Interview questions

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1 (Sneaky) Question You Should Ask In A Job Interview

If you want to make a great, positive, lasting impression in a job interview, there is one question you should ask the hiring manager. It's also a bit of a sneaky question because it will reveal something about this person and what it would be like to work at the company.

"What's The Most Significant/Positive Thing That's Happened To You At This Company?"

When you get to the end of the interview and the hiring manager asks you if you have any questions, look them in the eye, smile, and say, "Tell me about the most significant or positive thing that's happened to you here at the company in the last year."

The reason why you're asking them about the most significant or positive or exciting thing that's happened to them in the last year is that any time we get to talk to somebody and share a positive experience, we tend to associate them with being positive as well. We end up liking them more and feeling more connected to them. So, this is a way for you to achieve this with the person who's interviewing you.

But if you ask them this question and they can't quickly answer, or if they hesitate, or if they struggle to think of something, what does that tell you about the company? Why is this person not thinking of something positive? It makes you wonder.

Asking this question in a job interview is a way to look under the hood and find out if the company might be a fit for you. It will tell you a lot about the organization's values, goals, and workplace culture.

Now, in order to have the opportunity to ask these great questions, you need to nail the job interview, and that means getting the behavioral questions right. If you want to know how to answer the 18 hardest behavioral questions, sign up for a Work It DAILY membership today. It'll be the best money you've ever spent on your job search.

Good luck, and go get 'em!

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1 (Sneaky) Question You Should Ask In …

How To Answer Interview Questions About How You Handle Criticism

Criticism comes with the territory in any jobâand in life. So in your job interview, the hiring manager will probably ask how you handle it.

It may come in the form of a behavioral interview question such as, "Describe a time when your work was criticized and how you handled it." Your answerâthe story you choose and how you talk about itâwill tell them a lot about your character and how you perform under pressure.

The truth is that in order to be successful, we all need to be open to criticism. If you aren't, then you aren't coachable. You won't be open to learning things that make you better than you were before. And if you can't do that, then you won't grow and you'll never become as accomplished or as valuable as you could be in your career.

Ask Yourself, "Am I Coachable?"

Hiring manager asks a job candidate about how he handles criticism in an interview

The question we all need to ask ourselves is, "Am I coachable?" Our ability to take criticism and learn from it is crucial to our success. If you don't take criticism well and always become defensive, eventually people will stop trying. That may feel nicer, but ultimately it hurts you. If your boss can't communicate with you and help you become better at your job, eventually they'll just cut you loose.

No one is perfect. We can all learn and improve. Everyone can be corrected or coached to a new place. We'll be better and stronger because of it.

How To Answer Interview Questions About How You Handle Criticism

What does a good criticism response story sound like?

If you're asked about how you handle criticism in a job interview, your response should sound like this:

Tell them about a time someone told you how you could do some task differently or better.
Talk about how you responded and what you did after receiving the criticism (how you did that task better).
Mention what the results were.

This structure fits the STAR technique (situation or task, action you took, and results). Many times, job seekers miss telling about the results of the story (what happened as a result of the action you took), and this is one of the most important parts.

At Work It Daily, our version of the STAR technique is called the "Experience + Learn = Grow" model, and it actually works better in job interviews because the STAR technique is overused and it's easy to forget the "results," how you "grew" from the experience.

As with all of your job interview answers, be strategic. Don't choose a problem that someone criticized you about that is a central component of your jobâfor instance, an accountant who was criticized for her sloppy math would be a bad story to tell, no matter how much she improved. Choose something that is a side component. Maybe the accountant was weak in communication skills with colleagues but took a class and made an effort and now works collaboratively on six team projects per year. Whatever it is, talk about how you responded and how you became better, and give evidence of that.

Hiring managers will always ask about adversity of one kind or another in interviews, so be prepared to talk about a few of these types of topics. Remember: It's all about how you frame your criticism story!

Give interview answers that sell you for the job. Find more than 200 job-winning answers in How to Answer Interview Questions and How to Answer Interview Questions II, available on Amazon.

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How To Answer Interview Questions About How …

The 1 Question I Asked A CEO In An Interview That Got Me The Job

Years ago, I was interviewing for a job. As many of you know, when you go through the interview process, you start with the recruiter, and then you meet with the manager, and then you meet with some of your peersâif you're lucky. Then, at the end of the interview process, you might meet with the highest-ranking executives. So in this case, I met with the CEO.

