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Tricky job interview questions. Why did you quit your last job? The most tricky interview questions, how to answer them? The meaning of tricky questions

During the interview, the recruiter assesses the condition of the candidate for the position, analyzes his manners, ability to conduct a dialogue, and other communication skills. In order to show himself during the interview with better side, the applicant must know what and how to answer the list of standard questions of the future employer.

Consider examples of questions in a job interview, and the answers to them that will not cause a negative reaction from the recruiter. So, first of all, the applicant will be asked to tell About Me, which is a kind of self-presentation, for which it is desirable to prepare in advance. You should not stretch your monologue, 6-8 sentences are enough, in which the candidate can tell about:

their education, places of study;
experience in similar and other positions;
personal qualities that will be useful in work (the ability to find with opponents mutual language, stress resistance, creativity and so on);
interest in the job.

When a recruiter is interested in a candidate's views on life, the candidate should not talk about their religious views, much less show aggression. When answering this question, it is best to talk about the books you like and your hobbies, but at the same time try not to go into too much detail and remain neutral in your assessment of anything.

How to characterize strengths and weak sides at the interview? Most often, you need to name three positive and three negative character traits in an interview. The applicant must answer such questions based on the position for which he is applying.

Exemplary features:

if you want to take a leadership position, then it should be noted that you are not afraid to make decisions and be responsible for their consequences, that you can find an approach to any person, prove your point of view, arguing it correctly.
If the applicant wants to take the position of an executor, then he should note his stress resistance, punctuality, and ability to work in a team.

For example, if we think about what negative qualities to name at the interview, we will come to the conclusion that we should name those shortcomings that will not cause an open negative attitude, but it is advisable not to dissemble. What are the shortcomings can be called in the interview? In an interview, three negative qualities can be selected from:

smoking;
meticulousness and some boringness;
silence or talkativeness;
impulsiveness;
temper.

What to say at an interview about the reason for dismissal from a previous job? When a recruiter asks about the reasons why you left your previous job, the candidate should not talk about conflicts with the former manager or team and other negative things. It is enough to tell about the desire to improve one's financial situation, if the salary was reduced in the previous position, and the desire to develop in a new area, if the applicant changes the field of activity.

How to answer the interview question: "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"

The best answer would be a story that the applicant plans not to change jobs, but may be applying for a higher position.

That is, the employer will be able to assess the long-term working prospects of a potential employee.

IMPORTANT! Girls should not talk about their intention to start a family - not every employer will be delighted with the prospect of a specialist leaving on maternity leave.

When a recruiter is interested in the desired level wages, then first of all it should be noted that it is indicated by the employer - if a fixed salary is marked, then you should not claim a higher one.

If a contractual salary is indicated, the candidate should soberly assess his value in the labor market, competitiveness and other qualities, and based on this, name the desired level of payments.

IMPORTANT! It's not uncommon for recruiters to ask you for your references from a previous job. You should not be afraid of such a request - as a rule, according to the recommendations, they check the reasons for the dismissal of an employee and find out other points. Therefore, think about what to say at the interview about the reasons for dismissal from your last job, so that it would not be an outright lie.

Often sounds strange to a candidate interview question about his hobby. In fact, with this question, managers assess how much the applicant is trained, sociable, and strives for development.

Standard interview questions include: "Why do you want to work with us?". To answer it, the applicant should tell what he knows about the company and its products, what he heard positive feedback from working employees.

The applicant must remember that the employer will give preference to a candidate who is positively minded and interested in this position.

How to answer an interview question: "Why should we take you?". When a recruit asks why this particular candidate should be hired, many are at a loss and don't know what to say. In fact, there is nothing complicated here - the applicant can talk about his professional achievements, note that he is able to improve the work of the company and benefit it.

How are interviews evaluated?

After receiving each answer, the recruiter evaluates the competencies and skills of the applicant, finds out how suitable he is for a particular position. Thus, the following criteria must be evaluated:

whether the schedule, conditions and other nuances of the activity are suitable for the candidate, or he tries to reorganize them in advance for himself.
Leadership style (if the applicant is applying for a managerial position) or level of subordination (if the position is executive).
The work of the candidate in a team and individually.
Ability to act in a conflict situation.
The seriousness of the candidate's attitude to work duties.

As a rule, typical questions are asked at the first stage of the interview. They should be answered in a concentrated, clear, confident and friendly voice. In order not to get lost and not to stray when answering, they can be rehearsed in advance, at home.

