Application is one of the most basic things to get into the interview. Here are the 12 meanest application questions to prepare for an interview.
The 12 worst application questions recruiters have come up with. And how to answer them correctly.
- How do you feel about being criticized?
- What is your biggest mistake – and what have you learned from it?
- When was the last time you disobeyed a rule or rule and why?
- What added value would your recruitment bring to our company?
- What three positive character traits are you missing?
- What books have influenced your career the most?
- How do I get on with you as an interviewer?
- What role does money play for you?
- What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
- Do you have a quirk?
- You seem too inexperienced for this job, don’t you think?
- What did you do between…and…? (gap in CV)
Personnel managers are specifically trained for job interviews. You will learn how to ask questions to get to know the applicant and to determine how well they match the job profile and suit the company.
However, the personnel officers also acquire techniques to lure the applicant out of his reserve, to irritate him with so-called stress and trick questions – even to provoke him. Here we give you examples of the most sensitive questions and valuable recommendations for the answer.
Concrete tips for the preparation
Basically, when answering all questions: keep calm, take a deep breath and think about your preparation. With the more unpleasant or even very sensitive questions from the interviewer, it is not primarily about putting your answer on the scales in terms of content. Rather, the recruiter wants to determine your stress capacity and, so to speak, test your “pain limit”. For this reason, it is advantageous if you are somewhat prepared so that you do not feel overwhelmed by the questions. It helps to think about what exactly the question is aimed at and what exactly the recruiter wants to achieve with it.
1. How do you feel about being criticized?
An answer in the style of “I don’t mind at all” would be wrong. They wouldn’t take it from you anyway.
Depending on the point of criticism, it gets down to business, the critic usually feels attacked. Don’t even go into the private sphere with this question, but assume that it relates to the professional environment.
Explain that constructive criticism can only be useful if “it’s also sometimes a little awkward.” By doing this, you’re conveying that while you’re reacting “like a human being,” you want to take the criticism positively.
2. What is your biggest mistake – and what have you learned from it?
Caution! Here they want to lead you onto the slippery slope. First, you should realize that being overly honest might not be effective. Nevertheless, the same applies here: lies are taboo.
Think in advance what you could cite as a “mistake”. However, your interviewer will not be satisfied with “anecdotes”, such as a bad purchase of a car or a failed vacation plan. The HR manager expects an answer here that gives him information about whether you are capable of self-assessment and self-criticism and how you react to this question. Also, don’t name an incident that could repeat itself so that you could make the “mistake” again.
What you definitely shouldn’t do: Blame others for the mistake you made, because that doesn’t go over well, even if your boss or co-worker bears some responsibility for the mistake. It is important to show that you own your mistakes and accept responsibility.
Complete your answer to this question with the positive outlook that you have learned from the described matter (do it if possible!).
3. When was the last time you disobey a rule or rule and why?
Here, too, the HR manager doesn’t want to know whether you crossed the street three days ago when it was red. At best, you could lead that with a smart smile to buy some time.
The interviewer wants to find out whether you often break company rules, that is, whether you disregard rules at work without hesitation, or whether you have acted against the rule in a certain situation, but have nevertheless made a careful decision precisely because it is the one situation that is required. So it’s a matter of determining whether you are able to weigh things up.
However, caution is required when answering the question: You must not come across as a loner (“I basically do what I want”) or as a troublemaker (“My previous boss kept saying I should stick to the rules”), nor as an apostle of the blind obedience (“What are you thinking, I always stick to the rules”). The trick here is to find a healthy middle ground.
4.What added value would your recruitment bring to our company?
A question frequently asked by HR managers, which should in no way worry you. You can prepare yourself specifically by analyzing the profile of the position in advance and crystallizing the plus points on your competence account that match it. Also list characteristics such as your reliability and/or your high level of motivation and ideally underline them with concrete examples.
Mention that you can also identify well with the company philosophy and that you are very interested in the job advertised . Feel free to address the emotional level as well. For example: “I am convinced that I would feel very comfortable in this company”.
Also read: How to talk up about your soft skills?
5. What three positive character traits are you missing?
This question shouldn’t make your forehead sweat either, because you can easily prepare for it. Reflect in advance on what you could list here and underline that in your opinion it is about qualities that are not sufficiently developed in you and can therefore be developed.
For example: You may be too conscientious and check things several times before submitting a work product. However, let it be known that this is due to your desire to do a good job – and not a lack of professional competence, but you still see the potential for a little more confidence in your work.
It may also be useful to mention a characteristic that the HR manager may have noted down in the interview. Example: You may have difficulties in selling yourself really well, as your competence profile and your previous professional successes actually require.
