{"id":9185,"date":"2019-10-28T10:02:00","date_gmt":"2019-10-28T10:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/procomservices.com\/8-easy-answers-to-some-of-the-toughest-interview-questions\/"},"modified":"2025-11-19T19:41:23","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T19:41:23","slug":"8-easy-answers-to-some-of-the-toughest-interview-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/procomservices.com\/en-ca\/insights\/8-easy-answers-to-some-of-the-toughest-interview-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"How to answer the toughest interview questions"},"content":{"rendered":"

When sitting down for a job interview, even the most qualified of candidates can feel the pressure of a hiring manager’s questions when sitting in the hot seat. And before you get to ask some of your own, you must impress with artful answers that tie your candidacy to both the position and brand.<\/p>\n

Some hiring managers ask tough questions in an attempt to steer you towards revealing information you may be trying to conceal, while others want to get a better understanding of your thought process under pressure. Whatever their motive, you\u2019ll want to be prepared to stand out.<\/p>\n

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Procom recruiters share insights into how to answer some of the toughest interview questions:<\/p>\n

Question 1: \u201cTell me about yourself\u2026\u201d<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Seems like a pretty easy question; you\u2019ve got your whole life to pull from, right? Wrong. \u201cTell me about yourself\u201d isn\u2019t an invitation to tell the hiring manager everything about you; just why you\u2019re the best fit.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Give a 2-3 minute snapshot as to why you\u2019re the most qualified for the job.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Cover three topics: education, work history and recent career<\/a> experience.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Always highlight accomplishments and experience that directly relate to the job description.<\/p>\n

Question 2: \u201cWhat\u2019s your biggest weakness?\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This is the part where many career books tell you to disguise a secret strength and present it as a weakness. But hiring managers are wise to those ways, (\u201cOh, I\u2019m a workaholic,\u201d or \u201cI\u2019m a perfectionist\u201d) they\u2019ve heard it all before. Just be honest. Employers want to hire someone who\u2019s reflective about their skill set and knows what they need to work on.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Use an actual weakness that you\u2019re looking to improve on, the steps you\u2019ve taken to overcome the issue and how you\u2019ve become better because of the challenge.<\/p>\n

\u2022 You want to convey the fact that you\u2019re ambitious and have room to grow and learn new things.<\/p>\n

Question 3: \u201cThere seems to be a gap in your work history. Why is that?\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Everyone is human, hiring managers understand that people can lose their jobs and sometimes it isn\u2019t always easy to quickly find a new one. What they want to see is how you\u2019ve used that time constructively.<\/p>\n

\u2022 List any activities you\u2019ve been doing during the stage of unemployment like freelancing, volunteer work or courses you\u2019ve taken that relate to the position.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Make it clear that you\u2019re up-to-date with trends in your industry, and mention the professional organizations and industry related events you\u2019ve attended.<\/p>\n

Question 4: \u201cTell me about a time you had a conflict with a co-worker or manager and how it was resolved\u2026\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It doesn\u2019t matter what industry or field you work in, there is always conflict. Hiring managers are interested in learning how you demonstrate reason, handle tense situations and work as a team player. They want to anticipate how past difficulties will affect future behavior.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Never say you\u2019ve never experienced a conflict in the workplace, everyone has experienced conflict and this will convey that you\u2019re avoiding the question.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Never place blame on the co-worker you\u2019re speaking about; it doesn\u2019t matter who was right or wrong. Instead, explain the issue succinctly and the specific action you took.<\/p>\n

\u2022 At the end, explain what you learned from the conflict and state your relationship with the\u00a0 co-worker after the issue. This will demonstrate that you don\u2019t hold a grudge.<\/p>\n

Question 5: \u201cWhy are you looking for a new position?\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Your current boss may be a maniacal control freak, the corporate culture may be toxic, there\u2019s a co-worker you really dislike\u2014all of these are reasons people leave their current employer; however, they\u2019re not things you want to mention. You never EVER want to talk negatively about a previous employer.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Always focus on the positives and the future, rather than the past.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Reiterate that it\u2019s been a great learning experience but that there isn\u2019t room for anymore growth or advancement within the company, and you want to tackle new challenges and develop your skill sets.<\/p>\n

Question 6: \u201cHow would you explain a complex database to your 10-year old nephew?\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Explaining marketing automation, CRMs or just about anything in terms a 10-year-old could understand shows your knowledge of their product, industry and business. Hiring managers are looking to test your ability to analyze complex data and extract the relevant information.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Do your research on the industry and company and have an adaptable understanding of what it is they offer.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Your answer sound interesting and insightful, so practice it in both technical and laymen\u2019s terms so you, yourself, understand what they do to sound confident.<\/p>\n

Question 7: \u201cWhat\u2019s the biggest risk you\u2019ve ever taken?\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Some roles involve a high-level ability to get back up after being knocked down. Hiring managers want to measure your ability to make controversial decisions that lead to success, or they want to know how you handled failure and rebounded afterwards.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Align your answer with the values of the company and explain a situation where you were pushed outside your comfort zone and displayed these values.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Provide an example of a situation where you encountered a major setback and pushed yourself to explore a new direction\u2013and succeeded.<\/p>\n

Question 8: \u201cWhy should we hire you?\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s the million dollar question. Everyone wants the job, this is your big chance to really differentiate yourself from the other candidates and highlight why you\u2019re the best person for the position.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Review the job description and qualifications very closely before the interview and identify the skills and knowledge that are critical to the role.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Identify your own experience from your past positions that directly relate and how you demonstrated those skills.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Are you the best person for the job? Show it by being passionate in your response and examples.<\/p>\n

Your paper qualifications got your foot in the door, but now it\u2019s you who has to be invited to stay. It’s important to do your research, demonstrate the value you bring to the role and be passionate about wanting to be a part of the team.<\/p>\n

Are you working with a staffing agency to find your next great opportunity?<\/p>\n


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