6 Tricky Interview Questions Employers Ask and How to Answer Them

Wouldn’t it be great if you knew the exact questions that would be asked during an interview?

Most employers during the interview ask tricky questions to trip you up and to get an accurate sense of your candidacy.

Twisted questions help the interviewer to understand important information, learn about your thought processes, and gauge your experience level with difficult tasks.

Interviewers know that you have practiced all common questions, so they try to stump you with trickier questions to get a better idea of your background, your response, and how you will handle the job.

There may not be the right or wrong answers to tricky questions because the interviewer is only interested to see how you respond.

If you want to ace the interview by responding to the questions asked thoughtfully, you should prepare well for the interview by knowing tricky questions and how to answer them.

1. What Is Your Greatest Weakness?

When answering this question, avoid sharing information that may raise a red flag to the interviewers. No matter the answer you give, ensure you impress the interviewer by mentioning the steps you are taking to improve.

Avoid answers like, ‘I have been fired 3 times, or I love to sleep which makes me late all the time as this sends negative information about you.

A great answer is, ‘In the past years, I have been taking a biting more than I can chew, and I am currently working on my time management skills and priorities to ensure that I work and meet deadlines.’

2. Why Should We Hire You?

The best way to craft an answer for this question is to determine what makes you unique and sets you apart from other candidates. Avoid common responses like ‘I am the best, or I am passionate about the role.’

Great answers include, ‘Having technical acumen is essential for this role and I have developed skills at my previous job where I successfully steered a project.’

3. Where Do You See Yourself In Five Years?

The employers ask this question to check a sense of commitment from candidates. Prepare well for the interview to answer the question in a way that makes you align with the company’s goals and that you hope to grow in ways that align with the job you are currently seeking.

4. Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Company?

This question requires you to find an aspect of your previous role that you liked and that is in your present role.

Emphasize what you accomplished in your last role, and how you grew in your career. Avoid negative responses about a former employer.

5. Why Is There A Gap In Your Work History?

Emphasizes how you used professional skills when you were unemployed. Be honest but don’t fall into the trap of criticizing former employers.

Focus on the positive aspects of the experience in ways that make clear how these experiences will help you bring value to your next position.

Be honest such that if it was due to redundancy or if you went for further studies then do not shy away from mentioning it.

6. Do You Have Any Regrets?

This question is used to get a self-assessment on possible shortcomings in your life. Let the employers know that you have made mistakes that have made you be a better person.

You can answer by stating, ‘I always wish I had known what I wanted in my career to be able to hone my skills and be better in my job. However, I have enrolled in short courses related to my field that have improved my performance.’

Conclusion

When preparing for an interview, do thorough research to understand the questions that are likely to be asked and how to answer them. Focus majorly on the lessons you have learned and how you are working towards becoming a better person. Approach each question with extra care for you to avoid missteps and hopefully get through the interview and a job offer.

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