Interview Questions – Nasty Ones

Beware of the dreaded trick interview questions.  Now these types of questions tend to be made up by interviewers, and only they really know what they are looking for.  Therefore, the best way I can demonstrate to what lengths interviewers will potentially go, is to use an example.  This is a question I know a certain director of a major recruitment company uses.

I’ll tell you why afterwards, but first, here’s the question.

“Imagine the scenario, Derek.  You are sitting round a table, and have just finished the coffee at a dinner party you are hosting.  All your close family and best friends are sitting around the table with you.  Who would be there?”

You answer

“O.K, you have to leave to go to the bathroom, and being normal human beings they start to talk behind your back, and this is what they say.” “Derek’s a great guy, the best, but……”

Now here comes the crunch question.

“What would that “but” be for…?”, and then the interviewer would start going around the table, your mother? Then your father? Your sister? etc.

Think about this, what would you say if you were not prepared.  Your close family and friends would know all of your little weird “quirks” and personality disorders, no matter how minor or insignificant!

So you answer, “Well, my Mum would say apart from my impatience with her”.

Interviewer thinks, ah ha, he’s a bit impatient.

Interview Questions To Reveal Weakness

Suddenly a whole bucket load of potential weaknesses are revealed.  Watch this type of question like a hawk. They are designed to open your “back door” and get information that you want to keep firmly in-doors.  You will find it extremely difficult to stay or sound positive in a scenario where you find yourself revealing a string of negatives.

The only way to play this is to be prepared, and make sure the negatives from the home environment can be turned into positives for the work place.

Another question of the trick variety is the reflective question.  Now sometimes this isn’t even a question at all!  Hey, Derek, how tricky can it get?  I mean, when is a question, not a question?  Answer, when it’s reflective!  Confused?

O.K, I’m sorry, here’s the explanation.  Scenario – interviewer asks question

“Derek, tell me, what did you like most about your last job?”

“Well, I really got on well with the people, and I enjoyed selling their products”

Here comes the reflective!

“Yeeeesss”….

Note, no question mark, because it isn’t really a question.  However, I guarantee, you will feel compelled to add to your answer.  The reflective comes in many guises.  It can be a “Go on” or it can be simply a look in your direction with a raising of the eyebrows.  It can even be a Neanderthal grunt.

The bottom line, though, is beware the reflective, because it is designed to get to the real answer.  This is the question where you hear yourself blurting out a non-rehearsed answer.  Even, God forbid, the truth!

Particularly beware of this question on the…”Why did you leave your last job?”

Interview Questions The Reflective

There are two answers to the reflective – both are simple.

Firstly, “No, that’s all”, then shut up.  Do not be put off by the pause / silence the interviewer will use to try and get you to speak next.  Wait for him to ask another question.  It really is the only counter.

Secondly, have a reflective “subsequent” answer ready and waiting.  However, beware because it is so easy to get sucked in.  You have been warned!