What interview question always trips you up no matter how prepared you are?
Posted by Fit-Swan1764@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 100 comments
Asking because I've been researching why smart,
capable people freeze in interviews and I keep
hearing the same patterns.
For me it was always "tell me about a time you
failed" — I'd either overshare or give something
so minor it seemed fake.
What's yours?
tanashasmells@reddit
Those stupid made up personality quiz questions will always get me. I once got asked "if you were a cocktail, what would you be?"
Boldboy72@reddit
they may seem stupid to you but they serve a purpose. That particular question tests your creativity, your ability to think fast and respond. Tech companies love these questions because it weeds out people who are just going through the motions.
Sage-Freke-@reddit
Bit unfair though if you don’t drink and don’t know any cocktails.
tanashasmells@reddit
My mind went blank and the only drink I could think of was 'pornstar'. Had no chance of getting the job after saying that.
Sage-Freke-@reddit
That’d do it 👍🏼
Boldboy72@reddit
well then, you choose an alcohol free cocktail and explain why you work best without alcohol. A Shirley Temple or a Cuba Libra
this is about thinking creatively not about the drink.
seshwan33@reddit
You’re massively assuming people’s knowledge of cocktails. Literally I would have to be so creative to answer that I somehow manage to make it not about cocktails at all.
tanashasmells@reddit
I know its to get an idea of who you are but it loses its purpose when im sat wondering what cocktails I actually know. I rarely go out so I have little to no knowledge of any drinks nevermind cocktails.
Sage-Freke-@reddit
I didn’t even know they were non-alcoholic cocktails.
lilixxumm@reddit
I don't drink but I have eyes and ears so I know a bit about cocktails.
MobiusNaked@reddit
A Bloody Mary, because of that time I knifed that girl.
xmobuk@reddit
Prawn
Mog_X34@reddit
A Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster.
Worth_Gap4226@reddit
The firm I work for had one which was along the lines of "what would a close family member or friend say about you?"
I hated it, hated asking it, hated that it was even on the page even if I skipped it. I managed to get it removed.
Bus8082@reddit
“If you could describe yourself in three words what would it be?”
Loves a pint
Boldboy72@reddit
that question is not about your failure, it is about what you did to overcome it. What steps you took to make sure it didn't happen again, what you learned from it. Always use STAR technique to answer these questions.
The next question people get wrong is "Tell me about yourself"
They have no interest in your history, your hobbies or what you like to eat. This is about your career, especially about your most recent achievements, projects you've completed or lead.
"Where do you see yourself in 5 years", have a plan to answer this. You need to show the path to where you are going.
miowiamagrapegod@reddit
Are you looking for someone who can do the job in question, or are you looking for someone with amazing interview technique?
Boldboy72@reddit
looking for someone who can do the job and let me know they can do the job by answering the questions. It's an interview, not a show up and get the offer.
miowiamagrapegod@reddit
But ate you asking them questions about the role or bullshit tricksy interview questions?
Caacrinolass@reddit
The one about why I am seeking to leave my current position. Because it sucks, but obviously can't say that so it always end up being one of those vague wishy washy "new challenges" kind of answer. Its often a lateral move so can't even talk about being ready for more responsibilities.
I don't think its a massively important question.
I imagine interviewers are sick about hearing how being a perfectionist is their candidates main flaw! Thankfully, I don't use that one.
CarpeCyprinidae@reddit
There isnt enough room for me to grow in that role; I have achieved everything I set out to achieve there and it no longer needs someone at my level to keep the systems compliant
Actually used this while being interviewed for my current role
may13s@reddit
I think it is an important q because it tells you what a candidate is looking for a role. Just need to think a bit more about why does your current job suck and then sanitise it a bit? e.g. if you hate your job because of your manager micromanaging you say “I’m not getting opportunities to lead in the way I want and I don’t see a good pathway to progression so I’m looking for a new role” bored of the job itself “looking to move to a different role to try something new and take on new challenges as I feel I’ve done everything I can in my current role and want to push myself.”
Caacrinolass@reddit
Yeah, not bad. Its important to have an answer, naturally. In my current case its because all our processes suck and management structure is so silo'd that fixing them is structurally impossible. There's certainly "no good path to progression", in that progress would also enable me capable of fixing nothing.
Regarding importance, job loyalty isn't really a thing any more so swapping holds nothing like the weight it once did.
