There are occasions when an interviewer may be on the fence between yourself and another candidate. Usually when an interviewer is considering really hiring you, he or she will propose a few trick questions.  Have you ever come across any of these phrases during an interview;

 “Describe when you were part of a team that could not get along.”

“If you could change one thing about your last job, what would it be?”

“Tell me about yourself.”

Every one of the above three questions are specifically designed to be trick questions. So, how do you overcome them?

For the “team that can’t get along” don’t go into specifics about conflicts. If you do, the interviewer may think you are part of the problem or that you hold grudges. Focus on how you helped to solve the problem in a positive manner and do so, again, without really focusing on the actual problem.

Next, for the “change one thing about your last job” question, be careful. The interviewer is looking for the real reason you either left that company or were forced to leave the company. He or she is looking to see if you are lying on your resume or if there was any issues between you and your former boss.  Again, be positive. And, whatever you do- don’t lie.  Honestly answer the question but do so with a smile on your face and down play any negative aspects. Always emphasize what you learned from any situation and turn it into something positive!

The “tell me about yourself” question is just tough in general. Do you go into personal items? Do you stay professional? This questions is important because the ambassador wants to put you on the spot. He or she really doesn’t care too much about the answer. Instead, he or she wants to discover how you handle being put on the spot, pressure and if you can network with others on the fly without being inappropriate. So, answer this concisely. Be personal without being detailed. Explain where you went to school, how you go into your field and what two skills you possess that really make you love your line of work. Finish by asking a question back to the interviewer. Ask him or her where she went to school or how long he or she has been with the company.  Keep the entire answer, with the question follow up, under 90 seconds. Practice it before you pitch it! 

Remember, being prepared is the best way to promote confidence in an interview- and, employers love a confident, positive employee!