How to Answer 12 Difficult Interview Questions? Suggestions to Fresh Graduates

Seize the opportunity with good responses

1. What much salary do you expect?
   Tip:
   - Avoid range ➤ “I am willing to follow and accept the scale”
   - Negotiate it if you have work experience
   ❗️ If you are not satisfied with the salary, then reject the offer later.
2. Why this company?
   - State a little bit about the company
   - State the requirement of this job
   - Conclude that it is because of a good match
3. What is your short-term plan?
   2 important points: settle-in and contribution
   - Emphasize that you will settle in as soon as possible
   - Elaborate on what contribution you will make to the company
4. What is your weakness?
   ❗️ Use PAST tense
   - Elaborate on how you overcame the weakness and what you learned from that.
   ▶️ Follow-up question: what is your current weakness?
   ❗️“Weakness” is a trap
   - “I would say there is room for improvement instead of weakness.”
   - Elaborate on how you find it and what you do or will do to overcome it.
5. What is your uniqueness? / What makes you different from others?
   3 points you may elaborate on:
   - The program structure of your major/minor VS. similar programs in other universities
   - Personal skills
   - Internship experiences
6. What is your best/worst xxx(something)?
   The logic behind a good answer:
   - List 2 or 3 points
   - Compare and contrast
   - Conclude which ONE is the best/worst
7. How do you deal with conflicts?
   - What kind of conflict referred to?➤ ask the interviewer to rephrase
   - “I would not say it was a conflict. It was more like the difference in opinions”
   - Elaborate on the case and how you dealt with it.
8. Do you also apply for other companies? / How many companies do you apply to?
   The logic behind a good answer:
   - As a fresh graduate, what you aim to achieve?
   - “Well, it is because this position is the best match.”
   - “This is the only application at this moment.”
9. What do you expect from this company?
   The logic behind a good answer:
   - State the requirement of this job
   - Show that you treasure this opportunity
   - Point out what you can do based on the requirement
   ▶️ If there is a follow-up question, then answer it more specifically.
10. Why you leave your previous job/position?
    ❌ Don’t criticize previous companies/managers
    Possible reasons:
    - Career plan /development
    - Families concerns
11. Could you share a piece of news recently?
    ❌ Don’t select social or political news since people may have different opinions.
    ⭕️ Elaborate on your opinions with logic and conclude it with what you have learned.
12. Questions to the interviewer(s)
    Possible questions:
    - When the results will be released
    - Questions about what the duty/working environment of this job
    ❗️DON’T ask about promotion, the blueprint of the companies’ development, and salary.

Discussion Interview (Group Interview)

Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash

• Point the issues
• Elaborate on the details of the questions
• Look into suggestions

Tips: try not to support other’s arguments since it may show that you don’t equip with critical thinking