Interviews are one of the important stages in the job recruitment process. You may have prepared answers to some common interview questions. However, sometimes recruiters can give trick questions that make candidates confused about how to answer them.
But don’t worry, that’s why this article was created. FemmesEtVilles will provide tips on answering tricky questions during job interviews. What are the tips? Just read the following article, okay?
Examples of Tricky Questions During Job Interviews
Here are some trick questions that recruiters often ask during job interviews. You can check out the tricks and sample answers.
1. “Tell me about yourself”
The first trick question is “tell me about yourself.” This is usually asked at the start of an interview.
Most candidates answered by telling about where they went to school, where they live, and what they are currently busy with.
In fact, recruiters want to hear what experiences and achievements you have had before. It’s okay to talk about education, but it’s best to keep it brief.
Example:
“ Let me introduce myself, I am Johnason Wei, please call me John. I am a fresh graduate from the State University of _______ majoring in Communication Studies. Although a fresh graduate, I have experience as a Digital Marketer, especially in the field of Social Media and Website for approximately 2 years through internships and working part-time and freelance. I adapt quickly and like to learn new things, both in literacy and direct practice.”
2. “Mention one word that describes you”
Have you ever encountered a question like this? For most people, describing yourself in one word may not be easy. Because there are so many words in this world.
But if you are asked that, you don’t need to be confused. You can adjust it to the position you are applying for.
For example, you are applying for a job as a customer service. Even though your friends say you are a funny person, don’t tell HRD that. It is better to choose relevant words, such as friendly.
Another example:
“I am a frog in one word. As an amphibian, a frog must be able to live on land and water. With that ability, the frog will easily adapt to various conditions. Likewise with me, it is easy to adapt to something new.”
3. “Why do you want to work here?”
Many people may not realize that this question is actually a bit of a trick. Recruiters want to see if you know anything about the company you are applying to. Therefore, it is important to do company research before going for an interview.
The trick to answering this question is to tell something positive about the company, such as its reputation, culture, or vision. Also, add an explanation of why you are the right candidate.
Example:
“I applied for a job at this company because I found position A that I was looking for. Position A is in line with my qualifications and abilities so I am sure I can contribute well and do the job optimally. And after I found out more about the company, I feel like I have a vision and mission that are in line. I also learned about the work culture in the company through the company’s social media accounts and I am interested in the work culture here. So, I hope that when it turns out that I am destined to work here, I want to contribute optimally and gain good knowledge and experience so that I can grow with the company.”
4. “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
The next tricky interview question is about your strengths and weaknesses.
On one hand, you are required to give an appropriate answer, but on the other hand, you do not want your shortcomings to make your value as the best candidate disappear. Or, you do not want your advantages to make an arrogant impression.
No need to worry! In fact, this question can be a tool for you to show that you have good personal qualities.
Example:
“My strength is being able to remember things quickly. This can help me learn new things more easily and maximally. Not only on the surface, but also the whole context. However, this also turns out to be my weakness. Because, with this ability to remember, I am less able to forget other people’s mistakes towards me easily. However, in the last few months, I have learned about processing things that I should forget so that they do not interfere with my productivity.”
5. “Which is more important, career or family?”
If asked which is more important between career or family, of course both are equally important. But you have to be able to choose one.
To answer this question, you need a good strategy so that you don’t answer incorrectly.
Example:
“I am the most important part of my family. Especially my parents who have raised me well until now, I am very grateful for that. For me, family is my highest priority. And with this in mind, I always try to balance work and family life. In the office, I will focus on completing work so I have to be disciplined so that the task can be completed on time. That way, I don’t need to finish work at home because at home is the time to spend time with family to the maximum. “
6. “Why did you apply here when you are currently working somewhere else?”
This is an example of a tricky question that often confuses candidates. The reason is, you want to explain the positive side of the company you are applying for but you must not badmouth your old company. Confusing, right?
Actually, the trick to answering this question is similar to point number 3, you can explain the results of your research on the company and the details of the position you are applying for.
Example:
“I am looking for a new opportunity so that I can develop my skills in this career. When I saw this job vacancy, I did not apply for it immediately, but studied the company and its work culture, whether it was in accordance with my vision and mission or not. And when I considered it more deeply, I came to the conclusion that I felt that I had worked in the current company enough and it was time to develop myself further in a new company. For your information, I have submitted my resignation from the current company and am in the process of being transferred to a new person. ”
7. “Does the company know that you are applying here?”
One thing you need to remember is not to lie during a job interview. Just tell the truth if your company knows or does not know about your application to another company.
Example:
“My current company doesn’t know that I applied for a job here. This is because my company is a company that does not restrict its employees from finding opportunities to grow in new places, as long as I can complete the task well. So, even though I am trying to get a new job, I am still responsible for the tasks that are indeed my responsibility in the office.”
8. “Why do you want to leave your current company?”
You can answer this question by remembering question number 6. Don’t say that your office has a toxic culture.
Example:
“My current company is my first workplace and helps me understand the tasks and responsibilities in my chosen career. I learned a lot there. However, I feel like I need a new place to get new challenges so that I can develop further in this career. The current company is good, but I feel like I can’t develop further because the task challenges are not challenging enough for me because the job description has been plotted for each individual. ”
9. “How do you deal with stress and fatigue from work?”
