How to tackle five tricky interview questions

You’ve negotiated the first hurdle and bagged an interview for a job you really want. Congratulations!

The next challenge is to figure out how to answer the questions, or more specifically, the tough questions.

Here’s how to dodge the curveballs and come out on top.

Let’s start with an age-old favourite.

1. Tell me about yourself

This one should be easy. After all, you know yourself, right? But this open-ended question throws a lot of people off. Where do you start? Your first job? High School? Birth?

Nailing this question starts with realising that the interviewer already knows your job history (thanks to your CV), so, reciting a monologue based on that isn’t going to win you any brownie points.

Instead, work out what the charity needs for the role and customise your answer to position yourself as the best person to fill that need.

Go through the job description and come up with anecdotes from your work life and personal life that highlight each skill. The aim is to bring out your relevant experience, transferable skills, and key achievements.

2. What’s your biggest weakness?

Everyone clams up over this one. And it’s no surprise. How can you showcase how amazing you are while admitting you’ve got flaws?

The first thing to know is we’re all flawed. The key is to show the interviewer you’re aware of yours and are proactive in addressing them.

Maybe you’re terrible at maths, but a Trust Fundraising role requires you to have ‘a good grasp of numbers’. You could say ‘I’m great with words and pride myself on writing good quality funding applications, but I’m not so strong with numbers. However, I’ve taken a couple of e-learning courses to improve my skills, and it’s paid off. ”

Bonus Tip: DO NOT respond to this question with a cliché like, "I tend to work too hard," or "I’m too much of a perfectionist." The interviewer will cringe and you’ll come across as insincere and lacking in self-awareness.

3. Why do you want to leave your current job?

If you’re not prepared for this one, it could backfire.

Whatever you do, don’t say you want to leave because you hate your boss, you don’t gel with your colleagues, or you’re stuck in a boring role.

Focus on the positives. List the things you enjoy about your current role and put a positive spin on moving on i.e., a new job can offer you career progression, and new challenges. Talk about the opportunity to move forward.

If you were fired from your last job, be honest. Explain the circumstances in a calm and rational way and talk about what you learned.

4. Give us an example of how you’ve demonstrated initiative

If you’re asked a competency-based question, the interviewer wants to know that you can take an idea and turn it into something tangible.

They’re looking for evidence that you’re a self-starter. i.e. you’re capable of coming up with new ideas and thinking creatively to solve problems.

For example, “Tell me about a time when you spotted an opportunity to improve something, made a plan, and carried it out”.

Maybe you came up with a unique fundraising idea at your last job and took the lead on it. Or you organised a charity event outside of work to raise money for a friend to fund expensive treatment.

Whatever example you use, be sure to say how the idea worked in practice and the results it had for your organisation (or your friend).

5. Tell me about a time you made a mistake

Here’s what NOT to say: “I was blamed for a mistake at work recently, but it wasn’t my fault …”

The employer doesn’t want a person on their team who makes excuses and blames others for their mistakes.

When asked about a time you failed or made a mistake, own up to it, acknowledge that you could have done something differently, and explain how you should have handled it.

Avoid talking about mistakes involving carelessness or lack of effort. It’s better to talk about a mistake you made because you were lacking in knowledge.

Final Word

Interviewers aren’t trying to catch you out, they just need to dig deep to ensure you’re the best person for the job.

Need some help with interview preparation? Call us on 020 3750 3111.