Don’t Let an Interview Stump You! Prepare for These Difficult Questions You Might be Asked During an Interview

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You’ve sent off your resume and cover letter, anxiously awaiting that elusive call from a company you’ve always wanted to work for. Then the call comes, and you start getting butterflies thinking about the pending interview. Before you start daydreaming about your corner office, be prepared for your interview with answers to the difficult questions you may be asked.

What are your goals five years from now? This is becoming a more commonplace question with interviewers, but it still is a difficult one for most candidates to answer. This is the time to respond with a prepared, yet truthful answer. The best course of action is to let the interviewer know you are hoping to be in a position where you can manage more responsibilities alongside an efficient team, in a company that provides growth opportunities and a modern work environment.

Explain your relationship with your previous boss? While it can seem tempting to start trashing your previous supervisor, ignore the urge and keep things positive instead. No hiring managers want to hear negative things about the people you used to work for. That’s a big red flag and could cost you a great job. Instead, think of several things you enjoyed about working with your old boss and explain how this helped you grow as an individual.

Have you ever been terminated from a job? This can be a real “sticky wicket” as they say, but employers have the right to ask you this question. This question is generally triggered by frequent job changes, a job marked as termination on your application, or if you have recently lost a job. Don’t be afraid to answer with an honest answer here, as most recruiters will appreciate this. However, if you were let go due to violation of company policy, be sure to add in what you have learned from this lesson.

Why do you want to work for our company? While this question may seem a little bold, hiring managers use this to screen out people who are just looking for short-term work, or those who did not take the time to research the company a little before coming in to interview. Learn as much as you can about the company beforehand and respond with some ways you see yourself as a valuable addition to the corporate team.

What do you think is a fair salary for you? Answer with caution, as you can easily eliminate yourself by quoting too high, or lower your perceived value by saying a rate too low. Use your preparation time to research current salaries for the job you are interviewing for, and stick to that range. Make sure to emphasize your unique skills and credentials too.

And remember, breathe and make plenty of positive eye contact while you are interviewing. You’ll easily impress the hiring manager and get offered a great new job!

If you need more support with finding a great career or you want more interview preparation tips, be sure to visit Advance Temporary Services today!

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