CanIhazCooKIenOw@reddit
Why don't you have an answer prepared for that exact question?
811545b2-4ff7-4041@reddit
Anyone job hunting who hasn't prepared answers for the 'classic' questions, really isn't trying enough.
A good set of 'hard questions' is those Amazon can ask, as part of their business/leadership principles section. You can get lots of info on that online, e.g. https://igotanoffer.com/en/advice/amazon-leadership-principles
CTC42@reddit
I've never encountered a single one of the weird questions on this thread despite numerous relocations and a couple of career changes, so I suspect it may be industry-specific, company-specific or even interviewer-specific
811545b2-4ff7-4041@reddit
If you were a biscuit, what kind would you be, and how many would fit into Wembley stadium?
No, I've never had stupid questions like that either.
CanIhazCooKIenOw@reddit
Failure, dealing with conflict, dealing with competing priorities, dealing with inability to deliver, etc...
To me those are standards that anyone should have an example they would feel comfortable to have a conversation about (even if fully made up)
RomHack@reddit
Because it's an AI bot asking this question. Formatting is a giveaway
Cryozenica@reddit
Because that's a time he's failed...
CanIhazCooKIenOw@reddit
> For me it was always
BalthazarOfTheOrions@reddit
It used to be "where do see yourself in five years?" until I decided to be honest and say something like "I've got some vague goals I work towards consistently, but I don't believe in detailed long-term future planning because life doesn't work like that" (in more diplomatic terms, of course).
Or "what's your story". I appreciate the openness of the question is nice for many, but I hate it. I'm not a story. I'm a person and I'm here to sell my labour, not to act.
811545b2-4ff7-4041@reddit
Correct responses to "What's your story" will be either: Morning Glory? or Balamory
SallyJaneCooper@reddit
"What's your story?"
Answer: I like the Three Little Pigs. Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, and Peter. Great story how the kissed the princess to wake her up.
Bksudbjdua@reddit
I have 2 GREAT examples for that question. The one I love most is, I once lost a company half a million pounds by approving a change for the wrong day. Due to the way things worked I couldn't back out the change, and yeah half a million gone. But I worked my arse off to find solutions (which the company didn't want to go ahead with, they accepted the loss) I also done a lot of research as to why this happened (wasn't completely my fault but I should have picked up on it). I then redesigned all the Change Templates, and upskilled several teams on what to look out for. It made me question things more and not make assumptions about things.
Any time I've told that in an interview, people love it, and I've always been told I scored highly on that question
Jin-shei@reddit
Ask them how and in what form you will receive feedback on your performance. It's a good question that shows you value feedback
Bksudbjdua@reddit
Ohh that is a good one!
SmileAndLaughrica@reddit
I hate “tell me about a time you worked in a team” - my entire job is working in teams of people, like this job has very little independent work. I basically tell them as much but it always seemed like a ridiculous HR question and not tailored to the job at all. I’d even be happier with some question related to the process of working in a team eg sometimes I’ve had “What do you bring to a team?” or “How would you react if you were having a disagreement with a coworker?”
DiskBytes@reddit
The one where I'm asked what my weaknesses are. I actually made one interview panel burst out laughing when I said "red heads with green eyes". I got offered the job but didn't take it.
Oggabobba@reddit
If you need a serious answer, think of a genuine weakness that you have but then figure out how you’ve managed it. Showing you’re able to overcome personal problems is a good response
JackXDark@reddit
I turn that sort of question into a technology thing and say something like 'at my last workplace the IT systems were fairly outdated, they worked fine for what they were needed for, and as I use a Mac as my personal home computer, it might mean I need a bit of a refresher on the latest versions of the business packages that you may be running'.
That's a very deliberate deflection from talking about any of my personal qualities, but it's both a compliment to the company as I'm implying they're up-to-date (they usually aren't, but still...) and it gets nods of appreciation and is seen as a fair point that they can mark down as easily resolvable.
VFrosty3@reddit
Yeah, this is the one. I work in a job where I have to be very organised. I am, however, ridiculously disorganised (ADHD’ing my ass off). I state how I utilise tools at work, which tools they are, how they help me keep organised etc. That’s always gone down well.