Tricky interview questions and answers

Non-standard interview questions are a fairly common assessment technique and the applicant should prepare in advance for possible trick questions.

The answers to them will also be evaluated by the potential employer with all rigor.

A fairly common question is: “What is the ideal job for you?”. It is worth answering it in the context of the position for which the candidate is applying, that is, describing it highlights related to the implementation of activities.

The question of what kind of superhero the applicant wants to be is unsettling for many. Nevertheless, the candidate must not only name the hero, but also explain what qualities he especially likes in him. A reasonable answer to such a seemingly stupid question will help to appear before the employer in a winning light.

This is a standard question for logic in an interview, it shows not only the creativity of the candidate, but also his ability to think logically, to identify the main thing.

If you are asked a question in an interview Why are hatches round?, it should be remembered that this is how the candidate's ability to think logically is tested. A constructive response might include:

the round lid will not fall into the well.
Due to the larger diameter than that of the well, the lid will not fall inward.
A round hatch is easier to move; you can not carry it manually, but roll it.

Also, the employer is likely to ask what is the subject of his pride for the candidate. This question can be answered simply by talking about your sports, professional or other successes. It would not be superfluous to mention the active participation in public life if this is indeed the case.

"How will you get into new team? - this question often comes from the lips of a recruiter. It should be answered like this:

meet colleagues;
I will observe subordination;
I will be friendly;
ready to listen to good advice;
I will try to avoid conflicts.

IMPORTANT! The candidate should pay attention to the dress code in the company and comply with it, which will help to quickly join the team.

Interview score

The received answers to non-standard questions help the recruiter to correctly assess the candidate for the position, to make a general impression about him. As a rule, the evaluation system includes the following criteria:

Why are you asking to sell an item?

If a candidate gets a job related to the sale of goods, then he will be asked to pass a small test - sell a common item, such as a pen, phone, paper clip, or something else. This case will help assess whether the applicant has the specific skills and qualities required for successful work. How a candidate will offer a product is evaluated according to several criteria:

how information will be collected and processed;
how the right is conveyed to the opponent;
the ability to ask and ask.

IMPORTANT! Case study is one of milestones, so it's worth rehearsing a few situations before the interview even starts.

Consider an example: How to sell a pen in an interview. If in an interview a job seeker is asked to sell a pen, he should not focus on its qualities.

On the contrary, it is necessary to focus on the needs of the buyer and find out from him which pens he likes, why, for what purposes the stationery is used.

The candidate should remember that the novice is talking about the properties of the thing being sold, and the professional is talking about the profitability of acquiring his particular product.

How to answer questions in a job interview correctly? No matter what questions are asked at a job interview, the applicant must remain himself, be confident and friendly. It will not be superfluous to review the correct answers to the interview. Preparation for answers to non-standard and typical questions gives its result, such a candidate always attracts the attention of employers.

In this article, we will look at what non-standard employers ask. What answers to tricky questions can you prepare? Below we have compiled a list of unusual interview questions that we were lucky to answer. different people in domestic and foreign companies.

Difficult interview questions usually do not have a right or wrong answer. Their essence is that they are unexpected. They are designed for the manifestation of ingenuity, the ability to analyze, the ability to find a way out of difficult situations.

If you had enough money to never work again, what would you do?

This is a question of value. The answer should include some truth, what is really important to you (traveling, would give birth to five children, would fight for animal rights, would open a shelter for the homeless and work there), the answer should characterize you as not a materialistic and selfish person, but as to highlight human values. Be sure to include some of your current responsibilities in the second part of your answer. For example, one HR manager at an interview for the same position in another company answered this question like this: “I would advise people on building and developing careers inSkype, it would give me the opportunity not to be in the office all day, but I could do what I love. ” This is the perfect answer, it shows that you love your job, and do not work for money.

If you could go back in time and change just one thing, what would it be?

This is a question for introspection and your perception of yourself. The change you would like to make does not have to be fatal, it does not have to change your life radically. Otherwise, everything will look as if you are unhappy in your current life. Of course, you should not go to extremes and talk about a serious mistake that led to someone's illness or death. Firstly, it can stir up your emotions and make you vulnerable, which is not necessary in an interview, and secondly, you do not know anything about the values of the person sitting in front of you.

Unusual interview questions are often about improvisation and resourcefulness.

If you were a color, what would it be? If you were an animal/bird/flower, what would you be?

