How to handle difficult interview questions

thought this might be of some use to some of us

Tell me a little about yourself
The only thing the interviewer is interested in is how well suited you are to the advertised position. You have to sell yourself with this in mind so, before the interview, you should work on some convincing and focused responses. The risk of forgetting to say something important is greater than the risk of sounding prepared or rigid.

What can you contribute to the company?
The interviewer is checking how much you know about the company. You should try to identify what is strategically important to the company, perhaps by reading its annual report. Make sure that the contribution you say you can make is linked to the firm’s important business areas.

What experience do you have?
When answering this question, it is enough to show that what you have learnt is applicable to the practical problems you might face in the job. If you know what the job entails, you should be able to envision the type of problems you might have to face. Think of a similar problem you have solved and be ready to present it. This will help the interviewer to picture you as a competent employee.

What’s your worst character flaw?
‘I work too hard’ may have been the classic answer in the 1980s, but today’s employers are looking for human qualities. Try to choose a flaw that relates directly to the job and explain what you’ve done to overcome your problem.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
This is your chance to show ambition tempered with self-awareness and realism. A good answer could be something along the lines of ‘I hope to have a challenging job that allows me to develop as a person’. If questions are clichéd, don’t worry about giving equally clichéd answers!

What are your salary demands?
The best answer to this question is to say that you expect a salary that matches your contribution. You should also try to make clear that you are interested in the opportunities the job provides, rather than a high salary. Negotiating a salary is something that should be done once you get the job, not before.

The successful interview

The main objectives of a job interview are to get a second interview or a job offer. At this stage, the interviewer has almost certainly seen your CV so your skills and experience look good on paper. The interview provides you with the chance to really sell your personality and convince the interviewer of your suitability for the position. Read on for tips on how to make the most of this opportunity.

Before the interview

You can do a number of things before the interview to increase your chances of success. For example:

• Confirm the interview appointment
• Research the company and the job
• Study your own CV and prepare answers to potential questions
• Prepare a list of questions to ask your interviewer
• Find out how to get to the interview location
• Find out the name of your interviewer, their title and the correct pronunciation of their name
• Dress to impress
• Arrive on time

Your appearance

Your personal appearance will have a strong bearing on your success at the interview - research has found that half of all interviewers make their hiring decision in the first 30 seconds, based on the candidates' appearance. Personal grooming is a vital element of your presentation and reinforces a professional attitude. Dress in a style that's appropriate for the industry or company - if you don't know the company/industry style, try to find out through contacts. If you still can't find out, err on the side of conservatism.

Arriving for the interview

Arrive a few minutes early. Announce yourself at reception and explain why you are there. If you have an umbrella or raingear try to leave these at reception.

At the interview

The main aim of the interview is to find out whether you are normal, have reasonable social skills, are relatively confident and will work well within a team. You should therefore try to come across as self-assured without being arrogant. In general you should aim to do the following:

• Shake hands firmly and establish eye contact with the interviewer.
• Be confident and friendly and smile.
• Wait until you're offered a seat before sitting down.
• Use the interviewer's name and pronounce it correctly.
• Remain calm
• Speak positively
• Listen carefully to questions
• Answer questions concisely and sincerely - don't chatter on about things that may be irrelevant
• Sit up straight and try to curb any nervous habits you have like hand wringing or head scratching
• Be enthusiastic and make it obvious that you are interested in the job and the company

How to impress the interviewer

All of the following will create a good impression with your interviewer:

• A well-groomed and professional appearance
• An indication that you are well prepared
• A positive attitude
• Good communication skills
• Self confidence
• Honesty
• Adaptability

How to lose points at interview

The following, on the other hand, are all likely to go against you:

• Lack of personal grooming
• Smoking or chewing gum
• Lack of preparation for the interview
• Inability to answer questions intelligently
• Overbearing attitude, arrogance
• A lack of tact or courtesy
• Indifference
• Lack of career objectives
• Preoccupation with money and benefits
• Bad attitude to previous employers
• Poor interpersonal skills - nervousness, limp handshake, inability to maintain eye contact

Finishing the interview

Ask about the next interview stage if you are still interested in the job. If you're offered the job, accept or tactfully ask for a little time to think it over. If it's the latter, give a firm commitment to answer within a certain amount of time. Don't worry if you're not offered the job straight away. The interviewer may have more people to see or may want to discuss the various candidates with other colleagues. Finally, thank the interviewer for their time.

Prepare to be interviewed
In-depth preparation before an interview can dramatically increase your chances of success. You can do a number of simple things like confirming the appointment time, planning your route so that you'll be on time, finding out the name of your interviewer and how to pronounce their name, and dressing as appropriately as possible for the company and the particular industry. Other preparatory work will take a bit more time and effort. Know your product It's essential that you're familiar with your CV, particularly if someone else has prepared it. Spend some time studying the CV and cover letter you sent to this particular company. Identify your strengths and weaknesses and be prepared to explain any changes in employment and career. Be honest - it shows maturity if you can articulate why you took certain decisions. Prepare for the probable questions. How do you see yourself as an employee? What have you achieved? What are your goals/ambitions? Practice your answers in a 'mock interview' if possible, so that you know exactly what to say. You'll also sound more confident if you're used to talking about yourself and what you want. Below are typical of the questions you may be asked: How do your skills and experience relate to this job? Can you describe your current job and responsibilities? What new technologies and projects have you worked on? What are your achievements in your current job? What are your current employer's operations and markets? Why do you want change jobs? Why are you interested in this job? Why do you want to work for this company? How do you work in a team? What are your career objectives over the coming two or three years? Where do you see yourself in five or ten years time? Are you willing to relocate? What are your strengths and weaknesses? What are your hobbies? Know their product Research the company and the job before the interview. This will demonstrate initiative and interest. It'll also mean that you can ask useful and intelligent questions. You can get background information by looking at company brochures and the website, trade directories like Kompass, the library, printed materials and by talking to personal contacts. Make sure you have a list of questions you can ask the interviewer. For example: What are the initial responsibilities of the job? Who will I be reporting to? What sort of training or induction programme is available? What are the training opportunities? How many other people will be working on my project/in my department? Why has the job become available? What is the culture of the company? What are the company's plans for future development? As tempting as it will be, avoid asking questions about salary or conditions.