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What is the hardest interview question you've been asked and how did you answer it?
Also, did you get the job?
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24 answers
Updated
ShaRon’s Answer
Brenda,
This is a really good question, because it makes one think. For me the question was "Why did you leave your last job?" When I left for advancement opportunity or for a more challenging role it's an easy response. However there have been instances when I found myself in a toxic work environment and I knew that moving on was the best thing for me but saying my boss was a tyrant or the people were miserable is not the best way to paint yourself when looking for a new opportunity. So my response was that "the role was not a good fit, as the reality of it was different than the picture painted during the hiring process. As a result, I have some questions for you about the work environment, daily responsibilities and your management style because I don't want to find myself in a similar position." I got them talking about the team, how they managed and what characteristics were best suited for the role. They key is to get them talking and ask probing questions so that when they reflect on the conversation, they like you for being honest and feel good about how you could fit into their team. YES, in every situation I was offered the role BUT because I asked those direct questions in a few I was able to see that it was not a good fit and did not take it. Remember any time you go to an interview, YOU ARE INTERVIEWING the company just like they are interviewing you!
Good Luck!
ShaRon
This is a really good question, because it makes one think. For me the question was "Why did you leave your last job?" When I left for advancement opportunity or for a more challenging role it's an easy response. However there have been instances when I found myself in a toxic work environment and I knew that moving on was the best thing for me but saying my boss was a tyrant or the people were miserable is not the best way to paint yourself when looking for a new opportunity. So my response was that "the role was not a good fit, as the reality of it was different than the picture painted during the hiring process. As a result, I have some questions for you about the work environment, daily responsibilities and your management style because I don't want to find myself in a similar position." I got them talking about the team, how they managed and what characteristics were best suited for the role. They key is to get them talking and ask probing questions so that when they reflect on the conversation, they like you for being honest and feel good about how you could fit into their team. YES, in every situation I was offered the role BUT because I asked those direct questions in a few I was able to see that it was not a good fit and did not take it. Remember any time you go to an interview, YOU ARE INTERVIEWING the company just like they are interviewing you!
Good Luck!
ShaRon
Thank you so much, ShaRon!! This is incredibly helpful, and I will definitely keep this in mind in the future!!
Brenda
Updated
Pamela’s Answer
Hello Brenda,
I've always found the question, "What is your biggest weakness?" to be a tricky one. So, I suggest you ponder on it beforehand. This way, you'll be well-prepared to answer in a way that not only addresses the question, but also casts you in a favorable light. Remember, this question isn't about exposing your flaws.
What I usually do is turn the spotlight on my strengths and view them from a different angle to identify areas I could work on. Instead of focusing on your greatest weakness, why not take a look at your strengths and identify aspects that could use some polishing?
For instance, if you're a natural at teamwork, do you struggle when it comes to handling disagreements or taking on leadership roles? If you're someone who excels at the finer details, do you occasionally overlook the broader perspective? By approaching the question this way, you can turn a potential weakness into a strength-in-progress.
I've always found the question, "What is your biggest weakness?" to be a tricky one. So, I suggest you ponder on it beforehand. This way, you'll be well-prepared to answer in a way that not only addresses the question, but also casts you in a favorable light. Remember, this question isn't about exposing your flaws.
What I usually do is turn the spotlight on my strengths and view them from a different angle to identify areas I could work on. Instead of focusing on your greatest weakness, why not take a look at your strengths and identify aspects that could use some polishing?
For instance, if you're a natural at teamwork, do you struggle when it comes to handling disagreements or taking on leadership roles? If you're someone who excels at the finer details, do you occasionally overlook the broader perspective? By approaching the question this way, you can turn a potential weakness into a strength-in-progress.
Thank you so much, Pamela! That's a great way to look at that question; I've never thought about answering it like that before. Your response was very helpful!
Brenda
Updated
Sara’s Answer
Hi Brenda,
Personally I have found this question to be a very difficult one: "Tell me about a time when you failed."
This question is challenging because it requires you to be introspective and honest and what the interviewer is looking for is your ability to learn and grow from past mistakes. You can approach this question by following the STAR method as others have suggested, with a small tweak/addition at the end.