6. What books have influenced your career the most?
The twist on the phrase “Tell me what you’re reading and I’ll tell you who you are” is an intriguing question!
The answer would be really bad: “I can’t think of anything, I don’t have time to read” or “I only read comics”.
If you really don’t read any books or only read them rarely, you could switch to the internet and rely on news platforms. Otherwise, caution is advised about political and other sensitive topics or controversial names of the writing guild. And of course it makes no sense to name the current number 1 on the bestseller list if you haven’t read the work. The shot could backfire.
Also, be wary of books written by assembly lines, for example, by self-proclaimed management gurus or “lifeguards.” You don’t know how the interviewer feels about it.
7. How do I get on with you as an interviewer?
This particularly tricky question is a real trap. Under no circumstances should you start praising the interviewer or confirming that you “actually felt very comfortable…”. Even if the recruiter makes a sincere impression and asks you for constructive criticism: Don’t point fingers at it.
It’s more effective to go to the meta level and say with a nice smile: “That almost sounds like a trick question. Can we go back to the task description? I have one more point.”
8. What role does money play for you?
From “Money isn’t important to me at all” to “It doesn’t really matter to me” everything is wrong. If this were actually your honest answer, you would have to put up with the counter-question of why you want to work at all or why you have applied, and if necessary accept a pittance.
Rather, you should confidently explain that good performance should also be duly rewarded. After all, the company also wants to make a profit, and the same applies to you: you want to maintain your standard of living, feed your family, finance a roof over your head, etc. But please: Your tone must not sound provocative, but friendly and calm.
9. What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
If you proposed to your boyfriend or girlfriend at midnight on top of a skyscraper in Hong Kong, whisked your terminally ill boyfriend out of the hospital overnight and gave him a night to remember, bought your sister a wickedly expensive purse as a consolation after her divorce – then you can tell that calmly.
It’s best to refrain from talking about crazy career decisions you made at your last company, especially if your venture went awry.
The background to the question is to find out how creative you are and whether you can also go unconventional paths.
10. Do you have a quirk?
First of all, the question arises as to what your interlocutor understands by this, because there are enough synonymous words for this. In this respect, you could first gain time and ask them what exactly they mean by that.
A fad is a peculiarity, peculiarity, peculiarity, fixed idea, nonsense or strange habit, so be careful when answering.
Nocturnal sleepwalking, penetrative ear rubbing or “pulling your nose” in stressful situations, curling your hair when you’re bored, excessive hand washing and similar “quirks” should be kept to yourself (and get rid of them as quickly as possible).
But there are certainly small peculiarities that can be quite likeable, for example that you always have your lucky charm with you or that you usually buy a lottery ticket on Friday the 13th.
11. You seem too inexperienced for this job, don’t you think?
Now it’s time to convince the interviewer that he’s wrong, because precisely because you may have little (don’t repeat the word “inexperienced”) experience, you are able to bring a breath of fresh air to the task and to meet the challenges in unconventional ways.
Be self-confident (with moderation as always) and mention the plus points on your competence account.
Also read : How explain lack of experience in the resume?
12. What did you do between…and…?
The recruiter speaks directly to you about a gap in your CV: Remain calm and friendly. If that bothered him, he wouldn’t have invited you for an interview.
Filling the absences in your CV with little cheating or even lies is not a good solution, because sooner or later the swindle will be discovered. You should also keep silent about the zero-buck version. It is more effective to explain the missing periods of time positively.
Examples: Avoid the word “unemployed”, prefer to say ” job-seeking “. If the time without employment was longer, it certainly makes sense to explain that you used the time to improve your foreign language or PC skills, for example.
A longer stay abroad is also rated positively, because it brings additional experience for life. The indication of parental or caring times in the family circle is now booked as a plus point. And finally, nowadays “times of reorientation” are no longer viewed with suspicion, but as a valuable experience.
General Tips
Humor
Occasionally, a pinch of humor is not out of place, at least you can use it to gain some time with one or the other question.
Example:
Question: “What are your weaknesses?”
Answer: “Weaknesses? How much time do I have?”
However, you should not overdo it and, when using humor, always smile friendly, but not provocatively, and quickly return to answering the question seriously.
Pure provocation
Questions that fall into the category “pure provocation” should first be questioned confidently: “Are you serious about this question?”.
If the recruiter answers “yes,” ask yourself if you really want to work at a company that exhibits these kinds of hiring practices.
Examples:
- Do you really think you can score points with your outfit?
- Don’t you think it would be healthier to lose a few pounds?
- What were you thinking with this hairstyle?
- Why are you late? (and you are on time)
You don’t have to answer these and similar questions. You don’t have to put up with insulting comments that are more reminiscent of dubious casting shows.
Also read : Introductory sentences for application