A question about your perception of yourself. Many advise to answer "I would be a rainbow." Recruiters also read articles on the Internet, candidates are now smart and are preparing for such questions, so your interlocutor has already heard the answer about the rainbow 3 times today. This is clearly a memorized, and therefore a false answer. Choose a specific color, don't be smart. There is no right or wrong here. Just not a rainbow! Well, not everyone can want to be rainbows))) The same goes for animals, birds, objects, flowers, etc. Define a few associations for yourself and stick to them, be prepared to explain why you associate yourself with monitor lizard or purple.

Sometimes recruiters ask weird, sly, or outright provocative questions. It is impossible to know the answers to everything, especially since there are no right and wrong answers. Here are just a few tricky interview questions.

What prevents you from being a happy person?

The trick is in the wording itself. Nothing is stopping you. You are a happy person.

Why is a tennis ball fluffy?

Tennis ball covered with pile for air resistance. If it were smooth, then the flight speed would be higher and it would be difficult to control it.

Why is the hatch round?

A round cover will not fall into the well, and a square one can fail, go at an angle.

Some questions may seem tricky to you, as they contain what is called a moral dilemma.

What crime are you willing to commit to save a loved one?
How much can you kill?
What would you choose 10 years 100% happy life or 30 years of a normal life?

Remember, no matter what question you are asked, the main thing is not the answer itself, but your approach. Good luck!

The Labor Code duplicates the guarantees enshrined in the constitution: it is forbidden to conclude an employment contract “depending on sex, race, skin color, nationality, language, origin, property, family, social and official position, age, place of residence (including the presence or absence of registration at the place of residence or stay), attitude to religion, beliefs, belonging or non-affiliation to public associations or any social groups, as well as other circumstances ”(Article 64 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation).

“If we interpret this rule literally, then when applying for a job, it is inappropriate to ask about age, nationality, religion, marital status and sexual orientation, since the answer to these questions cannot become a basis for refusal,” explains lawyer Polina Pavlova.

However, there is no question of punishment for such questions in the law. It is extremely difficult to hold the employer accountable for them. “It is prohibited by law to place discriminatory restrictions on job postings. Personal matters do not really fall into this category, although they are discriminatory. It is bad both from the point of view of the law, and from the point of view of violation of personal boundaries, - Maria Makarova, the specialist in internal communications in one of the IT companies is sure. - But not only is the Federal Law itself written in such a way that it only applies to vacancies, but in our country no one even goes to court. Why, for example, does it work in the same America? If you ask such a question to an American candidate at an interview - about children, about her husband - then the next day you will receive a lawsuit. In Russia, there is a category of professional "rights shakers" who sue state organizations and even win court cases, but the percentage of such people is negligible. I, as an employer, as an interviewer, know that if I ask this question, the likelihood that the person I ask this question will go to court is very small. I do not personally know a single person who went to court on this matter.”

"If an employee is denied employment contract due to circumstances unrelated to business qualities such refusal is subject to challenge in court. As a rule, the courts take the side of the applicant and recognize the employer's refusal to conclude an employment contract as illegal, and upon request, they can recover compensation for moral damage from him, ”comments Polina.

What questions are considered too personal?

More often, women suffer from uncomfortable questions: employers do not hesitate to ask about their personal lives and possible pregnancy. At the interview, the applicant may be asked:

"Are you planning a baby?"
“Why are you still not married / not married?”
"How does your young man earn?"
"What does your wife think of your career ambitions?"
"Can you manage a team of men/influence women?"

Other tactless questions concern religious beliefs. From the position of the employer, it would be more correct to ask the candidate: “Are you ready to work on the proposed schedule?” - rather than specifying his religion or church affiliation directly.

Questions regarding sexual orientation financial position, nationality, age, place of birth, appearance and political views, should also not be asked in an ideal world, as well as questions for applicants with disabilities, if they do not interfere with the work under discussion.

Why do employers ask this?

If you are asked a personal question during an interview, there may be several reasons.

The employer has faced a similar problem in the past. Once, a man got a job in the company, whom his wife, dissatisfied with his position, convinced him to quit after six months. Or an employee who has been looking for a year and who has been entrusted with a responsible task goes on maternity leave four months later. The employer in this case does not want to be considered a boor, but is trying to protect the interests of the business.
The employer is not familiar with ethics. Sometimes a person does not understand that he asked about something personal, or considers such questions normal, because "everyone asks." It is hoped that one day someone will explain to this recruiter or boss why it is unprofessional to ask such questions.
You've landed a stressful job interview. Many consider this method of verification unacceptable. In addition, not all HR managers know how to walk out of a stressful interview without the candidate feeling truly offended.