Situation: briefly describe the context and the project or task where you faced the challenge or failure.
Task: explain your role or responsibility in that situation and what was expected of you.
Action: talk about the actions you took, the decisions you made, and how they led to the challenge or failure. It's essential to take ownership of this part.
Result: discuss the outcome of the failure and the impact it had on the project or task.
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Learning: This is the most crucial part. Here you want to emphasize what you learned from the failure, the steps you took to address it, and how you grew as a result.
Demonstrating self-awareness, adaptability and a willingness to learn from mistakes is key in answering this question. By focusing on the lessons learned, you can demonstrate that you can handle challenges gracefully and use them as opportunities for personal and professional development. It's essential to be genuine and transparent while maintaining a positive and constructive tone throughout the answer.
Hope this helps!
Personally I have found this question to be a very difficult one: "Tell me about a time when you failed."
This question is challenging because it requires you to be introspective and honest and what the interviewer is looking for is your ability to learn and grow from past mistakes. You can approach this question by following the STAR method as others have suggested, with a small tweak/addition at the end.
Situation: briefly describe the context and the project or task where you faced the challenge or failure.
Task: explain your role or responsibility in that situation and what was expected of you.
Action: talk about the actions you took, the decisions you made, and how they led to the challenge or failure. It's essential to take ownership of this part.
Result: discuss the outcome of the failure and the impact it had on the project or task.
+
Learning: This is the most crucial part. Here you want to emphasize what you learned from the failure, the steps you took to address it, and how you grew as a result.
Demonstrating self-awareness, adaptability and a willingness to learn from mistakes is key in answering this question. By focusing on the lessons learned, you can demonstrate that you can handle challenges gracefully and use them as opportunities for personal and professional development. It's essential to be genuine and transparent while maintaining a positive and constructive tone throughout the answer.
Hope this helps!
Thank you so much, Sara! Your response is incredibly helpful and I will definitely keep this in mind!!
Brenda
Updated
Leigh’s Answer
While it may not be the toughest question to tackle, "Tell me about yourself" often proves challenging for candidates to answer correctly. Many companies use this question as a conversation starter, but candidates frequently misinterpret it, merely rehashing the details already listed on their resume or application. Don't do this, your interviewer has already reviewed your resume!
What interviewers are really interested in are the aspects not covered in your resume and how these align with the company's ethos. To truly impress an interviewer and get a step ahead, discuss your experiences in relation to the company's objectives or mission, explain why your skills are a perfect fit, and articulate why you're drawn to this particular company beyond the mere fact that they're hiring.
In my most recent interview, I shared a personal story about how the California healthcare system potentially saved my life when I was younger. Given that the company was in the healthcare sector, this resonated with them, and I landed the job!
What interviewers are really interested in are the aspects not covered in your resume and how these align with the company's ethos. To truly impress an interviewer and get a step ahead, discuss your experiences in relation to the company's objectives or mission, explain why your skills are a perfect fit, and articulate why you're drawn to this particular company beyond the mere fact that they're hiring.
In my most recent interview, I shared a personal story about how the California healthcare system potentially saved my life when I was younger. Given that the company was in the healthcare sector, this resonated with them, and I landed the job!
This was super helpful, thank you!
Brenda
Updated
Thomas-Jaymes’s Answer
The hardest question in a job interview for me is always. Where do you see yourself in the company in X am out of years. This is hard because I am always looking for the next job. In general I would suggest answering this with whatever the next step is for the job you are applying for. But, for “life advice” I always suggest keeping your ear on the ground for a better position with better pay and use your experience from your current job to get the next thing. In my experience you can almost always progress in your career growth faster by jumping from company to company. In the current career market you gain very little by being loyal to one company for an extended period of time. Be upfront with the next job about what you are currently getting payed and always tell the next employer your worth and why.
A extra skill you can use is apply for job similar to what you want to do with no plans for working for that company. Use them as practice for a interview for the job your actually trying to get. Job fairs are another good way to get practice interviews for your dream job.
A extra skill you can use is apply for job similar to what you want to do with no plans for working for that company. Use them as practice for a interview for the job your actually trying to get. Job fairs are another good way to get practice interviews for your dream job.
