Toughest interview questions

Tough interview questions and possible answers: Q: "Tell me about yourself." HINT: Talk about personal characteristics and skills that translate into career strengths. A: "I love to jump into projects with both feet. I like sitting in front of a computer or at my desk for hours at a time thinking about a problem, plotting out the solution, making the presentation. Object-oriented technology[or any new technology] is my newest challenge."Q: "What books and/or magazines do you read?" HINT: Obviously, a technical or trade journal is one answer they are looking for. The books you've read tells the manager something about your personality. A: Whatever you do, don't say, "I don't like to read." Q: "What are your greatest strengths?"HINT: Discuss specific assets the employer desires. A: "Pleasant personality/politeness, loyalty, willingness to work hard, motivation, persistence, tenacity." Q: "What were your favorite subjects in school and why?" HINT: Of course, if your major is Computer Science you want to mention some of your computer science classes. You might mention other related subjects. For example, if you're interviewing at a financial services firm, you might discuss why you liked your accounting or finance classes. If you did any unusual or special projects in that area, you would bring that up now. Mention anything that shows a keen interest this employer's particular kind of work. If you are interviewing at a software or integration consulting firm, somewhere during the interview you would want to mention that you truly enjoy working with people. To illustrate this point, mention any volunteer work or part-time jobs you might have held anytime in your life that involved interacting with people. For example, "I volunteered at a homeless shelter during the holidays giving out food." This shows that you genuinely care about others and like giving back to the community, and that you would go out of your way for a boss or a coworker. Q: "How do you let off steam after you've completed a tough project? What do you like to do in your spare time?" HINT: Managers like well-rounded employees; your answer to this question illustrates some of your personal qualities. If you can mention pastimes that would be an asset to the job you are seeking, so much the better. For example, a bridge player must possess valuable analytical skills. Whatever your favorite hobby is, strong outside interests round out your character. A: "For relaxation I like to read a mystery novel, go swimming, go skiing, make pottery . . ." Q: "Where do you plan to be in five years?" HINT: Everyone hates this question, but everyone asks it. The traditional answer is "management." But in recent years companies have started to develop a technical career track. Many companies call this position "consultant" or "senior software engineer" or "staff engineer." Of course, any other management position that you think would interest you is also appropriate: product marketing manager, application manager for a particular project (in other words, a first-line manager), or any other position that requires a technical background. Employers like goal-oriented workers, so saying you don't know will turn a manager off. A: The generic answer would be, "I would like to try the technical career track," or, "I want to follow the management career path." Q: "What are your weaknesses?" HINT: There are a couple of approaches you can take with the "weakness" question. Whatever you do, do not mention any true weakness, such as, "I have a hard time getting to work on time." The ability to answer the question properly is half of what the manager is looking for. One strategy is to give a personal weakness that is considered a professional strength. A: "I'm so compulsive about my work, that I can't stop until the job is perfect." Another approach is to turn the question into a discussion of your current professional goals. Example: "I plan to improve myself this year by taking a class in public speaking." Choose a peripheral weakness -- one that you may really need to work on, but not one that would disqualify you for the position in question. Q: "Why do you want to work here at XYZ Company?" HINT: Be very careful with this one. If you've researched this company then you can say something specific, like "object-oriented relational database technology really turns me on." Showing that you have done some research marks you as a self-starter with a solid grasp of the big picture. A: "I've been following XYZ's growth and I want a company that I can grow with. Your company is solid and stable, with a growth rate of X percent last year and a great competitive position" Or, "I like a start-up environment where I can really make a difference." Q: "Why should we hire you?" A: "Because I would be an asset to your organization. I'm loyal, tenacious, motivated, and I learn fast. I'm someone who could be very productive very quickly." Q: "What motivates you?" HINT: Whatever you do, do not say lots of money. We all know that money, power and recognition are all basic motivators. But you do not want to appear selfish. You want to appear intelligent and hard-working and interested in doing a good job, interested in giving rather than receiving. If you've held jobs while in college or during the summers, be sure to reach from those specific examples to illustrate the above. A: "A job well done." "A challenge." "Interesting work/technology." Any or all of these answers work. Q: "Tell me about a conflict you encountered and how you handled it." HINT: This is one of the toughest interview questions of all. It's sort of a trick question, as a matter of fact. Never speak negatively about anyone. The ability to successfully resolve conflicts is important for all members of an IS team.. It may be the most important factor if you're working in a service environment, such as a large consulting firm that deals with outside clients. The answer you give here could go a long way toward getting you a job offer. Managers want to see that you are mature and unselfish. The answer should involve proof of your maturity level. They are looking for your ability to handle conflict. Compromise and working it out without external intervention are the keys. A disgruntled person is not going to be productive, and tends to bring down coworkers' morale as well. A: "I sat down with the other person and asked what his issues were. Then I outlined my issues. We talked about which were the most important ones and which we could compromise on. We looked for the common aspects of our goals and placed those first. Then we decided together what to give up and what to keep, so that both parties felt they were winning something. Both parties were satisfied." Q: "What changes have you made in your life that you are most proud of?" HINT: This tells the manager more about your ability to take control of your life. It illustrates your leadership potential, and suggests just how promotable you might be. After all, if he produces a star, he looks good. If you're interviewing at a service provider, you will probably be asked to lunch. Remember that you're being judged on whether you know how to make small talk with a client and your overall manners and social skills. Q: "What are your salary requirements?" HINT: The use of the word "offer" is critical. It's a subliminal message that an actual job offer is what you are discussing, not just your salary needs in general. A: "Salary is not my primary consideration. Of course, I have to pay the bills. I'd be open to any reasonable offer." Pause and maintain direct eye contact, even if it seems like forever. Do not be the first one to flinch. Do not over-talk. Be prepared for a long silence. Let the manager be the first to present a figure. It will give you power and control. If forced to give a specific number, never give a broad range -- you will usually be offered the low end. Instead, be as precise as possible: "I'd be open to something in the low-fifties (or mid-forties, high-seventies, whatever)." Giving such a specific number presumes you've researched the local job market and know what entry-level people with your skills are making. Q: "Are you interviewing at any other companies?" HINT: You want the manager to know that you're extremely interested in his opportunity, but are keeping your options open. A: "Yes, Mr. X, but at this point XYZ is my first choice."

