How to handle tough interview questions

How to handle tough interview questions

by Phil Foster, Managing Director of Ocean Edge Executive Search

We all know that before any interview it’s good preparation to review why your skills, experiences and strengths make you the right person for the job. But a lot of people fail to prepare for tough questions or consider how to discuss personal weaknesses with a potential employer.

As an experienced recruiter I’ve helped hundreds of people over the years to get the job of their dreams, and I’m happy to share some tips on how to successfully tackle difficult interview questions.

“What are your weaknesses?”

You’re human, you have weaknesses. No one is perfect and this question often comes up in interviews to allow candidates to show they are self-aware. The trick is to not just acknowledge what you can and can’t do, but, more importantly, show how you’re tackling your weaknesses. If you struggle with public speaking, talk about how you’re taking on more presentations or volunteering out of work to build your confidence. Lacking experience in a particular area? Show how you’re addressing this by actively taking steps to gain more understanding. The best answer is simply to be honest and show how you’re working to turn your weaknesses into strengths. But bear in mind that’s it’s probably not a good idea to touch on weaknesses that are critical to the job.

“Why should we recruit you?”

It might sound an intimidating question, but this is a great opportunity to sell yourself beyond just what’s written on your CV.  Use this as a chance to stand out from other candidates – speak confidently and discuss what motivates you, what you’re passionate about and show them your personality. To do this, you’ll need to:

• Talk about your skills (using examples and achievements that prove this).
• Understand your personality and traits. It’s good preparation to take a  personality test to help you recognise your strengths, talents and weaknesses (you can find free personality tests online).
• Talk about what you can bring to the role. Study the job description so you can explain how your experiences, skills and personality meet or exceed the job requirements and how you can add value. And don’t forget to highlight that you’re willing to learn or improve on any requirements that you don’t currently meet.
• Prior to the interview consider what you are looking for from the organisation and the role. What are you looking to achieve from taking on the job. This will illustrate that you are keen to move your career and the organisation forward in a clear direction.
• Do your homework so you know any current problems the organisation (or the sector as a whole) is facing. Read the website, annual reports, social media channels and news reports to better understand their current position and how you can help solve these issues. This will demonstrates the value you can bring to the role.

“Tell me about a time you failed”

Everybody makes mistakes, but it’s important to show how you take responsibility for your mistakes and use what you learned to improve. Be prepared to talk about an occasion when you failed, how you dealt with it and how you fixed it, the ways you plan to avoid it happening again, what you’ve learnt and how you’ve changed. The ‘lesson learnt’ can demonstrate your strengths, so ideally try to match this to show how you meet one or more of the points on the person specification.

In my opinion being ready for the tough questions is just as important as the fundamental basics of attending an interview: dress smart, be punctual, be polite, and be prepared.

Phil Foster, Managing Director of Ocean Edge Executive Search

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