Here's How to Answer the Trickiest Job Interview Questions | Ladders

Preparing for a big job interview (or series of interviews) nowadays can feel a bit like getting ready to enter a metaphorical minefield wearing a blindfold. Countless job candidates have prepared for hours on end for an interview only to be blindsided by unexpected questions, an irritable hiring manager, or any number of other factors that can – and often do – go wrong.

Few modern rites of professional passage are quite as anxiety-inducing as the job interview. It’s a career hurdle pretty much everyone encounters at some point, and while some are lucky enough to only interview a few times and then land a position they keep for years or even decades, such experiences have become exceedingly rare in the modern work landscape. Today’s workforce tends to switch positions and companies far more often than earlier generations, and that means more job interviews.

Meanwhile, the concept of the “job interview” has apparently morphed into the “job interview process” for a large portion of employers. Decades ago, an applicant could hand in a resume, sit down with the hiring manager for an interview about the position, and if all goes well, start work as early as the following Monday. Today’s hiring processes are far more complex, or some would even say convoluted. It’s quite normal for applicants to have as many as five to 10 separate interviews for the same position, in addition to a “test assignment” or two, and then still get passed over for the job! To call such experiences disheartening for the average young professional would be a massive understatement.

There is little reason to believe these hiring trends will change. One recent report tells us that the time it takes to hire an employee reached an all time high this year, with average recruitment processes across industries lasting roughly 44 days. 

So, what can candidates called in for their first round of interviews do to give themselves a leg up on other applicants? It all comes down to how they react to, and answer, questions posed by hiring managers. Let’s take a look at a few universal strategies you can employ to help navigate and respond to some of the trickiest questions commonly asked on job interviews.

Highlight past adversities

No question is more common, or more dreaded, among applicants than the “tell me about yourself” query so often used by hiring managers at the beginning of interviews. Like a well-dressed deer in headlights, countless people have absolutely frozen in response to this question. The broadness of the inquiry can certainly be intimidating, as it can be tough to describe oneself in any social setting, let alone one where paychecks and livelihoods are on the line. 

The truth is, though, hiring managers and corporate decision makers just want to get to know the individual behind the carefully curated resume and cover letter. It’s natural for candidates to want to describe themselves in the best possible terms, only highlighting their biggest achievements and proudest moments, but this is actually where many job seekers go wrong. 

Success is all well and good, but managers want to hear about the effort, struggles, and adversity you had to endure and rise above to reach those milestones. Don’t be afraid to touch on your professional low points when asked to describe yourself. Plenty of people make the mistake of hyping themselves up like a young athlete on draft day, but you’re not a blue chip prospect hoping to be picked in the first round, you’re a person looking for a job, and people have problems. Decision makers want to hear about how you’ve defeated prior problems, that way they’ll know you’ll rise to the challenge if selected for the new position. What’s a success story without a little adversity, after all? 

One piece of scientific research published in the journal Basic and Applied Social Psychology supports this strategy of pointing to struggle over success, as it found highlighting success alone isn’t enough to make a positive impression on others – adding the additional context of the stress and effort that went into that success is also quite important.

Other interview tips

On a somewhat related note to avoiding glossing over challenges and struggles, don’t fall into the common trap of trying to be someone you’re not. It’s very easy for most hiring managers to tell if a candidate is putting on a charade, so to speak, and simply being yourself (assuming you’re also qualified for the position) is often enough to score some major points. A study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology concluded as much after interviewing hundreds of job seekers.

It’s also key to understand you are being judged long before the first interview question is even asked. Research from Yale University released a few years ago tells us that many hiring managers begin forming opinions on interviewees within seconds of candidates speaking based on speech patterns! Another study reports interviewees who speak slowly and show clear signs of nervousness are routinely passed over for positions. Instead, researchers recommend maintaining an air of friendliness with just the right amount of assertiveness thrown in.

While all of this advice may seem like a lot, much of it can be boiled down to a few key strategies to keep in mind: No matter what you may be asked during an interview, strive to present yourself as genuinely as possible, don’t be afraid to speak on adversity and struggles, and always maintain a certain level of self-confidence. Remember, confidence isn’t cockiness.
If you’re in need of assistance landing your next interview, check out The Ladder’s job filter and find your next big career opportunity.