviewer. Read More

Answering “What’s Your Biggest Weakness?”

Hiring managers love the question “What’s your biggest weakness?” because it tells them at least three different things about you:

  1. Are you self-aware?
  2. Are you honest?
  3. Is your “flaw” something they can live with?

If you answer “I work too hard for my own good” or “I’m my own worst critic,” you don’t show honesty or self-awareness and you don’t give the interviewer a clue about whether your flaw will work OK with the job they need to get done.  So it’s important you give an honest answer, one that shows you know yourself, are addressing your weakness and have no problem so big it will interfere with your work. Read More

“You’re Overqualified.” What are they really saying?

It’s not uncommon for experienced workers to be told they aren’t getting a job because they are overqualified. Expressing a willingness to work below past level and beneath past salary oftentimes is not the best strategy for dealing with this situation. Instead, it’s important to understand what specific concerns the hiring manager is raising.  Deep experience should not be a liability but actually an asset in your job search. To bring it out, you need to address the underlying reasons directly. Read More

Answering “Why Should We Hire You?”

On a episode of “America’s Got Talent”, a contestant was asked “Why should America vote for you?” The contestant tearfully replied something along the lines of “Because I want it so much, it would mean so much to me.” While this answer works for a TV talent show, it is NOT the response you want to give when asked in a job interview “Why should we hire you?” Hires are not made based on how much the applicant wants the job. Hires are based on the value the candidate can create for the employer. Here are some dos and don’ts for answering this very common interview question. Read More

Answering “How do You Deal with Conflict?”

Conflict is something we have to deal with on a daily basis.  How we handle it is a reflection of the type of professional we are. That’s why the question “How do you handle conflict?” gets asked in interviews.  When asked about your ability to deal with conflict, be prepared to explain your overall philosophy and give examples: Read More

Keeping Age Out of Your Job Search

Mature workers are sometimes concerned that their age may prevent them from getting hired. The reality is that age alone is very rarely a reason for eliminating a job candidate. Hiring managers are always looking for the best person to get the job done. Age is irrelevant if capability, likability and fit are all strong. When applying and interviewing:

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