These are some of the most frequent difficult questions you can ask in job interviews. Review them and elaborate your personalized response.
How to handle difficult questions in an interview
In general, these questions tend to be of a more complicated resolution because it can be confusing, which is the orientation of the response that the interviewer expects or because it reveals aspects that it does not want to show.
Let’s say that for these questions there is no single and definitive answer, you must carefully study your particular case and relate the answer to the job you are applying for, your skills, and the principles or trajectory of the company you are presenting.
It is advisable to always take a couple of seconds when asked a difficult question, mentally review the answer you have prepared and remove it slowly but without hesitation.
Difficult questions about your peers and superiors
- Tell me about a time when you had to face a co-worker who was not doing the task entrusted. What did he do and what was the result?
- Tell me about when you did not get along with a superior. What were the changes and how was the relationship?
- Have you worked with someone you do not like? If so, how do you handle it?
- Tell me about a case in which you helped someone.
- How do you get along with older / younger co-workers?
“You always have to take a couple of seconds before answering a difficult question.”
Difficult questions about your ability
- Tell me about a moment in your work when you had to transmit technical information to a non-technical audience.
- Tell me about a situation where you worked doing unusual work such as data interpretation and/or data presentation.
- Why do you think you will succeed in this job?
- Tell me about when you were part of a team, what was your role?
- Tell me about a situation where you had to define priorities to face a conflict or work problem. How did you determine the priorities?
Difficult questions about you
- What would you do differently if you could start your work life again?
- How do you balance life and work?
- What is your best form of communication, instant messaging, telephone or email?
- What are your favorite book and/or movie?
- What historical figure do you admire and why?
- If I could choose someone (alive or dead) to have lunch with him, who would it be?
- What brought you to this point in your life?
- Do you consider yourself successful?
- What inspires you in a job?
Difficult questions about your career goals
- Begin with your university graduation and explain the reason for each of your movements in your professional career.
- How many hours a day/week do you need to work to complete your job?
- If you were the owner of your current company, what would be your next step?
- How would you measure success?
- Describe the work of your dreams.
- Describe a job that would be your worst nightmare.