Interviewing is like a sales job; in fact, it is a sales job. So, let's review a few "gotchas" that can come up in the interview and how the cool and confident "salesperson" can address those gotchas. You've been in those interviews, the ones where you are so calm and confident, so cool and smooth, so slick that you know every answer even before the question gets asked. You know the answers to every question, the right questions to ask and you exhibit powerful body language, a just-right sense of humor, and an air of "I am perfect for this job" attitude.
You begin with a strong, confident handshake, and you smile. The first few questions in the interview are routine; you've practiced these responses for six months. "Come on, challenge me," you think to yourself.
Then, YIKES!!! You haven't been asked that one before. Or, you hadn't thought of it in that way. What could they be trying to find out by asking that? OMG, no, don't start going into computer-speak.
What should you say? Do you think they're trying to find out something about you that you meant to keep hidden? Did they look at your Facebook page; is that why they asked that?
Hey, this is a sales job; that's what job-searching is. For people who say, "I'm not a salesperson," it's now about being a salesperson. Do you realize that EVERYONE is a salesperson, and now is the time you better revert to that tactic. You are selling. A good salesperson, builds rapport, gains trust, thinks on his/her feet and never "looks" like they are confused, stressed, embarrassed or trapped. Don't be a deer in the headlights.
Take your time and answer the interviewer's question.
Side note: My wife used to think every test (from her driver's test to an eye exam) had trick questions. She always assumed that if they asked what the speed limit was in a residential area, they might be assuming some exception like the driver is trying to get his child to the emergency room, or that the vehicle was a tractor pulling a load of church kids on a hay-ride.Don't assume the worst; don't assume a trick. The interviewer probably just wants to know the answer to the question. Answer it, honestly, calmly and accurately. If they're playing some mind-game with you, you may not want this job anyway.
So, let's review a few of those questions that might surprise you, stump you, or trick you. Here's a list:
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- What is your biggest weakness/strength? Some people will think it's good to say "Sometimes I get lost in my work and just work too hard" or "I take on too much, and sometimes don't count on my team enough." OK, that shows you think you're a hard-worker. Those may be a little obvious. And, while you might not want to admit that you sometimes oversleep, you might be a little more tactful, but explaining that you sometimes get impatient when results aren't achieved early, or that you might tweak a project just a little bit more than you really need to, to make sure it's exactly right. Strengths?? Do we really need to suggest those?
- What is the worst duty in your current job? If you're in maintenance, you may not want to admit that "fixing things really bores me," and if you're in sales, don't dis cold-calling. If you're interviewing for management, you might not want to admit that you hate "mentoring others." Find the duty you don't like that doesn't impact your performance, such as some sort of administrative duty (unless you're an administrator). A salesperson might admit that he isn't thrilled with filling out call reports or expense accounts, because they don't directly impact his performance -- but you realize they have to get done, and you do file them.
- Why did you leave your last company? Don't go with, "I hated management." Don't try, "I was never treated fairly." Even if those are the reasons, try to direct the discussion to what you hope to do for XYZ Company, and why you see an opportunity there. In other words, you're leaving for more opportunity.
- What are your goals in the next five years, if you're working for our XYZ Company? Think. Don't blurt out, "I want your job," or "I want to be a manager." If this is a 4-person company, there won't be many opportunities to manage a department, or mentor large teams. Of course, if that's truly what you seek, don't apply at 4-person companies. Know the company dynamics, and be prepared to answer with a suitable response. In addressing this question, you may want to express your desire to become proficient at the posted position, and then consider other opportunities as they may arise in the company.
- Tell me about a dispute you had at work; what was the result? Be ready for this one. Choose a situation that you can articulate in 2-3 minutes, because some of these may take an hour -- you don't have an hour. Choose something that showed teamwork, your initiative to solve the problem, and a positive result. Perhaps, you took a customer situation where the customer became disgruntled, and you moved beyond the norm, to explain a new feature of your company's products, which he didn't understand, and you turned him into a reference. That's powerful.
- How do you manage people and how do you like to be managed? Be honest. If you micro-manage, state that you like to have a "fairly hands-on" relationship in managing my staff, but that perhaps you "like to pitch in and work as a team." If you don't like to be micro-managed, you might note that you "like to get direction, but can usually take the ball and run with it."
- I have another position you might be suited to; would you like to hear about it? Watch out. This may not even be true. They might want to see how qualified you really think you are for the current post. You're there for the job in question, and you should pursue that job. If you divert now, you may lose the first, and you may lose the second (if there even is a second). State your strong interest in the job you came to interview for. If there really is something else, it'll come up again sometime.
- We're almost out of time; what would you like to ask me? It's time to get you out of my office, is what they're telling you. You have one last shot at making one last impression. Sometimes a job prospect may feel that they have to ask another question related to the job. The easiest comeback might be, “Do you have any questions i have not addressed, or any concerns about my capabilities to do this job?” This is a sales person's response. And remember, you're selling.
Good luck on your job search.
