Nail Your Next Interview with Expert Advice
Have you ever experienced interview anxiety? Our alumna, Ms Sharon Leung, BBA(MGTO), a seasoned human resources professional and a Certified Career Service Provider, is here to share her insights on some toughest questions often raised during an interview. Learn from Sharon’s expertise and boost your confidence as you prepare for your next interview.
Top 4 Toughest Interview Questions — Insights from Ms Sharon Leung
1. Tell me what you know about this industry? What are the latest trends of this industry?
Do the following preparation before the interview:
a. Do your research
Dive deep into the industry using online resources like Google, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, etc. Key areas to explore:
- Industry Leaders: Understand their strategies, strengths, and market dominance.
- New Entrants: Analyze how they are disrupting the market and differentiating themselves.
- Industry Dynamics: Stay informed about mergers, acquisitions, and market exits.
b. Connect with the people in the industry to gain firsthand insights and perspectives.
c. Know your potential employer and its competitors
- Company Analysis: Visit company websites to learn about their mission, vision, values, and development plans.
- Industry Trends: Assess how the company aligns with broader industry trends and challenges.
- Local and Global Context: Consider the impact of local and global factors on the industry and the company.
2. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
It is not just a question about interview preparation, it is a crucial step in your career planning. What are you looking for in short-term/long-term? What do you want to achieve? Usually recruiters would like to know the following from you:
a. Vertical movement
- How much do you know about the career path and what are you expecting?
- Do you know the job responsibilities?
- Take advertising agencies as an example, the entry position of the account servicing team may be Account Assistant. So, what would be the next, and how’s the career ladder?
b. Horizontal development
Take Marketing as an example, it actually comprises different specialties such as brand marketing, corporate communication, internal communication, digital marketing, e-commerce, and more. For some smaller organizations, one marketing person is responsible for all these functions. However, for some bigger organizations, they may have different teams to support different specialized areas.
- What are your expectation?
- Do you want to become a “generalist” or a “specialist” in the next 5 years? Why?
c. Are you too aggressive?
Some fresh graduates would say they want to become a manager in 5 years. Although it is not “impossible” for all job functions, it is quite impossible for some of the job functions because an accumulation of work experience is a key success factor. Visit some job boards (e.g. LinkedIn and JobsDB) to see the requirements of a manager and ask yourself the following questions:
- Do you foresee you can meet the manager's requirements in 5 years? If yes, why are you so confident?
- If not, what are the areas that you may need to equip yourself in the next 5 years in order to move upward to be a manager?
d. Other tips
Instead of giving a specific “title” that you want to achieve in 5 years, you may consider talking about some other possible achievements such as obtaining certain professional qualifications.
- Example: CFA for a finance position
It’s also a question asking you indirectly the reason you are applying for the job.
- Can this job fit in your career plan in the coming 5 years?
- Are you expecting something that this job will not be able to provide you with?
3. What are your weaknesses?
Many candidates hesitate to admit their weakness, fearing that it might jeopardize their chance of getting the job. So, they usually say they cannot think of any weakness at that moment, or they give some “boring” answers – “I am a perfectionist that I want to get things done perfectly”; “Sometimes I may be too focused on my job and leave office late.” Try to focus on a genuine challenge you have faced and how you have overcome it. This demonstrates your self-awareness and problem-solving skills.
Example:
If you are an introvert (assuming you are not applying for a position that requires a lot of people interaction), you may get very nervous about doing public speaking or presentation. Probably you can honestly talk about it. However, please do not just mention your weakness and then stop there. Share the specific techniques you have used to build confidence, such as practicing presentations or seeking feedback from colleagues. By highlighting your self-awareness, resilience, and proactive approach, you will show recruiters that your introverted nature does not hinder your ability to succeed.
4. What negative feedback have you received in the past?
Just like the “weakness” question, we have to admit that sometimes we would make mistakes and we do have something not doing good enough. The recruiters in fact want to know how you respond after receiving negative feedback. Would you “ignore” it? Would it be too painful for you to face the negative comment and you would escape? If you agree with the negative feedback, what have you done to improve yourself? By showcasing your ability to learn from setbacks and take proactive steps, you will demonstrate your commitment to continuous improvement and your potential for success.
Example:
I once worked in a fashion retail store as a part-time salesperson. When I first joined the company, I was not familiar with the store operation and I could not remember the location of the garment in the storeroom. Therefore, when a customer asked me to get a new garment, it took me a long time to find it. The store supervisor later told me that it took too long and the customer was unhappy. I then asked my supervisor if I could stay behind after my shift to familiarize myself with the store and make my notes on the garment locations. I also sought guidance from experienced colleagues on how to memorize all these easier. Within a few days, I was able to locate the garments and provide excellent customer service. My supervisor was also very pleased with my improvement.
5. Understanding the recruiter’s perspective
Remember, usually there is no absolute right or wrong answer for a particular question. It is all about whether you are “suitable” for a particular job. The recruiter would like to assess:
a. Your thinking style
- Are you giving consistent answers?
- Are you a logical person?
b. Your career goals
- Are you too aggressive that the company will not be able to live up to your expectation?
- Do you have the potential to grow with the company together?
c. Your personality fit
- Are you a good team player and an effective communicator?
- Are you culturally fit for the organization?