I made the point in the previous chapter that many questions which you might initially believe to be ‘tough’ are actually just more aggressively phrased versions of classic questions. Any questions which neatly fit this definition we have covered in detail in the previous chapter.

Unfortunately, the fact remains that there are a number of questions which can only be defined as tough, mean or downright nasty.

There’s absolutely no need to panic, though. As always, preparation is the key. If you’re aware that you might get asked a particular question and you’ve taken the time to think it through beforehand and prepare an answer then you’ve won more than half the battle.

One of the main reasons interviewers ask such questions is to throw candidates off balance. I remember, early in my career, one interviewer asking me bluntly, ‘Can you make tea?’ They also want to see how you react under stress and pressure. It is, of course, essential that you remain calm under fire and don’t give the interviewer the impression that they’ve rattled you in any way. If you’re prepared for the question then you’ll obviously be a whole lot less likely to panic.

Turning negatives into positives

An identifying feature of tough interview questions is that they will either address a negative issue or they will be phrased in such a manner as to lead you into giving what seems to be a negative response.

The key to all answers is to identify how you can turn this potentially negative situation into a positive one – which really isn’t too difficult when you know how.

No beating about the bush

Another identifying feature of many tough interview questions is how direct they are. Often they lack subtlety, coming straight to the point in order to instantly put you on the spot. Rather than seeing this as a threat, you should try to see it as something positive; at least you’re unlikely to misunderstand the question.

1. You must surely have more than one weakness?

Alternative and related questions

What would you say are your other weaknesses?
Tell me about another weakness.

The meaning behind the question

I mentioned in an earlier chapter that you should be prepared for the interviewer to ask the follow-up question, ‘OK. That’s one weakness. You must surely have more than one weakness?’

What they’re doing with this question is trying to put you under pressure to see how you react. Most people attending an interview will have prepared one stock answer to the question, ‘What are your weaknesses’ – which will cover talking about just one weakness. They’re not expecting to have to:

• think of a second weakness...
• let alone talk about it!

Your answer

Like many so-called ‘tough’ questions, this is only really a tough question if you haven’t prepared for it. Your answer is easy enough and should be prepared along the same lines as you will already have prepared for the top 10 question, ‘What are your weaknesses?’ that we discussed in Chapter 2. However, you have a lot more leeway to cite an example that really isn’t a weakness at all.

Word of warning

If you’re up against a particularly difficult interviewer then it’s always possible they will press you to give yet another example. As always, the secret is to be prepared.

2. What character flaws do you have?

Alternative and related questions

Do you have any personality defects?

The meaning behind the question

This is an aggressively phrased – and potentially very leading – question. The interviewer is trying to force you to expose a major weakness. It’s not too dissimilar to their questioning you about your weaknesses, except that it’s a much broader question – and a much more personal question. Whilst they will obviously be interested in any personality defects you may have, their main purpose in asking you this question is to put you in a difficult situation and see how you handle it.

Your answer

It would most likely be a fatal error to respond directly to this question and start talking about something which is inherently going to be very negative. Whilst declaring that you have no weaknesses would be excessive, it is perfectly reasonable to state that you don’t feel you have any character flaws. You can instead sidestep the question so as to talk about a more minor weakness and, as always when discussing potentially negative points, make sure you put some spin on it so as to turn a negative into a positive.

3. How do you handle being criticised?

Alternative and related questions

How do you take criticism?
How did you react when you were last criticised?
Can you tell me about an occasion when your work was criticised?
Have you ever had an idea that has been criticised by someone else?

The meaning behind the question

Hearing you describe how you handle criticism will tell the interviewer a lot about you as a person – and about what sort of person you are to work with. Everybody needs to be prepared to accept criticism – constructive criticism – where it is due. The interviewer won’t want to hire someone who reacts badly to criticism – someone who isn’t prepared to listen to criticism or someone who takes it as a personal attack. If you have a problem with criticism then you’re going to be difficult to manage – and you’re not going to get the job.

Your answer

Whilst it can be a good idea (even if you haven’t specifically been asked to do so) to cite an example of a situation where you were criticised, you will need to choose your example very carefully – don’t pick a major blunder – and make sure you phrase it in such a way as to demonstrate that you learned from the experience.