I’ve interviewed several people in the past that have said their only weakness is that they’ve got too much attention to detail and they’re too organised. That never goes down well. It doesn’t come across honest, you’re basically saying you’ve got no faults. We all have.
religionisanger@reddit
Well said and an excellent answer I think.
fr1234@reddit
This. For me it’s “when there’s a lot of stuff going on at once I feel like don’t want to let anyone or anything down. As a result, my natural instinct is to try to flitter over everything at the same time which used to result in not much progress on any one thing. I’ve learned to manage that much more effectively by prioritising all the items based on business value, share that with my stakeholders and manager to make sure everyone is aligned and adjust if necessary. Expectations are set on the delivery of those things and I’m able to focus on those one at a time to give them my full attention and best results“
DiskBytes@reddit
Yeah this is what I need to be thinking of, a way to answer it properly.
Boldboy72@reddit
"my greatest weakness is my brutal honesty"
"i don't think that's a weakness"
"I don't give a shit what you think"
Yoguls@reddit
Came here to say this
USS_Barack_Obama@reddit
You're hired!
DiskBytes@reddit
Fair.
Budget-Mastodon5180@reddit
How’s leading the X-Men going?
DiskBytes@reddit
I've no idea what that means.
hunsnet457@reddit
My worst is when they ask how i’m going to handle the transition from my current role/place to the new role/place.
I’m fully aware they want some ‘fluffy’ answer about all the things i’m going to do to manage it and how i’m going to handle any problems that arise… But i’m autistic and tend to take things more literally so my brain just goes “i’m just going to do it??”
Fine-Night-243@reddit
For me it's always the opening question 'why do you want to work for us?' because unless you already work there it's purely bluster and bullshit and maybe some keywords picked up from the website.
Why do you want this job is much easier as you can refer to the person spec and outline some of your previous experience, skills etc
Also I really don't like 'give me an example of a time when...' At the least they should give you a heads up on these so you can think of an answer. It suxks that you can remember something useful after the interview but your mind couldn't bring it up instantly in the stress of an interview
religionisanger@reddit
I got hit once with: “where do you see yourself in 5 years.” Which I answered confidently, accurately with lots of detail… then the fuckers asked: “and what about 10 years?“. I just pretty much repeated the same thing, it felt like a trick question. Obviously what they mean is tell me about career progression for you, what are your aims. But not broken down by 5 year intervals.
starderpderp@reddit
"Tell me the pros and cons for space exploration" - this was for an interview at one of a top commercial law firm. In 2015/26.
Dude, I just wanted to be your eSports lawyer and bring you eSports clients which I already have connection with. Why are we having a discussion about space exploration, to which I know nothing about, other than stare at pretty pictures and be overwhelmed by how vasy the universe is. Why don't we talk about the biggest trends in the industry and what's to be expected soon? And how we as commercial lawyers can come out winning big if we can get the players a standardised level of employee treatments and benefits? Or we use the firm's expertise in sports to adapt it to reports and push the industry forward? Or just think about all the potential sponsorship deals?
The second question was "pros and cons of a country hosting the Olympics"....I'm a massive pro for hosting the Olympics...I genuinely could not think of cons....
Yeah, this interview scarred me.
RomHack@reddit
Why don't we talk about the biggest trends in the industry and what's to be expected soon?
I've started to quietly notice that they don't like to talk about these things. It's one of the stranger ones too because working a job future planning comes up all the time, probably as the focal point of meetings, but in interviews I find they like to be genuinely shy in giving away what they're thinking.
VolcanicBear@reddit
Admittedly I've only had 4 or 5 interviews, but until my most recent one I was never able to answer this honestly.
1whoisconcerned@reddit
How do you uphold our company values.
Every time I get rejected it’s for this reason. Don’t know what I’m saying wrong.
Rockek@reddit
Go on the company website and see what their values and culture are. Tailor your answer to match what they're after.
1whoisconcerned@reddit
I do this.
Rockek@reddit
It may be worth trying to get more detailed feedback about what people don't like about your answers there then, as it seems like for whatever reason that research hasn't translated into a good answer.
macxjs@reddit
I think shouting "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me" is probably the most common error in response to this question.
Open-Butterfly-5288@reddit
Tell me about yourself.
In that moment, I lose all sense of self and I am worthless.
OneDay_OneLife@reddit
What are your weaknesses? stupid question that everyone makes up wibble wobble for.
Foxtrot7888@reddit
I hate these sort of questions. They just test that you’ve prepared an answer which you could completely make up.