Thank you, this is really helpful.
Brenda
Updated
TRAVIS’s Answer
Study the STAR Interview method. It is the best way to answer behavioral questions.
Thank you for the advice, TRAVIS.
Brenda
Updated
Jacob’s Answer
For me, I think it's the ones that are in regard to something like "How will you do at this job?" or "What makes you qualified for this job?" The main reason for this is because it requires a lot of assuming of what the job is actually like beyond the description and if you describe qualifications that don't fit and the interviewer says "Actually, there's not a lot of that at this job" then you'll be in your own head and doubting yourself.
I find that whenever has stumped me, I usually go "hmmm" and then repeat the question back and that's usually enough for me to think of an answer.
If you ever stumped on a interview question, always try to relate the question back to something you're familiar with and that should usually make it easy to tie things together.
Hope that helps
I find that whenever has stumped me, I usually go "hmmm" and then repeat the question back and that's usually enough for me to think of an answer.
If you ever stumped on a interview question, always try to relate the question back to something you're familiar with and that should usually make it easy to tie things together.
Hope that helps
Thank you for the advice, Jacob! I appreciate it
Brenda
Updated
Daniela’s Answer
Helo Brenda,
The hardest question in a job interview for me is " if you have to disagree with your boss, how would you handle the situation?" this is a tough one because they are not really looking for you to say that you would never put yourself in that situation because in reality it can happen. they want to see how you would handle in a respective way. I always respond that question saying that I would try to explain my feelings and my perspective to my boss and try to get to a point where we both can agree on something. we are all adults, and we should be able to handle these situations.
The hardest question in a job interview for me is " if you have to disagree with your boss, how would you handle the situation?" this is a tough one because they are not really looking for you to say that you would never put yourself in that situation because in reality it can happen. they want to see how you would handle in a respective way. I always respond that question saying that I would try to explain my feelings and my perspective to my boss and try to get to a point where we both can agree on something. we are all adults, and we should be able to handle these situations.
Daniela, thank you!
Brenda
Updated
Emily’s Answer
One question that I always find difficult, as the answer is meant to shine a spotlight on your flaws, is “what is your greatest weakness”. I have found that it’s best to answer this question in a way that also shines light on the good aspects of who you are and also to let them know that you recognize this as a weakness and are actively working on correcting this weakness.
For me, as a healthcare professional, I generally answer the question as such “my greatness weakness is that I care too much at times and can become too vested in situations at work. This causes me to bring stress home sometimes. This is something I’m actively working on correcting.”
I’ve been able to use this answer successfully in my interviews.
For me, as a healthcare professional, I generally answer the question as such “my greatness weakness is that I care too much at times and can become too vested in situations at work. This causes me to bring stress home sometimes. This is something I’m actively working on correcting.”
I’ve been able to use this answer successfully in my interviews.
Thanks for the advice.
Brenda
Updated
Doris’s Answer
Hardest questions were case interviews when I was recruiting for consulting jobs. The interviewers would present a problem statement like: how would you help this media company with declining sales. These questions dived deep on problem solving, data analysis, and communication skills on the spot! I got the job for some but missed some too.
With any interview question, it takes a lot of practice!
With any interview question, it takes a lot of practice!
Thank you so much!
Brenda
A. Michelle Hawkins
Make contributions and identify volunteer opportunities for employees
108
Answers
Updated
A. Michelle’s Answer
What is your greatest weakness? Interviewers are looking for you to be open and honest and also show a willingness to address weaknesses. At the same time, you don’t want to come across as over- or underconfident. A few pointers:
1. Don’t focus on a weakness vital to doing the job for which you are interviewing.
2. Emphasize steps you have taken to address the weakness (e.g., enrolling in Toastmasters is public speaking or taking on assignments to learn more about an unfamiliar topic).
Yes, I did get the job.
1. Don’t focus on a weakness vital to doing the job for which you are interviewing.
2. Emphasize steps you have taken to address the weakness (e.g., enrolling in Toastmasters is public speaking or taking on assignments to learn more about an unfamiliar topic).
Yes, I did get the job.
Thank you! Your advice is very helpful!