I knew I was doing okay because I was getting through each round of interviews. So, I go into the CEO's office. I don't know what to expect. It's a startup company. He's sitting there in a t-shirt and sweatpants. He's eating cereal and has his feet up on his desk. He says, "Come sit down." Then, he proceeds to interview me while he eats cereal, his feet still up on the desk.

There I am in my suit, answering all the questions, and, finally, he asks, "So do you have any questions for me?"

And I said, "Yeah. What keeps you up at night?"

"What Keeps You Up At Night?"

The CEO stops eating his cereal, looks at me, and says, "I'm sorry. What?"

I respond, "When it comes to this business, what is keeping you up at night about its success? And how will the job that you're considering me for, how will the job that I do, impact the ability to solve for that?"

His face goes blank, he takes his feet off the desk, and he puts his cereal down. My heart starts to pound. Then, all of a sudden, he turns and looks at me. He leans in and says, "Hmm, let me think about that."

Now I'm thinking, "Oh my gosh, I just blew it."

Then, he gets really serious and starts to explain how this job impacts that ability. Then, he starts singing. Eventually, the interview ended and I went home thinking, "What did I just do?"

I got myself a job.

He told them that I should be hired because anyone who understands that their job impacts every level of the organizationâand that they should be thinking about that impactâunderstands the value of the work that they need to do, and would do a good job. That's what he told the hiring manager. And the hiring manager told me.

So that gamble paid off. It not only taught me how important it is to ask questions in an interview but also how important it is to ask the right questions to the right people.

If you want to stand out in the interview process and land the job, try asking this question in your next job interview. It's all about understanding and relieving an employer's pain points.

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The 1 Question I Asked A CEO …

Even though it's one of the most common interview questions out there, everyone hates being asked, âWhat is your biggest weakness?" in a job interview. It's hard enough to show your potential during an interview. How are you supposed to sell yourself to employers when they want you to tell them what's wrong with you?

Thankfully, answering this question isn't as hard as you might think. And you can actually use it to show your potential if you respond strategically.

How To Answer "What Is Your Biggest Weakness?" In An Interview

To successfully answer the "What is your biggest weakness?" question in a job interview, don't lie or come up with an answer you think might impress the interviewer (like "being a perfectionist" or "working too hard"). Instead, focus on a skill you're trying to develop.

For example, let's say you're interviewing for a training coordinator role at your favorite company. You love developing training materials and teaching others; however, you get very nervous when delivering your presentations because public speaking isn't your forte.

Instead of trying to sweep this under the rug, address it, but ease the interviewer's concerns by sharing what you're doing to overcome this challenge.

An Example Of How To Answer "What Is Your Biggest Weakness?" In A Job Interview

Woman answers the "What is your biggest weakness?" question in a job interview

"I have to admit that public speaking has always been difficult for me because I'm an introvert. It makes me nervous to get up in front of people and talk. However, I've learned that this was an integral part of training others, which I love doing. So, I've been working hard to improve my public speaking skills by participating in monthly Toastmasters meetings as well as taking on volunteer training sessions for colleagues so I can get some extra practice. Since challenging myself to do this, I've noticed a big difference in my confidence level and have felt more capable than ever in my role as a trainer."

Essentially, you want to convey that you understand you're weak in one area, but to make up for it, you've been working hard to improve that area because you know it's important in your role. There's no need to give a long explanation for this question. Keep it simple and straightforward, and focus on the positives rather than dwell on the negatives.

Don't get stumped by common interview questions like, "What is your biggest weakness?" Instead, go in prepared. Be honest with yourself and tailor your answers so you can market your skills rather than detract from your potential. Remember: Every weakness is an opportunity to grow as a professional, so frame it that way in your next job interview!

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How To Answer The “What Is Your …

As a career coaching veteran for over 20 years, many professionals have sought my advice on how to ask about work-life balance in a job interview. It's a difficult question to ask without it being a red flag. Still, there's definitely a way you can find this information out in a job interview.

Asking about work-life balance in a job interview starts with using emotional intelligence to avoid being overly blunt. You also don't want this to be the first question you ask in a job interview.

When a hiring manager asks, "Do you have any questions for us?" at the end of a job interview, the very first question you ask says a lot about you.

I'll give you an example. I was hiring for my company at one point, and I had two candidates. The first candidate came in and when I said, "Do you have any questions for me?" she replied, "Yeah, what's it pay?" Meanwhile, the pay was posted in the job description. So that told me the only thing she cared about was the money.

