Interview questions that trip you up

[reviewer]

What are the interview questions that you find most difficult?

For me, it's "What are your weaknesses." I find it hard as I try to work on my weaknesses, and I don't want to sound arrogant, but want to avoid something trite (like, "I'm a perfectionist" or "I work too hard").

[BBrian]

Some interview questions are really difficult and the interviewers know this. I think they are just more or less interested in gauging the level of thought you can put behind your answer when comparing to other candidates.

Another interview question I hate is "Why did you want to work for our company?". This really sux because mainly the reasons for me is because they have a job available and nothing more. What more can 1 say if they have never heard of the school before seeing the job advertised.

Interviewers should really start to think about the questions they ask to candidates.

[leenmafia]

For me, it was 'What was your greatest non-academic achievement?'. One of the answers that went through my thoughts was 'When I drank that 1 jug of beer in one breath on my bday' but I couldn't possibly tell them that now could I? Hehe.

The question caught me offguard because I was only concocting answers to possible questions or in other words, 'typical' questions interviewers would ask, prior to the actual day of the interview.

I think interviewers nowadays are more into behavioral interviews yes? There are tons of good guidelines on the net on that type of interview. Anyway, I think interviewers are not actually seeking the 'right' answer but rather, like BBrian said, they are more interested in how you answer their questions. I believe thinking out of the box is the correct phrase to describe what they really want.

[exported_kiwi]

Yeah, I've had that one thrown at me a few times. I asked them if they wanted a short lie, or the long truth.

"What are my weaknesses I said, hmmmm, lemme think about that. By weaknesses, what do you mean? Could the fact that I like women be a weakness? If so, we're all stuffed aren't we, those of us that are male, and in this interview right now".

NO they said, "that's not a weakness, that's just life, men need women etc". "Ok" said I, "so, would you consider the fact that I"m actually really really really sick of Chinese food a weakness then?"
"Well", they said, "yes, because this is China, but it has nothing to do with your teaching abilities does it".

"No" said I, "it doesn't except for the fact that I'm becoming weaker from lack of what I consider to be real food". "That's no good they said, but that's not really what we meant by weaknesses". So I asked them, "what do you mean by weaknesses".

"Well, we mean the ability to teach no matter what" they said.
"Oh", said I, "you mean, can I drink all night and then still manage to walk upright into class and say a few words in english to the students?"

Needless to say, I didn't get the job....
Hehehehehe, this didn't actually happen to me, but I bet it's happened to a few other folks!

That's my attempt at humour for the day, and yep, I'm aware I didn't spell "humour" the American way, but I ain't one of you good folks, sooooooooo.

[peeling]

The worst I've been hit with, always, is "What do you think about our city / country?"

I mean, if you tell them the food and weather sucks, you might as well start walking. And how many times can you tell them this is the best city you've ever been to, and the people are friendly and the weather is fantastic. I gave the same answer three times a week in different interviews, or just before the interview.

[evaqwesta]

I feel interviews are where they determine that your personality is withstandable. Things like nervous twitches, saying "like" all the time, monotone, how you dress, etc. Answering the questions by demonstrating a thought process and looking halfway respectable should be your goal!

I'll answer all the questions in this post just so you can see how I would handle it.

1. What are your weaknesses?
I feel my largest weakness is not knowing when to give up. I fix computers for a living and its very hard for me to quit until the job is done. Other than that I hate cleaning the litterbox. (humor has always served me well)

2. Why did you want to work for our company?
I want to work for your company because I feel comfortable committing the next year of my life to this school. (always tell them what you can do for them because contract negotiation is when you tell them what they can do for you!)

3. What was your greatest non-academic achievement?
That would have to be this one time I was in a 5v5 paintball game and I signle handedly eliminated the entire team by running down the middle with my gun blazing. (its even better if they don't know what paintball is and opens up some conversation)

4. What do you think about our city / country?
I love your city and country because I don't have a litterbox to clean, the food is authentic and delicious, but I haven't found the local paintball field... What does everyone my age do for fun? (Not only do they know I like it and will probably stay the whole year, but I am interested in knowing more, especially if they play paintball...)

Also, I had to participate in interviewing people for helpdesk positions where I work. What we looked for most was personality, then ability to follow instructions (policy and procedure), then technical knowledge.

*disclaimer*
I don't know how hard it is to get a job in Asia because my girlfriend worked at the foreign affairs office and negotiates contracts so I cheated kinda, lol.

[Dan Lewis]

Originally Posted by BBrian

Some interview questions are really difficult and the interviewers know this. I think they are just more or less interested in gauging the level of thought you can put behind your answer when comparing to other candidates.

I would agree with that. How do you react when asked a difficult question? Do you freak out? Do you give an intelligent response?

[Antonio]

If presented with a difficult question, best to take a breathe, think and then speak. You are under no time limit to respond immediately and this is where many make a mistake.

Interviewers realise some questions will be more difficult to answer. They are only human after all themselves.

Definitely don't freak out. Try your best to give an intelligent answer. I find the truth always wins in the end.

[Jake22]

Once being interviewed for a government job I was asked my favourite animal and then asked why it was that animal.
Luckily for me I'd been watching a show about penguins the night before and had all the right answers
Ended up accepting a job repairing bikes before that interviewer got back to me.

[gfell]

Asked about your favourite animal? Hmm.... don't see how that's relevant to the job, unless your interviewer knew a bit about psychology and what a person's favourite animal means about their personality.

Yeh, penguins are cute though!