Brenda
Updated
Misha’s Answer
What has been your biggest failure, and what did you learn from it?
-Apply my failures into learnings and recalibrate myself.
What has been your biggest weakness your former manager pointed out in your last performance review?
-Answered with an area of dev opportunity
Why do you want to work with us?
- Because I feel myself aligned with the values of the company
Situational questions like: What was the hardest decision you have had to make (Software Eng) and how did you solve it and handle it? They often expect some big issue as your answer but it is hard to answer the experiential questions.
Yes I got the job!
Courtesy of Cloudera new hires: Dipto, Fablo, Leandro, Molly, Jess, Senthil, Natarajan
Brainstorm difficult situations you have been in - in your coursework, internship, a job you have had
Think about how you want to position your story
Be sure to share the solution and the steps you took to solve it
Show your ability to problem solve!
-Apply my failures into learnings and recalibrate myself.
What has been your biggest weakness your former manager pointed out in your last performance review?
-Answered with an area of dev opportunity
Why do you want to work with us?
- Because I feel myself aligned with the values of the company
Situational questions like: What was the hardest decision you have had to make (Software Eng) and how did you solve it and handle it? They often expect some big issue as your answer but it is hard to answer the experiential questions.
Yes I got the job!
Courtesy of Cloudera new hires: Dipto, Fablo, Leandro, Molly, Jess, Senthil, Natarajan
Misha recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Stacey’s Answer
Hi Brenda, The hardest interview question to answer can vary from person to person, as it depends on their individual experiences and strengths. However, some commonly cited difficult interview questions include:
1. "Tell me about yourself." This question can be difficult because it's open-ended and can be hard to know where to start or what information to include.
2. "What is your biggest weakness?" This question can be tricky because you want to be honest, but you also don't want to say something that will make you seem unqualified for the job. My go-to is usually around "number of people I have led" or the type of education I have (IE, I have a Bachelors but could say I have always wanted to get my MBA but due to travel with work it has been difficult to schedule).
3. "Why should we hire you?" This question can be challenging because it requires you to articulate your unique value proposition and explain why you're the best candidate for the job.
4. "Can you give an example of a time when you failed?" This question can be difficult because it requires you to admit to a mistake or failure, which can be uncomfortable. Use the STAR method to help answer this.
5. "Where do you see yourself in five years?" This question can be challenging because it requires you to think about your long-term career goals and how they align with the company's vision and mission.
1. "Tell me about yourself." This question can be difficult because it's open-ended and can be hard to know where to start or what information to include.
2. "What is your biggest weakness?" This question can be tricky because you want to be honest, but you also don't want to say something that will make you seem unqualified for the job. My go-to is usually around "number of people I have led" or the type of education I have (IE, I have a Bachelors but could say I have always wanted to get my MBA but due to travel with work it has been difficult to schedule).
3. "Why should we hire you?" This question can be challenging because it requires you to articulate your unique value proposition and explain why you're the best candidate for the job.
4. "Can you give an example of a time when you failed?" This question can be difficult because it requires you to admit to a mistake or failure, which can be uncomfortable. Use the STAR method to help answer this.
5. "Where do you see yourself in five years?" This question can be challenging because it requires you to think about your long-term career goals and how they align with the company's vision and mission.
Updated
Pantea’s Answer
Be ready to explain the role you are applying for for example if you are applying for Sales be ready to pitch someone in the interview.
Be prepared to answer questions around challenges you have faced and how you overcome them.
How would you change to the current processes to make them efficient or effective.
Why should we hire you ?
The key to all these questions to be prepared, honest, concise, and be prepared to ask questions back to the interviewer. Think about the company and questions you might have about the organization and your role. Consider role playing the interview with friends to help get comfortable and possibly ask hard questions.
Check out Glassdoor as people tend to post questions that are asked during interviews so you can prepare as best as possible.
Make sure to also read between the lines, pay attention to the questions they are asking, interviewing for a role is a 2 way street and you want to like the company you are working for. Trust your gut feeling about what is being asked or described about the company and you.
YOU GOT THIS!!
Be prepared to answer questions around challenges you have faced and how you overcome them.
How would you change to the current processes to make them efficient or effective.