The second candidate came in and when I said, "Do you have any questions for me?" she said, "Yes, can you tell me how this job will impact the success of the organization as a whole? How will I know that I'm doing a good job?" This was a very thoughtful question. I knew she wanted to understand how to create value so she could be successful. It was also a strategic question on her part. But I loved it.

Best Interview Questions To Ask To Learn About A Company's Work-Life Balance

When it's your turn to ask questions in a job interview, after you've asked a few strategic questions, you would transition to asking about the company's work-life balance. Here are some great examples of questions you could ask the hiring manager:

Can you tell me about your company's strategies for work-life balance?
Can you give me some examples of how the company ensures work-life balance?
Can you tell me the company's policies on working outside the normal hours? For example, will I be expected to work nights or weekends? Can you walk me through those expectations?

These are totally fair, positive questions to ask on the subject of work-life balance. By asking these questions, you're making the assumption that they support work-life balance and giving them the opportunity to elaborate.

Now, the hiring manager can say whatever they want. They could lie to you in this interview. So my advice is if you get a lot further along in the process and you're still wondering about work-life balance, ask to speak to a peer. This is especially true if you get the job offer and you haven't met any of your potential co-workers. You can say, "I'm really excited about this job and I want to accept on the spot. But I was hoping to talk to somebody who would be my peer and also just get a sense of the job from them." That way, you can talk to a potential co-worker and ask them:

Can you tell me about work-life balance here?
Do you find yourself having to work nights or weekends very often? If so, what are the circumstances?
What can I expect at this job?

That peer can be more forthcoming with you. And if they're not forthcoming, you can usually read people and tell if they're hiding something or not being honest.

So find the right spot to ask about work-life balance in the interview. Frame your questions in a way that isn't too negative. Most importantly, if you're still not getting the right vibe, ask to meet other people in the organization. Ask to meet your peers, and then ask them those same questions and pay attention to how they respond. This is how we start to look under the hood of a company to figure out what's going on.

Finally, there are websites you can go to that have anonymous reviews of companies and what it's like to work there. Make sure you visit those as well. Do your homework. Be careful. You don't want to be sucked into a bad job where it's not what you expected it to be. So make sure you research the company beforehand and ask about work-life balance in your job interviewâthe right way.

Good luck, and go get 'em!

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How To Ask About Work-Life Balance In …

Whatâs the one piece of advice given over and over to interviewees? Prepare. Research the company, research the role, take time to analyze whatâs going to be required of you, and take time to assess your own abilities.

Thatâs the advice that Direct Line Group Careers gives to its applicants on their insurance jobs site. So, what do you do when you take this sound advice, but mid-way through a promising interview situation youâre thrown a question that you couldnât possibly have prepared for?

Tough interview questions are becoming more popular for interviewers to gauge how adept a candidate is at thinking on their feet. Without their prepared answers to fall back on, how an interviewee reacts to a question that seems utterly random can be revealing.

The good news? If youâre applying for a role that you have a lot of passion for, in an area where youâre naturally talented or well-practiced (without necessarily having direct working experience), these questions are a great way to show off your abilities. The bad news? Thereâs not much you can do to practice for a question thatâs deliberately obscure. But thatâs not to say itâs completely impossibleâafter all, the purpose of any interview is to see how good a fit you are for the role and the company.

So, however wacky the question is, the recruiter will probably be hoping for you to consider the context in which itâs being asked when it comes to your answer. That means if youâve researched the role youâre applying for and know what is going to be expected of you, chances are youâll have a good idea of the type of logic and thought process theyâre looking for when you make your reply.

Below are a few genuine curveball questions that have been asked in interview situations; while none of them have a necessarily right or wrong response, theyâll often fit into fields of purpose. One way to prepare for curveball interview questions is to get used to looking for what the intention is behind the weirdness!

Curveball Interview Questions

âName five uses of a stapler without staples."
âWhat do you think of garden gnomes?â

What theyâre really asking: Are you creative? Can you see the bigger picture, or are you focused on the detail? Are you happy to improvise, and are you a good communicator?

âGiven 20 light bulbs (which break at a certain height), and a building with 100 floors, how do you determine the height at which the bulb breaks?â
"Out of 25 horses, pick the fastest three horses. In each race, only five horses can run at the same time. What is the minimum number of races required?"

What theyâre really asking: Are you logical? Do you have a good knowledge of probability and equations? Can you figure out an effective method for solving problems and assess its viability?