Yet again, you need to take what could potentially be a negative topic and turn it round so that it becomes a positive selling point. Don’t fall into the trap of exposing a weakness. As always, make sure you come up smelling of roses.

For those of you who do have a problem with criticism, it doesn’t really matter how you handle criticism – it’s how you lead the interviewer to believe that you handle criticism which really counts.

4. What really makes you lose your rag?

Alternative and related questions

What causes you to lose your temper?
What really makes you angry?
Do you ever lose your cool?

The meaning behind the question

The gloves are off. This is a very direct and potentially very challenging question. The interviewer will know that they are immediately putting you under pressure with such a question. And that’s very appropriate – because this question is all about pressure, what causes you to feel under pressure and how you react under excessive levels of stress and pressure. Your answer could tell the interviewer a lot about you.

Your answer

This is one question where it would definitely be best not to give a specific example. The interviewer will not be impressed by hearing about the time you stubbed your cigarette out in your manager’s coffee cup before telling them precisely where they could stick their job. Regardless of how volatile your character is, you need to convey an impression of a calm, level-headed individual – and one who remains as such even when the going gets tough. Everybody loses their rag sometimes – including the interviewer sitting opposite you – but it would be a fatal mistake for you to disclose too much about yourself with your answer.

5. How did you cope with the most difficult colleague you’ve ever had?

Alternative and related questions

Have you ever had problems getting on with a colleague?
Is there anyone you currently work with that you find really difficult to relate to?
What sort of person do you find difficult to work with?
Have you ever had to work with someone really difficult?

The meaning behind the question

The way in which you answer this question will tell the interviewer pretty much everything they need to know about your interpersonal skills.

When it comes to dealing with interpersonal conflict, there are three main ways in which you might react:

• Do you clash head-on with difficult people?
• Do you find ways to deal with them?
• Do you run away and hide?

The interviewer wants to ascertain which of these categories you fall into. It’s a probing question that will not only tell them how you are likely to interrelate with your colleagues but will also speak volumes about your character in general.

Whilst it might seem blatantly obvious what makes someone difficult to work with, the interviewer will also be interested in your perception of what makes a colleague difficult.

Your answer

The correct answer is, of course, to convey to the interviewer that you firmly fall into the second category. You want to demonstrate that you are someone who, when faced with a difficult colleague (or customer, for that matter) will find ways to deal with them – and to put your relationship on a more positive footing. It’s a great opportunity to portray yourself as management material.

The interviewer won’t want to hire a hothead who is just going to clash with their colleagues, nor do they want to hire someone who is going to be prone to being bullied. Most working environments contain at least one ‘difficult’ person – it’s the school bully syndrome. It’s a fact of life and you’ve got to show that you can cope with it – not only that you can cope with it but that you can, in spite of the difficulties, successfully work with such individuals.

Empathy is very important but it’s vital to be assertive with it or you’re not going to get very far.

6. Are you able to make difficult decisions and tough choices?

Alternative and related questions

Have you ever had to make a really difficult decision at work?
What kind of decisions do you find difficult?
Have you ever had to make a tough and unpopular choice at work?

The meaning behind the question

You might think that there’s no hidden meaning to this question – that it’s a very direct question as to your decision-making abilities. However, it all hinges on precisely how you define a difficult decision – and your answer will almost inevitably reveal this. The interviewer wants to assess what your conception of a difficult decision is – and how you feel about making such decisions.

Your answer

The secret is to establish your definition of a difficult decision. Some decisions are inevitably more difficult to make than others – but you don’t want to lead the interviewer into believing you would have problems making a difficult decision if it was necessary. Rather than betraying indecisiveness (which will always be a negative point) you need to demonstrate you accept that it is a necessary evil to have to make certain difficult decisions.

This question is most likely to be asked of those in reasonably senior positions – as the saying goes, it’s tough at the top. It’s therefore a good idea to focus on decisions which have a direct impact on the lives of your staff – undoubtedly the most difficult decisions any manager has to make. Most managers will, at one stage or another, have had to fire someone or make someone redundant – or at the very least take the decision to discipline a member of staff.