“In Russia, people often ask questions about personal life. I think that these are echoes of the Soviet past, when everything was common and no one had secrets from anyone, - the partner suggests recruiting company"Marksman" Natalia Valdaeva. - The employer is not shy about asking questions about his personal life and is wary if the candidate leaves the answer.

Often people ask about personal life not out of idle curiosity, but in order to better understand what a person breathes, what interests, opportunities and limitations he has. This information will help to conclude whether the new employee will be comfortable with the team, and the team - with him. For example, studies show that “family” employees are more stable.”

What to answer?

The answer largely depends on how interesting this work is. There are two extreme options: laugh it off and change the subject or end the interview immediately.

We propose to address the issue:

Make sure you don't get into a stress interview. If the recruiter behaves strangely and the boorish question is not the only deviation from the norm business communication perhaps you are being tested. This happens more often in positions that involve working in stressful conditions: managing a problematic team, communicating with difficult clients, with law enforcement agencies. In this case, it is important for the employer to see your reaction: it will tell a lot about how you will behave if you get a job.
Ask the employer why they think the issue is important. Without aggression in your voice, gently and calmly ask why the employer needs to know about what he just asked. Perhaps there really is a reason - it is connected with the future duties of the employee or the mood in the team. Or the company has already had an unpleasant incident.
Say it doesn't affect your ability to do a good job. At this stage, the employer should guess that you think the question is incorrect. You can help him get out of an awkward situation and change the topic. Be polite but confident best strategy at the interview.
If the employer does not understand your hint, say directly: “I feel uncomfortable when you ask me about it. This is a personal matter and does not concern mine. professional qualities. I want to work for a company that believes in law and equality." In Russian realities, this prepared wording may sound strange - or it seems to you that it may sound so. Nevertheless, it is up to you to decide what kind of relationship with the employer should be and where the boundaries of personal space lie. During the interview, these boundaries can be identified.
If the question is completely unacceptable to you, end the interview. It’s not a fact that it will turn out to be a failure: what if the employer analyzes the mistakes and, taking into account your other advantages, considers you a highly moral person?

If you don’t care about all this and a life without personal questions and mixing work and personal causes yawns, then congratulations: you have perfectly adapted to reality. In any case, be polite and control yourself. And decide in advance whether you are on the way with an employer who asks such questions.

Today, when some employers check their potential employees on a lie detector, while others rummage through social networks in search of compromising photos, politically incorrect statuses or check-ins in hot spots, there is nothing to be surprised that at a seemingly ordinary interview, questions are becoming more sophisticated.

We asked six recruiters from different industries to come up with their meanest, most poignant questions and give them the answers they want to hear.

1. "If you were a dinosaur, what would you be?"

Rob McInnes, Essential Recruitment

"This question weeds out candidates who can't think outside the box," says McInnes. The key is imaginative thinking. Before the interview, think about what qualities the ideal applicant for this position should demonstrate. "Memorize the five key traits and apply them to your questions." You may be asked what kind of car, politician, world celebrity or extinct reptile you would be, hoping that in response you will give out your essence.

If the answer is too simple, it suggests that you don't seem to be able to work in stressful conditions: "Choose a tyrannosaurus rex - most likely, you just said the first thing that came to your mind, because you withdrew and lost the ability to think freely. Brontosaurus will indicate passivity, which is not suitable for positions where you need to be able to make quick decisions. The best choice- velociraptor: they were strategists and team players with effective communication (don't forget to explain this). Such qualities are needed in any job. The main thing is not to be too smart: the recruit may not know that the Sisyasaurus is a rare species of feathered dinosaurs, and not your nickname in social networks.

2. "How would you describe yourself?"

Ricky Inoue, Morgan McKinley

“In fact, this is a free topic, where everyone can choose where to turn the story. This is exactly what I need - I look at how the applicant feels in a situation where everything depends on him, ”says Inoue. Avoid platitudes like “I believe that communication plays an important role at work”, rather use facts - for example, tell how once during a meeting you forced a person to completely change his point of view. If you describe yourself as someone who sees things through to the end, remember how many successful deals you closed.