âHow would you weigh an elephant?â
"If you were shrunk to the size of a pencil and put in a blender, how would you get out?â

What theyâre really asking: How creative are you when it comes to problem-solving? Do you have an eye for important details? How do you improvise under pressure?

What Are All The Questions Really Asking?

Job candidate interviews for an open position

Theyâre all challenges: challenges to normal interview structure, challenges to your ability to think on your feet, and logical challenges that reveal your thought process. Most importantly, donât see a curveball question as an attempt to trip you up: see it as an opportunity to show that you relish a challenge.

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How To Handle Curveball Interview Questions

3 Things To “Listen” For During Job Interviews

Like any other conversation, a job interview is a two-way street. It's as much about how well you listen as it is about what you say. And there's more to listening than simply hearing another person's words.

How interviewers sit, how they ask their questions, and what they do while listening to your answers can tell you an awful lot about the direction the interview is taking.

Of course, during a job interview, the hiring manager is in the driver's seat, so it's critical that you're able to read their cues. There are some general ways to figure out whether someone's paying attention to you or not. Are they making eye contact? Leaning forward as you speak? Nodding their head? All good things. But often the message someone conveys is contained in ways that are more subtle.

Here are three things to "listen" for during the job interview...

Listen For The Hidden Question

Interesting woman smiles and listens during a job interview

No job interview question is simple. In every case, the employer is looking not only for insights into your skills and experience, but also for hints about how your thought process works, how committed you'll be to your job, and how well you'll fit into the company's culture. Keep that in mind as you listen to each question.

If a hiring manager asks you to describe a time you met an aggressive deadline, for instance, they're also trying to get a feel for how well you work under pressure and how you work with others under less-than-ideal circumstances. It's not simply a question about nuts and bolts.

So, don't limit your answer to the obvious. Remember that during job interviews, explaining how you got to a particular point can be as important as showing that you got there in the first place.

Listen To Get Their Attention

Young woman listens attentively during a job interview

Obviously, you want to keep the manager's attention during the job interview. Even if they're one of those people who constantly check their cell phone while they talk, you can pick up hints about whether they're engaged in the conversation.

The most obvious clue is whether they're doing more than simply asking questions. A true dialogue is more than a Q&A. It involves stories, comments, and answersâfrom both sides.

If the hiring manager seems to be following a script, break up his or her routine by asking questions yourself. For example, after answering that query about meeting deadlines, ask if the hiring manager's ever been in a similar situation, or whether you can expect to face tight deadlines as a part of the job at his company. If they ask for your opinion on a recent industry news event, inquire about their views after you've given them your own.

You want the interview to be a true conversation. A hiring manager is more apt to remember the candidate they engaged with than those who simply allowed themselves to be led through their checklist of questions.

Listen To Keep Them Focused

Pay attention to signs that you're losing your audience whenever you need more than a few sentences to answer a question. Some clues are obvious. The hiring manager's eyes may wander, for example. Others are more subtle. Someone who's been sitting forward may shift and begin rubbing the arm of their chair with their fingers.

Picking up on someone's wandering attention will depend a lot on how well you read them. People differ, after all. A hiring manager who's comfortable multitasking may be carrying on an engaged conversation even if they're checking their email while they talk.

The trick is to look for signs that the rhythm has been broken. For example, if the multitasker allows pauses to creep into the conversation while they absorb an email message, chances are you need to refocus their attention.

Though the hiring manager asks the questions during an interview, the job seeker has plenty of opportunities to direct the conversation. Always be on the lookout for hints about the interviewer's interests and engagement. You'll find them in what they do, as well as in what they say.

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3 Things To “Listen” For During Job …

2 Questions To Ask In Job Interviews To Reveal The Hiring Manager’s (True) Leadership Style

Nobody wants to work for a bad boss. But if you're looking for a new job, how can you ensure the hiring manager you've been interviewing with will be a good boss?

One of the best ways to dodge a bullet in the hiring process and avoid working for a bad manager is to find out their leadership style. There are two questions I coach people to ask in job interviews to help them secretly figure out what it's really going to be like to work for that hiring manager.