I hate job interviews! The question I hate the most is "how would your old boss/co-worker describe you" How am I supposed to know what they think? Isn't that just a roundabout way of asking how you see yourself? I will be looking for a new job after christams so will probably have to answer some of these horrible questions!

I believe interviewing is like selling yourself, so you have to be well prepared in order not to get stuck in any questions. My most hated question is "Sell yoursewlf to me"

These aren't too bad. Where I work they have use the behavioral interview questions and those are awful. They are, tell me a time when you had a confrontation with a coworker. What was the problem, how did you resolve it and what was the outcome. Around 20 of those will really get you.

I guess the answer to these question can be situational: 1.If you are relocating to a new place:My family is shifting to this place and I've been away from my family for a long time and I want to be associated with them since they need me at this time. 2.If a new Job with in the same city and has the same domain to work and you hold good experience with your current employer: A lil lengthy,please spruce it by u'r self.The idea would be.... Say that you got the opprotunity to work on this domain as a member of the pilot bathc with u'r current employer and you have been a potential resource and have explored a lot on this/gained good experience and exposure and have built u'r subject matter expertise and you wanna learn some thing new/confront new challanges and implement/utilize the knowledge u've built so far in some thing knew adding value to it where you can see your visability of your potential.This new job has come as a great opportunity in your way and you would not just contribute to this role/co. but also learn a lot from the excellent team you would be associated with. 3.Say a better opportunity where you have a platform to perform well/add value and learn more and grow with the co. In the interview don't degrade your current employer for giving a reason for quitting your co.Remember to project that you have been with winners and this would elevate your image.Talk good about your co... this shows u'r professionalism/healthy relation ship with u'r co./potential and respected resource. Friends I'm new to this site and this is my 1st association with an HR forum.Please let me know your opinion on the above points shared with you.I'm sure this forum would make me use my grey cells and improve my analytical skills.

These are pretty easy to answer, I personally think if I can manage to get an interview appointment the job is for mine to take. Done it in the past and will keep doing it. But what kind of questions really get confused are the seemingly silly questions.If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be? What if you were a car? Or an animal? These type of questions can bring your interview to a screeching halt. First, don't panic. Pause and take a deep breath. Then remind yourself that there's no "right" answer to these questions. The job isn't hinging on whether you choose to be a spruce versus an oak. Interviewers usually ask these questions to see how you react under pressure and how well you handle the unexpected. It's not so important what type of tree (or car, or animal) you choose as that you explain your choice in a way that makes you look favorable. So, be a spruce -- because you want to reach new heights in your career. Or be an oak -- because you plan to put down roots at the company. Either way, you'll get it right.

Where do You expect to be in 5 years?

Those all seem like good questions. Have you been asked those?? Some seem pretty easy to answer. I always hate the Why should we hire you question. I always think, well you don't have to hire me. But I will do the work to the best of my ability. That's all I can give you is my best..

What can you do for us that someone else can't? Always gets me. I have a hard time seeing the potential in myself. I also had "What was your best job and why? How bout the worst?" I hated saying why a job is the worst to work at.

those look like standard interview questions for a major position (not like a burger flipper or something). i've heard some of those questions when i interviewed for jobs.

all these ques are equally tuff to find answers

I think the toughest interview question would be : "Why you leave your previous company?" This kind of question i think is quite embarrasing. If the reason given is not solid enough, then the interviewer would have some kind of prejudice on the interiewee. For example, if you answer "i hate my previous job" then you are giving an impression that 'you will quit when you hate your job' or 'you will chicken out when you found out the job is not as good as you think'. If you answer, "the manager is the worst that i have seen". This will give an impression that, "this guy have relations issue with his superior". So it would be wise to just say with a moderate & reasonable reason.

I hope this will help me for my next interview.

I got to prepare my self well. You have to present your self best.

thanx for all these questions .

For sure my toughest interview question was " Tell me a joke". It was asked during a totally random part of the interview whicle I was discussing my education.

I think the toughest is probably where they ask you your leadership skills. Also, some of the ethics questions are tricky, for example there was one where it asks whether you would return the money if a cashier accidentally gave you more. The question seems obvious but i'ts really not, because it depends on amount, location, etc.

whats is ur expectations from the company?

hate job interviews! The question I hate the most is "how would your old boss/co-worker describe you" How am I supposed to know what they think? Isn't that just a roundabout way of asking how you see yourself? I will be looking for a new job after christams so will probably have to answer some of these horrible questions!

The most difficult question I was asked in an interview was. "what do you do that is the biggest waste of time while at the office" I had an easy answer, but not a positive one. In the end I just stuck with my gut, which was "emailing my wife". Apparently that was the right answer because I got the job. I think he was just looking for a truthful answer and wanted to see if I was full of crap or not.