Trick questions you may be asked in a job interview

Congratulations! You’ve been called in for a job interview. This means that you’ve passed the first hurdle to getting a job and most likely have all of the skills and qualifications the job requires. The hardest task now is to differentiate yourself from the equally qualified candidates who have also been asked to interview.

This is also a challenge for employers. How do they find the best fit when any candidate who has made it to the interview level could most likely do the job? Many ask tricky questions to see which candidates rise above the rest. We’ve compiled a list of questions you may be asked and what employers are looking for when they ask these questions:

Tell me about yourself.

This seems like a common question but we’ve included it because an interviewer who asks this question doesn’t really want to know about you. It’s often used as an icebreaker for potential employees to get a feel for your personality.

It’s best answered by stating one personal hobby or interest, quickly followed by professional skills or overall strengths you want the interview to take special note of. Keep it brief, pleasant and light. Remember, the interviewer is probably using this question as an icebreaker, to put you at ease.

What are your weaknesses?

This is often called the most dangerous of all interview questions. Does anyone expect a truly honest answer? Above everything, refrain from saying: “My greatest weakness is that I work too hard.”

The interviewer is really testing you for self-awareness and honesty. The best approach is to be modest, be obvious, but give your real weaknesses a silver lining. In other words, prove why they shouldn’t matter to your employer.

Why do you want to work here?

The interviewer is testing how much you researched the organisation before your interview. Be sure to mention core values of the organisation and how you fit company ethos while steering away from employee benefits.

Are you willing to fail?

An interviewer asking this question is generally looking for evidence of resiliency, so the quick answer is: “yes”. Give an example of how you creatively overcame failure to find success later. Avoid examples of failure that reflect on the core requirements of the job you are interviewing for.

While we can’t get inside the mind of every interviewer, if you can make it past these questions without being flustered, you have a good chance of making a good impression and outperforming your competitors.

If you’re interested in an opportunity with BASE, join our talent pool today for an opportunity to stand out from the crowd.