Why do interviewers ask the toughest questions during interviews? They may even seem non-job related.
However, these questions are designed specifically to address your aptitude. It almost doesn’t matter what your answers are. The key is how you answer them.
This blog will teach you how to answer hard interview questions and allow you to gain an advantage during your next job interview.
What Do Interviewers and Recruiters Seek from Candidates?
Your cover letter and resume may paint a beautiful picture. However, these qualities can only be assessed if you can showcase them professionally. This is why job interviews tend to be complex. Our career advice to you is to anticipate these kinds of questions, and no matter how they’re asked, you’ll be prepared to answer them.
Behavioral questions identify just that—your behaviors. Interviewers may ask for examples, a story, or a hypothetical situation to determine how you respond to certain situations. Recruiters need to learn more about your soft skills to determine whether you fit in with the organization and have what it takes to fulfill the role.
12 Tough Interview Questions You Might Encounter in Your Next Job Interview
These questions will vary depending on your interviewer. However, keep in mind that these types of questions are not always about what your answers are, but how you answer them. Some questions may be vague, while others are straightforward. The key is to analyze what the question entails and deliver a top-notch answer that will impress your interviewer.
1. How do you work with a colleague whose personality is different from yours?
This question is straightforward. It asks how you can maintain a healthy relationship with colleagues. Let’s face it, there will be misunderstandings and disagreements in the office. Sometimes they could even lead to conflict. The goal here is to express how you support a harmonious environment despite the differences you have with your coworkers.
Read more: How to Tackle the Most Common Interview Questions & Impress Your Interviewer
2. Have you ever had a conflict with a coworker? Tell me how you handled it.
If you have had conflicts with your coworkers in the past, this might be really tough to answer without putting yourself in a bad light. Our advice is to leave out the messy details and focus on your resolution skills.
- What did you do to solve the situation?
- Did you admit you were wrong?
- Does it often happen to you? How are you working on avoiding this?
- Do you let your emotions get the best of you at work? If yes, how are you handling it?
Read more: How to Stay Cool at Work
3. How do you handle demanding customers?
Handling customers is a crucial part of business. But keeping a positive attitude despite a difficult situation is key to managing these situations. If you’re hoping for a customer-facing role, it’s vital to have a resilient attitude and maintain professionalism to keep your company image.
4. How do you resolve your actions when you don’t deliver quality service?
Similar to facing difficult clients or customers, there were surely times you didn’t deliver your best service or response. However, the important part is how you managed the situation and regained your customer’s trust.
Related article: Why Aren’t You Getting Hired? 14 Factors That Hold You Back
5. Tell me about a time when you had to adapt to changes in your previous company.
This one is quite common. It’s about your adaptability and how you react to changes in the office. Organizational transformation is necessary to grow a company. As an employee, do you simply follow orders? Or do you recommend improvements? Maybe you get angry when your comfort zone is disturbed. Or perhaps you embrace the challenge, seeing it as an opportunity to learn and grow.
6. What was one of your biggest failures? What did you do to resolve it?
As straightforward as this question is, it might be daunting to share your mishaps. However, if you can demonstrate continuous learning, adaptability, and growth, you might impress your interviewer. Just be sure not to share too many weaknesses, as it might make you seem incompetent.
7. How do you prioritize your responsibilities? Or track your projects and progress?
Your tasks change depending on your current job. Show the interviewer how you prioritize important tasks to meet your responsibilities. Share how you manage your tasks to ensure you meet your deliverables and deadlines.
8. Tell me about an unexpected event that affected your work. How did you handle it?
This question covers how resilient you are in face of uncertainties. It could be a time when you lost a job due to no fault of your own. Share how you coped with the situation and what you did to get back on track.
9. How do you meet your goals, and what do you do to accomplish your objectives?
Your career goals are crucial to your success. This question is more about identifying what you want to be and how you plan to achieve it. It’s similar to, “How do you see yourself in a few years?” To answer this question, you need to have a clear career trajectory. You may add what you’re doing to achieve it, like taking short courses, attending workshops, or learning with a mentor.
Read more: 5 Time Management Tips for Job Seekers
10. What was your proudest accomplishment as a professional?
This is a tough one: it may sound like you’re being given the opportunity to shine. However, this is not what the question asks for. It’s about your personality and how you view your work. Even if it’s only a small contribution, the goal here is to take accountability and ownership of what you do.
11. Can you share a time when you had to step up to solve a problem?
This question highlights one’s ability to show leadership. It’s about taking the initiative to get involved in an activity outside your responsibility. Did you recommend feedback on a process that can be improved? Were you able to contribute to a marketing strategy to address customers? Share your creativity and your willingness to lend a hand.
12. What feedback do you often receive from managers and peers?
Don’t be boastful, but don’t throw yourself under the bus either. This question is not entirely about how others see you, but about how self-aware you can be of yourself and others.
How Do You Answer the Hardest Interviews?
The trick to answering these questions is preparation. Now that you know what interviewers might ask, it’s time to formulate your answers.
Practice Self-Awareness
But don’t be intimidated: There’s nothing to memorize. The crucial aspect of answering these questions is being self-aware.
Pinpoint the Real Question
First, you need to assess what the question is asking. Remember: It’s not always about answering the question, but showcasing a skill by answering the question. Is the interviewer asking about how you handle stress, your management style, your technical prowess, leadership, or any other soft skills?
Tell Your Story
Take your time and take a deep breath. Recall your past experiences, choose relevant events that showcase your skills, and start sharing your professional journey. Sum it up and always think of ways to share what you learned throughout the experience.
The STAR Method: Structure Your Answers Effectively
If you need a more structured way of answering the questions, consider the STAR method:
- Situation: Set the scene and situation. Give details about your experience. Share important events that might have influenced the situation.
- Task: Describe your role and responsibilities in the situation. This will help your interviewer understand why and how you were affected by it.
- Action: Share what you did to solve a problem. This includes how you asked for help or managed to find a solution.
- Result: End with the outcome of your actions. This part is critical as it will determine whether you were successful or not. Make sure to put yourself in a good position.
Boost your job search with Hughes Recruiting and Consulting.
Just as we want you to ace your interview, we also want to connect you with the right organization where you can find a fulfilling career.
We offer clerical, industrial, and professional roles in various industries. We also ensure candidate satisfaction when placing our partners. Join Hughes Recruiting and Consulting. We’ll help you achieve your aspirations and professional dreams!
