Impressive Answers to Tough Interview Questions

By Dennis McCafferty | Posted 2014-02-26

Confident, experienced job candidates aren't intimidated by difficult interview questions: They welcome them as challenges to conquer. Professionals never know when they'll sit down with an interviewer who relishes putting applicants on the hot seat, so it's best to prepare for any contingency. To offer guidance on dealing with incredibly tough questions during a job interview, we present the following outstanding responses to 10 tough interview questions. They've been adapted from the book Powerful Phrases for Successful Interviews: Over 400 Ready-to-Use Words and Phrases That Will Get You the Job You Want (Amacom/available now). At the very least, these sample questions and answers from author Tony Beshara will help you avoid that dreaded "deer in the headlights" moment, when you freeze up after a tricky inquiry is posed, and you can't think of anything to say in response. No matter what you're asked, you always want to answer honestly, while basing your answers on the tangible and hopefully measurable value you could bring to the organization. Beshara is owner and president of Babich and Associates, the oldest placement firm in Texas. He also appears regularly on the Dr. Phil show.

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What value did you bring to your former employer?

"More than anything, I try to contribute to profitability. Here's how I did that at my last job."
What do you want out of this job?

"I'm happiest when I'm growing as a professional while making the company better."
What was the most difficult part of your past jobs?

"Challenges constantly came into play, but I welcomed them as a test of what I could do. Here's how I met a few of those challenges."
How long will it take you to add value to our company?"

"Everyone I've worked with says I'm a quick study and pick things up swiftly. It's exciting to join a new place and make immediate impact."
How have former managers motivated you to do your best?

"They've only had to state the objectives and give me enough space to accomplish them. My motivation is inherently high."
You'd be one of the oldest/youngest employees here. How do you feel about that?

"I've often worked at businesses where I'm one of the oldest/youngest. It provided a balance of experience and perspectives."
Do you want to eventually become a manager or executive?

"I believe I have management potential, but I know that good leaders are also good followers."
How did you respond when managers told you "no"?

"I proposed software integration that was rejected due to budget restrictions, so I documented how much it would save in operating costs. Three months later, it was approved."
What's the biggest mistake you've made in your career?

"Our team took on a major project that failed, but it was a great learning experience. Here are some of the lessons learned that benefitted the company."
What is success?

"Success is the realization of a goal that benefits both your organization and you."
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