Top 5 tricky questions to face in interview (part-1)

Why do you want THIS job?

Hmm, a tricky one. You need to be honest but not TOO honest if the reason is your boss is a nightmare and you hate your colleagues. Instead, talk about the positives of the job ad – what made it jump out at you and think ‘yeah, I’d be good at that!’ This is your chance to explain!

What did you dislike about your last job?

Again, avoid negativity. Moan about past employers and you’ll quickly be shown the door. Instead, talk about the frustrations of your last role that THIS job could fix and always ALWAYS start with a positive. E.g. ‘I have really enjoyed my current job and I’ve learnt a lot and grown as a person. However, I disliked that there was no opportunity for promotion and I know that I’m ready to take the next step with my career.’

How do you respond to criticism?

Don’t say: ‘I do NOT like people criticising me!’
DO say: ‘I welcome constructive criticism as it helps me to learn and get better at my job. Nobody is perfect but I always make sure that if I make a mistake, it’s the first and last time’.

What are you most proud of in your working life?

This can be a puzzler! Go to the interview prepared with a few examples of your successes and, if possible, use examples to back it up. E.g. ‘I worked really hard to set up a new filing system and won a prize for innovation at our Employee Awards. The new system had saved the admin team 10 hours a week in wasted resource.’

How would you sell me this paperclip?

If the job you’re interviewing for is about selling, this question is predictable. If you are up for a role that needs you to think on your feet, be ready to sell something (go quickly for the benefits and how owning the paperclip can improve life for the buyer) or argue a case.