Have you ever been in a situation where your recruiters ask you tricky questions? To begin with, these questions are meant to trip up the applicant and see how they respond to the unexpected. Recruiters want to get a better sense of your candidacy, by asking questions that require more thoughtful answers.

To ace those trap door moments, let’s get you prepared with some of the trickiest job interview questions.

1.) “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

This question is all about commitment. Keep in mind that your recruiters don’t want to waste their time and money for an employee that’s not going to stick around. That’s why your answer should make it clear that your goals align with the company’s and you have the commitment to grow within the field you’ve chosen. 

It’s best if your answer demonstrates the correlation between your role, the company, and your own experiences and skills. Let them know how enthusiastic and self-motivated you are, but remember to not sound arrogant. 

2.) “Give an example of a time you handled a significant crisis.”

Every job has its own challenges, and this question allows an applicant to showcase his or her problem solving skills. The key is to explain your action in resolving the issue and what you learned from the experience. Reflect on your past work experience, study, or other extracurricular activities to provide an example.

However, it is wise to avoid talking about mistakes involving carelessness or lack of effort. You should give the impression that you are capable of handling an unexpected problem and how you’ve become better since then.

3.) “Are you considering a similar role in your job search?”

Your recruiters are most likely trying to figure out whether your applied role is a well-thought decision. It’s crucial to present yourself as the best fit for the specific job you’re looking for.

Then again, there are times when you don’t have to go in-depth. Especially if you’re applying for a variety of different roles or fields, don’t elaborate on that. This is to prevent the idea that your skills and interests are all over the place. Or worse, to not make it sound like you’re applying for jobs randomly.

4.) “What would you do if a client complained?”

Behavioral questions are meant to determine an applicant’s response to challenging situations. Hence, craft an answer based on the skills needed to handle the problem (eg. interpersonal skills, problem-solving, emotional intelligence). 

Since you may be given a scenario around the question, you should have a firm understanding of the company and its clients to provide a relevant answer. Avoid saying that you’d pass the matter to your manager or blaming the client. Keep it mind that you should remain professional even if the client is at fault. 

5.) “What kind of work environment do you like best?”

Now let’s get into company culture type of question. Most importantly, you should highlight the company’s environment that suits your fancy. It will do you no good if you mention you love working remotely but you’re applying for the salesperson position, right? 

The key here is to find a middle ground between your company’s culture and your preferences. Do your research beforehand and let the recruiters get the idea that you can adapt well. If it’s the opposite and you can’t think of anything, then the job is not for you.

6.) “If you could compare yourself with an animal, which would it be and why?”

The question might throw you off a bit, but that’s the part you’re being tested. This question allows your recruiters to see your creativity and quick-thinking skills. It doesn’t matter which animal you choose, because what’s more important is your ‘why’. 

That said, choose an animal that represents you best. Correlate the animal characteristics and how they relate to the job. No need to be long-winded, keep your answer simple and to the point.

7.) “What have you done to improve your knowledge in the last year?”

During the pandemic, most people had more free time as they stayed at home. Now, your recruiters want to know how you spend that extra time. 

Keep in mind that a wide variety of activities can be mentioned as self-improvement–whether you enroll in an online course or practice yoga for your mental health. Plus points if you can include activities that are related to the job you’re applying for.

That wraps today’s topic on tricky job interview questions. Be genuine yet tactical with your answers and that’s all to it to do your best. We hope that this can be of great help for your future job interview. Best of luck!