TOP 8 HARDEST INTERVIEW QUESTIONS & TOP-SCORING ANSWERS!

INTERVIEW QUESTION #1 – Tell Me About Yourself.

Tip 1 – It is important that you practice your answer several times before your interview. This will be the first question you will have to answer so you need to show the hiring manager you have good communication skills. Either sit down in front of a friend or relative or even in front of a mirror, and practice your answer.

Tip 2 – Use my SEAT METHOD (S.E.A.T) to structure your answer. You can easily remember this structure because you will be sitting on a SEAT at your interview.

• Skills
• Experience or Educational Qualifications
• Achievements
• Type of Person

SAMPLE ANSWER:

SKILLS – Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I am a hard-working, self-motivated and diligent team worker with the skills to match the job description.

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE: My qualifications and experience are perfect for this industry. I have experience working on teams, multi-tasking, completing time urgent projects, and delivering excellent customer service.

ACHIEVEMENTS: I am a high-achiever. Outside work, I have won team sports events demonstrating my ability to collaborate well as a team and in my last job, I received praise from my manager for my flexibility with my job description and how I helped train new team members.

TYPE OF PERSON: If you hire me, I will take ownership of challenges when they occur and support the company in new initiatives to ensure you receive a great return on my salary.

INTERVIEW QUESTION #2 – Why Do You Want This Job?

Tip 1 – Most people apply for lots of different jobs because they just want a pay check – the hiring manager wants to avoid these people at all costs! Therefore, have a genuine reason why you want the job you are applying for.

Tip 2 – Good things to say in your answer include how you are passionate about the work and also the fact that job role is with their company and you are attracted to their positive workplace culture.

SAMPLE ANSWER:

“I want this job for two reasons. First, it is a role I am passionate about. We spend a lot of time at work, and I want that time to be spent doing something I love. The second reason I want this job is because it is with your company. You have a great reputation in the industry and people I have spoken to who already work here have said great things about the management team, the positive workplace culture and how you support staff to reach their full potential.”

INTERVIEW QUESTION #3 – What Are Your Greatest Strengths?

Tip 1 – Most people say their greatest strengths are teamwork and being a hard worker – but those strengths are not good enough to beat the competition! In your answer, give 3 strengths that will add value to the company.

Tip 2 – I recommend you quickly read the job description before your interview and then align your strengths with the essential criteria needed in the role.

SAMPLE ANSWER:

“My strengths will empower me to add value to your team and they are a great match for the job description. I am a fast and responsive worker who completes more work than the average person. I am a cost-conscious employee – I will use company supplies and resources carefully to help you save money and boost profits. Other strengths include my positivity, self-motivation, and my desire to accept feedback from managers, which allows me to grow professionally.”

INTERVIEW QUESTION #4 – Why Should We Hire You?

Tip 1 – The hiring manager is going to use your answer and other candidates answers to decide which one person can add the most value in the role. Therefore, I recommend you give 3 reasons, not one, why they should hire you for the role!

Tip 2 – In your answer, say they should hire you because you are ready made for this position – this means they won’t have to spend lots of time training or supervising you. And what about the other two reasons why they should hire you? Here they are…

SAMPLE ANSWER:

“You should hire me for three reasons. First, I am ready-made for this role and passionate about the industry. I can immediately impact the position and will require minimal supervision moving forward.

Second, I am a creative person. I will bring fresh ideas to the team to boost sales! For example, I am good at social media marketing and could help promote your products and services to a wider audience online. I can do this in addition to my normal duties.

Finally, you should hire me because I have created a 30, 60 and 90-day plan that tells you what I will do in this role in the first 3 months, and I’d like to give you a copy.”

INTERVIEW QUESTION #5 – Tell Me Something That Is Not On Your Resume Or CV.

Tip 1 – This is a very difficult interview question to answer and it catches lots of people out! You must tell them something about you that is interesting and that also makes you stand out!

Tip 2 – Great things to say in your answer include, a passion for self-development, details of volunteer work you have carried out, playing a musical instrument because that shows concentration and determination, any fitness activities you regularly commit to, sporting achievements, or interesting hobbies!

SAMPLE ANSWER:

“One thing that is not on my resumé is my strong passion for personal development and growth. In my spare time, I study online courses, participate in networking events, and also read nonfiction books.

For example, I have just finished reading ‘Atomic Habits’ by the author James Clear. It was a great read because it taught me how to implement great habits in my work and personal life to ensure I achieve continued success.

Something else that is not on my resume is the fact that I once volunteered to work at a homeless center – it was a humbling experience and it taught me to be grateful for the positive things I have in my life.”

INTERVIEW QUESTION #6 – Tell Me About A Time When You Failed.

Tip 1 – This is another very tough interview question to answer correctly! Most people say they have never failed because they are a perfectionist. Do not say that because you will likely fail if you do!

Tip 2 – This question is being asked to assess two things: honesty, and you self-motivation to improve whenever you fail

SAMPLE ANSWER:

“When I started work in my first job, I was given a training course to study. At the end of the course, there was an online exam. Because I thought I knew everything about the subject, I didn’t study enough and failed the exam. I was ashamed and embarrassed but took responsibility for my failure. I apologized to my manager, studied the online course again and passed the exam with 100%. I learned a lot from the situation, and since then, I prepare fully for every situation, task or project.”

INTERVIEW QUESTION #7 – How Do You Work In A Team?

Tip 1 – This is a tough question because if your answer it incorrectly, you will not get offered the job! Teamwork is absolutely crucial in all job roles, so make sure you practice your answer!

Tip 2 – In your answer, be sure to mention that you always listen to your co-workers, value their ideas, offer support and always focus on the teams combined objectives.

SAMPLE ANSWER:

“While working in a team, I focus on support, encouragement, discipline and a positive attitude when challenges occur. At the start of any team task, I listen to the brief, create a plan, help allocate tasks to team members based on their strengths and have a deadline we work toward.

Throughout my team’s work, I check in to see if my co-workers need help, provide encouragement, and assess our progress against the plan to ensure we are on track.”

INTERVIEW QUESTION #8 – Tell Me About A Time You Had A Conflict With A Co-Worker. How Did You Resolve It?

Tip 1 – Lots of people fail their interviews on this question. They say they have never had a conflict in the workplace, or they say they informed their manager about the conflict so they could deal with it! Do not say either of those things.

Tip 2 – The hiring manager wants to hire someone who shows a willingness to take ownership of the conflict to achieve a successful outcome for the team.

SAMPLE ANSWER:

“When I started work in my previous role, a senior co-worker constantly dismissed my ideas and suggestions during a team meeting. At the end of the meeting, I spoke to them privately to find out what the issue was.

I remained calm and asked them whether there was a problem with the ideas I was putting forward. I explained that I wanted to help the team and had a lot to offer.

As soon as I challenged them, they apologized and stated that they did not intend to isolate me from the discussion. I thanked them for reassuring me, and moving forward, we became great co-workers and close friends outside work.”

Tackling the Hardest Interview Questions With Confidence

No matter your background or experience level, everyone has the ability to answer difficult questions well if they prepare correctly. These truly are some of the hardest interview questions, but using proven structures like the SEAT method, aligning your answers to the job description, and showing genuine self-reflection can make the difference between a rejection and a job offer.