8 Short Answers to the Most Difficult Interview Questions + What NOT to Say | Indeed Career Tips

Summary

Highlights

• Learn key strategies for answering tricky interview questions like handling stress and discussing weaknesses. 🤔
• Understand the importance of showing growth and honesty when talking about past mistakes. 📈
• Get insights into maintaining integrity and being sincere in your responses to ethical questions. 🔍
• Discover why it's crucial to tailor responses to fit the job description. 📝
• Find out what common pitfalls to avoid in your interview responses, such as speaking negatively about past employers. 🚫

Key Takeaways

• Confidence is key in answering tough questions. Approach each with a positive and sincere tone. 😊
• Practicing responses helps you manage stress and present your best self during interviews. 💪
• Discussing weaknesses is not about being flawless, but showing growth and honesty. 🌱
• Employers value integrity; be honest about past mistakes and unethical situations. 🚨
• Tailor your answers to reflect the skills and qualities relevant to each job. 🎯
• Maintain a positive attitude, focusing on your learnings and growth from past experiences. ✨

Overview

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction to Tough Interview Questions This chapter introduces the concept of tough interview questions by highlighting four key questions that all interviewers aim to answer: why you, why this job, why our organization, and why this career or industry. It explains that these questions can be phrased differently and might be challenging to address. The chapter also touches on other potential questions regarding personal weaknesses or resume gaps and sets the stage for learning how to effectively respond to such inquiries with examples from Shinaidon.
• 00:30 - 01:30: Preparation for Common Interview Questions This chapter offers guidance on preparing for common interview questions. It emphasizes practicing concise responses to eight challenging questions, aiming to boost confidence and readiness for interviews. The content promises valuable insights that are widely applicable, although it acknowledges that some advice might not perfectly align with every individual's job search.
• 01:30 - 02:30: Question 1: Handling Stress Chapter 1 focuses on handling stress, emphasizing the importance of tailoring responses to personal experiences. It highlights using key phrases and a specific tone to craft unique answers, suggesting incorporating quantifiable data to showcase impact. The chapter sets the stage for addressing the question, 'How do you handle stress?' by preparing readers to be specific and personalized in their approach.
• 02:30 - 04:00: Question 2: Looking for a New Job The chapter 'Question 2: Looking for a New Job' emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive attitude and effective body language while facing job-related challenges. It offers advice on handling stress in a job with multiple responsibilities by focusing on breathing, day visualization, and prioritizing tasks. The chapter highlights the use of scheduling tools and calendar reminders to manage tight deadlines efficiently.
• 04:00 - 06:00: Question 3: Greatest Weakness The chapter titled 'Question 3: Greatest Weakness' offers advice on how to effectively respond to questions about personal weaknesses in a job interview. It suggests using key phrases such as focusing on task management and time management skills. It cautions against denying stress or admitting to shutting down under pressure, as these responses could negatively impact the interview outcome. The emphasis is on maintaining optimism and portraying a positive attitude throughout the interview process.
• 06:00 - 08:00: Question 4: Career Break Explanation Chapter titled 'Question 4: Career Break Explanation' discusses strategies for responding confidently to the interview question about why you are looking for a new job. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining a confident demeanor to avoid appearing insecure or untrustworthy to prospective employers.
• 08:00 - 09:00: Question 5: Being Fired from a Job Question 5 focuses on how to handle explaining being fired from a previous job during interviews. The chapter suggests framing the experience positively by emphasizing the desire for growth and development. The suggested response involves highlighting the skills developed in the previous role and expressing a genuine interest in finding a position that aligns with personal passions and professional growth objectives. Key phrases suggested include mentioning the pursuit of a role that supports professional growth and leverages existing skills.
• 09:00 - 10:00: Question 6: Why Should We Hire You The chapter addresses the common interview question 'Why should we hire you?' It emphasizes showcasing specific skills relevant to the job description and expressing a desire for a more challenging role. The chapter advises demonstrating readiness to grow with new opportunities and contributing to company goals, while avoiding negative comments about current or former employers.
• 10:00 - 11:30: Question 7: Mistakes at Work The chapter titled 'Question 7: Mistakes at Work' emphasizes the potential negative impact of expressing negativity in the workplace, especially during interviews. It suggests keeping responses objective, focusing on what one has learned from experiences rather than dwelling on the negatives. This section encourages viewers to reflect on helpful interview advice and share it in the comments. It transitions to discussing the common interview question about personal weaknesses, advising viewers on how to handle it, hinting that expressing weaknesses could feel like a trick question.
• 11:30 - 13:00: Question 8: Unethical Requests The chapter titled 'Question 8: Unethical Requests' discusses strategies for handling situations that put one in a vulnerable position, particularly when answering tough questions. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining sincerity and acknowledging human flaws during these times. An example shared involves an early career mistake of not prioritizing work effectively. The individual quickly learned the importance of understanding daily tasks and the broader impact of their role. They now proactively start team meetings by sharing their plans for the week and inviting feedback to ensure nothing is missed.
• 13:00 - 15:00: Recap and Conclusion The chapter focuses on the importance of acknowledging and owning one's weaknesses as a sign of growth. Key strategies for discussing weaknesses are highlighted, such as using phrases like 'I learned,' 'I now know,' and 'I now make these efforts.' It's advised to avoid dodging the question about weaknesses by claiming to have none, or by disguising a weakness as a strength, such as claiming to work too hard. The emphasis is on making a good first impression by being genuine and transparent about one's areas for improvement.

