Tough Interview Questions And How To Answer Them

You updated your resume, polished your cover letter, and landed the big job interview. But that’s just the beginning. It’s time for the hardest part: the interview. An interview can make or ruin your prospects of landing a job. It is not only about what is on your CV, but also about your overall personality and charisma.

Employers want the best for their company, so they offer challenging interview questions to narrow down their pool of potential workers. To be successful, you must plan ahead of time.

Here are 7 tough interview questions and how to answer them 

What is your greatest weakness?

• This question is intended to determine your level of self-awareness. The interviewer needs to know that you’re human, so shed the “packaging” for a second and be yourself. They want to know if you are interested in self-improvement, which will benefit the company. While you want to be honest, you also need to answer the question in a way that does not raise red flags for the interviewer.

Bad answer –

• I’m always late
• I tend to miss deadlines
• I’m not great
• I tend to fold under pressure

Suggested Answer –

• “My writing skills are quite impressive but I’ve been working towards doing more in a short period of time and producing quality work even under pressure. I’m taking conscious steps to ensure I curb my weakness of underperforming in a high-pressure situation”

Why should we hire you?

• Here, the interviewer wants to know how much research you’ve done on the company. Employers may ask this question to better understand what sets you apart from other applicants they may be interviewing.
• Tying your response to the job description, corporate goals, and values is a surefire approach to wow the interviewer. showcase the traits they are looking for and use them to sell yourself – showcase your accomplishments and objectives and persuade the interviewer that you are most likely the best candidate for the position.

Bad answer –

• I’m passionate about what I do
• I’d be of value to your organization

Possible solution–

• “In my current (former) work as a marketing manager, I successfully generated 70% of the company’s leads, with a 50% conversion rate. Given that your firm is likewise customer-centric, it has always been my responsibility and personal desire to guarantee that choices are made with the customer in mind. This is the type of outcomes and performance I bring to the table. I’m delighted to apply my unique set of expertise to this position.”

Why are you leaving your current company?

• This is one of the most difficult questions during an interview. Even if you despised your previous job, you should never criticize a former employer during an interview. The tone with which you respond to this question is more crucial than the answer you supply; the interviewer is trying to determine whether you are a complainer. Answer this question honestly, but avoid revealing too much personal or negative information.

Bad answer-

• I hated the job
• I don’t like my boss
• I hated the work environment

Suggested answer –

• “While I highly valued my time at my previous company, there are no longer learning opportunities or career growth opportunities. Being at the company was a huge learning curve for me but I am seeking new challenges and opportunities that align with my personal career goals and aspirations. Which is why i’m sure your company will be the perfect fit”

How well do you work under pressure?

• This is one of the most basic questions during an interview but it tells the interviewer a lot. Most companies have the culture of “a faced paced environment” which is why employers look for employees who can perform and even over-perform even under pressure.

Bad answer –

• I would say I work well under pressure
• I can’t work well under pressure

Suggested answer –

• “Honestly, I’m someone who thrives under pressure. It’s not always easy but it must be done. I have grown the habit of being proactive, so as to avoid any situation that will put me under pressure in the first place. The key to thriving is really planning and time management – both are skills I have up my sleeve. Communication is key for me in stressful situations, even if over-communicating is necessary to ensure everyone is on the same page. ”

How much do you currently earn?

• Although this isn’t a necessary question to ask, employers tend to. They do this to get a better understanding of where you’re coming from, as well as to guide your salary negotiation.

Bad answer –

• I earn N150,000
• I can’t disclose that information
• Suggested answer –

“Well, I have a very robust job description and even go the extra mile to execute tasks outside my JD. I currently earn somewhere between N150,000 – N250,000, this is subject to further increase scheduled by the company”

What is your salary expectation?

• Employers want to know that your salary demands are reasonable. The safest strategy is to provide a believable range, accompanied by a statement of your willingness to negotiate your pay scale.

Bad answer –

• I expect nothing less that N250,000
• I’m looking at receiving N250,000 net

Suggested answer –

“Considering the job description and working conditions, I am looking at anywhere between N250,000 to N350,000 monthly. I’m more than open to negotiating this, depending upon your benefits package.”

Why have you been out of work? Or Can you explain the gaps in your employment history?

When the interviewer reviews their job candidates, a major red flag for employers is when someone has major employment gaps. It’s in their best interest to learn whether this was a result of the candidate’s personal weaknesses (laziness, or a poor work ethic) or whether there were extenuating circumstances beyond the individual’s control.

Bad answer –

• I couldn’t get a job
• Suggested answer –

“I have been out of work before due to several factors like the company getting sold, change of location, as well as health crisis. But during each gap, I took time to improve my skills, gain additional knowledge and really take time out to assess my career trajectory. Each phase wasn’t a resting period for me but actually an opportunity for me to improve myself and increase the value I have to offer my next employer.”

You will need to put a little thought into answering these tough questions. Many times, the interviewer wants to see how well you respond to changing environments and how fast you can think on your feet.

Be prepared with a few answers to the most common questions, but also be ready for some totally odd questions. If you need to, repeat the question as you come up with your answer. It’s a great trick because it gives you time to think.

Also check out these articles for more information: Questions You Should Not Ask During Your Interview, Things You Must Know Before Attending A Job Interview, The Interview Questions Employers Shouldn’t Ask You , Top Entry Level Interview Questions And Answers