Boldboy72@reddit
This may seem stupid to you but it has a purpose. It's to see if you can be honest about a weakness and what steps you take to overcome it. So for example
"I've never been great with time management so what I've done to make sure I deliver my projects on time is xxxxx"
Tanto207064@reddit
The best thing that’s come out of this thread so far Wibble wobble
Tanto207064@reddit
Oh and also the whole where do you see yourself in 5 years. Silly question. In 5 years you can get married, get divorced, move location have kids a whole load of things some which you are not expecting or planning for. I remember working in retail once and some cocky new person started he told the manager in 5 years he sees himself in the managers job, and the manager loved it and hired him. I thought it was very cocky
Boldboy72@reddit
the question is not about where you'll be in 5 years, it's about what steps you have in place to achieve goals
torihe@reddit
As someone who interviews all the time, why do you want to work here/in this role or what do you know about the organisation? Take 20 mins to read the website and have a few key points which align with the values and that’s a massive bonus in your favour.
We actually advise this when we invite to interview so we massively mark down when you don’t.
RainbowPenguin1000@reddit
Why do you “massively mark them down” for not reading your website?
Sure it shows a lack of interest on their side but “massively marking down” someone who could be a perfect candidate just because they didn’t read about you first seems almost egotistical.
SimthingStrange@reddit
Also interview a lot, also ask this question and also mark down massively for a poor response to this question.
It tells me a few things: - lack of attention to detail: they didn’t read the invite properly; - or lack of preparation: if they did read the invite, they chose not to read about the company or think about why they want to do the job they’ve applied for - no genuine interest in the role: this wouldn’t matter if it was an entry level position, I understand people need a job to survive and not everyone has to care about what they do, but I interview for higher level roles where a bit of enthusiasm is necessary for retention
Boldboy72@reddit
the other killer is the one that no one bothers to prepare for and it's usually the last question in the interview:
"Have you got any questions for me?"
Always have at least 3 questions ready to ask (and not about salary / holiday time!).
"I read on your most recent board filing that xxxx is very important for the company this year, can you tell me more about that?"
"I noted on your Linkedin that you have just recently been promoted, what steps did you take to achieve this?"
Rockek@reddit
I always find a good one is to ask about upcoming projects and how the role fits into that. It's genuinely useful to get a better idea of what you'll actually be doing and shows a good level of interest in the job and company.
oktimeforplanz@reddit
I recently got a pretty senior level job despite not being strictly speaking the most qualified candidate they had precisely because the other candidate who was under consideration showed absolutely fuck all enthusiasm for the job or company. I wasn't applying for the job because I needed it - I was already in a job with a pretty solid career trajectory if I wanted to stay and I explained as much, and certainly the interviewers will have known as much just by virtue of my CV. I was applying because I was interested.
My boss told me that the other guy, who was in a similar job to what I was, just came across as maybe someone who was trying to jump before he was pushed out of his other job and he was applying for basically anything. Someone who would be high risk for jumping again fairly soon because this wasn't what he ultimately wanted to do.
Such a basic thing to lose out on a job over. But I'm glad he didn't muster the enthusiasm because I really like my new job so far.
keeponkeepingup@reddit
Because they want staff who give a shit?
Boldboy72@reddit
if they haven't bothered to take the time to learn something about the company, they are most definitely not the perfect candidate. It shows a lack of interest.
oktimeforplanz@reddit
How would someone even get across that they are the "perfect candidate" if they haven't taken any time to see what the company does and claims to care about?
fuzzydogpaws@reddit
I’m not the person you’re replying to, but I’d say if a candidate can’t even take the time to have a quick look at our website, then they probably aren’t bothered about the role.
It takes ten minutes to read the ‘about us’ section on a website. If someone can’t even commit to that, they probably aren’t committed to the role.
Choccybizzle@reddit
Are they that perfect if they can’t even follow basic advice? I don’t do interviews but if I were to essentially give someone the answer to a question and they still fuck it up, I’m going to judge them. Certainly I can’t imagine they’re a ‘perfect candidate’
torihe@reddit
Because we tell them we will ask a question on this, so it’s seems more than a lack of interest. As I said, just taking time to learn the values (we have 5 key words) and the 2 sites and what each does would be enough. 20 minutes is probably an exaggeration of how long it takes, you could read it in 5.
detectivebabylegz@reddit
Experience helps.
