How to Answer The 64 Toughest Interview Questions

Part:   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24  25  26  27  28  29  30  31  32  33  34  35  36  37  38  39  40  41  42  43  44  45  46  47  48  49  50  51  52  53  54  55  56  57  58  59  60  61  62  63  64 

Question 1 Tell me about yourself.

TRAPS: Beware, about 80% of all interviews begin with this "innocent" question. Many candidates, unprepared for the question, skewer themselves by rambling, recapping their life story, delving into ancient work history or personal matters. BEST ANSWER: Start with the present and tell why you are well qualified for the position. Remember that the key to all successful interviewing is to match your qualifications to what the interviewer is looking for. In other words you must sell what the buyer is buying. This is the single most important strategy in job hunting.
So, before you answer this or any question it's imperative that you try to uncover your interviewer's greatest need, want, problem or goal.

To do so, make you take these two steps:
1. Do all the homework you can before the interview to uncover this person's wants and needs (not the generalized needs of the industry or company)
2. As early as you can in the interview, ask for a more complete description of what the position entails. You might say: "I have a number of accomplishments I'd like to tell you about, but I want to make the best use of our time together and talk directly to your needs. To help me do, that, could you tell me more about the most important priorities of this position? All I know is what I (heard from the recruiter, read in the classified ad, etc.)"
Then, ALWAYS follow-up with a second and possibly, third question, to draw out his needs even more. Surprisingly, it's usually this second or third question that unearths what the interviewer is most looking for.
You might ask simply, "And in addition to that?..." or, "Is there anything else you see as essential to success in this position?:
This process will not feel easy or natural at first, because it is easier simply to answer questions, but only if you uncover the employer's wants and needs will your answers make the most sense. Practice asking these key questions before giving your answers, the process will feel more natural and you will be light years ahead of the other job candidates you're competing with.
After uncovering what the employer is looking for, describe why the needs of this job bear striking parallels to tasks you've succeeded at before. Be sure to illustrate with specific examples of your responsibilities and especially your achievements, all of which are geared to present yourself as a perfect match for the needs he has just described.

Q1 Tell me about yourself.
Q2 What are your greatest strengths?
Q3 What are your greatest weaknesses?
Q4 Tell me about something you did - or failed to do - that you now feel a little ashamed of.
Q5 Why are you leaving (or did you leave) this position?
Q6 The "Silent Treatment"
Q7 Why should I hire you?
Q8 Aren't you overqualified for this position?
Q9 Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Q10 Describe your ideal company, location and job.
Q11 Why do you want to work at our company?
Q12 What are your career options right now?
Q13 Why have you been out of work so long?
Q14 Tell me honestly about the strong points and weak points of your boss (company, management team, etc.)…
Q15 What good books have you read lately?
Q16 Tell me about a situation when your work was criticized.
Q17 What are your outside interest?
Q18 The "Fatal Flaw" question
Q19 How do you feel about reporting to a younger person (minority, woman, etc)?
Q20 On confidential matters…
Q21 Would you lie for the company?
Q22 Looking back, what would you do differently in your life?
Q23 Could you have done better in your last job?
Q24 Can you work under pressure?
Q25 What makes you angry?
Q26 Why aren't you earning more money at this stage of your career?
Q27 Who has inspired you in your life and why?
Q28 What was the toughest decision you ever had to make?
Q29 Tell me about the most boring job you've ever had.
Q30 Have you been absent from work more than a few days in any previous position?
Q31 What changes would you make if you came on board?
Q32 I'm concerned that you don't have as much experience as we'd like in…
Q33 How do you feel about working nights and weekends?
Q34 Are you willing to relocate or travel?
Q35 Do you have the stomach to fire people? Have you had experience firing many people?
Q36 Why have you had so many jobs?
Q37 What do you see as the proper role/mission of… …a good (job title you're seeking); …a good manager; …an executive in serving the community; …a leading company in our industry; etc.
Q38 What would you say to your boss if he's crazy about an idea, but you think it stinks?
Q39 How could you have improved your career progress?
Q40 What would you do if a fellow executive on your own corporate level wasn't pulling his/her weight…and this was hurting your department?
Q41 You've been with your firm a long time. Won't it be hard switching to a new company?
Q42 May I contact your present employer for a reference?
Q43 Give me an example of your creativity (analytical skill…managing ability, etc.)
Q44 Where could you use some improvement?
Q45 What do you worry about?
Q46 How many hours a week do you normally work?
Q47 What's the most difficult part of being a (job title)?
Q48 The "Hypothetical Problem"
Q49 What was the toughest challenge you've ever faced?
Q50 Have you consider starting your own business?
Q51 What are your goals?
Q52 What do you for when you hire people?
Q53 Sell me this stapler…(this pencil…this clock…or some other object on interviewer's desk).
Q54 "The Salary Question" - How much money do you want?
Q55 The Illegal Question
Q56 The "Secret" Illegal Question
Q57 What was the toughest part of your last job?
Q58 How do you define success…and how do you measure up to your own definition?.
Q59 "The Opinion Question" - What do you think about …Abortion…The President…The Death Penalty…(or any other controversial subject)?
Q60 If you won $10 million lottery, would you still work?
Q61 Looking back on your last position, have you done your best work?
Q62 Why should I hire you from the outside when I could promote someone from within?
Q63 Tell me something negative you've heard about our company…
Q64 On a scale of one to ten, rate me as an interviewer.

(Continued on next part...)

Part:   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24  25  26  27  28  29  30  31  32  33  34  35  36  37  38  39  40  41  42  43  44  45  46  47  48  49  50  51  52  53  54  55  56  57  58  59  60  61  62  63  64