How to Answer the Most Difficult Interview Questions

By Sharon Thomas DeLay
Think about all the interview questions you’ve been asked or heard about from others. The formula for answering almost every one of those questions is by sharing a strength or demonstrating by example how you have benefited your previous employers.
The question that sets the tone for the entire interview, though, is usually the first one: “So, tell me about yourself.”

How can such a simple invitation create so much angst and result in answers that have nothing to do
with why you’re sitting where you’re sitting?

Here is what the employer is not looking for:
• Your life story
• A lengthy answer is primarily general and ineffective
• An over-the-top sales pitch about you or your career

The next time you’re asked this question, develop a 30 second answer that succinctly summarizes your career.
This is your opportunity to relate what you’ve done in the past, as well as what you can do.

Time 30 seconds on your watch. It’s longer than you think. Next, pull out your résumé and summarize your career path and pull out one or two “benefit” statements that relate to the open position. For example, you might say, “I have over 10 years as an analyst. I also have a strong background in marketing due to working so closely with that function at my last two employers. In both cases, I was considered as much a part of the marketing team as I was the finance team. I recently finished my MBA and want to work for a company such as yours utilizing my education, experience and bilingual skills in English and Japanese in your international finance division.”

In that succinct statement you have emphasized strengths as well as a brief history of your work experience. You also slipped in a “testimonial” by mentioning your actual and “adopted” teams in your previous positions.

Sharon DeLay is a certified career coach with the goal of helping people find jobs they love and love the jobs they have.
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