7. Why haven’t you achieved more in your career?

Alternative and related questions

Why haven’t you achieved more in your current/last job?

The meaning behind the question

This question is clearly a veiled criticism. It’s a very clever question and can quickly separate out the weaker candidates from the stronger ones. This is a tough question because the main aim of the question is to put you under pressure – under attack – to see how you handle it. As with a number of other tough questions, the way you answer is of more interest to the interviewer than an actual explanation as to why you haven’t achieved more.

Your answer

Don’t let this question rattle you. Don’t let the interviewer put you on the defensive. Don’t take it personally.

In most cases, you shouldn’t fall into the trap of admitting that you feel you should have achieved more. Even Bill Gates will feel he should have achieved more in his career; it’s human nature to feel you could have done better. You should instead spin this question round and throw it back at the interviewer as a statement of precisely what it is you have achieved in your career – and why you are proud of that. You should also express optimism for the future.

If, on the other hand, you clearly could have achieved more in your career then you should attempt to cite some extenuating circumstances. This is inevitably going to be a weaker answer but it’s preferable to stubbornly insisting that there aren’t any weaknesses in your career path when there blatantly are. It’s even more important in this case to express your optimism for the future – to emphasise that you are now ‘back on track’ and ready to make up for lost time.

8. What don’t you like about this line of work?

Alternative and related questions

What aspects of your job would you change if you could?

The meaning behind the question

This is a loaded question designed to talk you into disclosing potentially negative information about your attitude to your work. The interviewer is trying to gain further insight into how suited you are to this line of work – and in particular how suited you are to the vacancy for which you are now applying.

Your answer

This can be a slippery question to answer but it’s not really that difficult to get right if you understand the meaning behind the question and are able to avoid various pitfalls.

First of all, you’re not going to get away with replying, ‘Nothing at all.’ Everybody has some aspects of their work that they don’t like – or at least like less than other parts. Even film stars must get fed up with having to be on set at 5 am in order to earn their £10 million fee.

Having established that you’ve got to come up with at least one aspect of your work that you’re not mad about, it is essential to make sure you pick on something minor. After all, if there’s something major you don’t like about this line of work then why are you applying for this job? Preferably you should hit on one or two minor issues which almost everyone in your line of work is likely to also find objectionable.

The main thrust of your answer has to be that you do, of course, very much enjoy this line of work and that any downsides are only minor. As usual, turn an inherently negative question round so as to give a positive reply. Downplay your dislikes so that they appear trivial and irrelevant.

9. Where does your current employer think you are at the moment?

Alternative and related questions

What reason did you give to your current employer for your being absent to attend this interview?
Why does your current boss think you’re not at work right now?

The meaning behind the question

Ouch! This really can be a nasty question. As well as being a deliberate attempt to panic you, the interviewer is also probing both your loyalty and your honesty. They’ll be very interested to find out both how you handle the question and where, indeed, your current employer does think you are.

Your answer

If you’re lucky, your boss will know exactly where you are and your answer will be a piece of cake. In most cases, though, your boss will be blissfully unaware of what you are up to – and you could have given any one of a number of excuses as to where you are. The single most important thing here is to not be exposed as a liar. You may have made up a little white lie for your current employer to explain your absence – it’s harmless enough. But it’s not going to impress your interviewer. I hate to say it but it’ll be time to cover one little white lie with another.

10. What are your current boss’s weaknesses?

Alternative and related questions

What’s the main criticism you would make of your current boss?

The meaning behind the question

This is a very thorny question – and the interviewer knows it to be a very thorny question. It’s unlikely they care very much about what your boss’s weaknesses are – although they will be interested in seeing how you define weakness. But, as with many of the toughest questions, they’re primarily interested in how you react to the question.

Your answer

It would be a mistake to say that your boss has no weaknesses; it’ll ring hollow. However, it would also be a mistake to level too much criticism at your boss – because you won’t come across as being a very loyal employee, because it has no relevance to your ability to do the job for which you are applying and because it’s quite simply unprofessional. You want to deflect this question and the secret is to tackle the question along much the same lines as you would respond to the question, ‘What are your weaknesses?’ Talk about a weakness that’s not necessarily a weakness at all – but make it sound convincing.