How To Reveal The Hiring Manager's (True) Leadership Style

@j.t.odonnell Replying to @SloaneTilliePoppy 2 Questions To Ask In Job Interviews To Reveal Their (True) Leadership Style ð¤ððð³. There are questions you can ask in a job interview they can help you figure out what the hiring manager will really be like to work for. A lot of times they say one thing but donât really mean it. These two questions Iâve been teaching for years as a way to understand exactly what they value in an employee. What you wanna do is listen closely to see if what they say actually matches up with what they claimed their leader ship style is. And if you donât like what you hear, I would say pass on the job opportunity! I also encourage you to prepare for interviews as best you can. Thatâs why my new TikTok series teaches you how to answer the 18 Tofas behavioral questions so that you can now the interview and stand out. That way theyâll really want to make sure That they pick you for the job and then youâll sit in the driver seat and itâll be up to you to decide if you want them! ##tiktokseries##interviewtips##interviewtipsandtricks##interviewquestions##interviewquestionsandanswers##interviewprep##interviewpreparation##behavioralquestion##careertok##careeradvice##careertiktok##careercoach##interviewcoach##jobinterview##jobinterviewquestions##jobinterviewtips â¬ original sound - J.T. O'Donnell

When it's your turn to ask questions in the job interview, ask the following questions to determine the hiring manager's true leadership style:

1. Tell me about a recent hire who's been successful here. What 2 or 3 things are they doing that's making them so successful?

Asking this question can help you start to determine whether or not what they said about the job, the company, and their leadership style matches what they value in a person.

For example, if they said, "We believe in work-life balance here. We know you have a life. We really support you. You can get all your work done in the hours that are given here," and then when you ask them this question, they say, "That person that we hired recently, she was amazing. She came in, we were in a pinch. She worked overtime. She worked nights and weekends. She took on a whole bunch of extra responsibilities and she just really crushed it," their answers don't sync up.

2. Can you tell me, without naming names, about somebody who did not work out well here, who really failed in the job? Can you give me 2 or 3 examples of why you think they weren't successful?

Once again, listen closely. If they say things like, "They just walked out the door right at 5 p.m. They weren't flexible. They weren't willing to take on additional responsibility. They weren't a team player," what does it say about the situation?

As a job seeker, these two questions can help you get a better sense of what it would be like to work at a company and/or for a specific hiring manager so you can dodge a bullet. If their leadership style isn't compatible with your work style, you probably won't be happy on the job, no matter how good the opportunity sounds.

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2 Questions To Ask In Job Interviews …

The job interview is an essential part of the screening process for employers. It helps employers dig deep beyond the resume to find out about 1) your experience and skills for the job, 2) whether you're a good fit for its workplace culture, and 3) your career goals and outlook to determine how dedicated and loyal you'll be to the job and continued employment with the company.

Asking questions is essential to helping employers make the right decision on which job applicant to select for the job. So, let's break down some of the typical interview questions you may be asked and what employers are really trying to find out so that you can provide the best response.

1. "Talk About One Of Your Greatest Achievements At Work."

When employers ask this question, they are trying to see what you consider important on the job and are also trying to understand your key skill set. The best response is an example that can directly relate back to the job you're applying for.

2. "Talk About A Time You Faced A Major Challenge At Work."

Employer/hiring manager asks a potential job candidate a hard interview question

Employers are always trying to see how you face obstacles at work and your approach to dealing with them. Regardless of the challenge you present, the key is to demonstrate that you were able to overcome it and bring results of success.

3. "What's Your Greatest Weakness?"

Employers want to see how honest you are, and the way you answer can also shed light on if you're able to overcome obstacles. Everyone has a weakness, so provide an honest answer but finish off your response with how you've worked to improve on it so it actually isn't a weakness anymore.

4. "Where Do You See Yourself In 5 Years?"

Employer/hiring manager wants to find out where the job candidate sees herself in five years during an interview

Employers want to find out your long-term goals and how they may fit into their plans. Your response should inform the employer that you're dedicated to the profession and you have a confident outlook to move up in your career with even more experience and skills to succeed on the job. Do not give an answer that indicates you may not stay with the company.

5. "Describe To Me The Type Of Work Environment You Desire."

Job candidate waits to answer an interview question from the hiring manager

It's important that employers ensure you can fit in culturally and they want to understand the type of worker-boss management relationship desired. Say the person supervising is a micromanager, but you are one who has self-drive and desires empowerment. In such a case, conflict is highly likely.

Do your research ahead of time to understand the employer's workplace culture so you respond accordingly. But it's also important in helping decide whether you should even apply for a job because you want to work in an environment where you'll be happy.

6. "Why Do You Want To Work With Us?"

A hiring manager asks a job candidate, "Why do you want to work with us?"