8 Short Answers to the Most Difficult Interview Questions + What NOT to Say | Indeed Career Tips Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 there are four broad questions all interviewers are trying to answer when they begin interviewing you why you why this job why our organization buy this career or industry these questions can be asked in a number of ways some more challenging to answer than others and of course you might also be asked to talk about your weaknesses or a gap in your resume leaving you wondering just how to respond i'm shinaidon coming up in this video i have got you covered with concise example
• 00:30 - 01:00 answers to eight difficult but very common questions so take notes and practice these short direct responses so you can feel fully prepared to crush your next interview and be sure to stick around until the very end to learn how to answer a tough interview question that even the most polished of professionals struggle with these interview secrets are tips you definitely don't want to miss now before we dive in because everybody's job search is different there may be some answers that aren't an exact match to
• 01:00 - 01:30 your specific personal situation but that's totally okay because you will still be able to adopt the key phrases and tone to craft your own unique response and of course as you build upon these examples to tailor your own responses always be as specific as possible and share quantifiable data to fully showcase your impact all right let's begin with question number one how do you handle stress now you could actually start to answer this question before you even answer this question put
• 01:30 - 02:00 a smile on your face make direct eye contact and be aware of maintaining an optimistic attitude through your body language now you're ready to answer with something like this when you are overseeing a program with multiple moving parts work can get stressful but i do my best to breathe visualize my day and then focus on the most important tasks that need to be done scheduling tools and calendar reminders are my go-to when i need to hit tight deadlines it's important to
• 02:00 - 02:30 use key phrases like i focus on the task at hand or i manage my time now on the flip side stay away from saying anything like stress i don't get stressed everybody gets stressed and a potential employer wants to know how you handle the stress and of course i tend to shut down or anything along those lines should definitely be avoided also responses like this could actually seriously hurt your chances of getting a second interview so be sure to show optimism and a positive attitude when
• 02:30 - 03:00 talking about how you handle stress question number two why are you looking for a new job oh yeah this one can be a bit tough to answer sure you might just be ready for a change but the interviewer wants to know more confidence is key because if you sound insecure in your response you can actually come across as untrustworthy and potentially raise some red flags so start with that confident optimistic tone that you have now mastered and try
• 03:00 - 03:30 answering with something like my current role has allowed me to refine my project management skills but i haven't found much opportunity for growth i'm now in the process of looking for a position that will allow me to use my capabilities and work passionately for a cause i stand behind i'm eager to find a role that will help me grow as a professional and use the skills i've acquired over time some key phrases you may want to consider for this answer would be i'm looking to grow as a
• 03:30 - 04:00 professional i'm looking to use a certain skill and here is the right time to list a specific skill in the job description for the role that you're currently interviewing for uh-huh i'm looking for a more challenging role or i want to contribute to the company's goals and their mission each of these phrases show that you are ready to grow with a new opportunity and that you're not just looking for more money and something else to keep in mind talking trash about your current or former employer no matter what your situation
• 04:00 - 04:30 was can seriously backfire negativity is a turn off so keep your response objective and focus on what you learned instead of the downfalls of the job now before we move on to our third question be sure to hit that like button down below and then let us know what interview advice has been the most helpful to you down in the comments all right moving on to question number three what is your greatest weakness you might be thinking i'm sorry show off my weaknesses seems like a trick question right as if the entire interview itself