Why should we hire you ?
The key to all these questions to be prepared, honest, concise, and be prepared to ask questions back to the interviewer. Think about the company and questions you might have about the organization and your role. Consider role playing the interview with friends to help get comfortable and possibly ask hard questions.
Check out Glassdoor as people tend to post questions that are asked during interviews so you can prepare as best as possible.
Make sure to also read between the lines, pay attention to the questions they are asking, interviewing for a role is a 2 way street and you want to like the company you are working for. Trust your gut feeling about what is being asked or described about the company and you.
YOU GOT THIS!!
Updated
Madison’s Answer
People ask all kinds of different questions but sometimes I find the hardest questions are the very broad ones "tell me about yourself." This is such a broad statement and it can be hard when you're already nervous to know where to even start. Think ahead about some of these common questions and write out some basic answers or key points that you can keep in your mind during the interview. I also found questions hard where I had to talk highly of myself. That is not to say I have low self esteem or did not find myself qualified, but it is hard when you very much want to be humble and weirdly can just be difficult to truly say out loud your excellent qualities as most people dont do this on a regular basis. We get used to talking highly of others but sometimes it feels akward to do so for yourself. Practice with a trusted friend and see how it feels to give these answers out loud!
Updated
Stacey’s Answer
Hello Brenda,
The most challenging interview question can differ for each individual, as it's based on their unique experiences and strengths. However, there are two that frequently appear:
1. "What is your biggest weakness?" This question can be a bit of a balancing act. You want to be truthful, but you also don't want to mention something that might make you appear unfit for the job. I usually respond with something related to the "number of people I've managed" or my educational background. For instance, I hold a Bachelor's degree, but I could mention that I've always aspired to earn an MBA. However, due to work-related travel, it's been challenging to find the time.
2. "Can you provide an example of a time when you failed?" This question can be tough as it requires you to confess a mistake or failure, which can feel awkward. To tackle this, I recommend using the STAR method. It's a great tool to help structure your response.
The most challenging interview question can differ for each individual, as it's based on their unique experiences and strengths. However, there are two that frequently appear:
1. "What is your biggest weakness?" This question can be a bit of a balancing act. You want to be truthful, but you also don't want to mention something that might make you appear unfit for the job. I usually respond with something related to the "number of people I've managed" or my educational background. For instance, I hold a Bachelor's degree, but I could mention that I've always aspired to earn an MBA. However, due to work-related travel, it's been challenging to find the time.
2. "Can you provide an example of a time when you failed?" This question can be tough as it requires you to confess a mistake or failure, which can feel awkward. To tackle this, I recommend using the STAR method. It's a great tool to help structure your response.
Updated
Misha’s Answer
What has been your biggest failure, and what did you learn from it?
-Apply my failures into learnings and recalibrate myself.
What has been your biggest weakness your former manager pointed out in your last performance review?
-Answered with an area of dev opportunity
Why do you want to work with us?
- Because I feel myself aligned with the values of the company
Courtesy of Cloudera new hires: Dipto, Fablo, and Leandro
-Apply my failures into learnings and recalibrate myself.
What has been your biggest weakness your former manager pointed out in your last performance review?
-Answered with an area of dev opportunity
Why do you want to work with us?
- Because I feel myself aligned with the values of the company
Courtesy of Cloudera new hires: Dipto, Fablo, and Leandro
Updated
Rachel’s Answer
Great question! I find behavioral based interview questions to be the most challenging. Often times the questions start with "tell me about a time when...". With these type of questions, the interviewers are looking for SPECIFIC examples, which can be hard to think of on the fly. With that being said, I would prepare several examples about times when you have done exemplary things at work and do you best to tie your answers into those examples. This way you are able to showcase you best work while answering the interview questions.
Updated
David’s Answer
The most challenging inquiry I've ever encountered is "Can you share an instance where you made a significant change in someone's life?" This particular question might be geared towards those further along in their professional journey or those in leadership roles. However, I'd always advise being ready to talk about a substantial positive effect you've had on someone else's life. Companies are on the lookout for well-rounded individuals with a service-oriented mindset, so possessing volunteer experience is crucial, especially in the early stages of your career.
