Interview Tips: Handling Tough Questions in the Job Interview - Part 1

There are some old job interview clichés you should never rely on when going to a job interview. One tired cliché interviewers hear quite often is the old “I’m a perfectionist” routine when asked, “What would you say is a weakness or fault of yours on the job?” Aside from being an obviously rehearsed answer, saying you are a perfectionist can be misinterpreted to mean you are not a team player. Do you really want a potential employer to think that you might stop the flow of progress in the work place until everything is exactly how you want it every single time?

Honesty is the best approach to the job interview. You should definitely be prepared for tough interview questions such as, "What is your greatest fault?" but don't just say what you think the interviewer wants to hear. Make an honest assessment of your skills and try to give an answer that's reasonable without being too self-deprecating. Interviewers have heard plenty of rehearsed job interview responses and can tell the difference.

Job Interview Questions About Online Activities

Some job interview questions are about employee involvement in social media. If you are active on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter or other platforms, it shows your interviewer that you have an interest in networking--a valuable skill to any employer who needs more marketing presence online. Social media skills are more prized than ever in the business world and you could find yourself getting paid to do more of what you did for free in your spare time. But social media involvement is a double-edged sword.

Your interviewer may also be looking for assurances that you are a responsible user of social media. Do you gossip about work and your work environment on your personal pages? Is the company vulnerable in hiring someone who might not know to keep company issues private? These are the worries of every social media-savvy hiring manager. How can you reassure your interviewer that you use Twitter and Facebook for personal use but not for airing out the company's dirty laundry? Make it your personal policy to keep work and the Internet separate, and tell your interviewer so.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post "Interview Tips Part 2: Anticipating Questions and Mastering Follow Up"