Employers need to find out if you're a serious candidate for the job and if you have a true desire to work for the company and in the specific field you're applying to. If you do your research beforehand, you will have an idea of things you can call out about the employer that impress you. It'll also inform the employer that you're not just randomly applying to any job, but that you have a true desire to work for them.

7. "Why Are You Leaving Your Employer?"

A job candidate answers the hard interview question, "Why are you leaving your employer?"

Employers will ask this question to try to better understand your long-term goals. It's also to ensure that the reason you're leaving is not one that may present itself again on the new job.

If you were fired from your job, the employer wants to ensure the problem or concerns about being fired do not carry over to the new job. Focus on a response that speaks to your desire for more challenge and that will allow you to utilize your experience and skills, and help you to continue to grow them.

When you understand what employers are really trying to find out with the questions they ask, you can tailor your responses so that you come off as the best candidate for the job.

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7 Things Employers Want To Find Out …

Introverts often feel especially challenged by job interviews. They're meeting new people out of their element and, given the level of importance attached to an interview, it may ramp up nervousness and keep them from performing their best.

If you're an introvert who wants to perform your best during an upcoming interview, or just an extrovert looking for some additional interview help, apply these 13 interview tips!

Before The Interview

Man using tips for introverts while waiting for his job interview

1. Practice.

2. Practice.

3. Pract... Well, you get the idea.

Over-preparing will give you a sense of mastery that can calm your nerves and improve your self-confidence and performance. Know the company, job, your resume, and your career goals inside and out. Write out the questions and answers you want to practice and edit them with a critical eye to get started. Then, practice with someone else playing the employer (mock interview), even if it is only on the phone. You may need to do this more than once.

Before the interview, do a dress rehearsal in your interview attire and in person, if possible. If you can afford it, engage a professionalâit is well worth the investment. If not, practice with someone whose opinion you trust.

4. Prepare notes that you can refer to during an interview.

Usually, it is perfectly expected for you to have a few copies of your resume, and a pen and paper, perhaps in a portfolio or folder. Don't write in full sentences and keep your notes to the top page of your pad. Leave plenty of space to jot notes in a different color ink so that they are easy to pick out. You can write questions for the employer on the next page.

5. Wear comfortable, suitable clothes.

Think about the setting and your personal style and kick up your attire one more notch. We recommend dressing one level above the company's dress code. Make sure that your clothing fits you well and is comfortable to wear sitting, standing, and walking. It should also look good front and back. Ask someone else's opinion. You will already be nervous enoughâno need to add to it by allowing your mind to stray toward your outfit!

6. Visit the location early so you can visualize the setting.

This will also ensure that you know about any construction or other anomalies that may impact your arrival time and can react with a calm, cool demeanor. If it's a public location, a quick reconnaissance will provide additional information to increase your comfort level and limit any fears that can be fed by the unknown.

During The Interview

Job candidate uses tips for introverts during an interview

7. Breathe instead of saying um, uh, etc.

As an introvert, you may get especially nervous when you have to speak in a public or unique situationâsuch as an interview! Instead of filling the silence with random syllables, breathe in. Typically, we stammer when we are trying to find the right words and feel the pressure. Focus on breathing in once and then breathe out while you think. This is usually enough to buy you time to find your language.

8. Strike a pose.

As introverts (or even extroverts!) we sometimes worry that the interviewer will wonder if we have "spaced out" or "lost it" if it takes too long to speak. If you have a pose you normally strike when thinking (a hand on your chin?), do that. Or, you can rephrase the question while searching your mind for the perfect words. Sometimes, the introverts I work with feel comfortable saying something like, "That is a good question, I am processing that as we speak!" A combination can also be employed, of course.

9. Smile.

Reallyâremind yourself to smile! When I worked as a telemarketer, many years ago, I learned that people can hear you smile when you speak. It is true. Well, if people on the other end of a phone can react to a smile, doesn't it stand to reason that an in-person smile will make even more of a positive impression? Take the interview seriously, by all means, but show your humanity as well.

A recent introverted client became comfortable sharing the fact that he is an introvert during the interview. It works really well as a prelude to your answer to, "What is something you have to work on?" or "What is your greatest weakness?"

10. Keep your answers positive.

There is no need to provide anything but the best of your best during the interview. Unless asked specifically about a weakness or a project that has gone wrong, keep your mouth shut. Even then, always put a positive spin on things, and highlight what you've learned and how good you have become at planning and avoiding X, Y, and Z (use the "Experience + Learn = Grow" model for answering behavioral interview questions).

