How to answer hard job interview questions

 

These are tough – here are tips to prepare and feel confident.

Job interviews are nerve-wracking and these common questions don’t make it any easier. In fact, they’re downright dreaded, based on feedback from your fellow job seekers.

While employers and hiring managers can be encouraged to tweak these questions to have more thoughtful conversations with you, it’s still in your best interest to learn how to answer them, in case they come up.

When you’re asked, “Why do you want this job?”

The obvious answer is “to pay bills” or “make more money” - but you should aim for a more thoughtful response. When you apply for the job, or you’re preparing for the interview, make note of what about sounds appealing about the job duties or a description that stuck out to you. Something prompted you to apply, right? Even if it’s as simple as how the job description perfectly matched your experience and is closer to family/with a company you like/in a new industry, you can find something to promote. Plus, interviewers are typically interested in what motivates you and what you’re looking for in a team or from a role, so frame your answer to meet those expectations.

The famed, “What’s your biggest weakness?”

Hopefully by now you know that a stealth-brag is not the way to go. For years, it was acceptable to offer something like “I’m a perfectionist” or “I take on too much work” but hiring managers have caught on. Typically, your potential employer is looking more for your level of self-awareness and how you address any issues that arise. Offer how you’ve worked to improve your skills in an area or prioritized professional development. Everyone has to learn new things on a regular basis to remain on top of their jobs – were you a pro at creative thinking and strategy but lacked formal data analysis? Share how you recognized that weakness and took action to improve.

“Where do you see yourself in five years?” - which can be unclear even in the best of times

This is tricky. Employers often want to gauge how serious you might be about this role, your commitment to the industry or how you might fit into longer term company plans. But maybe this is your first job (ever or in your field), or you know that in five years, you’d like to be living in a new city, start a business or spend more time with family. Regardless, you don’t have to give away your personal life plan. Demonstrate your dedication by highlighting how you’ve earned certificates or praise, courses you’ve taken, promotions you’ve received, and share how you’d like to continue learning and growing in your next role.

Any form of “What’s your spirit animal?” “Describe in detail how to make a PB&J sandwich.”

Some companies still deploy off-the-wall tactics in interviews, usually to test how you think on your feet, solve problems and deal with unexpected situations. Since you can’t prepare for any exact answers, you can think through what makes you unique and understand how you solve problems. As part of your job interview practice, consider your problem-solving style and how you find solutions in the moment. When you’re presented with any of these scenarios, you’ll be equipped to navigate them.

6 fastest-growing jobs last year

 

The skills you need and training required to get hired.

We won’t spend too much time describing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on employment – 2020 was a tough year full of rollercoasters and you can check out our job seeker support center here.

Keep reading for a look at three of the fastest-growing job titles from last year that held steady even in the worst unemployment months and are relatively attainable.

Plus, we're highlighting three more roles that might have been less visible throughout the year but likely grew as a result of pandemic-response needs.

Which jobs stayed steady during the pandemic?

Insurance clerks

Processing claims, reviewing and creating policies, maintaining coverage – these were all essential to navigating 2020. From in-depth analyses of insurance needs to communicating with stakeholders, this job requires a breadth of skills. Your duties in this role would encompass document processing and preparing, computer-based work, receiving and processing information, and communicating heavily with your coworkers and with customers.

What experience do you need to be an insurance clerk? Most jobs typically require a high school diploma and at least a year or so of working with the public or in similar roles, based on industry research. Helpful soft skills include attention to detail, dependability and composure – you might be helping your customers work through difficult times or understand complicated policy, and being patient and understanding will go a long way.

What is the pay for an insurance clerk? The national average is $51,000 per year. This can vary based on location and education – see more about insurance clerk salaries here.

What roles are similar to an insurance clerk? Check out receptionist jobs, secretary jobs and administrative assistant jobs.

Financial analysts

Another vital part of the response to the pandemic included workers who could track and report on what was happening with the U.S. economy, along with providing insight on how to make it through a tough year. Financial analysts were crucial in 2020 and job growth reflected that importance.

On the job, this role involves collecting, studying and monitoring financial data to maintain and improve financial success. You might compare real-time financial results against goals, plans and forecasts, requiring analytical and mathematical skills. Other skills could include organization and collaboration.

What experience do you need to be a financial analyst? A bachelor’s degree is often required, as well as a demonstrated ability to analyze data.

What is the pay for a financial analyst? The national average is $89,000 – learn more about financial analyst salaries here.

What roles are similar to a financial analyst? Budget analyst jobs, planning analyst jobs and accounting analyst jobs

Real estate brokers

These workers helped navigate the almost-overnight shift to remote and socially distanced work as offices and businesses adapted to the pandemic. And as more people worked from home and for longer, many started to search for bigger homes or move to less crowded cities. Your daily job duties might look like negotiating deals, finding and listing properties for sale, managing real estate offices, and of course, selling homes, businesses and other real estate.

What do you need to be a real estate broker? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 37% of real estate brokers have bachelor’s degrees, and usually you need similar experience and additional certifications in the real estate industry. Knowledge in sales and marketing is helpful, along with good writing and verbal skills. Critical thinking and active listening are great soft skills to utilize in this role.

What is the pay for a real estate broker? National average salary is $80,000 – see what you might make as a real estate broker in your area.

What roles are similar to a real estate broker? Real estate agent jobs, property manager jobs and loan officers

3 more jobs that grew in 2020

Floor sanders and finishers. This role is critical to completing construction projects and polishing real estate to be sold. A high school diploma is typically needed, and the median wages in 2019 were $39,610 per year. Learn more about the job here, and apply to construction jobs here.

Solar sales rep. The “green economy” continues to grow, including the installation of technology like solar panels. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in this role you would “Contact new or existing customers to determine their solar equipment needs, suggest systems or equipment, or estimate costs.” About 73% of the workers in this job have a bachelor’s degree or some college, some related experience is usually required and the median wages in 2019 were $81,020 per year. Great verbal and written communication skills are important, along with active listening, critical thinking and persuasion skills. Knowledge of sales and marketing, plus technology and design, can contribute to success in this job. Apply to solar sales rep jobs here.

Air traffic controller. Personal travel might be down, but the shipping and transportation industries received major boosts due to pandemic needs. The workers part of the teams making this happen? Air traffic controllers. This role has a variety of career paths, but at the heart of it, you direct air travel and traffic to get planes, people and goods to the right place. Skills in use in this role include judgment and decision making, complex problem-solving, and an understanding of when or how an issue might arise. The national average salary for an air traffic controller is $87,000. Apply to air traffic controller jobs here.