11. What are your current employer’s plans for the year ahead?

Alternative and related questions

Is your current employer planning to launch any new products/services?
Is your current employer planning to expand this year?

The meaning behind the question

There are two possible scenarios here. The interviewer could simply be attempting to assess how professional you are in terms of loyalty, discretion, honesty, etc. Alternatively, they could be deliberately pumping you for commercially sensitive information. Sadly it is the case that some interviews are purely a pretext for extracting information from a competitor’s employees. It may be hard to tell which of the two scenarios you are in but it doesn’t really matter because the answer you need to give is the same.

Your answer

It’s very simple. You should in no way be divulging your current employer’s confidential plans. If there are any plans for new products, services, etc. which are already clearly in the public domain then you can of course talk about that. But you should resist all temptation to let the interviewer extract any other information from you. Whilst they might lead you to think it will be to your advantage to spill the beans, at the end of the day nobody wants to employ someone who could later pose a security risk.

12. What reservations do you have about working for us?

Alternative and related questions

Can you see any disadvantages to working for us?
Have you ever heard anything negative about our organisation?

The meaning behind the question

The interviewer is laying a trap for you here. By assessing what reservations you might have about their organisation, they can gauge how much the position really appeals to you. If the interviewer can identify you as having any concerns or reservations about working for their organisation then they’re immediately going to have concerns themselves as to your commitment to wanting to work for them.

Your answer

There’s only one way to answer this question: You don’t have any reservations. And then go on to explain why you don’t have any reservations – or, more specifically, to reiterate what it is that attracts you to this organisation.

If you do have any reservations – or have heard bad things about the organisation – then you should certainly keep this to yourself – but you should also be asking yourself why you would want to be working for this organisation if you have such concerns.

I know some readers will feel that it is only natural to have some doubts about a potential employer and that it is therefore reasonable to bring these up at interview, albeit in a polite and positive manner. I can see where you’re coming from on this – but if you do take this path then be warned that you are treading on very thin ice. I would vote very much in favour of sidestepping this question.

13. You’ve been out of work for a while. Has it been difficult finding a job?

Alternative and related questions

Why have you been out of work for so long?
Why were you out of work for so long between these two jobs?

The meaning behind the question

If it’s been a while since you last worked then there could be many different reasons. The interviewer wants to know precisely what the reason is and what, if any, bearing it has on your application.

Your answer

The most common reason for being out of work is, surprise, surprise, because you have been struggling to find work. But if you tell the interviewer this then it will immediately ring alarm bells. It may seem harsh, but if nobody else wants you then why should they?

You need to phrase yourself carefully so as to convey the impression that the reason you have been out of work is not because your services are not in demand but because you have, quite sensibly, been selective in your choice – and that this particular vacancy meets all your criteria.

Make it clear that you have been proactive in your job hunt but that the right job isn’t always available at the right time. You have consciously chosen not to leap into a new role simply in order to remain in employment.

You also need to be prepared for the interviewer to follow up by asking why you left your last job – assuming they haven’t asked already.

Besides difficulty in finding work, other reasons for being out of the workplace include undertaking further training/education, raising a child, caring for another dependant, travel and ill health.

For further advice on how to handle these circumstances please take a look at Question 29, ‘Why is there a gap in your CV?’ in Chapter 3.

14. What’s your sickness record like?

Alternative and related questions

How many days did you take off sick last year and why?
What would your current employer say if I asked them about your sickness record?
How’s your health?

The meaning behind the question

Time is money or, more particularly, your time is your employer’s money. No employer likes to lose money through staff being off sick. By directly questioning you on this topic the interviewer can gauge whether you are likely to be reliable in your attendance at work – or whether you might pose a liability.

Your answer

It may well be tempting to give the interviewer a glowing account of your complete lack of illness. However, it is important to remember that the interviewer will most likely be seeking a reference from your last boss – and this is just the kind of fact that they may well check up on.

