Here Are The Best Answers To Tough Interview Questions
Employers ask job seekers difficult interview questions because they want to:
- See how you react under pressure.
- See how you handle curveball questions.
- Understand your business philosophy.
- Test your critical thinking skills.
- Evaluate how well you work with others.
Below you will find seven examples of tough interview questions that employers like to ask, what their motive is for asking them, and the best answers for them.
Quick side note: You can prepare for the tough interview questions by presenting recruiters with a strong, assertive, and perfectly optimized resume. Not only does my two-page annotated resume cheat sheet do this, but it is also proven to improve salary offers. Submit your information below to receive it:
1. Questions that assess your "weaknesses."
- “What critical feedback do you most often receive?”
- “What is your greatest weakness?”
With interview questions like these, employers like to test how self-aware you are. Additionally, they want to see if you have contingency plans in place to counteract your weak spots. Answers to tough interview questions like these should be honest, but this doesn’t mean you have to dig into your dark past or reveal all your perceived flaws! Be truthful without oversharing.
Best way to answer this type of question: Be honest and focus on the solution.
You might want to say "I don’t really have a weakness," but this is a mistake. Showing that you’re aware of some points that could hinder your ability to collaborate, but, that you're working to fix them is a sign that you're great at problem-solving.
When answering a tricky interview question about failure or weakness, accept responsibility for how your weakness impacted results. But do not pick a weakness that has no connection to your job!
For example, if you’re applying for an interpreter job, it wouldn’t matter that your math skills are weak, right? At the same time, do not bring up a “deal-breaker” flaw.
Here's a sample answer for "What is one bad habit that you’ve corrected at your last job?"
“When I first started working, I had a habit of interrupting my colleagues during meetings. I was a bit over-enthusiastic and being an extrovert, I wanted to make sure I felt included. It was until later that I realized this attitude was turning many people off. I have since recognized the value of active listening and how discussions can be much better had if one tries to open the floor for everyone to participate. I now count to five before I start to speak after someone has finished.”
2. Questions that assess how you respond to failure.
- “Tell me about a time you overcame an obstacle.”
- “Are you willing to fail?”
Failure in some regard is inevitable with every job. However, demonstrating that you can stay level-headed and solution-oriented in the face of failure is a quality all employers actively look for.
Best way to answer this type of question: Use STAR methodology.
- Situation: Give some background.
- Task: Explain the role you played in the situation.
- Action: Describe the steps you took to address the situation.
- Result: Share the ultimate outcomes you were able to achieve.
The key is not to be afraid of failure. Rather, you must embrace your failures and showcase them as learning opportunities when answering such tricky interview questions.
If you’re wondering, "what if I have never failed to meet my deadlines and goals?" You can share an example of a time when you came close to failure.
Here's a sample answer for "Tell me about a time you failed at your job."
“During the Halloween season, I worked as a retail manager at a department store. A client purchased a costume online and had it delivered to the store where another client accidentally purchased it. As soon as I got wind of the situation, I got to work to fix it. I located the same costume at another location, informed the client of the mess up, and reassured them that I had secured them a replacement costume. Moreover, I arranged for home delivery with a gift card to thank her for their understanding. The customer wound up writing a five-star review on Yelp!”
3. Questions that assess how you operate in a work environment.
- “How did you handle conflicts at your previous job?”
- “What have been your most positive and negative management experiences?”
Employers use these questions to understand your management style and cultural values. What kind of work environment do you thrive in? Would you be a good fit under a certain team or manager? Additionally, employers want to judge your level of professionalism.
Best way to answer this type of question: Avoid badmouthing your previous professional experiences at all costs.
During an interview, your answers to these tough questions should remain honest, but remember not to complain. If you do, it is likely that your interviewer will relate more to your previous boss than to you. Our goal here is to get you hired or at least to assess if this company is right for you. Maintaining a strong impression is key to achieving these goals.
Instead, be tactful and give a professional answer. Reframe the bad situations as challenges that made it difficult for you to grow and thrive.
Here's a sample answer for "What was your least favorite part about your last job?"
“I have nothing but positive things to say about my previous job. If I had to share one challenge, it would be that I was given very small budgets to work with. Nevertheless, I made sure to maximize the impact of my small budget as much as possible. I leveraged relationships as much as possible to negotiate strong contracts, identified cost-effective tools and solutions, and optimized processes as much as possible. I would like to work in a company where I can be charged with larger budgets so that I can create a larger impact in terms of market growth.”
