In an interview session, most of the time, you will be doing the talking. Expressing yourself to the interviewer and explaining why you are a good fit for the job role. To make a good first impression, you need to come prepared for whatever may come your way. One way to make this happen is to offer brilliant answers to tough interview questions.
In this article, we have outlined eight tough recurring interview questions asked in interview sessions. Whether you are into tech or sessional entrepreneur or a top medical professional, understanding the best approach to interview questions increases your chances of securing the job role.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into it.
Top Brilliant Answers to Tough Interview Questions
Now we will explore eight tough interview questions, along with explanations of the motives behind the questions and what the interviewer wants to evaluate. In addition, we have also attached brilliant answers that can help you leave a lasting impression on your potential employer.
Here are 8 brilliant answers to tough interview questions:
In this section, we will be using the position of a marketing manager
1. Please Introduce yourself:
Motive: Employers and recruitment ask this question to know more about your skills, achievements, and qualifications. Why are you interested in the position? They want to know you as a person and a professional.
Answer: To answer this question, start Answer: Share a brief overview of your professional journey, highlighting your most relevant skills and experience. Be sure to mention why you are interested in the company and the position.
Example: My name is Rebecca Williams, and thank you for interviewing me for this position. I am fascinated by the diversity in the marketing world and this has been a major driving force behind my motivation. Also, I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from [Your University], and I bring over [X years] of experience in strategic marketing.
In my previous role in [Previous Marketing Agency], I led a team to develop and execute a comprehensive digital marketing campaign. This was accomplished with my skills, using my strong analytical skills with tools such as Google Analytics and SEO optimization.
In my current role as a project manager at DUO Interiors, I manage the social media outlets for the brand’s fashion lines. Last month, we exceeded a milestone of 1 million plus impressions and a whooping influx of retainer clients, which has helped increase revenue by over 40% so far.
I am excited about the opportunity at [Current Company] because of its innovative approach to data-driven marketing, and I believe my skills in leveraging analytics and implementing effective SEO strategies align perfectly with the challenges your team faces.
2. What is your Greatest weakness?
Motive: The interviewer wants to know how you handle challenges and setbacks. More so, they want to know if you are self-aware and willing to work on your weaknesses. This is an important factor that analyzes your level of self-awareness and ability to grow.
Answer: Be honest. Talk about a genuine weakness, but explain what you are doing to improve. Avoid choosing a weakness that is peculiar and essential to the job you are interviewing for.
Example: One area I’ve been actively working on is my delegation skills. As a detail-oriented marketer, sometimes I find it challenging to entrust tasks to others. But, I’ve recognized the importance of teamwork and have been refining my delegation approach using project management tools, such as Trello, and providing clear guidelines to team members. Consequently, this has helped improve collaboration within the team I worked with and also facilitated a more streamlined project execution.
3. Why did you leave your Previous Job?
Motive: This is another tough interview question most interviewers ask. When interviewers ask the question “Why did you leave your previous job?” They want to know more about your previous work history. Also, they want to assess your attitude towards previous employers.
Answer: Be honest about your reasons for leaving, but focus on the positive. Do not speak ill of your previous employer even though you have reasons to. Only focus on the positives and your desire to pursue your career growth.
Example: I left my previous position for a combination of professional growth and a desire for new challenges. While working at [Previous Company], I gained valuable experience in [specific skills or projects], but I felt that I had reached a point where my learning curve was fluctuating and I knew I needed a new challenge.
Also, I am enthusiastic about the opportunity at [Current Company] because [mention specific aspects of the new company, such as its innovative projects, collaborative work environment, or alignment with your career goals]. I believe my skills align well with the challenges here, and I am eager to contribute my expertise to a dynamic and forward-thinking team.”
4. Answers to Tough Interview Questions – How do you Handle Stress?
Motive: Employers know the task load for the position you are being interviewed for, therefore, they understand that stress is an undeniable component of your job. Hence, employers want to be assured that you can constructively handle the stress of the job. They also want to know your strategy for maintaining a positive attitude, even when under pressure.
Example: “Communication is key for me in stressful situations, even if over-communicating is necessary to ensure everyone understands the requirements of a project. For example, I was working on a project with another team and we learned there was duplicate work being done. By scheduling a weekly standup and establishing open lines of honest communication with our teams and managers, we completed the project on time and ended up achieving an important company goal sooner than expected.”
5. Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer.
Motive: Every business deals with people either directly or indirectly. Therefore, the employer must ensure you know how to respond to clients or customers. Sometimes, to get a full response, employers ask strategic interview questions to evaluate your behavior response to certain situations.
For instance, for this question, ‘Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer”
The interviewer wants to assess your customer service skills and how you handle conflict. They also want to know if you can remain calm and professional under pressure.
Answer: As a tip, for this strategic interview question, the best way to create a good resume is using the STAR technique. Use this technique to describe a specific situation where you had to deal with a difficult customer. Explain the situation, the task you were responsible for, the actions you took, and the result.
Example:
Situation: I was working as a customer service representative at a retail store when a customer came in and complained that they had purchased a defective product. The customer was very angry and demanded a refund.
Task: I was responsible for resolving the customer’s issue and ensuring that they left the store satisfied.
Action: I listened to the customer’s complaint calmly and apologized for the inconvenience. I then inspected the product and verified that it was defective. I explained to the customer that they were entitled to a refund and processed their refund immediately. I also offered the customer a discount on their next purchase.
Result: The customer was initially very angry, but they calmed down once I explained the situation and offered them a solution. They left the store satisfied and thanked me for my help.
6. Where do you see yourself in five years?
Answer: In my current role, I’ve been fortunate to work on diverse projects and continuously expand my skill set.As I progress in my career. My goal is to take on more leadership responsibilities and contribute to the strategic growth of the company.
Also, I plan to pursue professional development opportunities, such as leadership training programs and industry certifications. I do this to equip myself with the skills needed for a managerial role. So, I see myself in a leadership position within the company, leveraging my experiences and skills.
7. What is your Salary Expectation?
Answer: In your response to this question, focus on your enthusiasm for the role and your flexibility. However, show that you are open to further discussion about the compensation details. It’s often beneficial to have a salary range in mind based on your research about the industry standards and the specific position. This way, you can comfortably negotiate effectively while showing that you are open to a reasonable compensation package.
Example: “I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute to [company name] and am confident that my skills in [mention relevant skills] make me a strong fit for the [position name] role. In terms of salary, Based on my research and my experience. I am expecting a salary in the range of $X to $Y. However, I am open to discussing salary as part of the overall compensation package.”
8. Do you have any questions for us?
Answer: The best response to this question is to ask thoughtful and well-researched questions. Avoid asking about salary, benefits, or vacation days in the initial stages of the interview process. Instead, you should focus on questions that demonstrate your interest and eagerness to work.
Example: Thank you for this opportunity. I’m excited about the possibility of joining [company name]. Although I have done some research, I’ve done some research, but I’m curious to know more about the company culture. I’m interested in learning about how employees support each other and how the company promotes work-life balance.
Conclusion on Answers to Tough Interview Questions
When responding to tough interview questions, always ensure your answers are in line with the job description. Most of the questions you would be asked would require you to sell your skills and talk about your achievements. However, some others like ‘What are your salary expectations” can keep you gazing. So, the rule to having a successful interview is to prepare your answers ahead.
Notwithstanding, interviews may be challenging, but your approach makes all the difference. Do you need help to scale your next interview? Send us an email and book a coaching call with us today.