• 04:30 - 05:00 doesn't already make us feel vulnerable enough but don't worry you guys there are actually so many great ways to answer this question as long as you keep your tone sincere and own what makes you human here's an example in my early career i didn't know how to prioritize my work i learned pretty quickly that understanding today's tasks and the larger impact of my job was my responsibility i now start our team meeting with this is what i have planned for the week am i missing anything
• 05:00 - 05:30 pressing that's an honest example that also shows growth and that's how you own your weakness key phrases like i learned i now know and i now make these efforts are great when talking about your weaknesses and again avoid dodging the question altogether by saying things like i have no weaknesses and definitely don't try to hide your weakness behind a flex like i work too hard first impressions are everything so even if you really do work super hard and you're
• 05:30 - 06:00 stronger than the wind take responsibility for your weaknesses they're what makes you human and interviewers want to get to know you now with that being said you should also be mindful of the job requirements for the role that you are interviewing for so that you don't mention one of the necessary skills as one of your weaknesses you wouldn't want to say your weakness is project management if you're currently interviewing for a role like a special events manager this one can take
• 06:00 - 06:30 some practice so for even more on how to speak about your weaknesses in an interview we've got you covered with this video right here question four why did you take a break in your career so since we are human we may have gaps in our resume you want to approach this question with a genuine tone and then add as much enthusiasm as you can so let's say that you took a career break to be a caretaker here's a good explanation i took a pause in my career to devote myself as the primary caretaker for my family which needed my
• 06:30 - 07:00 full attention the break was unanticipated but it gave me an opportunity to be there for my family during a time of need i am now eager to get back to work and excited to see where i go for the next chapter in my career the optimism just feels good doesn't it now what if you were fired laid off or oh my gosh you just needed some time off just be honest and respond with something similar to this to be honest it was a difficult time but i left with the confidence knowing that i
• 07:00 - 07:30 had developed important skills and i built strong relationships with my managers and my colleagues now i am walking away with more knowledge than i had before and i am so excited to apply those experiences to my next role phrases like this is what i learned i did x things to say current in my field replacing x with specifics and i'm excited to get back to work can help you stay confident and honest as you answer this question and show your motivation for the future flat response is like i
• 07:30 - 08:00 needed a break with zero context or explanation is dangerous not mentioning what you did during your time away from work to stay active in your field or further your skills can show disinterest and a lack of ambition now let's uncover a really difficult question question number five have you ever been fired from a position of course nobody likes this question if the answer is yes but if you have been fired or laid off and someone is now asking you to explain the key is to be
• 08:00 - 08:30 sincere demonstrate how this experience helps you grow and speak objectively here's an example previously in my career i had a job that was not a great fit i honestly didn't have the experience to deliver but i learned so much during that period it's because of that experience that i am confident that this role is one i can thrive in an answer like this is honest and also highlights what the person learned from being fired as you prepare your own responses lean on key phrases like
• 08:30 - 09:00 wasn't the right fit and since then i have grown and learned and pro tip really practice answering this question in full in advance it's not the lightest question but it's also not an interrogation so if you're prepared to answer it you will be able to confidently address previous mistakes and how you've grown question number six why should we hire you whoo now it's time to shine humbly of course be confident but don't brag here's a great example from our
• 09:00 - 09:30 conversation and my understanding of the position my unique combination of planning both local and international events could help your company reach clients and new markets with my motivation to succeed and my ability to build relationships quickly i feel that i could be an ideal fit for this role and contribute to your goals quickly this applicant is confident and clearly ready to conquer whatever challenge is in front of them to nail this question use phrases like i'm uniquely qualified
