Answering Interview Questions

There are two ways to think about an interview.  The first way to think about an interview is that the purpose of the interviewing team is to trip you up with their questioning.  The second way to think about a job interview is that the dialogue creates an opportunity for you to explain exactly how you can contribute in a meaningful way.  Depending on your point of view, answering interview questions is a battle of wits or an opportunity.

We're going to stay on the positive side, so we are going to discuss how you can present yourself in the best possible light.  That means your strategy for approaching the interview needs to be planned in advance.  Being able to effectively answer difficult interview questions takes practice.

Using Examples to Answer Questions

Just like the saying that a picture paints a thousand words, using examples to answer interview questions is an extremely effective technique.  You will have far more credibility during an interview if you're able to answer those tough questions not just with a positive response, but also with an example of how you've done it in the past.

For example, if you're asked if you've ever worked in a team setting, it is better to answer the question not just by responding positively with a simple "yes," but also by describing what the team set out to do, your exact role on the team, and the outcome of the team's effort.

When answering questions by using examples, much can be learned from behavioral interviewing techniques.  The acronym STAR is helpful in remembering this strategy for answering questions:

• Situation or Task - describe the situation you were in, or the task that needed to be accomplished.
• Action - describe the actions you took to accomplish the task.
• Result - describe the results of the effort.

Taking Control During Interviews

Many of us might be uncomfortable with the thought of taking control of the interview process, but the point here is you need to make sure that you remain in control of the interview.  That means you want to be able to avoid falling into certain traps when answering questions.

For example, let's say that you're on a job interview, and the interviewer wants to know if you like working independently or in a team setting.  Your approach to answering this kind of interview question needs to be a diplomatic one.  In other words, you probably don't want to take one side or the other.

Most jobs require us to work both independently and with others.  So rather than picking one side over the other, one strategy you might want to take in answering this type of question is to describe your success in working in either situation.

Always keep in mind that you want to provide the interviewer, or interview team, with the reasons to hire you.  Said another way, you want to avoid providing information that can be used against you later when a hiring decision is made by the interviewer.

Giving Clear and Concise Answers

One of the challenges of interviewing is balancing the time you need to answer a question adequately with the typically short duration of an interview.  You need to squeeze in as much insightful information as possible when answering interview questions and that means giving clear and concise answers.

So just how can you strike such a balance during an interview?  Here are a couple of tips for providing the right kind of answers to interview questions in the right amount of time:

1. Before responding, take the time to think through your answers.  It is much better to take your time and pull your story together in your head then to provide an empty and thoughtless response.
2. Stick to the facts when you're responding to an interview question.  You want to avoid talking about "personalities" or "characters" that you've encountered in the past.  They're not on a job interview; you are, so leave their quirky habits out.  Besides, you don't want to sound judgmental of others.
3. Check in with the interviewer.  Remember that an interview should be a dialog between you and the interviewer.  It's okay to ask a question about adequacy of your response.  A simple "Is that what you were looking for?" is fine.
4. Finally, it's always a good idea to prepare for an interview by running through some examples in your head, or by practicing your responses with a trusted friend.

You don't want to sound rehearsed, but you do want to sound confident.  This last tip can help you during an interview.  Even if you hadn't thought through the exact questions asked during an actual interview, if you've challenged yourself by going over some of the tougher interview questions, then you'll be prepared for a wider range of questions.

Answering Tough Interview Questions

If you're going to prepare yourself for a tough interview, then the logical question is:  What does a tough interview question look like?  Well, for one thing, tough interview questions are often vague.  Unlike in a behavioral interview, where very specific questions are asked, vague questions can sometimes lead to vague responses, and that's a big mistake to make when answering interview questions.

If the question is a vague one, then that affords you a lot of latitude in your response.  You want to take advantage of that situation, and really put your best foot forward.

Examples of Tough Interview Questions and Their Answers

Here are some examples of tough interview questions, and some guidance on how to answer these tough questions:

• Tell me a little bit about yourself.  You want to be careful with this one because you could wind up going somewhere you don't want.  The recommended approach to answer this question is to talk about three things - education, where you've worked in the past, and some of your recent work experiences.
• So what do you know about our organization?  It is a common interview mistake to come to an interview unprepared.  If you're really interested in working for a company, then you should know a little bit about the company itself.  You should know marquee products / services, market reputation, competitors, and have a feel for the size of the company in terms of revenues and employees.
• Why do you think we should hire you?  This is a big opportunity for you to talk about the value you will bring to their organization.  You'll want to talk about your skills and achievements, and how you can bring that same winning behavior to their organization.
• How long do you intend to stay with us?  This is another example of how you can turn a tough interview question around to your advantage.  The key here is to state that you are interested in a career at the new organization, and that you need to stay challenged.  As long as you're challenged, and the company can offer you a career path, it's a win-win.
• Why are you thinking about or why did you leave your last job?  Here you need to be as honest as you can without hurting your chances for a new job.  When answering this tough interview question, avoid personality clashes - especially with your old boss.  If it was your decision to leave, then let the interviewer know.  If you were terminated, then stating something like "there were differences of opinion that we could not come to closure on" is probably a safe and accurate statement.

Keep in mind that when answering any of these interview questions, you want to remain as confident and as upbeat as possible.  You never want to play the victim.

Answering Questions over the Telephone

More and more frequently, potential employers are using telephone interviews as a way of screening candidates.  Phone interviews can minimize expenses associated with travel, and they can save everyone a great deal of time if a good match isn't in the making.

Whenever you're actively seeking a new job, it's important to make sure you're prepared for a phone interview.  So you need to start preparing answers to interview questions as soon as you start to circulate your resume. 

Besides the tips we've already given you, here are some more tips that can help you through a phone interview.

Prepare for the Interview

You want to prepare for a phone interview in the same way you'd prepare for an in-person interview.  Run through your response to tough questions in your head, and find as many interview questions as you can to help you practice.

Remove Distractions

Make sure you can stay focused on the caller and their questions.  If that means closing the door, or keeping the kids out of the room, then do it.  You have enough pressure on yourself without worrying about others hurting your chances of making a good first impression.

Interview Cheat Sheets

One thing that you can do during a phone interview that you cannot do in person is referring to an interview cheat sheet.  Keep a copy of your resume handy, and write down some of your more impressive accomplishments.  You don't want your answers to sound like you're reading from a script, but there is nothing wrong with sounding prepared.

Smile when Answering Interview Questions

Finally, it sounds funny, but you want to make sure you're smiling when you're answering interview questions - especially over the phone.  It may seem odd or unnatural to someone observing your behavior, but studies have found that if you're smiling while you're talking, then you project a much more positive image over the phone.

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