If you are introverted, you may be harder on yourself than anyone else. The last thing you want is to give your mind something to gnaw on while you try to be "in the moment" during an interview.

11. Ask questions.

In order to avoid an interview feeling like an inquisition, ask questions. Approach the interview as if it were a conversation: you listen, you respond, you interact, and the interviewer does the same. If you can nudge the interview in this direction, you will feel a lot more confident and comfortable than if the interviewer is asking all the questions!

12. Watch your body language.

Leaning forward shows that you are interested and alert. Crossing anything sends the message that you are closed off and negative. Leaning back in your chair may give the impression that you don't care or are arrogant. Be careful not to fidget, doodle, or make faces while the interviewer is speaking or you are thinking.

After The Interview

13. Prepare for next time.

When you are safely out of sight, but before you get home, write down some notes about anything you might want to include in a thank-you note, ask in a follow-up or next interview, or could improve on the next time you interview for a job or need to speak in a public or unusual situation!

Interviewing as an introvert doesn't have to be so hard. We hope you found these thirteen interview tips helpful, and now you have the confidence to ace your next job interview!

Good luck!

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13 Interview Tips For Introverts

Every time you interview, your main purpose is to convince the employer to hire you. The job search is a sales process. The hiring manager (your future boss) is the "customer," and you are both the sales rep and the product. Why should they choose you over all the other "products" out there?

During the interview process, the hiring manager might ask you, "Why should we hire you?" Here are some tips for how you can effectively answer this tough interview question and stand out from other job candidates:

Focus On What You Can Do For The Employer

Job candidate explains why the employer should hire her in a job interview

This question is actually a fantastic opportunity for you to summarize why you'd be a great hire.

Always focus your answer on what benefits you bring, what problems you can solve, and what solutions you can provide. Never, ever say that they should hire you because you need the job or because you really want itâor anything remotely related to your reasons for wanting the job. This is your chance to connect the dots and help the employer see why you're the best person for the job.

Think about things you know the hiring manager (interviewer) is looking forâskill sets, background, character traits, personal qualities, education, experience, or anything else that will make you successful in this role. Relate your answer to these things.

Give An Example

Job candidate answers "Why should we hire you?" in a job interview

Explain how you meet the employer's needs and give an example to support your answer.

Your answer should be framed like this: "You should hire me because you've said you want someone with A, B, and C. I fit all of your requirements. I have A (say what that is), B (maybe give an example), and C (elaborate further)."

This will help you stand out from the other candidates and it gives the employer a reason to hire you.

Keep The Job Description (And Your Skills!) In Mind

Typically, this question will come toward the end of the interview, so you can refer to what you've already talked about, or mention something new that you know they'd be interested in. If it comes in the beginning, use the job description and your research to answer:

Will this job require long hours? Mention your work ethic.
Will this job need someone with great communication skills? Give an example of yours.
Will this job need someone who can learn on the fly? Tell them how you're going to get up to speed quickly and how you've learned and adapted before.
Does this job need someone with a particular background? Mention yours.
Do you have the skill set they want? Talk about your skill set and how you have been successful with it.

Give them examples of what you have achieved in the past. If you haven't done this job before, talk about similar things you've done or qualities you have that will make you successful in this new role.

It's never easy to answer "Why should we hire you?" in a job interview. However, if you do these three things, you'll be able to articulate your skills, experience, and qualifications with ease. And you'll impress the hiring manager in the process!

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How To Answer “Why Should We Hire …

As a hiring manager, the types of questions you ask in a job interview can help you determine whether a candidate is qualified for a position and a good fit for your organization. But which interview questions are the best questions to ask?

In this article, members of Duffy Group will reveal how to craft effective and customized interview questions that help you uncover a candidate's true potential, assess their fit within your organization, and make informed hiring decisions. Read on to unlock the secrets to conducting successful interviews that lead to building exceptional teams.

Kathleen Duffy

Hiring leaders recruit for technical skills to do the job and assess for cultural alignment. To assess for cultural alignment, we must go deeper than asking, âWhat does culture mean to you?â Look at your company values and develop questions. For example, at Duffy Group, one of our core values is innovation. I look for people who are curious.

Tell me about something you were really curious about that has nothing to do with this job. It doesnât matter what they are curious about; it lets me know if they have a curious mind. We want people who are curious because thatâs how we innovate.