If you have been absent from work as a result of a significant illness or a major accident then you will have to disclose this – but do not be embarrassed or defensive about it. The interviewer should appreciate that these things do happen and, as long as they are not given any reason to suspect that you were ‘faking it’, you should have nothing at all to be worried about. And if they’re not understanding about this then do you really want to work for them anyway? If the incident was recent then it’s obviously important to emphasise that the issue is now completely resolved and you are fully fit for work.

15. What do you think of me as an interviewer?

Alternative and related questions

Do you think I’m a good interviewer?

The meaning behind the question

A strange question – and, in most cases, totally irrelevant to your ability to do the job for which you are applying. The interviewer has two aims here:

• to throw you off balance and see how you react under pressure;
• to see how you handle the social challenge of having to appraise somebody’s performance – somebody who is ostensibly your superior.

Your answer

Whilst it’s perfectly acceptable to visually express a little surprise at the question (you’re only human, after all) you definitely don’t want to lose your composure. It is essential to remain calm under fire. And it’s not a difficult question really – the key is to strike a balance between being excessively critical and being excessively sycophantic, whilst still communicating a meaningful observation.

16. If you were in my position, what questions would you be asking?

Alternative and related questions

If you were interviewing someone for this job what would you most like to ask them?

The meaning behind the question

On the one hand, the interviewer is genuinely looking for a question (or questions) they haven’t thought of and that they perhaps should have. On the other hand, in unexpectedly reversing your roles they’re looking to see how well you can think on your feet.

Your answer

You’re going to need to give the interviewer a possible question – if not a couple of possible questions. There’s no way you can answer along the lines of, ‘I think you’ve already asked everything that I would have asked.’

The only way in which this question might be tricky is if you’re unprepared for it – which most candidates will be. Other than that, it’s a gift horse – because it gives you the opportunity to deliver a positive and pre-prepared answer to a question of your choice.

It’s all too easy to interpret this question as, ‘What would be the toughest question I could ask you?’ – and that is, of course, the last thing you should do. If you select your seven ‘favourite’ questions (or, more precisely, your seven favourite answers) from the previous chapter then it’s unlikely that any one interviewer will ask you all seven. This should leave you with one or two up your sleeve to roll out on just this occasion.

Don’t select from my top 10 – because most of these will crop up in almost any interview.

And I would naturally recommend you don’t select from this chapter – with one exception. If you feel confident enough to pull it off then you could plump for, ‘What makes you better than any of the other candidates I’m interviewing?’ (see Question 18 below). I would generally recommend you stick to safer ground, though.

17. What would be the toughest question I could ask you?

Alternative and related questions

What’s the toughest question you’ve ever been asked at interview?

The meaning behind the question

This is a question which puts you firmly on the spot. Obviously, once the interviewer knows what the toughest question is they’re going to be expecting your answer. As well as seeing how you react to stress, they will be hoping to identify a chink in your armour – the main reason you’d feel a question to be tough is, of course, because it hits a raw nerve and exposes a weakness.

Your answer

There’s no doubt about it – if you’re not prepared for this question then this question itself is probably one of the toughest you’re likely to ever get hit with. However, if you’re prepared then it’s a completely different kettle of fish.

It should go without saying that you should definitely not really tell them what the toughest question is. This is an opportunity to get the interviewer to ask you a question of your choice – one for which you know you can deliver a positive and impressive response.

You obviously need to suggest a question which can definitely be described as ‘tough’ – and, ideally, it should be a question an interviewer is unlikely to ask you. It makes sense to have three or four possibilities lined up just in case your favourite has already cropped up earlier in the interview – and in case the interviewer follows up by asking you to pick another one. I’d suggest you simply pick out three or four of the tougher questions from the previous chapter.

18. What makes you better than any of the other candidates I’m interviewing?

Alternative and related questions

What would you say if I told you that you’re not the best candidate I’ve seen so far?
I don’t think you’ve got what we need. Why should I hire you?
If I told you that I don’t think you’re the candidate we’re looking for, what would you say to try to change my mind?
Do you really feel you’re up to this job?

The meaning behind the question

The interviewer may be indicating that you have failed to convince them so far that you are the best candidate for the job. Alternatively, they may just be asking you to pitch yourself. Either way, what they’re really looking for is for you to give them at least one good reason why they should be hiring you and not someone else.

