5 Interview Questions You Need to Know

Suppose you were a miniature person trapped inside a salad bowl. How would you get out?

Believe it or not, that’s a question that has been asked during a job interview. It’s one of the more questionable questions of the type you might be asked at companies that look for young, innovative thinkers. Both Google and Microsoft used to ask applicants, Why is a manhole cover round? (There are seven practical answers to that one, including that a round manhole cover can’t accidentally fall through the hole.)

If you were a punctuation mark, which would you be?

Try to sell me a wooden saucepan.

These are trick questions meant to test your problem-solving or creative skills. There are no right answers. Chances are you’ll never be asked any of them. You will likely be asked some traditional questions and you’ll do yourself a big favor, and feel more relaxed and competent, if you think about a few of them beforehand. If you’re seriously interested in the job, you might want to have a good answer to these:

1. So, tell me about yourself.

Most people respond by repeating what’s on their resume, or mentioning irrelevant personal information—“I have a good sense of humor,” or “I’m a big Duck Dynasty fan.”  Interviewers will be interested in any formative experiences in your early years, such as an illness or challenge overcome, a family crisis that affected your view of the world in some positive way, something inspirational that helped focus your career goals. Then your education, work history, and recent career experience, which is the most important. Keep it short and to the point.

2. Why is there a gap in your work history?

This is one of the more common ones and among the hardest for most people to answer. It puts you on the defensive. Hiring managers know how hard it is to find work these days. It’s hardly a crime to have been unemployed, but you may have the instinct to blame the economy or your school workload or the fact that you don’t have a car. That could sound like whining.

A better answer might be to tell what you were doing when you weren’t working. While you were looking for work, were you giving your mother a break from taking care of an older relative? Did you do some volunteering? Were you boning up on a subject that’s important to your course work, practicing a musical instrument, or painting the garage for your dad? Any honest answer that shows you have initiative and drive is better than an excuse or a complaint.

3. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

It’s very difficult for most people to evaluate themselves. To prepare for this question, ask some people who know you well. It could be an older relative, maybe your parents, a former employer or teacher. You may be surprised by what you learn about yourself. Be honest. Hiring managers want to know the real you. You could mention something that you had to do that required persistence and time. “I just knew I had to get it done, and get it done right.” Be open about your weaknesses, to a point, and couch them as learning opportunities. Instead of, “I hate it when I… ” or “My writing sucks,” try “I’d like to improve my writing skills,” or “I’ve been working on becoming a better listener.”

3. Tell me about an accomplishment you’re proud of/a mistake you made.

Definitely worth thinking about ahead of time. Keep it business-like and, most importantly, tell what you learned from the experience. Think of a time when you did something in work or school that made you feel confident and competent, even if no one else noticed and you didn’t get a trophy for it. We all make mistakes. Was there one that stands out as a moment when you had a revelation about yourself that changed your behavior? What did you learn from your mistake?

4. Why do you want to work for us?

You will very likely be asked this question and “I need to make some money” is a lame answer. You should prepare by spending a few minutes researching the company online. Know what they do and think about what you could contribute, and what you could learn. You can research what other people have said about working there on websites like GlassDoor.com. Come prepared to ask questions about the company and the opportunity. Ask the interviewer what he or she likes about working there, and what they don’t. This is not the time to ask about vacations, sick pay, overtime, etc. Asking those questions is a red flag—you don’t care about the job, only the money.

5. Why should I offer you a position here?

That’s one you’re going to get for the rest of your life. It often stumps applicants who are having their first job interview. “Wow, that’s a really tough question.” “Well, I don’t know. I guess that’s kind of up to you.” Those answers may reflect nervousness but they suggest cluelessness. What few young people understand is that the whole interview is a presentation, you presenting yourself, selling yourself, and the person hiring wanting to buy or not.

Some of the better answers I’ve heard from the college grads that have interviewed at my office: “I’m young, and energetic, and enthusiastic.” Or, "I care about the company I work for and I'm not afraid to roll up my sleeves and do what it takes to get the job done. I'm a hard worker, and I'll make your goals my goals". 

This is an art, not a science. There are no right answers, but a little preparation will make you feel more confident so you can give thoughtful, honest answers that show off your best qualities.

This is way more than your average, cookie-cutter book on how to write a résumé and find a job. 

It’s a personal journey of discovery that I hope will inform, inspire, and empower. I’ve been sharing my journey for more than twenty years with small groups of college-aged men and women, showing them how to get a head start on their professional and business lives and have fun doing it.

From how to look your best to how to deal with rejection, it's all here in this breezy, fun tutorial on the essentials that will give you an edge when you head out to start your full-time career. Proceeds go to a great charity, Children's Dyslexia Centers.

---