As many have pointed out, always be prepared for the "what is your biggest weakness" question. Make sure to answer in a way that shows self-awareness and includes your plan for improving that weakness. It's not just about acknowledging your weakness but also demonstrating your commitment to growth and self-improvement.
As many have pointed out, always be prepared for the "what is your biggest weakness" question. Make sure to answer in a way that shows self-awareness and includes your plan for improving that weakness. It's not just about acknowledging your weakness but also demonstrating your commitment to growth and self-improvement.
Updated
PwC’s Answer
That's a fantastic question! The toughest one I've had to answer was, "What would you say is your biggest weakness?"
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Joseph’s Answer
Great question! For me it was "I don't like surprises, tell me something about you that would come as a surprise if you started today."
Essentially the same format as the "Greatest weakness" question but phrased differently for you to think about how you would operate in company X
For me, i was caught completely off guard because my greatest weakness answer was always communication, but this question I think lends to a different type of answer - something like "i am very quiet at meetings"
This shows interviewer, 1. Are you honest about how you operate?, 2. Let them know what it would be to have you in the day-to-day job responsibilities
Essentially the same format as the "Greatest weakness" question but phrased differently for you to think about how you would operate in company X
For me, i was caught completely off guard because my greatest weakness answer was always communication, but this question I think lends to a different type of answer - something like "i am very quiet at meetings"
This shows interviewer, 1. Are you honest about how you operate?, 2. Let them know what it would be to have you in the day-to-day job responsibilities
Updated
Ashley’s Answer
Hello there! I understand that behavioral questions in interviews can be quite challenging, especially when you're applying for a role that you don't have much experience in. It's okay if you don't have direct examples to answer questions like "tell me about a time where you didn't meet your goals/metrics on a project and how you learned from it". You can always draw from your experiences at school, in sports, or even a summer job where you didn't meet the expected standards but learned and grew from the situation.
Remember, your answer doesn't have to be directly related to the job you're applying for. What's important is that it demonstrates how you manage and navigate through tough situations. They're interested in knowing how you react, how you improve, and whether you're self-aware enough to identify what led to the problem and how you actively addressed it.
Given the role you're applying for, they probably understand that you may not have direct work experience. However, they're keen to know how you reflect on situations that didn't turn out as you expected. Some scenarios will be easy to explain, while others might leave you puzzled. Don't hesitate to pause and think about your answer before you start speaking.
Wishing you the best of luck!
Remember, your answer doesn't have to be directly related to the job you're applying for. What's important is that it demonstrates how you manage and navigate through tough situations. They're interested in knowing how you react, how you improve, and whether you're self-aware enough to identify what led to the problem and how you actively addressed it.
Given the role you're applying for, they probably understand that you may not have direct work experience. However, they're keen to know how you reflect on situations that didn't turn out as you expected. Some scenarios will be easy to explain, while others might leave you puzzled. Don't hesitate to pause and think about your answer before you start speaking.
Wishing you the best of luck!
Updated
Jasmine’s Answer
Answer provided by a new hire cohort at Cloudera:
This question is relative, it’s always best to stay prepared for any type of question!
Prepare for any type of question as it pertains to the job you are trying to get
Research the role and company you are trying to get into
Prepare for non-work related questions
Practice the question and answer for - “Tell me about yourself”
This question is relative, it’s always best to stay prepared for any type of question!
Jasmine recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Zoe’s Answer
Hi Brenda, that is a really good question. For me, it is usually around pointing your weaknesses and past failures.
It is a tricky one because you want to be honest and humble, and yet show that you are a confidence and strong person, to be considered for that job. One way to answer that is to think about failure as a temporary roadblock and focus more about the solution to overcome the problem.
By providing a "good ending" to your story, you leave a positive impression of an experienced person that can find and implement solutions as well as learn from their mistakes.
It is a tricky one because you want to be honest and humble, and yet show that you are a confidence and strong person, to be considered for that job. One way to answer that is to think about failure as a temporary roadblock and focus more about the solution to overcome the problem.
By providing a "good ending" to your story, you leave a positive impression of an experienced person that can find and implement solutions as well as learn from their mistakes.