Your answer

As you can see under ‘Alternative and related questions’ above, there are many different ways in which the interviewer can ask you this question. Regardless of how precisely they phrase themselves, you should aim to answer the question as if they had asked, ‘If I told you that I don’t think you’re the candidate we’re looking for, what would you say to try to change my mind?’

To successfully answer this question you need to have a clear understanding of what the perfect candidate for the job would be and how best you match that description – more so than the other candidates. But don’t go overboard in your answer; you probably don’t know anything about the other candidates.

This sort of question generally comes towards the end of an interview so if you feel that the interviewer’s previous questions have failed to cover one of your major selling points then now is the time to speak up or forever hold your peace.

19. I think you’re overqualified for this job. Don’t you?

Alternative and related questions

What would you say if I told you I thought you were overqualified for this job?

The meaning behind the question

In asking this question, the interviewer has most likely already concluded that you are, technically, overqualified for the job. By asking this question, they’re giving you a chance to comment on the matter – to explain to them why it is that you want this job when it is seemingly ‘beneath’ you.

Being overqualified for a position is a significant hurdle as employing such an individual can – unless you can justify yourself – pose a major risk to the interviewer. Are you desperate and prepared to take any job going whether you are really interested in it or not? Are you going to be disappointed with the role and move on quickly? Are you going to cause problems in the hierarchy?

Your answer

If you are overqualified for the position then you’re going to need to address the issue. There are a number of reasons why you would be considering a job for which you are theoretically overqualified – not least a challenging economic climate with high unemployment and a scarcity of jobs. Regardless of what your actual reasons are, you need to deliver a very convincing explanation to the interviewer if your application is to survive this question.

Naturally, if you don’t feel you’re overqualified then do query this with the interviewer. If they can tell you why they think you’re overqualified then it will help you to counter their objections. But perhaps you have simply misunderstood what the role entails and this vacancy isn’t appropriate for you.

20. What will you do if I decide not to hire you?

Alternative and related questions

What effect would it have on you if we decided not to hire you?
How would you feel if your application for this job was unsuccessful?

The meaning behind the question

No, this doesn’t necessarily mean the interviewer is going to turn you down. It’s yet another stress question. The interviewer will also be interested in seeing how you handle rejection and what your other job search plans are.

Your answer

As with many seemingly negative questions, this is an opportunity for you to make a positive statement confirming your interest in the role – but making it clear that you’re by no means desperate and that you know you will be in demand elsewhere. Don’t react defensively or aggressively. Keep your cool and answer the question in a very matter-of-fact manner.

21. See this pen? Can you sell it to me?

Alternative and related questions

See this pencil/paperclip/computer/desk/mobile phone/shoe…

The meaning behind the question

You might think this question is only likely to be asked if you work in sales – but you’d be wrong. It can be asked of almost anyone, regardless of whether sales skills are important to their job. It’s a question which forces a candidate to think on their feet whilst under pressure – and this can tell an interviewer a lot about a candidate, not least how clearly they are able to think and to communicate. It’s a classic question – some might say cliché – but it nonetheless regularly features in interviews.

Your answer

There are two possible ways of answering this question – depending on your line of work. If you do work in sales then you shouldn’t need too much advice from me as to how to handle the question. You simply need to demonstrate your standard sales patter and techniques to the interviewer, inventing pricing, discount offers, payment terms, etc. as you go. The precise details are not important; it’s the methods you employ which count – identifying the customer’s needs and matching those to the specific benefits of the product, etc.

If, on the other hand, you don’t work in sales (which is the majority of us) then this question is going to be a little trickier to handle. Don’t let yourself be panicked, though; the interviewer knows full well that you are not used to selling and they won’t be expecting you to have a whole arsenal of sales techniques at your disposal. And don’t take yourself too seriously; good people are always light-hearted and friendly.

Concentrate on:

• talking the interviewer into expressing a need – or needs;
• describing the object, including both its features and, more importantly, its benefits;
• discussing pricing (which you will invent off the top of your head);
• asking them directly for the sale.

