Don Straits - Dragon Slayer

Most people are petrified with fear in anticipation of tough interview questions. The universal concern after a hiring interview is, "I wonder if I answered that question the right way." It is probably a mistake to do that…

Do your homework, give it your best shot, and don't second-guess the outcome. If you don't land the job, don't blame it on your responses. You may have answered every question perfectly, but someone else got the job because the company had a hidden agenda that you were simply unaware of.

In order to help you handle the tough interview questions, here are a few guidelines so that you can be virtually gauranteed a great interview (business meeting) with your prospective employer. First of all, it is important to understand that good interviewers are looking for answers to behavioral-type questions as opposed to the traditional, factual-based questions centered around experience, education and skill sets.

Behavioral interviewing techniques are focused on situational questions and role-playing. The interviewer will ask you how you would handle certain problems or issues. They aren’t interested so much in what your response is, but rather how you approached the problem.

They are looking to identify your behavioral style. For example, are you a take-charge employee who states emphatically how the problem should be handled, or are you more inclined to involve participants in the decision process, letting them collectively determine how the problem should be resolve?. There is not necessarily a right or wrong answer. Different styles match different situations with varying degrees of appropriateness.

A simple rule to remember when answering behavioral-style interview questions: tell stories of how you have handled similar situations. People rarely remember facts or details, but they love and remember stories. Through stories they can catch a glimpse of your human side, your emotions and your work style. An interesting point drawn from selling strategy is that people justify a decision based on "the facts," but in reality they buy based on their emotions. In your interviews, when you reveal your human side, the interviewer is more likely to "connect" with you, feel good about you, and then find "the facts" to justify hiring you.

Another way to phrase this concept is to say, "If you touch my mind I will be grateful, but if you touch my heart, I will never forget."

OK, now let's look at some of those tough interview questions. Recognize that my suggested response is only a guideline for your answers. Different situations may require a somewhat different response. Try to think about why the question was asked in order to determine what your interviewer is looking for.

How would you handle these tough interview questions?

Q. You discover your boss is cheating on his/her expense account. What should you do?

R. This is obviously a behavioral interview question and can be a very difficult one. How do you answer it? The interviewer is probably seeking two pieces of information: your work style and your integrity. The easy response is to say that you would follow established procedure as defined in the employee handbook. But he/she is probably looking for more than that. Possible responses may include discussing the problem directly with your boss, telling him/her you are aware of the situation, that it may have just been a simple mistake, but that you are uncomfortable with it because of your personal ethics. Another response would be to discuss the problem with the HR director and let him/her handle it. Another response would be to simply ignore it. What your boss does is none of your business (if you believe this, then I have some nice desert property to sell you). This last interview response would not be appropriate because it would be an red flag that you accept unethical behavior and that your work style is to avoid problems rather than confront them. The best response would be to tell a story of how you handled a similar situation in your career that involved unethical behavior. Remember that the interviewer is trying to define your work style and integrity.

Q. I notice you have not completed your college education. Why not?

R. Try this response or something similar that relates to your situation. "At the time, I simply did not have the financial ability to complete my education and needed to secure an immediate position to help support my family. However, I have continued my education through independent study and my knowledge of the industry (or functional area) is state of the art."

Q. What is the most difficult aspect of management?

R. Attempt to relate to a specific situation. Once again, tell a story. One possible direct response: "To find the most talented personnel possible and give them the flexibility to utilize their abilities to the maximum."

Q. What was your greatest failure?

R. Carefully prepare your answer. Ideally, indicate how the problem became a learning experience that you capitalized on. Be careful not to suggest you have never had any failures. We have all had failures in one form or another. To try and cover them up from your future employer is just asking to “fail” the interview.

Q. Why did you leave your former employer?

R. Whatever the situation, have a sound, well-thought-out, concise explanation for the circumstances. Indicate that the resolution was best for all those concerned and that you are now ready for a new career challenge. Do not be bitter or say negative things about your former employer. It will not set a positive first impression nor will it go unnoticed by the expert interviewer. Make your response brief, and then follow it with a question in order to move the interview (business meeting) forward.

Q. Don't you believe you are overqualified for this position?

R. I wish I had a dollar for everyone who has told me they got turned down or couldn't find a job because they are overqualified. Find a way to use your qualifications to an advantage. Here is just one possible response: "My experience would undoubtedly make me productive sooner than anyone else and it appears there are significant responsibilities and challenges in this position that could use my capabilities."

Q. What is your greatest personal strength (weakness)?

R. Aren't you glad you prepared for this question? Typically you want to draw attention to only one or two strengths (or weaknesses) during your interview. If you give them a laundry list of how great you are, then you can be almost guaranteed not to get the job. And don't just say something like "My greatest strength is my ability to define problems and present solutions." Or, "I am extremely skilled at motivating a sales team to achieve extraordinary results." While these are powerful comments, build on them by telling a story of how you used these strengths to achieve bottom-line, profitable results. When discussing weaknesses, talk about how you identified your weakness (once again , in story form), and how you turned it into strength by learning how to manage it.

Q. Are there any questions you would like to ask?

R. Do birds fly? Of course you have questions. Lots of them. Here is your opportunity to turn the interview into a “business meeting”. Don't ask about salary, benefits, what time lunch is or what your choice for a company car is (you would be amazed at how many people ask these questions. Unbelievable). Instead, ask questions about issues and concerns, problem areas you can help solve, and the goals, objectives and aspirations of the organization. You’re shooting for involving the interviewer in a discussion of how, as a team, you can achieve outstanding bottom-line results for the organization.

The tough interview questions we have reviewed barely scratch the surface of potential questions you’re liable to run into. At any rate, they should give you good perspective on what to expect and how you might respond the person conducting the hiring interview. If you don't know a proper response, you are better off admitting it, rather than trying to bluff your way through. Guaranteed you will fail. If you admit you don't know, you will be respected for your honesty. To be successful, take a deep breath, relax and then speak from the heart. A challenging new job is right around the corner.

In an upcoming article my team will put out some free downloadable resume templates in Microsoft Word and PDF format which will help you bypass HR and land the interview.