Methods on How to Solution These five Tricky Meeting Questions

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You might have encountered one of these five challenging interview questions and regretted your responses. But if you’re eager to learn how to respond to them gracefully, here’s how:

Tips on How to Answer These Five Tough Interview Questions

1. Why should we hire you?

This question may sound clichÃ©, but it remains one of the toughest. You can’t answer it with humor or a generic response. The challenge lies in the fact that the interviewer is intentionally making you feel pressured by the competition. The best approach to tackle this question is to shed the nervousness. Recall your preparations before this interview and face the interviewer as if you’re confident they will hire you. Share specific accomplishments rather than using vague adjectives when responding to such interview questions.

2. We see that you are currently employed at company X. How did you find time for this interview?

This question might stir uneasiness. What the interviewer likely means is, “If you can be disloyal to your current employer, you might do the same to us.” It’s undoubtedly one of the most challenging among the five interview questions, and its accusatory undertone can make it difficult to answer. Stay composed and focus on why you are interested in the possibility of joining a better company. Avoid speaking negatively about yourself or your current employer, and most importantly, don’t act as if you are guilty. Simply respond in a positive manner, perhaps by mentioning that you have been actively exploring opportunities with their organization and received the job offer before the results were officially announced.

3. Why were you fired/let go?

Discussing your termination from a previous job can be a sensitive topic and one of the interview questions that may make you uncomfortable. Thus, you should handle it with tact and refrain from speaking negatively. Respond in an objective tone and keep it concise. Present the situation in a positive light. You might say something like, “The role was not the right fit for me” or “My personality did not align with the company culture.” Follow up with a positive statement like, “I believe there are other positions out there that would better suit my personality and skills.”

4. What are your weaknesses?

Here’s the irony: you’re at an interview to showcase your strengths, so why should you reveal your weaknesses? But there it is, you have no choice but to answer. Don’t be discouraged. The best way to tackle tricky interview questions like this is to frame your response with a positive trait that sounds like a negative one. For instance, you can say, “Well, my tendency to be highly ambitious has led me to constantly seek ways to enhance productivity.” Never claim that you have no weaknesses or incriminate yourself by admitting that you occasionally become lazy. Neither response will earn you any brownie points.

5. Can you tell me why the sky is blue?

The last of the five interview questions is more common for roles that require communication skills, such as sales and customer support. If you’re a wiseacre, you might attempt to educate the interviewer about color frequency and other light theories that explain why blue is the easiest color to scatter. However, if you’re not inclined that way, it’s safer to offer your own perspectives. The question doesn’t necessarily seek specific answers but rather measures your creativity and how gracefully you can respond to nerve-wracking situations. The key is to stay relaxed and act as if you’re explaining the concept to a younger sibling or a friend.

For more tips on handling tough interview questions and resume writing, you can explore our resources page.

Picture Source: Matt Henry through Burst