25 most difficult questions to be prepared for on a job interview

So, you are one of those  who want to build a career and has several interviews to face in the coming months till you bag the best offer. Straightly, I will pour it out that the interview session is more than just questions and answers as we all know and the importance of equipping yourself before every interview no matter how much you know cannot be over emphasized. 25 most difficult questions to be prepared for on a job interview.


Below, we shall be discussing the top difficult questions you may face during a job interview:

1. Tell me about yourself.

Basically, this is always the opening question in 90% of the interviews we find ourselves in today. Since this is mostly the first question you might be asked, be careful not to fun your mouth. Don’t give out too much information at this point. Stick to the basics; early years, education, work history and career experience. All in briefs. Let your career experience relate to the post you applied for.

 

2. What do you know about our organization?

If you have not done any other thing before the interview, ensure you have inquired about the organization that you applied to. You should know about their products and services, reputation, standard, revenues (if it is public), aim and objectives, management style, hierarchical tree, history, philosophy and ethics. But on a warning note, do not act like you know all about the company. Prove to your interviewers that you took out time to study the organization not overwhelm them with information. Let it sound like you wish to learn more. Be positive.

3. Why do you want to work for us?

Be precise on productivity. If your answer goes because you like people, you probably have shot yourself in the leg. We all like people;not animals. The best answer for this question would be driven from good research on the position you have applied for and how your presence would be a plus for the organization. Your answer could be in form of an appraisal. You can say you have watched the operations of the company and the things they are involved in greatly interests you. Tell them how much you would like to be a part of their team as it inspires your career. Do not say things that you do not mean because you may be asked a next question that you have little idea or interest in.

 

4. What can you do for us that someone else can’t?

This one here is where most people pride in themselves. Stating their skills and interests, achievements and career accomplishments.
Mention your past achievements(avoid lies), pick out achievements from your resume because they will be staring at it from time to time to see if what you saying is in line with what is written in there.
Mention problems you faced in the past and the steps you took to get them solved, practical solutions.

 

5. What do you find most attractive about this position? What seems least attractive about it?

Here, you can state 3 to 4 attractive factors about the position you applied for. Also, try to mention one unattractive factor as well. You will be seen as someone who identifies loop holes and due to your point above, you will be seen as a problem solver.

 

6. Why should we hire you?

Refer to point 4. Emphasize your abilities in relation to the position applied for

 

7. What do you look for in a job?

Sound like someone who is seeking to grow a career. Someone who uses opportunities to grow a career by doing his best at every point to leave a mark and have a reliable reference to his past career experiences. Rather than being personal, sound like a team oriented person.

 

8. Please give me your definition of [the position for which you are being interviewed].

On this point, stay brief. Proof task oriented, Responsible and accountable. Make sure to have done a research on this topic before to be sure of what to answer. Giving a general answer may sound awkward. If you are not certain on how to answer, it is not an offence to ask the interviewer, he or she may answer it for you.

 

9. How long would it take you to make a meaningful contribution to our firm?

Making unrealistic promises here may put you in trouble when eventually you get the job and you cannot deliver or it will make you lose the job outright because the interviewers will know you would keep failing.
While yo expect to attack pressing demands head on, you will also be sorting out your own grounds thereby taking you about six months or more to make major contributions. Not that you would not be making any contributions at all, but you will be needing time to come out on major productivity. If it then takes you lesser time to catch up, it will be a plus to your portfolio.

 

10. How long would you stay with us?

Remember you are building a career. As long as you and the organization feel achievement oriented, then, you have no problems staying for as long as time permits but make them understand that you do not feel comfortable staying stagnant without major achievements to your portfolio and career as a whole thereby granting you the obligation to move on if such stagnancy is perceived.

 

11. Your resume suggests that you may be over-qualified or too experienced for this position. What’s Your opinion?

Emphasize this, ‘a strong company needs a strong staff’. You are trying to establish a long term association with them and you know with your ton of experience, you are the best for the position.