Do not go into a too detailed and confusing narrative about your life: “My paternal great-grandfather comes from the Don Cossacks, but when he was thirty years old, his forelock was pulled into a spinning wheel ...”. “If you talk for more than two minutes, you will bore the recruiter,” Inoue says. Try to write down your strengths and weaknesses on paper at home, and then all you have to do is build a coherent story based on them. Don't be afraid to admit some of your shortcomings. The ability to soberly evaluate yourself from the outside is always welcome. True, it is better to remain silent about your weakness for Khrenovukha.

3. "How will you survive if you find yourself on a desert island?"

Richie Nanda, Shield Guarding Company

The key to the answer is the ability to think strategically. The main thing is to know what qualities are most important for survival. “You must be clear about what you will do with any threat that may await you on this island,” says Nanda. Remember books and films on this topic (“Robinson Crusoe”, “Outcast”), programs from Discovery. But don't over complicate the answer. Survivalist John "Lofty" Wiseman, who served 26 years in the British Special Air Service, believes that only four things are enough to save: water, shelter, food and fire (and the same Grylls confirms this in his programs). Ask about the climate and the area where the island is located before answering, and you will get an extra plus.

4. “If you win the lottery, will you keep working?”

Simon Dolan, SJD Accountancy

This is an ambition test that will show what you want from life - just money or money and something else. “The most common answer is: “I will do something, but most likely I will not work as before,” says Dolan. “That tells me that the job doesn’t interest you too much. Do not limit yourself to this answer, try to better show that you have passion. It could be work in charitable organization or, on the contrary, something exclusively egoistic. If you love food, tell them you will open a restaurant. If you love sports, say that you would like to sponsor a local team and help them get into the lead. “By linking your business plans to this hypothetical pile of money, you will show that you are not just a dreamer, but a person who has an idea how to develop.” Dolan's favorite response: "Actually, I'd rather make my own money."

5. "How do you act in a conflict situation?"

Norman Burden, True North

This is a trick question - there is a big difference between conflict resolution and conflict management. “With the latter, you can achieve much more,” Bearden says. Focus on it. So tell me: sometimes conflict is simply necessary. Describe how you yourself initiated competition within the department to increase sales, or deliberately clashed different styles to win a tender. You can think of the classic "bad cop and good cop" whose conflict often helps to split the criminal in the movie.

“A good interview is a dialogue, a conversation,” Burden says, so be prepared to give examples from your own life. Remember how you had to resolve disputes between friends when you decided how to spend your leisure time. And it’s not at all necessary to say that you went to the pub at the same time.

6. “I will ask you six questions. Answer them in any order according to their importance.

Neil Owen, Robert Half Financial Services

"This devilish technique is a test, not just of your memory, but of how your priorities align with the company's values," says Owen. Before the interview, think about what are the main problems your potential employer has (not the best image, strong competitors, etc.). “When answering questions, explain why you thought one or the other was more important to the company,” says Owen. “Try to support your answers with facts, including how specifically you could help solve (or have already solved in the past) this or that problem.”

Well, now re-read these tips again and - forward to the interview. With such an arsenal, consider that you already have one foot on the next rung of the career ladder.

Gone in denial

Superjob.ru portal experts interviewed 1,000 recruiters from different regions of Russia to find out why they refused job seekers. Here are the main reasons:

31% incompetence, lack of knowledge and experience, low qualification, lack of professionalism;
9% low motivation;
6% improper or untidy appearance, lies and embellishment of one's merits, high salary expectations;
4% lack of communication skills, high self-esteem and blatant illiteracy;
3% unreasonable ambitions or, on the contrary, lack of purposefulness, as well as general inadequacy and self-doubt;
2% low intelligence, frequent job changes, mismatch corporate culture, unconvincing and inability to present oneself, as well as bad habits and alcoholism.

So you've been invited for an interview. Do you really want to work in this position and are very afraid of not being selected? Then you need to gather all the will into a fist and prepare for the conversation: think over the style of clothing and rehearse the speech, taking into account likely questions.

The 11 Essential Interview Questions and Smart Answers You Can Find Here. How to answer complex and non-standard questions in order to please the employer? What questions a recruiter will ask depends on what position the employee is being hired for, however, as a rule, there is a standard set of questions that are asked to all applicants, which will be discussed below.

Before conducting an interview, the employer usually invites the applicant to fill out a special questionnaire, a sample of which can be viewed.

Recently, situational questions have become very popular, when the employer describes the situation and invites the applicant to choose the right behavior in this situation.