Word of warning

This is a question where (unless you work in sales) it is particularly important to convince the interviewer that your answer is not rehearsed. If they can clearly identify that you have planned, prepared and rehearsed for this question then it’s going to take a whole lot of impact out of your answer.

22. If you were an animal at the zoo, which animal would you be and why?

Alternative and related questions

If you were a dog, what breed of dog would you be?
If you were a biscuit, what type of biscuit would you be?
If you were a make of car, what make would you be?
If you were a fruit, what fruit would you be?

The meaning behind the question

Clearly the interviewer fancies themselves as a bit of an amateur psychiatrist. Superficially, it’s a fairly silly question really. However, the answers candidates give can be very revealing. The interviewer is obviously testing your ability to think on your feet – but they are also looking for some further insight into how you perceive yourself.

Your answer

This is definitely one of the most difficult questions to answer. You’ve got to quickly think of all the different possible animals (or dog breeds or cars, etc.) and then pick one which has certain – positive – characteristics which you feel match your own. You’ve then got to explain your choice to the interviewer. This isn’t easy – but don’t panic; stall for time if necessary. And remember that there is no ‘correct’ answer to the question – it’s all about how you reach your answer and how you express yourself.

23. If there was a monkey hanging from a chandelier, how would you get it down?

Alternative and related questions

If there was a venomous snake sunbathing on your patio, how would you get rid of it?

The meaning behind the question

We’re clearly getting into the weird and wacky with this question – but interviewers have been known to ask such questions. You might think you’ll never get asked such a seemingly ridiculous question in an interview. However, I can personally vouch that questions like this do get asked – having been asked precisely this question myself many years ago.

Your answer

There is no ‘right’ answer to this sort of question. It is purely a test of your ability to analyse a problem and identify possible solutions. Once you realise this you will hopefully be a lot less rattled by the question than I was at what was virtually my first-ever interview. Don’t let yourself be rattled by the question – and don’t lose your sense of humour either. However, telling the interviewer you’d probably get your rifle out is unlikely to go down well.

24. Why don’t polar bears eat penguins?

Alternative and related questions

Why do butterflies generally come out during the day and moths generally come out at night?

The meaning behind the question

You might think this question is along the same lines as the previous question about monkeys and chandeliers. However, technically, this is actually a general knowledge question. Polar bears don’t eat penguins because polar bears live in the Arctic and penguins live in the Antarctic – a very long way away. However, in asking this sort of question, the interviewer doesn’t really expect many people to get the right answer – and they don’t necessarily care too much if they do. They’re more interested in how you think your answer through – so, yes, unless you know the ‘correct’ answer, this question is indeed similar to the previous question.

Your answer

‘Because they can’t get the wrappers off.’ Well, that would certainly be one possible answer. Let’s face it – you’re probably not a zoologist and this is one occasion where demonstrating a sense of humour – not to mention some lateral thinking – wouldn’t do you any harm. I certainly know of at least one candidate who answered in this fashion. However, assuming you don’t know the correct answer nor are a budding comedian, the best answer to give is along the same lines as the previous question – demonstrate your ability to analyse the situation and identify possible theories.

25. How much water would it take to fill St Paul’s Cathedral?

Alternative and related questions

How many bottles of red wine are drunk in France on Christmas Day?

The meaning behind the question

This is definitely not a general knowledge question. It is a question specifically designed to test your reasoning skills. The interviewer wants to see how you approach the problem, how able you are to identify the relevant factors and, having identified the relevant factors, how you use them to calculate your answer. They’re not expecting you to be able to give them a precise figure. They’re mainly looking to see how you rise to the challenge of attempting to formulate an answer.

Your answer

You’d be forgiven for pausing for a second to think your answer through. This is most definitely not an easy question. Try to keep a clear head and identify what factors will lead you to an answer. You’re not expected to be an expert on St Paul’s Cathedral – nor on French wine-drinking habits. The key is to try to think through the question logically and to convey your thoughts to the interviewer in an ordered fashion.

Word of warning

Having answered such questions, don’t make the mistake of asking what the correct answer is. The interviewer probably won’t know and you might just make them feel a little foolish.