Easy Answers to Tricky Interview Questions
How to navigate the three most stressful interview moments
The pressure of perfecting an important interview can be stressful enough. Still, there are a few questions that seem to make us all sweat a bit more than usual.
The three most common “tricky” questions are:
What is your biggest weakness?
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Why did you leave your previous job?
When you are in an interview, your task is to understand what the question means and what the hiring manager wants to hear from you.
What is your biggest weakness?
This first question seems to be an applicant's least favorite and an interviewer’s favorite hard-ball question. “What is your biggest weakness?”
Why do hiring managers ask this question?
There are a couple of reasons why hiring managers like to ask this during a job interview. Firstly, they are trying to gauge whether your weakness would be detrimental to your ability to thrive in the company’s working environment. Secondly, they want to know what area you will need support in if they choose you for the job.
Focus your answer
You want your answer to be honest, but not too honest. The truth is that most of us have multiple personal weaknesses — I mean, we are only human!
However, your strategy for deciding your “biggest” weakness is to find one that won’t ruin your chances of getting the job. Really — all you need to do is use your common sense.
For example, if you’re interviewing for an administrative or project management job that requires a high level of organization and strong attention to detail, don’t tell them that your biggest weakness is a lack of attention to detail or that you’re easily distracted.
Avoid the non-weakness cliches
Your impulse might be to say that your weakness is that you are “a perfectionist” or that you “care too much.” These answers are common because applicants are looking to challenge their weaknesses into appearing as strengths.
As we mentioned earlier, we are all human. Each of us has personal imperfections. Everybody knows that being perfect is not a weakness, and the hiring manager will see through it.
My advice is to avoid these cliche and overused answers if you want to stand out and be taken more seriously.
Present them as weaknesses that you have overcome.
So, we know what not to say. But, what is the right way to approach your answer? The trick is to present it as a weakness that you’ve overcome or are in the process of overcoming.
For example, let’s say you really think that your biggest weakness is perfectionism. Then, you should begin your answer with, “I tend to spend too much time on little details and often lose track of time.”
Now, let’s elaborate. You will want to discuss how you are overcoming that weakness.
“My biggest weakness is that I tend to spend too much time on little details and often lose track of time. I’ve started setting a timer and only giving myself a reasonable amount of time to work on this one part before I move on to the next.”
See how much more genuine that sounds?
Let’s do another one. Let’s hypothetically say that your biggest weakness is that you’re disorganized. First of all, you should never word it like that in any job interview.
Instead, you will want to say:
“My weakness is that I can get easily distracted and lose track of what I should be focusing on. I am very aware of it, which is why I have adopted a habit of always creating checklists, having organizational systems, and always marking my calendar to make sure I don’t forget any important tasks or deadlines.”
Phrasing tips
Here are some examples of how to turn cliches into solid answers:
I am a perfectionist — I get stuck on minor details
I care too much — I tend to take failures too personally
I’m overly attentive to details — I often spread myself thin
Here are some examples phrases you should avoid:
I am disorganized
I sometimes lack motivation
I don't work well with others
Now that you have an idea of how to properly answer this “tricky question,” write down what you consider your biggest weakness and find a way to rephrase it as just did with the examples.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
The second “tricky question” that tends to come up is “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” or
“Where do you see yourself in the future?”
Why do hiring managers ask this question?
Hiring managers ask this because they want to make sure that your plan for yourself aligns with what this company and the specific position you are applying for have to offer. Managers are looking to hire long-term employees, so they want to know that their job aligns with your goals and interests.
Align with the company
Now that you know what the hiring manager is looking for in this question, it should simplify your answer strategy. The key is to ensure your answer aligns with the company (industry, field, location, job function).
For example, if you’re interviewing for a sales job, don’t tell them your goal is to become a lawyer in 5 years. Instead, you want to say that your goal is to become a top salesperson in your niche, that you want to oversee a team of salespeople, or that you want to build a brand new division.
Once again, your future goals should match the possibilities that this role might present.
Why did you leave your previous job? Or, why are you looking to leave?
The very last question that we’re going to practice is, “why are you looking to leave your current employer, or why did you leave your previous job?”
Why do hiring managers ask this question?
Hiring managers aren’t asking you this as a trick question. They are actually looking to make sure that your reason for leaving is not something you will face at this new company.
For example, if the job you are applying for tends to require overtime, it will not be a good fit for you were frustrated with demanding weekend hours at your old position.
Still, this question can seem a bit intimidating when you didn’t leave your previous job on good terms. My biggest recommendation if you left for a negative reason is to use the sandwich method. Start with something positive, mention the negative, and finish it off with something positive.
No matter what your actual reason for leaving might be, there are some simple ways to leave a positive impression with your answer.
Set a positive standard
The rule of thumb is to never ever bad mouth your employer. The hiring manager is looking for someone reliable. Showing a lack of respect for a previous employer will show what your attitude will be in future positions.
Rather than feeding into the negativity, present yourself with positivity.
Discuss how you are moving forward.
Nobody wants to feel stagnant or underappreciated for their work. Rather than dwelling on how you wish they treated you better, discuss what changes you are making to push yourself and your career forward.
The hiring manager will respect your motivated attitude rather than becoming bogged down in personal feelings.
Here is an example of a full-proof positive sandwich answer:
“I really enjoyed my time with the XYZ company. I feel like I learned a lot and grew as a professional. However, I’m looking to move forward in my career and there currently isn’t enough room for growth. My next move would be working in an environment with more opportunity, which is something I think would be possible at your organization.”
Explain the difference in values.
Discussing a toxic work environment is probably the most difficult one to navigate. You have to phrase it in a way that doesn’t make your employer look bad. To avoid talking negatively, show how the company’s values didn’t align with your personal values and work ethic.
For example, let’s say that you left your previous company because they made you work very long hours. For your interview, explain that you left because you value having work-life balance and being successful in both your personal and professional life. The culture of your previous job position demanded very long hours and weekend work, which didn’t align with your goals.
Whichever answer you choose for this question, make sure you’re listing reasons beyond just money or status. Employers view raises and job titles as very subjective reasons to leave a position. Smart recruiters will know that candidates that are in it for superficial reasons are not the dedicated long-haul workers they are looking for.
Hiring managers want to know that you’re motivated by something much bigger than just numbers, so brainstorm your answers in advance!
For more information on how to ace your interview, check out my guide to answering Behavioral Interview questions How to answer behavioral questions | Tips from a Professional Recruiter
As well as my comprehensive interview preparation course Job Interview Course | Tips from a Fortune 500 Recruiter Recruiter.
Good luck on your job interview!
