Job Interview Answers

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There's a knack to developing job interview answers, and I think you can master it. We are trying to get you ready for your next interview by giving you some insight into what the interviewer is looking for. We're pointing out potential mine fields as you navigate through the possible interview questions you'll be asked.

The best way to prepare? Know your resume cold. Really think about your accomplishments in each position you've been in. Make some notes about how your experience fits into the questions that are being posed here. Look at the question. Listen to what is being asked. Preparation is the key. You can ace your next interview just by being prepared with good job interview answers!

WHAT DO YOU DO TO PUT PEOPLE AT EASE? ARE THERE TIMES WHEN YOU WOULD NOT FOLLOW THIS STRATEGY?

The interviewer is trying to get a sense of your interpersonal skills. You can answer this question from both a one-on-one perspective and from a team or project management perspective. In a group setting, sometimes people are shy or unassertive and need to be drawn into a discussion. Have you done this as a team or project leader? Listening skills also come into play here. It's hard to feel comfortable around someone who's not listening! Eye contact and body language can also be used to make people feel at ease.

Think about how you interact with others; think about how you diffuse difficult situations -- soliciting input, encouraging participation, helping everyone recognize and respect differing viewpoints...whatever strategies you have used successfully should be shared.

HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO PUSH AN UNPOPULAR CHANGE? HOW DID OTHERS REACT WHEN YOU DID THAT?

This question is more appropriate for management level staff, but could apply to individual contributors as well. Managers are often put in a position of supporting top level decisions that they might disagree with personally. How do you handle this? Do you cave at the first sign of resistance and blame someone else for making you support the decision? Or, do you try to persuade the skeptics of why the change makes sense?

How much conviction do you have when stating the case for the change? The interviewer will be looking for insight into whether you're a true team player or an imposter; whether you cave in to peer pressure or stand your ground; whether you become dictatorial and deliver a message that suggests this is just the way it is...

TELL ME ABOUT A TIME WHEN YOU HANDLED A CONFLICT YOU WERE HAVING WITH A BOSS OR DIRECT REPORT.

Everyone has conflicts in the work place. Every manager has at least one direct report experience that has been less than satisfactory. If you try to say that this has never happened to you, you'll lack credibility. You don't want to be super negative here. This is not a time to vent. Pick a conflict that got resolved in a positive way.

Here's an example of a job interview answer for this question...

I had an employee who had tremendous talent but who, at the same time, was disruptive to my team. She had a tendency to take credit for other people's ideas, and would always blame someone else when things didn't go right. Most often a co-worker. I spoke to her on more than one occasion about these issues and the situation just didn't improve.

Since most of her issues surfaced in dealing with one particular co-worker, I decided to bring them together and have a facilitated discussion to clear the air. It turned out that resentment between these two had built over time, and the relationship problems were not one-sided. Getting everyone together to talk honestly about the issues was the best thing I could have done. These two eventually developed a strong working relationship.