Burnout is often the reason an employee quits a company. Therefore, here HRD wants to know how you can deal with stress due to work pressure.
Well, you can tell what you have done so far to overcome challenges while at the office.
Example:
“I am someone who understands my own capacity. When I do a job that I feel has a high challenge, I will do various strategies, such as dissecting it so that I can do it in stages. When finished and I feel tired, I will take a break. For me, taking a break is not only taking a vacation, but also learning new things that are not related to my job. I can read, watch movies, and do my other hobbies as an effort to distract me from feeling stressed and tired from work.”
10. “What achievements have you ever achieved?”
Achievement is not only about awards, you know. You can complete a difficult task is also an achievement. So, don’t focus on big things when answering this question.
Expressing simple things as achievements does not mean that you do not have great achievements, but it is a form of appreciation for yourself as well as a broad view of appreciation for cool things that are considered simple.
Example:
“ I was not originally a social media kid. I learned about this career autodidactically because my old company lacked employees. Without in-depth knowledge, I did this job seriously. And unexpectedly, organically and by myself without the help of others, I was able to increase engagement to followers of the company account significantly in just three months. With this, the company’s brand reputation has increased and customers have also become more trusting of the company.”
11. “Have you ever made a mistake at work? How did you overcome it?”
This is a tricky interview question that recruiters often ask. Be careful, when answering it, you should not tell your past mistakes in great detail.
It is natural to make mistakes. But still, choose mistakes that are worth telling the recruiter that will not reduce your value. For example, mistakes due to your lack of experience or knowledge. Avoid mistakes due to lack of attention or effort.
Don’t forget to also convey what lessons you can learn from the mistake and your efforts to not repeat it again.
Example:
“Yes, I have made mistakes while working. At that time, it was my first experience working professionally, no longer an intern or just a volunteer. There was a misunderstanding with another employee that resulted in the work not being completed on time even though the client had been waiting. Honestly, I explained the obstacles I faced and the reasons why it happened. Thank God, my colleague was also honest about the real situation. And responsibly, my colleague and I explained to the client. We proved that the work would be completed according to the brief in context, even though it was completed a little late. From that incident, I concluded that making mistakes at work is often unavoidable. However, when we have cooperative colleagues, resolving mistakes can be done easily.”
12. “What do you expect a company to give to its employees?”
Through this question, HR usually wants to know your answer so that they can treat according to the nature and characteristics of the employee. That way, employees can develop well and grow with the company.
Example:
“In addition to various work benefits, I really hope that the company where I work can provide peace and security to its employees. There is no SARA discrimination. That way, every employee can work optimally without worrying about things outside of their work duties. “
13. “Do you have a boyfriend?”
Hey, don’t feel offended first when you hear this question. Basically, HRD asks this question not to mock you when you are single, but they want to know whether your personal relationship can interfere with your performance or not.
It could also be that HR wants to place you in a branch company that is close to where your girlfriend lives so that you can be more productive at work, or vice versa.
Example:
“For now, I do not have a partner, Sir/Madam. Moreover, I am currently focusing on organizing my career and social life. There are many things I want to realize first before I focus on starting a romantic relationship.”
14. “Do you have plans to get married in the near future?”
It should be understood that this question is not intended to eliminate you from the recruitment process, unless the company requires that employees not marry for at least one year after being hired, for example.
Usually, the question is asked by HRD to consider employee performance in the company. HRD also needs to know the marital status of its employees as part of the administration and reference in determining benefits, insurance, and so on.
Example:
“Currently I am in a relationship, but the plan to get married is not in the near future. My partner and I still want to develop our careers before finally deciding to get married. However, even though it turns out that we change plans and have to get married in the near future, I remain committed to providing a complete presence in the company and carrying out full responsibilities for the company.”
15. “What kind of boss do you expect?”
The tip for answering this question is to elaborate on why you want your boss to behave that way.
Example:
“I really respect a boss who can set an example and be protective. With these two traits, I can learn to behave like him so that I can be optimal in working. A boss must have leadership qualities so that he does not feel like a boss who must be respected without respecting his employees. “
16. “In your opinion, is it better to work in a company or build your own business?”
This tricky interview question aims to find out whether you can leave at any time to build your own business or not. If you do want to build a business one day, explain your answer wisely.
Example:
“For me, working in a company and building my own business have the same consequences and obstacles. Maybe, if the comparison is a successful business, working in a company seems very trivial in terms of salary. However, building a business also requires knowledge and capital. Currently, I am more comfortable working in a company as an employee. However, it is possible that one day I will want to build my own business. And before that time comes, I will do my best to carry out my duties and responsibilities as an employee. And when that time comes, I will explain my wishes to my superiors properly.”
17. “What does failure mean to you?”
Failure is sometimes the reason someone experiences a decline in performance. Well, here the interviewer wants to know how persistent you are in facing difficulties. So, think carefully when answering it, okay?
Example:
“Failure for me is when I cannot finish a job completely because of internal factors or from within myself. If this is the case, it means that I am not good at managing my work and time. This is a failure that is very detrimental to myself. So, during this work, I always try to manage my work and time well so that I can do my tasks optimally. ”
These are 17 tricky questions during a job interview that you should pay close attention to and think carefully when answering. Check out other job interview tips to make your interview session smoother by visiting the FemmesEtVilles blog.