Another question is, "What does diversity mean to you?" For some, it may be gender, race, ethnicity, etc. We are looking for people who have an appetite to come into an organization where reasonable minds can disagree. How do you approach someone who sees the world differently from you?

It is critical for us as hiring leaders to figure out if candidates will thrive in our environment that celebrates diversity.

Kathleen Duffy is the founder, CEO, and president of Duffy Group. The company's vision is to elevate recruitment research as an alternative to contingent and retained search. Since its founding, Duffy Group has been a remote workplace and a culture of work/life harmony.

Colleen Neese

Hiring manager listens to a job candidate answer an interview question

As an executive recruiter, itâs our job to be curious and ask a lot of questions that will help us determine if the candidate has the skills and fit for the job. Many times those questions are very specific to the industry or job. For example, the questions I ask when recruiting in the non-profit industry are different than the questions I ask when recruiting for a for-profit company. And the questions I ask a chief financial officer are very different than the questions I ask a chief information officer. But I have one tried and true question that I ask everyone I interview:

How do you spend your time? Break down in percentages where your time is spent.

This allows me to understand if the candidate has the right skills and experience to do the job. Are they doing this today or would this be a stretch for them? Of course, this only works if you have a true understanding of the job requirements and where the candidate will be spending their time in the role, so itâs critical to have that understanding first before asking this question of candidates.

For example, when recruiting for non-profit CEOs, I always ask them to break down how theyâre spending their time. Many of the non-profit CEO searches I lead require a strong background in fundraising, so if I learn they are spending very little time on fundraising, itâs a mismatch.

The other question I always ask every candidate I talk to is:

What is motivating you to consider making a job change?

Itâs so simple, yet the answer you receive will uncover so much information that will help you understand whatâs important to the candidate. In many instances in life, we need to go back to the "why," and thatâs true in recruitment and interviewing. Why now? Why this job? Why this company? What are you NOT getting from your current role that youâre seeking? And then listen!

Happy hunting!

Colleen Neese is a practice leader at Duffy Group. She specializes in recruiting executives in non-profit and healthcare.

Kristin Pozen

Hiring manager asks about a job applicant's resume during an interview

One of my clients is TTI Success Insights, an industry-leading assessment provider dedicated to revealing human potential through assessment solutions and research. They had recently hired a new president and were positioned to grow the company. Although they had been a family-owned and operated business for over 30 years, their internal human resources structure or processes needed updating. Additionally, they required an HR leader who could bring about a culture change and fuel their planned growth.

Here are a few examples of the questions we used:

Have you ever been with a company while they were experiencing a culture shift? What was your role in that shift?

This question allowed us to determine if they could drive culture change. TTI's president envisioned a culture that cared about character and serving others.

Give an example of how you influenced a positive outcome when several senior leaders disagreed.

By asking for examples, we could evaluate if the candidate could assist in the company's strategic growth by collaborating with the senior leadership team.

We identified and hired a fantastic HR leader for their organization by digging deeper into our interviews and addressing their biggest concerns. Asking for examples of past successes and failures can better describe a candidate's experience.

Kristin Pozen is a research recruitment recruiter at Duffy Group and a former HR recruiter.

Sharon Grace

Hiring manager asks a question during a job interview

You've been tasked to fill a position. Maybe it is a newly created position, maybe it's with a new hiring leader with the company, or maybe it is a high turnover role, and you are not excited to work it again. Even if it is a role and hiring leader that you are familiar with and excited about, it's still important to ensure you ask the right questions as part of your intake process. Here are some tips that have helped me:

Be able to define what makes this group attractive to a potential candidate. Why would you want to work with this group? Describe the personalities of the group.
What are the top three primary skill sets (not soft skills) necessary to succeed in this role? Do they need experience creating and implementing a strategy, budgeting and forecasting, and designing and implementing legally compliant HR procedures and best practices?
What is the most important thing this person needs to do in the role to succeed?
What experience or skill set will not work?
What companies should we avoid?

There is so much more to a position than what is in the job description. Digging deep with the hiring leader will set up the process to dig deep with a candidate as you try to identify the fit. Both the hiring leader and the candidate are curious about each other. I can't emphasize enough how important it is for hiring leaders and candidates to work with a recruiter to help uncover the real opportunity, identify fit, and remove ambiguity.

Sharon Grace is a veteran search executive at Duffy Group who helps hiring leaders hire great people because of her proven track record as a strategic partner and advisor to recruit, identify and assess talent.

Need help recruiting talent for your organization? Check out Duffy Group today.

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