Katharine Hepburn once famously quoted, “Death will be a great relief. No more interviews.”
It is no secret that many people hate job hunting. The entire process is tedious and consists of one of the most annoying experiences someone can go through – the interview.
The job interview is a criterion where the company evaluates and decides a candidate’s eligibility and competency towards a particular vacancy. (And obviously, it cannot be skipped).
The main reason why individuals hate the interview process is because of the questions that interviewer/s asks at times.
Here is a list of several frustrating (yet mandatory on the part of recruiters) job interview questions that you would otherwise prefer not answering –
“Tell me something about yourself”
You have to know yourself inside out to answer ‘something about yourself’
This is usually the first question they ask you and it just makes you want to cower down the desk and never come back up again. An open-ended question, it is something that would normally have you look back in time to find the answer. Unfortunately, the interviewer cannot give you three decades to answer that question.
“Why did you quit your current job?”
More money should be an acceptable reason
“More money”, is usually our thought, but we have to sugar-coat your answer with reasons like better career opportunity or willing to work with an established brand.
“Why do you want to work here?”
You can’t stay unemployed for long
“Umm… I need a job”, is your psychological reaction when you are unemployed. But again, since your interviewer cannot read your mind and the answer would not justify the purpose of you attending the interview, you cook up career-related answer.
“Where do you see yourself five years from now?”
Predicting future at an interview is always tricky
If you mean in the mirror then maybe a few lines staring back at me. As long as career goes, you cannot tell what will happen in the next five minutes, leave alone answering something five years down the line.
“How much do you see yourself earning in the next five years?”
You need to set the right benchmark to answer such a complex question
Beware. This is a trick question. You set the benchmark too low and the interviewer will think you undermine yourself; set the bar too high and they will perceive you as thinking too high of yourself.
“Do you have personal transportation?”
Legs are fine for transportation
No. I have been raised in one of your office closets, by a coven of witches that you have never seen. On a serious note though, I have legs and manage transportation really well.
“What are your weaknesses?”
Why would anyone want to advertising their weakness?
Hire me. You will know it firsthand.
“Why did you quit your last job?”
Never criticise anyone for quitting an earlier job
Remember. It is never a good answer to negative about your previous employer. If you were laid off or fired, do not mention that either. A downsizing reason can always work in your favour.
“What is your expected salary?”
Giving a number for expected salary is complex
Are you willing to give me one lakh rupees per month even though I do not have much experience with the profile? I’ll take that.
