Sneaky Sneaky…some common trick questions…
By: Josef Stetter
Tags: Interview, Culture, Careers, Human Resources, Jobs

Many interviewers want to see how you react if they can catch you off guard, your body language and your physiology will say a lot more that your answers might.

The interviewer is just not that into you…

People type trick Questions

1. Tell me about a problem you had with a supervisor?

This question can be the biggest trap of all. This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss. If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former boss, you may well blow the interview right there. Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any trouble with a supervisor. Explain the differences in personality traits from the above information in a positive spin of a communication barrier, culture shift within the organization or the environment you like to work in.

2. Have you ever had to work with a manager who was unfair to you or just plain hard to get along with?

Make sure to keep this answer positive. You can talk about the four main personality types (Driver, Expressive, Amiable & Analytical and how each likes to be communicated to in order to show that you are able to work with anybody.

3. What irritates you about co-workers?

See answer suggestions from Question 6 and personality chart at beginning of trick question section.

4. What kind of person would you refuse to work with?

Please refer to question 6 for personality styles at the top of this question. It is important to emphasize that you will adapt to any environment and any person and finds ways to create a mutually beneficial relationship with your co-workers in order to maximize your contributions to the company.

5. What might your current boss want to change about your work habits?

Focus your answers on what you contributed. Use one of the 8 words: Proud, Success, Significance, Contribution, Achievement, Results, Importance and Impact using SMART, STAR or AIDA use $ figures, % figures and efficiency factors to show the importance of you as an employee. After giving a positive state that there is always room for improvement and part of helping a company grow; is to constantly examine where efficiencies can occur.

6. How do you feel about company politics and how would you handle them?

As much as possible you try to avoid company politics as they distract from the tasks at hand and your need to contribute to the company.

7. If you were President of your current or last employer, what would you have done differently?

Be cautious when answering a question like this. Avoid making the former employer really negative. Offer a suggestion for increased employee moral if you were president or a specific initiative that can make money, save money or increase efficiency.

8. What is the worst thing someone might say about you that is true and why?

I would suggest you make fun of yourself a little, similar to your weakness question. DO NOT become extremely negative, simply state areas of growth or habit that you are in the process of changing.

9. How dysfunctional was your last organization? How about the one before that?

NEVER EVER bash and belittle your previous company. Talk about how you focused on your work and what you had to do to contribute to the bottom line. Avoid talking about company politics and if necessary talk about small changes that can occur to make improvements.

10. What irritates you about co-workers?

Emphasize that it is important to understand that each person is unique and different and that as such your job is to be flexible and adapt to those around you to help the company grow. See personality traits from Question 6. You can talk about how some employees might take advantage of a company and the importance of putting the company’s need ahead of the individual. You can also talk about aligning your value system to the culture of the organization you worked for.

Contact info@celebrategroup.ca for more information on how we can help you.