I workes at the same company for leaving school until I was 30 and the only interviews I had were for promotions held by people I knew for years.
The first time I had an interview externally, I absolutely froze, because I'd never really talked about myself like that before. I was asked to talk about myself and I just blurted out 30 seconds of shit and went inside my shell. By the end of the interview I came out shell, but it was too late.
After a few interviews, hearing every question I could actually be asked, I was much better. Now I could easily talk about myself for an hour, which is a mile away from how I was when I started.
lkap28@reddit
‘Where do you see yourself in five years’ feels like a trick question to me.
Do I want to be five years into the role I’m applying for or does that show lack of ambition? Do I go for their jobs? Do I want to tell the truth and say I’ll be hitchhiking around Europe?
deppyjon@reddit
I oddly struggle to answer the tell me a bit about yourself outside of work, my inside of work question I’ve got down to a T but yeah outside of work is a tricky one and I normally joke that it’s the hardest question of the lot
Boldboy72@reddit
it may not sound like a work related question but it is.
If you say that you captain your local rugby / football team. Then they know you have leadership skills and good at teamwork.
If you say you like to sit at home knitting, you're more of a lone wolf, possibly not great at team exercises.
When you read the job description and it says "must be a team player" that's what they are trying to find out
Larrypants1@reddit
Agree you really have to strike the balance between telling the truth and not sounding like a degenerate... Or is that just me
Lion-Resident@reddit
Tell is how you would save money for the organisation and improve the CQC rating.
cankennykencan@reddit
"why are your nipples out?"
dinkidoo7693@reddit
Who is your hero? Like i never know what to say as i don’t really idolise anyone
Boldboy72@reddit
they don't really care if you have a hero, they want to know what traits that person has that you aspire to.
dinkidoo7693@reddit
Yeah i get that but i still get really stuck on who to say if its asked
Mazzerboi@reddit
What in the chat gpt copy and paste question is this
steveysaidthis@reddit
I had one about beads and the best way to separate beads based on random chance. I asked if the job involved many bead based problems. It didn't. I got offered it in the end but didn't take it!
oktimeforplanz@reddit
This didn't trip me up at all in my last interview, but my boss did tell me it trips up a lot of people they interview.
Without doxxing myself too much, I just recently started with a company that produce products that people can and do pay to see the manufacturing process for. The company is big on people who work there being interested in the products they sell. Part of the manufacturing process happens in the same building as many of the other functions, though my job would have nothing directly to do with manufacturing.
The interviewer set it up on my second interview such that on the way to the room where the interview would take place, I would be taken past that manufacturing plant. This was a totally different path through the building than what I had taken for the first interview, but the interviews were in the same room, and there was no real reason why I couldn't have gone through the normal, faster way. If I hadn't asked anything about what could be seen, then it would have gone against me. I don't know if it would have made it that I wouldn't have gotten the job, but certainly it would have been taken into account to some degree.
Tanto207064@reddit
I made plenty of mistakes in my early career and said things that make me cringe now. If it was me I’d show growth, honesty and modesty by answering the failure question with something from years ago, like a silly mistake in my earlier career etc and how I learnt from it. I am in my 40s so this is easy to do obviously is not easy for an 18 year old. But asking an 18 year old the failure question is ridiculous. If you don’t have experience maybe a good answer would simply be honesty. ‘I haven’t made many mistakes because I haven’t had any experience yet. I can’t guarantee I won’t make a mistake but I can guarantee I’ll always give my best, take my job seriously and learn from any failures’
keeponkeepingup@reddit
The trick to that particular question is continuing on to describe what you did to resolve it and the happy, succesful ending that ensued because of you, and how it helped you to learn and avoid stuff going forward, its a problem solving skills question. Same with the what is your weakness question...say a weakness and then go on to describe all the good stuff what you do to ensure it doesn't cause issues etc
Radiants_Table@reddit
“Why aren’t you wearing any trousers?”
flyingmooset@reddit
“How do you feel”
swapacoinforafish@reddit
Your post looks like a poem. For me I just hate those copy and paste interview questions. I once got asked in a River Island group interview when I was 18, sitting on the narrow stairwell of their back office, to explain a time when I had gone above and beyond for someone in my life and what my greatest weaknesses were.
As an adult, if those questions are asked to me in an interview I really internally roll my eyes.
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