The 25 most difficult questions you’ll be asked on a job interview

Reprinted from FOCUS Magazine — January 5, 1983

3. Why do you want to work for us?

4. What can you do for us that someone else can’t?

15. Have you ever had to fire people? What were the reasons, and how did you handle the situation?

24. What are your long-range goals?

Via Lifehacker comes Better Talking

1. Sign up to get a phone number to call and your pin

2. Call and take our prep interview at any time you wish

3. Share the interview with your network & experts

4. Get feedback & new ideas on how to answer tough questions

5. Win the job!

I’ll be testing this out tomorrow morning and posting the audio…maybe. I tend to sound like a kid on the phone.

ETA: I had real phone interviews this morning and have been running my errands – so I will be testing this out and posting the results on Friday morning.

How many people love this question during a job interview? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Here are some collected tips and answers for this question that seems to pop up during every other job interview and leaves you stuttering.

According to CNN/Careerbuilder.com:

The key to answering this age-old question is not to respond literally. Your future employer most likely won’t care if your weak spot is that you can’t cook, nor do they want to hear the generic responses, like you’re “too detail oriented” or “work too hard.”

Respond to this query by identifying areas in your work where you can improve and figure out how they can be assets to a future employer. If you didn’t have the opportunity to develop certain skills at your previous job, explain how eager you are to gain that skill in a new position.

Suggested answer: “In my last position, I wasn’t able to develop my public-speaking skills. I’d really like to be able to work in a place that will help me get better at giving presentations and talking in front of others.”

This Washington Post article features some expert advice:

Similarly, Peter Feldman, an adviser at Plan International Cambodia and an experienced interviewer, recommends tackling weakness questions by saying, “In my last job, I underestimated the importance of X. So in the future, I’ll focus more energy on that.”

McAllister advises “showcasing your commitment to staying current in your field, a prized quality.” Say: “I try to continually update my skills. This year, I’d like to take training in the latest techniques in X, so that I will do Y faster and more efficiently.”

Alternatively, Erin Weinman, a federal information technology project manager, recently landed a choice job after acknowledging, “I’ve never worked for this organization before, so I have a lot to learn about it. But I offer new perspectives and energetic approaches.”

Here are some user submitted answers from About.com:

I sometime say yes when asked to take on additional work, when I should say no; which on many occasions has resulted in my becoming overwhelmed. So, when I accept a project now, I request a completion date, review my calendar to ensure nothing will overlap and then accept the task. This way I am able to assist or take on the project and also ensure it is completed in accordance to the specific requirements.

And my favorite – also via About.com:

As a child my mother dipped me into the river styx which made me invulnerable but she held me by my heel therefore making my heel my only weakness. —Guest Achilles