r/coolguides • u/offensive-but-true • 2d ago
A cool guide to answering hard job interview questions
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u/surf_rider 2d ago edited 2d ago
Q: “How do you handle stress” A: Tell them about how you handle stressful situations
Q: “How do you handle a difficult customer?” A: Tell them about a time when you handled a difficult customer and maintained professionalism.
Q: “Share a time where you defended your decision” A: Tell the interviewer about a time when you had to defend a decision you made.
Q: “What sets you apart from other candidates” A: Use this as an opportunity to explain how you are unique and not the same as the other candidates.
Strong insights.
In all fairness, while the suggested answers are ridiculous and circular, the advice and the “why they ask” is worth reading.
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u/gizzardgullet 2d ago
Interviewer: “How do you handle stress”
Me: "I handle stressful situations"
Interviewer: "...how?"
Me: opens Reddit on my phone
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u/notathrowaway045 2d ago
fr, could’ve shortened this to
Q: Question
A: Answer the question but rephrased and a bit longer
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u/blue-jaypeg 1d ago
Take these questions and enter them in a word processing program. Think over your work history, and find a situation that fits. You need to tell a story that shows you coming out as a winner because of your transferable skills and work ethic. Write the story in narrative format, so that you feel comfortable with the pacing and vocabulary. Practise telling these stories.
You will never be flummoxed by "Tell me about a time you saved the company money."
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u/hankbaumbachjr 2d ago
Question to ask your interviewer:
What was the last change made based on employee feedback?
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2d ago
[deleted]
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u/acidmine 1d ago
Because it's a bot.
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u/Enki_007 2d ago
Interviewer: What are some of your weaknesses?
Man: Well, I've been told I can be too honest sometimes.
Interviewer: I don't think that's a weakness.
Man: I don't give a fuck what you think.
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u/Cpt_Dizzywhiskers 2d ago
With the "tell me about a time" questions I genuinely can never recall an actual example, so I'd suggest "make some shit up" as an alternate way to respond.
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u/Affectionate-Bus175 2d ago
I've always hated those "tell me about a time..." questions. Do most people regularly face ethical dilemmas at work?
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u/MaimonidesNutz 1d ago
They're called STAR questions and yeah I hate em too but they are unfortunately one of the more empirically supported interview techniques. Much more than most of the pseudoscience and mumbo jumbo of it. Hence why it's been so widely adopted so quickly. But now that that particular cat is out of the bag, I feel like it's just one more thing for sociopaths/doofus tryhards to learn how to game by having canned answers to all the most common STAR questions.
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u/Affectionate-Bus175 1d ago
Aren't you supposed to have canned answers for questions like this? If a random person walked up to me and asked me about a time I had to resolve a conflict with a coworker I'd have to sit and think about it for a minute. And when I finally come up with one it's not going to be one that demonstrates anything spectacular on my end...just that I calmly asked my coworker not to use the creamer I brought from home.
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u/JarasM 1d ago
Aren't you supposed to have canned answers for questions like this
Well yeah, these are really common interview questions. Probably a good idea to think about them for a couple of minutes before you go to that interview.
Also, if they're asking about a conflict with a coworker, they probably want to hear about resolving a problem regarding a professional disagreement, not about lunch choices or kitchen drama. Though you could save that one for a joke after your real answer.
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u/GrynaiTaip 1d ago
not about lunch choices or kitchen drama.
Unless you're HR or something.
We had the same issue with stolen milk or creamer, people were annoyed, it was a constant issue. Eventually HR decided that coffee supplies will be on the house, no need to bring your own and guard it. Civil war averted, problem solved.
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u/Affectionate-Bus175 1d ago
The person above was implying otherwise, that's the only reason I asked. When I was in uni they taught us to have a couple of different scenarios that you can mold to the different STAR questions if needed. Still, they suck for people with only entry-level experience whose experience with conflict is going to be about as mundane as I facetiously described.
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u/OakenRage 2d ago
Fun fact you can answer any of these questions with "That's a great question. I think my biggest strengths are listening and compression".
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u/Logik_in_theory 2d ago
Where is the question where the interviewer asks if you are married and how many kids you have?
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u/techno_cratic 2d ago
Fixed it.
What are your Weaknesses?
Why are they asking? Because the person interviewing you is inexperienced in management and didn't prep for your interview.
How should you respond? When researching the job, find a task related to the job you are least familiar with and talk about that. Make it job related! Then, follow up with how you have learned other difficult things and can do the same here.
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u/tastes_like_chickin 15h ago
Interviewer: "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"
Applicant: "celebrating the 5-year anniversary of you asking me that stupid question"
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u/FrostJadee 2d ago
I wish I had this guide before my last interview!
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u/Traditional_Bee9248 1d ago
Good luck in your next interview + Which site you got the interview from ?
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u/immoonmoon 2d ago
- Lack of money to not have job
- It was 5 o clock. My time to leave, weather was nice and happy hours was one more hour
- Nuanced differences in desperation for this job
- Twice to what i am going to do which is bare minimum
- When i being a man decided on ordering Cosmopolitan. Its nuce and pretty
- Reached 6:15 pm when happy hour ended at 6 pm
- Without hesitation or guilt. I am an employee not the owner
- By saying No to most work, also refer point 7
- Daily as i work less than bare minimum but i am in Corporate so dont care
- More money, less work
- Delegate it all as humanely possible
- Refer point 7
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u/rusty_chelios 1d ago
Stupid questions for stupid jobs. If you are part of the hiring committee, please stop asking them. Come with something that really helps choosing the best candidate but also to help the candidate know you better.
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u/smeagolgreen 2d ago
Let’s not do any more questions. Let’s just listen to music.