Handling Difficult Questions
What
questions do you dread being asked in an interview? Some of the
more commonly asked dreaded questions include:
When
you think about it, they are all legitimate questions. You may not
have done sufficient soul searching or strategizing to handle them
well, but each presents you with an opportunity to sell yourself.
It is helpful to look first at why they ask the questions and then
to strategize a response.
| What are your
strengths and weaknesses? |
The
employer may be assessing how well you know yourself and how honest
and open you are. You have an opportunity to showcase your strengths
and also to reveal a not too serious weakness. It is best if you
demonstrate how you are working to improve your stated weakness.
For example, you might say, "My computer experience is somewhat
limited. However, I recently took a week long training program on
using the MAC and I'm looking forward to building on the skills
I learned."
| Where do you
see yourself in five years? |
They
want to know if you are ambitious. If you find it hard to look five
years out, try this: "Five years seems like a long time. I
can see myself as a programmer analyst in two years. Five years
from now, I might be a software developer or a systems analyst.
I won't know which direction I want to take until I've been in the
field for awhile."
Here's
where they find out how well you understand their needs and how
confident you are of your qualifications for the position. How about
a response like this one? "I think you should hire me because
I have the skills you need in this marketing support position. My
technical skills exactly match the requirements as I've been using
your software in my Co-op job. And my interpersonal skills are strong
as a result of my student government experience."
| Why do you want to
work here? |
This
is where the employer finds out how much you know about their organization.
You want to convey your interest in contributing to their mission
or in being part of an important project they've been awarded. For
example: "I've read about your contract to develop tax accounting
software for the federal government and I want to be part of the
action."
| Why does your resume
show a gap in employment? |
This question demands
a well-prepared response from you. You want to relate what positive
results came out of your decision not to work. One such explanation
might be, "That's correct, I did not work in 1988. I was nearing
the end of my degree program at Northeastern. I realized that if
I attended school full time I could complete my bachelor's degree
in one year, rather than working and taking three years to finish.
I feel I made the right decision: when I went back to work, I was
offered a salary considerably higher than my previous earnings."
If
you were laid off last year, you want to frame your explanation
in a way that dispels any shame or guilt you may be harboring. "I
was one of 180 people laid off last September when XYZ Corporation
went through a major downsizing."
If
you were fired for some reason, you will also want to frame your
explanation in a way that dispels any shame or guilt. "To be
honest with you, I just didn't fit into the organization. Finally,
my supervisor and I decided it was best for me to leave. While this
was a devastating experience, I feel I'm ready to begin again."
These
examples show honest, straight forward responses that will be acceptable
to an employer. The important thing is for you to come to terms
with the issue, see the positive side, and demonstrate that you
are eager to move on in your career.
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