Tricky Job Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

Tricky Job Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

Interviewing for a job you really want can be incredibly nerve-racking no matter where you are in your education and career. Whether you’re working to gain experience while you earn your degree or ready to go into your field of study full time, you need to know how to answer some of the most difficult questions you’ll get asked.

The classic Interview question:  Tell me about yourself...

This statement is not an invitation to talk about your pets, your significant other, or where you grew up. The interviewer want you to tell them about yourself, but they want to know what will be relevant to the job.

Answer with your education and training, your interest in the field, and other tidbits the company will find useful if they hire you. For example:

"I earned my Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology from ECPI University in 2016. During my time there I was also employed as an apprentice technician at a local factory. My career goal is to be a product and materials testing technologist. In my spare time I like to build robots and design video games."

An introspective interview question:  What was your biggest failure?

Your immediate reaction might be to say that you’ve never failed. While you are trying to make yourself look as desirable as possible to the hiring manager, failing at something doesn’t mean you’re a poor candidate. It just means you’re human.

Think of an instance where you failed. Think about why it happened and what you learned from it. Show that you learn from your mistakes and are humble enough to recognize when you do miss the mark.

 "In a Foundations of Nursing Class, when I was earning my Dipolma in Practical Nursing from ECPI University, I once didn’t listen to one of my classmates on a group assignment and the entire group ended up getting a poor grade. I learned a lot about team work from this experience. From that point on, I made sure to listen to all of my fellow students and work closely with them."

The challenge question:  Why should I hire you?

This presents the opposite problem from the previous question. While you don’t want to make yourself look bad, you also don’t want to sound like you’re in love with yourself either. To answer this question, focus on why your education and background makes you a good fit for this job and why you would work well for the company.

"You should hire me as a floor manager at your restaurant because I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Service Management where I learned the essentials of running a restaurant. I have experience working as a server and as a host, so I’m familiar with how to work with various POS (point of sale) systems as well as being acquainted with how restaurants run. I’m passionate about food service and want to learn how to be the best manager I possibly can be."

The stress level question:   Have you ever had a disagreement with someone in a position of power (a manager, an instructor, etc)?

This question is partly to find out how well you get along with management, but also how you deal with conflict. Focus on one specific incidence and talk about what you learned from it. Most of all, don’t disparage the other person, even if they were in the wrong.

"When I was working at a local hotel and studying for my Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management I once thought we could speed up guest check out by logging their departure time into the computer the night before. The manager didn’t want to change the system because he was used to doing it a certain way. Although we disagreed, I respected his decision and we continued to work together."

The goals question:  What are your long-term goals?

Pick up where your “tell me about yourself” answer left off. Keep your response short, to-the-point, and relevant to the position you’re interviewing for.

"In a few years I’d like to return to ECPI University and earn a Master of Science in Information Systems to continue my education in cloud-based administration while I work in the field. My career goal is to be a Cloud Administrator for a company such as yours."

Looking for the education you need to compete in today’s job market?

If you’re interested in earning a diploma or degree in your chosen field, consider ECPI University’s accelerated schedule and year-round schooling so you could earn your associate’s degree in as little as 1.5 years or your bachelor’s degree in as little as 2.5 years. It’s also possible to go to school completely online for some degree paths. If this sounds like the fast-paced environment you’d thrive in, contact an ECPI University representative today.

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