 

12. What is your management style?

Having researched the company’s management style, you should know how your style would complement it. Problem solving, task oriented and being a great team leader. Pointing your team towards the right direction always to solve a problem and achieve one goal.
Delegating responsibilities and motivating people to be productive is another open door method for managing that gives maximum productivity.

13. Are you a good manager? Can you give me some examples? Do you feel that you have top managerial potential?

 

Keep your answer achievement and task-oriented. Remember to always emphasize your strengths.

 

14. What do you look for when You hire people?

Now, you are being put in their shoes. They want to know how deep you reason and how you would back up your managerial points if any had been asked. Think of skills, initiative, and team spirit. Think of people with positive minds

 

15. Have you ever had to fire people? What were the reasons, and how did you handle the situation?

No unpleasant task to easy to carry out. Firing a worker is not always an easy task but for the organization and its productivity, if that must happen, then it has to happen but it must be carried out in the best humane way possible.

16. What do you think is the most difficult thing about being a manager or executive?

Mostly, I would say cost control because, every worker wants to get extra at the end of every execution. But basically, Planning, execution and cost control are the 3 major factors to being a manager. controlling cost requires you to know how to motivate your workers and manage them to get results as at when needed.

 

17. What important trends do you see in our industry?

Be prepared for two or more trends that illustrate how well you are familiar with the industry. In Nigeria today, the economic stance is a great trend that covers almost every industry, use it as a pillar to your answer. technological upgrades and regulatory demands.

 

18. Why are you leaving (did you leave) your present (last) job?

Be honest here without hurting yourself. Do not mention personalities of anyone or conflicts. If you were laid off, be honest enough to state it. If you moved intentionally, make it known and pair move to your career growth phase. Most interviewers may want to probe you on the issue especially if you were terminated obviously. Use the ‘we agree to disagree method’. It will come in handy. Your references are likely to be contacted, do not say stories or form out one.

 

19. How do you feel about leaving all your benefits to find a new job?

You should be concerned right? But make sure to be clear that you are not panicked. You are in the phase of taking the risk of finding the right job for yourself.

 

20. In your current (last) position, what features do (did) you like the most? The least?

Remain positive. Describe liked features to disliked features on a ratio 5:1. Don;t for any reason cite personal issues or problems. No one wants a whiner or someone with lots of negativity.

 

21. What do you think of your boss?

Every positive thoughts you can muster up, it is advisable here to show them. Let your potential boss see you talking about him too in that light in years to come.

 

22. Why aren’t you earning more at your age?

Say that this is one reason that you are conducting this job search. Don’t be defensive.

 

23. What do you feel this position should pay?

A delicate topic I’d say. I always suggest you do not go over to say a precise figure rather throw out a range in a polite manner. ‘That should seem appropriate for the job I presume’. You can also throw back the question. Ask them for the range for similar roles. Perhaps, they have an idea.
If you are being asked at the initial stage of an interview, tell them you need to know more about the responsibilities attached to that position before you can come out with a reasonable answer. If the position has a widely known range, state it.

If the interviewer probes further, tell them you will love to earn more than you earned in your last place of employment. However, be sure to note that taking a new job in its act does not make you worth more money.
If you are making a chronic and drastic career change, you may want to go with a income decrease but do not sound frustrated. If not, always demand for a higher amount.
Always link questions related to salary to the job. Don’t act desperate for any reason. But if possible, say as little as you can till the final stage of the interview process. there will be more flexibility in the negotiation process.

 

24. What are your long-range goals?

Let your goals stay related to the position you applied for. It send a better signal.

25. How successful do you you’ve been so far?

Say that, all-in-all, you’re happy with the way your career has progressed so far. Although the loops here and there, you are still grateful for how far you have come.
Sound positive and confident of yourself. Paint a positive future. Do not over say it. Just sound confident.

 

 

 

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