| Two of the many interview questions that crop up | | | | organization so you need to be more careful. |
| regularly have been going around in my head just | | | | Your response should be based around your ability to |
| recently. These are the ones that could be just like | | | | understand and support your boss and previous |
| walking into a man-trap if you are not really careful. | | | | bosses. By showing this understanding you indicate |
| They sound almost innocuous and really quite so | | | | your capability to adapt to different styles and will |
| straightforward that you might just jump straight in with | | | | therefore be seen as one who will fit in better. The |
| your answer. However if you do, you might not spot | | | | employee who adapts to and predicts the needs of |
| the concealed trap until it's too late. | | | | his or her boss is a greater asset than one who is |
| It is true that most interviewers are too busy to play | | | | immensely knowledgeable but less forthcoming. As |
| games with you, but every now and then up pops one | | | | always compatibility is more important than simple |
| of these questions and delivers the knock-out blow. | | | | competence. |
| What are these questions and why do I call them my | | | | Question #2 is an invitation to take yourself out of the |
| favourite interview questions? | | | | running by telling the interviewer why you are not up to |
| Well most of the regular interview questions - most | | | | being offered the job! The trap is that you do just that |
| interviewers ask about twenty questions - demand | | | | by telling them why you are not good enough to be |
| some thought and a straight answer based on your | | | | hired. |
| skill or experience whereas these two seem to come | | | | However, you should respond to this question like this: |
| in from left field and are more devious. Instead of a | | | | "I am confident that my skills and experience make me |
| straight answer what they want is an opinion which is | | | | a strong candidate for this job. If you didn't offer it to |
| always more difficult to judge and therefore much | | | | me I think that would be because I haven't explained |
| easier to get it wrong. | | | | some area of my experience to you fully enough." |
| So let's take a look at how you can deal with these | | | | That in itself is the basis of how to answer this |
| two favourite interview questions: | | | | question but you must not leave it there. You must go |
| 1. "If I asked your boss to describe you, what would he | | | | on by adding: |
| say?" | | | | "Which area of my experience has left you with any |
| 2. "If we don't offer you the job after this interview, | | | | concern?" This way you tease out any lingering doubts |
| why do you think that would be?" | | | | or objections to hiring you. |
| You would think that the answer to #1 would be a | | | | These are my favourite tricky interview questions |
| glowing report based on your key strengths and | | | | because once you know how to answer them, you |
| wonderful personality. Not necessarily so; the boss's | | | | can really raise your game. |
| style may be at odds with the style of this new | | | | |