• 09:30 - 10:00 or i can start making an impact quickly and a tip on what not to say for this one avoid comparing yourself to others especially if it's an internal role this question is about your skills and what you bring to the table so focus on yourself instead of comparing yourself to some other candidate question number seven tell me about a time when you made a mistake at work one more time for the people in the back we are human and sure it is hard to discuss professional moments that we are
• 10:00 - 10:30 not necessarily proud of but people make mistakes the trick here is to turn that mistake into something positive by explaining how you quickly pivoted from that mistake and what you learned from it here's an example when i was first starting out as a social media manager i was responsible for posting content to my company's multiple social channels while i was always diligent always double checking copy before publishing one time i included the incorrect date and a graphic for an upcoming event
• 10:30 - 11:00 while i worked with a designer to create the graphic it was ultimately my responsibility to verify info before posting as soon as i noticed a mistake i removed the post contacted the designer and requested an updated graphic while this mistake was small it did teach me to always double check copy before posting even when i felt so confident in the process remember the interviewer is really wondering how you handle and overcome challenges because the truth is
• 11:00 - 11:30 we all make mistakes throughout our careers phrases like it taught me or i learned from this experience can show an employer humility self-awareness and conflict resolution and another tip here don't mention a mistake you just made reference a past mistake that you would have had time to learn from you wouldn't have learned that much from a mistake that happened like i don't know last week all right are you ready for the question that can trip up even the most well-practiced candidates it's question
• 11:30 - 12:00 number eight have you ever been asked to do something unethical at work and cue the suspenseful soundtrack but honestly you guys ethical questions are valid and important questions that employers ask to assess your integrity and your approach to solving problems in the workplace so the key to success here is sincerity and transparency remember to be a star s is for situation address the situation you may have experienced t is
• 12:00 - 12:30 for task explain your role a is for action or approach provide specific examples of how you handle the situation and r is for result highlight how you applied integrity now here's an example of what this may look like i once had a boss that wanted me to lie to his supervisor and was willing to quote unquote take responsibility for any consequences but i told him i couldn't help him do something dishonest and then he threatened to fire me but i did my best to stay true to my values and three weeks later my boss was let go for
• 12:30 - 13:00 dishonest behavior i was not only able to keep my job but also my integrity for doing the right thing now if you've never been in an unethical situation you can still address your values with key phrases like i haven't personally been involved or looking for a work environment where integrity is a core value using these phrases shows good intentions and righteous integrity so no matter what situation you may have experienced try to clearly emphasize your ability to act with honesty and reiterate your core values this is
• 13:00 - 13:30 another question that takes preparation an unsure answer can give off the wrong impression if you imply that you take part in unethical work practices even behaviors like cutting corners or telling white lies this could be a deal breaker remember interviewers are testing your integrity with this question so be sure to always showcase your values interviews are unpredictable so let's recap the four overarching questions most interviewers have why you why this
• 13:30 - 14:00 job why our organization why this career industry once you feel good about these put some time into the specific more difficult questions that we've explored today preparation is key so before your next interview go over the refined responses and key phrases several times until you are feeling confident and ready to go and if this video's got you feeling more prepared be sure to give us a like and then head down to the comments and let us know what is the most difficult question you've ever had to answer in an interview and before you
• 14:00 - 14:30 go make sure that you are subscribed to our channel right over here and that you hit that notification bell because we drop essential queer advice just like this every single week and you definitely don't want to miss it i'm shane defries thank you all so much for watching and i'll see you all soon