Strategies for Getting the Job You Want

What’s the worst mistake you have ever made? If you asked this question during an interview, it will probably make you more nervous than you already are. Will you look like a loser if you admit to making mistakes? Or will the interviewers think you are hiding something if you don’t give an example? Either way, you may be afraid that you will ruin your chances of getting the job.

Questions such as these are now common in interviews. Hiring the wrong people is expensive, so employers are examining candidates more closely than ever. As well as asking traditional questions about your career history, they are likely to want to know more about your personality, or to test your reasoning skills.

In difficult economic times, you have to work harder to prove that you are the right candidate. In this article we look at the five different types of interview questions you might be asked, give you tips on how to prepare for them, and suggest some strategies that can help you during the interview itself. Of course, in your interview, you may be asked questions from more than one of the categories below.

1. Behavioral Questions

People tend to react the same way in similar situations. By asking how you have behaved in the past, the interviewer wants to get an idea of what you will do in the future.

Sample questions

• What have you done in your present job that went beyond what was required?
• Give me a specific example of what you did when a co-worker criticized your work in front of others.
• Can you think of a time when a person’s cultural background influenced how you handled a situation at work?

How to prepare

Think about past and current work experiences in detail. It helps to write down examples, both good and bad, of projects, problems with customers, and relations with your co-workers. Include names and dates; your interviewer will probably ask for such details as a way of checking that you didn’t make up the situation or that you aren’t stretching the truth. “We look at how candidates have reacted in real situations and what decisions they have made,” says Susann Hefftner, head of human resources Germany at Bayer CropScience AG. “We also ask ‘Why?’ and want to know how they have handled success and failure in the past. This reveals thought patterns and abilities.”

2. Logic and Puzzle Questions

Technology companies like to use puzzles and logic questions to test whether candidates have good analytical skills. Other types of reasoning questions measure your ability to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions.

Sample questions

• Three men and their wives come to a river. There is a boat, but it can carry only two people. No woman can be left with a man unless her husband is present. What is the minimum number of trips needed to carry them all across?
• How much does the ice in an ice-hockey rink weigh?
• If you could remove one of the 50 U.S. states, which one would it be?

How to prepare

With regular practice on puzzles and brainteasers, you will recognize patterns for solving them. For example, for the couples in the first question, use the letters [Aa, Bb, Cc] and the possible combinations will become clear; 11 is the minimum number. In the second question, start with the size of an ice-hockey rink, the number of liters of water needed to cover that area, and the weight of a liter of ice (the final answer is about 40,000 kilograms). William Poundstone, author of How Would You Move Mount Fuji?, a book about Microsoft interviews, says candidates must be able to identify essential elements in a situation that is not well-defined. During the interview, “it is rarely clear what type of reasoning is required or what the precise limits of the problem are.” So start by breaking down the question into its elements, and talking your way through them with the interviewer.

3. Hypothetical Questions

This type of question typically includes the words “suppose” or “what if”. The interviewer asks what you would do in a hypothetical situation. Your answer gives him or her information about your character and provides clues to your future behavior.

Sample questions

• What if another person took credit for work you had done?
• What would you do if a customer complained about your phone manners?
• Suppose on your first day at our company, you are working in the laboratory, and a chemical fire starts. What would you do?

How to prepare

Write down examples of past events, as some hypothetical questions are similar to behavioral-type questions. Some interviewers ask about extreme events, in which case you may need some time to imagine the situation and think about the possible results of various actions. Ask the interviewer: “May I take a minute to think about that?” instead of giving an immediate reply. “That is one of the biggest pitfalls of this type of interview,” says Sheila Murphy, a job expert for the Santa Barbara News-Press in California. “Once you have gone down the wrong road, it can be very difficult to steer the conversation back to the main highway.”

4. Case-Study Questions

Consultants and other professionals who work closely with clients may be asked to solve a business dilemma called a case study. These test your problem-solving ability, communication skills, and ability to think quickly under pressure.

Sample case

Your client is the maker of a brand name of potato chips. A foreign company plans to sell potato chips at half the price, in bags that look remarkably similar to those of the brand-name product. What advice do you give your client?

How to prepare

Read magazines and books published by business schools, such as the Harvard Business Review, as they regularly contain case studies. Also, many international consulting firms provide interactive case studies on their web sites. When analyzing a case in an interview, include the interviewer in your explanations; this shows that you are able to communicate with clients. “The case should be a dialogue, not a monologue,” advises the web page of interview tips from The Boston Consulting Group. “Remember, there is no ‘right’ way of doing a case; nor is there a single answer. If you have demonstrated the way you think, you have done all you can to crack the case.”

5. Trick Questions

Sometimes, a question is designed to trick you into saying negative things about yourself or your current employer. At other times, the interviewer interrupts while you are talking, or gets you to sit on a very squeaky chair. In such cases, the interviewer is probably testing how you react to unpleasant situations.

Sample questions

• What worries keep you up at night?
• Have you ever broken the rules to get the job done?
• Do you regard it as a weakness to lose your temper?

How to prepare

Ask a friend to try to provoke or trick you by asking such questions. You can practice remaining calm and avoiding the trap. Keep in mind during the interview that this is simply a testing method. However, it may signal that you will have to deal with high-stress situations in the new job, or that conflicts are common within the firm.

Interview Essentials

Knowing what sort of questions might be asked can help you avoid unpleasant surprises during your next interview. It will be easier to stay confident and calm even when you are dealing with difficult questions.

Whatever type of interview you face, following certain basic rules will help you to create a positive impression.

1. Do your homework: gather information about the company.
2. Prepare yourself: have a summary of your career experience ready.
3. Get ready and get there: dress well and arrive early.
4. Make a good first impression: smile and use small talk.
5. Communicate: listen actively and answer confidently.
6. Sell yourself: use positive language and give examples.
7. Tell the truth: be honest about yourself and your skills.
8. Ask questions: find out all you can about the position.
9. Show enthusiasm: make it clear you want the job.
10. And finally: follow up with a thank-you letter.