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15 Toughest Interview Questions (and Answers!)
Tania Khadder | Excelle
15. How would your friends describe you?
Bad answer:
"I’m a really good listener.”
While being a good listener is a great personality trait, your employer probably doesn’t care all that much. It’s unlikely that they’re hiring you to be a shoulder to cry on. You’ll want to keep your answer relevant to the job you’re interviewing for – and as specific as possible. If you can, insert an example.
Good answer:
“My friends would probably say that I’m extremely persistent – I’ve never been afraid to keep going back until I get what I want. When I worked as a program developer, recruiting keynote speakers for a major tech conference, I got one rejection after another – this was just the nature of the job. But I really wanted the big players – so I wouldn’t take no for an answer. I kept going back to them every time there was a new company on board, or some new value proposition. Eventually, many of them actually said “yes” – the program turned out to be so great that we doubled our attendees from the year before. A lot of people might have given up after the first rejection, but it’s just not in my nature. If I know something is possible, I have to keep trying until I get it.”
"I’m a really good listener.”
While being a good listener is a great personality trait, your employer probably doesn’t care all that much. It’s unlikely that they’re hiring you to be a shoulder to cry on. You’ll want to keep your answer relevant to the job you’re interviewing for – and as specific as possible. If you can, insert an example.
Good answer:
“My friends would probably say that I’m extremely persistent – I’ve never been afraid to keep going back until I get what I want. When I worked as a program developer, recruiting keynote speakers for a major tech conference, I got one rejection after another – this was just the nature of the job. But I really wanted the big players – so I wouldn’t take no for an answer. I kept going back to them every time there was a new company on board, or some new value proposition. Eventually, many of them actually said “yes” – the program turned out to be so great that we doubled our attendees from the year before. A lot of people might have given up after the first rejection, but it’s just not in my nature. If I know something is possible, I have to keep trying until I get it.”
CareerLady
13 days ago
4 comments
Hmm...Most of them I see where I did good, but I always cop out on the question about getting along with co-workers. I don't want to make myself sound like a jerk or bossy, so I try to play down the situation and make myself sound like an angel...lol...I learned that doesn't work. Thanks editor!
artseo
18 days ago
2 comments
I always give the bad answers..:)
Torrent
RedHorse7
18 days ago
24 comments
No wonder I never get a second interview. I've been giving some of the "bad" answers. :-(
RedHorse7
18 days ago
24 comments
Editor, thanks for the tip. I've been wondering about that myself. :-)
lil5firecracker5
20 days ago
4 comments
just took the time to write my answer to all 15 of these questions. now to study them. interview for high paying internship in the morning.
editor
about 1 month ago
6 comments
emfarleigh, you can email the article to yourself by clicking on the Share button at the very bottom.
emfarleigh
about 1 month ago
6 comments
I wish there was a way to save articles so you can go back to them with out searching through the site. This is very helpful.
Tobaldwin
about 1 month ago
2 comments
Very resourceful!
cclendenen1
about 1 month ago
6 comments
I really enjoyed the info myself, now I see where I possibly screwed up some interviews with not answering in the right direction
MarMorgan
about 1 month ago
2 comments
Thanks for the awesome tips, much appreciated!
DonnaDuncan
about 1 month ago
4 comments
Those are some great tips, thanks!
JToliver
2 months ago
4 comments
These are really great interview tips. I'm going to need all the advice I can get. Thanks for posting!
Dez
2 months ago
4 comments
This article was very helpful to me. This is my last semester in college, so there will be quite a few interviews in my future. To be honest while reading this article the answers i was thinking of were some of the bad answers. I am glad i read this article before going to the job fairs and interviews and making a fool of myself.
rayoola80
2 months ago
12 comments
i have learnt a lot on this article and i must add here that they are applicable even where i live,i mean nigeria.thank you very much its really an eye opener.
ereign472
2 months ago
20 comments
The illustrations (photos) held my interest and added extra power to this article. Well done!