Mastering the Job Interview: Tips for Handling Unexpected Questions
Job interviews are a vital step in the hiring process, and preparing for them thoroughly can significantly increase your chances of success. A common challenge job candidates face during interviews is encountering unexpected or unconventional questions. These are often the ones that catch candidates off guard, leaving them scrambling for answers. However, with proper preparation, you can handle these questions effectively and make a strong impression on your interviewer.
Understanding What to Expect
While you can't predict every question that will come up during an interview, you can prepare for the types of questions that are most likely. Typical interview questions often revolve around your skills, experience, and accomplishments. These are areas where you should be well-prepared. However, unexpected questions may require you to think on your feet. Here are some tips to help you handle these situations:
Thoroughly Study Your Resume and Life History
A successful job candidate knows their resume and background inside and out. This involves:
Identifying specific contributions you made in every job and assignment to the success of the project and the company as a whole
Understanding the obstacles or constraints you faced to get the work done
Knowing the specific skills you employed to achieve the results and their impact on the company’s bottom line
Having specific evidence or quantifiable data to back up your claims
Preparing thoroughly will help you stand out in the interview process. Here's a method to help you organize your thoughts and prepare effectively:
Create an Accomplishments Checklist
Brainstorm Accomplishments:
Write down all your accomplishments, regardless of their size. For each accomplishment, use 3x5 cards (or any note-taking method you prefer) to detail it. This is useful even for recent graduates with no traditional business experience, as you can draw from your life experiences.
List Challenges and Constraints:
On the back of each card, note the factors, challenges, constraints, or critical considerations you dealt with to achieve success. This could include budget constraints, time issues, regulatory issues, safety considerations, staff bandwidth, and specific success measures.
Summarize Results:
On the reverse side of the card, write down the specific measure of success, such as project completion on-time, within budget, awards, safety metrics, or other recognitions.
Identify Personal Skills:
Review your accomplishments and the challenges you faced and the results you achieved. Think about the specific personal skills you used to achieve them. Write these down in all caps on the back of the card.
This method allows you to quickly recall and practice delivering your answers. You can glance at a card, even at a red light, and refine your responses.
Transferring Your Knowledge to Unexpected Questions
Once you have prepared your list of accomplishments, you can use them to transition effectively from difficult questions to highlighting your achievements. For example, if you are asked about experience with a specific model, you can redirect the conversation to a similar model for which you have experience:
"I don’t have specific experience working with the X23 model, but I did successfully install several of the M97 models that are similar. Let me tell you a bit more about that..."
This approach converts a potentially problematic question into an opportunity to showcase your skills and achievements.
Conclusion
Preparation is key to acing a job interview. By thoroughly studying your resume and life history, using a structured approach to document your accomplishments, and practicing your responses, you can handle unexpected or unconventional questions effectively. With these tips, you can make a strong impression and increase your chances of landing your dream job.