The Puzzle: Blog

Preparing for an interview is stressful—particularly if you’re really, truly excited about the job at hand.  When you interview for a position, it’s smart to prepare for the questions you know are going to be challenging: questions about a time you’ve overcome an obstacle, for example, or questions asking you to delineate your weaknesses.

Where you may be unexpectedly thrown off, though, are innocuous-seeming questions that can actually be difficult to answer well.  Here’s a look at a few such “sneaky-hard” questions—and how you can ace them every time.

1. Tell me about yourself

When interviewing for positions across various industries, this will often be the first question you encounter.  If you haven’t anticipated it, though, or if you haven’t given enough time and practice to answering it, this question might catch you off-guard.  It’s such a basic question, but it’s an incredibly important one: it’s a chance for you to sell yourself and show a prospective employer what you offer—both professionally and personally.

As you prepare, think about how you would want to answer this question articulately and naturally.  What sets you apart?  What makes you you?  Moreover, what characteristics of yours would this prospective employer find valuable?  Make sure you anticipate this question and avoid stumbling through a throwaway answer.

2. Why do you want to work here?

You might think: but this question is a softball!  I want to work at this school because I’m unhappy or bored at my current position, or because this school has a fantastic reputation, or because it’s closer to my family.  But you need to understand a few things before you dive into an answer.

First: when answering this question, make sure you are letting the school know why it would benefit from hiring you—not why you would benefit from working there.  If you focus this answer on your work-life balance, or your unhappiness at your prior position, then you’re missing an opportunity to shine.

Get specific: talk about specific attributes of the school and why they appeal to you.  Don’t just say you “believe in the mission;” demonstrate that you’ve actually read the mission and that you understand it.  If you’re ready to take on a new challenge, discuss why this position will provide that needed boost.  Your interviewer cares more about finding the right fit for his/her school than s/he cares about hearing your goals and dreams.

And a rule of thumb: don’t trash-talk your current school, no matter what.  If things are truly terrible where you currently are, say as little as possible.  Venting and complaining never reflect well upon you.

3. Where do you see yourself in five years?

This question gives you an opportunity for a great answer, but it can also have some hidden pitfalls.  Are you looking for a position where you can gain skills and experience for just a year or two, before moving on to the school or geographic area of your dreams?  In answering this, don’t make the opportunity at hand seem to be a steppingstone position.  Speak generally about your goals, and lay out a vision for an ideal, actualized self in the next few years.

4. Do you have any questions for me?

The dreaded final question!  At this point, you may be exhausted, and you might be kicking yourself for not brainstorming any questions in advanced.  Refrain from saying “no,” though—the interview process should be a dynamic one, where you are indicating your care and scrutiny as much as the school is.  Good questions can be a revealing and important part of an interview.

What are some strong, solid questions?  Check out our tips here.

When preparing for an interview, anticipate the no-brainer difficult questions, certainly—but also be wary of the sneaky-tricky questions that will probably arise.

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