How To Get The Job You Really
Really Want - The Interview - Trick Questions?
Beware the
dreaded trick questions. Now these types of questions tend to be
made up by interviewers, and only they really know what they are
looking for. Therefore, the best way I can demonstrate to what
lengths interviewers will potentially go, is to use an example.
This is a question I know a certain director of a major recruitment
company uses.
I'll tell you
why afterwards, but first, here's the question.
"Imagine the scenario, Derek. You are sitting round
a table, and have just finished the coffee at a dinner party you are
hosting. All your close family and best friends are sitting around
the table with you. Who would be there?"
You answer
"O.K, you have to leave to go to the bathroom, and
being normal human beings they start to talk behind your back, and
this is what they say." "Derek's a great guy, the best, but......"
Now here comes the crunch question.
"What would that "but" be for...?", and then the
interviewer would start going around the table, your mother? Then
your father? Your sister? etc.
Think about this, what would you say if you were not
prepared. Your close family and friends would know all of your
little weird "quirks" and personality disorders, no matter how minor
or insignificant!
So you answer, "Well, my Mum would say apart from my
impatience with her".
Interviewer thinks, ah ha, he's a bit impatient.
Suddenly a whole bucket load of potential weaknesses
are revealed. Watch this type of question like a hawk. They are
designed to open your "back door" and get information that you want
to keep firmly in-doors. You will find it extremely
difficult to stay or sound positive in a scenario where you find
yourself revealing a string of negatives.
The only way to play this is to be prepared, and make
sure the negatives from the home environment can be turned into
positives for the work place.
Another question of the trick variety is the
reflective question. Now sometimes this isn't even a question at
all! Hey, Derek, how tricky can it get? I mean, when is a
question, not a question? Answer, when it's reflective! Confused?
O.K, I'm
sorry, here's the explanation. Scenario - interviewer asks question
"Derek, tell
me, what did you like most about your last job?"
"Well, I really got on well with the people, and I
enjoyed selling their products"
Here comes the reflective!
"Yeeeesss"....
Note, no question mark, because it isn't really a
question. However, I guarantee, you will feel compelled to add to
your answer. The reflective comes in many guises. It can be a "Go
on" or it can be simply a look in your direction with a raising of
the eyebrows. It can even be a Neanderthal grunt.
The bottom line, though, is beware the reflective,
because it is designed to get to the real answer. This is
the question where you hear yourself blurting out a non-rehearsed
answer. Even, God forbid, the truth!
Particularly beware of this question on the..."Why
did you leave your last job?"
There are two answers to the reflective – both are
simple.
Firstly, "No, that's all", then shut up. Do not be
put off by the pause / silence the interviewer will use to try and
get you to speak next. Wait for him to ask another question. It
really is the only counter.
Secondly, have a reflective “subsequent” answer ready
and waiting. However, beware because it is so easy to get sucked
in. You have been warned!
Next Page -
You've Got
Questions Too!
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