The Toughest Job Interview Questions, and How to Answer Them

Can you repeat the question?

Job interviews are stressful, and sometimes, it seems like the questions couldn’t get any harder.

We spoke to Program Director at Careers Success Australia Naren Chellappah about some of the toughest questions, and the best ways to answer them.

What are your weaknesses?

This one comes up so, so often in job interviews, you might as well bank on it.

Naren said although some people ask it in a different way, the gist of it is still pretty common.

He reckons the best way to answer is to use something that’s relevant to whatever job you’re applying for.

“The best way is to actually address a skill that needs more improvement that relates to the job, but it’s not critical.”

That way, you can show the interviewer that you understand the role, and you’re already trying to improve it.

Where do you see yourself in the future?

Look, the future’s unpredictable, we all know that. But that doesn’t stop interviewers from asking where you want to be in three, five or ten years.

While you might not know, Naren said the interviewers are testing to see whether you’ll be a good fit in the long term.

“The best way to handle that question is really to talk about short-term and long-term goals.”

The most important part is making sure those goals “match the job you’re currently interviewing for”.

The salary question.

Some interviews might pose the question, ‘what are your salary expectations?’ This is a tough one, because as Naren says, you don’t want to undervalue or overvalue yourself.

He says there’s a few things you shouldn’t do.

“Avoid saying things like, ‘I’m happy with anything’ or ‘I’m happy with the market rates.”

It all comes down to doing your research and finding out what similar jobs pay.

“The best thing is to give a range and say, ‘I’ve seen similar positions advertised between x and y, so my expectations are in that range.”

What to do if you can’t answer a question.

If this does happen, don’t panic. Interviews are challenging on purpose, and Naren says there are a couple of different ways you can handle it:

• Ask them to repeat the question (this can buy you a little time to think).
• Ask a leading question, like ‘is that similar to …’ to get a little more clarity.
• Be honest – if it’s an entry-level job, you can say you’re not too sure, but make it clear that you’re keen to learn and get that experience.

Overall Naren says “preparation is key”.

“You've got to analyse the job ad, pick out all the technical terms and requirements and make sure that you've got evidence to support how you have those skills and experience that they're looking for.”

Job interviews can be stressful, but by preparing properly, you’re sure to smash it.