Toughest Interview Questions

Question. Tell me about yourself.
Answer. Beware, about 90% of all interviews begin with this “innocent” question. Many candidates, unprepared for the question, skewer themselves by rambling, recapping their life story, delving into ancient work history or personal matters.
This innocent sounding question is one of the hardest interview
questions to answer. What is the Interviewer looking for? However, this is also one of the best questions to be asked. At no other time will you be given so much latitude to answer a question. You want to be sure to capture the interviewer’s attention with a clear, quick and focused response. This response should give a summary of who you are, focusing on why you are a good fit for this position in this organization. The employer is not looking for
your whole life story.
Before the interview, prepare an answer to this question. Write out your business qualifications using the past, present and future approach. Choose 4-5 highlights you are most proud of (past and present). Be sure to back these qualifications up with examples, probably from your resume. Then, explain how you believe you can help this employer and what your value is (future).

Question. What are your greatest strengths?
Answer. You know that your key strategy is to first uncover your interviewer’s greatest wants and needs before you answer questions. And from Question 1, you know how to do this.
Prior to any interview, you should have a list mentally prepared of your greatest strengths. You should also have, a specific example or two, which illustrates each strength, an example chosen from your most recent and most impressive achievements.
You should, have this list of your greatest strengths and corresponding examples from your achievements so well committed to memory that you can recite them cold after being shaken awake at 2:30AM.
Then, once you uncover your interviewer’s greatest wants and needs, you can choose those achievements from your list that best match up.
As a general guideline, the 10 most desirable traits that all employers love to see in their employees are:
1. A proven track record as an achiever…especially if your achievements match up with the employer’s greatest wants and needs.
2. Intelligence…management “savvy”.
3. Honesty…integrity…a decent human being.
4. Good fit with corporate culture…someone to feel comfortable with…a team player who meshes well with interviewer’s team.
5. Likeability…positive attitude…sense of humor.
6. Good communication skills.
7. Dedication…willingness to walk the extra mile to achieve excellence.
8. Definiteness of purpose…clear goals.
9. Enthusiasm…high level of motivation.
10. Confident…healthy…a leader.

Question. What are your greatest weaknesses?
Answer. Be careful. Now is not the time to confess a major flaw that would disqualify you from further consideration. Select a weakness that can be
interpreted as strength. Be prepared for several follow -up questions: Why is this a weakness? or What are you doing to improve upon this weakness?
Example: “I sometimes push my people too hard.  I like to work with a sense of urgency and everyone is not always on the same wavelength.”