4. Questions about why you are seeking employment.
- “Why are you leaving your current position?”
- “Why have you been out of work?”
Employers are always looking out for red flags. Through their tough interview questions, employers are looking for any sign in your answers that might give away why you are a risky investment.
For example, if you changed jobs very quickly, you might be asked to defend your moves. Similarly, if you’ve taken a break, the employer would be interested in knowing why. If you already have a job, the employer would like to understand why you’re seeking to shift.
Best way to answer this type of question: Be diplomatic.
Explain why you would be a good cultural fit.
Your answers to such tough interview questions should focus on why you would be a good fit for the target company. Take some time to research the company and its culture. Moreover, showcase their desired skills in your answer.
Sample answer for "Why do you want to leave Company X?"
“While I enjoyed my time working for X company, I am looking for a new challenge. I read about the pioneering work you are doing in healthcare devices. That’s something I’d very much like to be a part of. For the past three years, I’ve helped develop several healthcare devices that were a hit in their target market. I would like to be somewhere where I can continue doing this and make a real difference in people’s lives and also continue polishing the marketing side of my product management skills, which this role would allow me to do.”
For more sample answers, check out the following:
- Explaining Employment Gaps in Interviews
- How to Explain Job Hopping in Your Resume and During Interviews
- Overqualified for a Job? Here Is What You Need to Do
5. Questions that can trick you.
- “If you could relive the last 10 years of your life, what would you do?”
- “What cartoon character do you most resemble?”
Sometimes employers throw a curveball question because they want to see how do you handle an unexpected situation. Strictly speaking, there isn’t a right or wrong answer to curveball questions.
Such questions used to be in vogue, but aren't as popular anymore due to how ineffective they are at showcasing candidates' strengths. Regardless, these questions may get asked.
Best way to answer this type of question: Keep things simple and positive.
The best thing you can do is to talk about the employer’s desired skills to reaffirm why you would be a good fit for their company. When answering such a trick question during an interview, demonstrate confidence by showing that you are a self-assured person who is ready to take on any new challenges.
"I would say the cartoon character that I've related most strongly to is Tarzan. Like me, he's a bit of an outsider (I've moved around a lot and had to make new friends again and again); he speaks several languages, and he's a great leader!"
6. Questions that test your critical thinking skills.
- “How many tennis balls would it take to fill a school bus?”
- “How many helium balloons would it take to lift a house?”
Like "trick" questions, these questions aren't considered best practice anymore. However, employers that do ask these aren’t looking for the precise answers here, so don’t get flustered. They want to see what your thought process is and how quickly you can come up with a reasonable answer.
Best way to answer this type of question: Demonstrate logic.
Feel free to ask for a few moments to think; it is reasonable for them to allow you time to gather your thoughts. Find a logical way to demonstrate how you came up with an answer.
Start by breaking down a solution based on related information you might already know.
For instance, let’s consider the bus is an empty box and that the volume of a rectangular prism is length × width × height. Let’s consider the balls are spheres and we can assume the radius of the ball = r. Then, the volume of the ball = 4/3 × π × r3. So, the number of balls that can fit in the box (bus) = Volume of bus/(approximate volume of a ball)
7. Questions from an outside perspective
- “If I were to ask your professors to describe you, what would they say?”
- “If I were to ask your former boss to describe you, what would they say?”
Employers ask these kinds of questions for two reasons. First, they want to assess your ability to judge and perceive yourself. Secondly, they want to judge your ability to objectively critique your own abilities.
Best way to answer this type of question: Have references ready.
This is where having letters of recommendation and a strong network is vital. Ideally, if you have professional experience that has generated a performance review or a work award, this can also be added along with your reference letters to be verified after the interview. You should quote the qualities and skills you have praised for by other employees in your past company.
Want to know how you can secure a glowing recommendation on LinkedIn? This article breaks down my formula and also has a template.
Sample answer for "How would your last boss describe you as an employee?"
"In my performance review, my boss said that I was one of the most productive individuals on the team and that I was key to helping our team achieve our goals for the year. We not only met our key goals for the year, but we also delivered on two additional projects, one of which won the President's Award for outstanding achievement. I have a copy of it for your review, along with a copy of the President's Award that I received for the Afterburner Project in this portfolio. I'll leave it here for your review."
For more help on how to ace your interviews, check out these links:
While some interview questions can be easy to answer, you must always be prepared to expect the unexpected. If you feel like you would benefit from interview coaching from a hiring professional, you can purchase our service here.
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