Answering Tough Interview Questions: A Guide with Do’s and Don’ts

Job interviews are full of challenging questions designed to test your critical thinking, self-awareness, and ability to handle difficult situations. Certain interview questions can be trickier than others—they’ll put you on the spot and test how well you can think on your feet. Here are some tough interview questions, along with examples of both good and bad answers.

“What didn’t you like about your last job?”

This question is a potential minefield. The interviewer is trying to gauge your attitude, how you handle dissatisfaction, and whether you’ll bring any negativity into their workplace. Here is an example of a bad answer:

“My last job was terrible. My boss was always micromanaging the team, and the company didn’t care about its employees. I was miserable every day.”

This answer comes across as bitter and highly unprofessional. It suggests that you might bring a negative attitude to the new workplace and that you might be difficult to work with. Never badmouth a previous employer, no matter how tempting it might be. Instead, try saying something like this:

“I really appreciated the learning opportunities and the chance to work with a talented team, but I found that the lack of clear communication from management sometimes led to confusion and delays. This showed me the importance of clear and open communication in a team setting, and I’m excited to bring this understanding to a company that values collaboration.”

Here, you’ll notice that even though we’re talking about something we didn’t like, we’re still starting off with a positive. An answer like the one above will demonstrate to the interviewer that you’re able to acknowledge a challenge without being overly negative, and that you learned from the experience.

“How do you deal with toxic coworkers?”

Dealing with difficult people is a part of almost any job. The interviewer wants to know if you can handle these situations with grace and professionalism. Let’s start with a bad answer:

“I just avoid toxic coworkers. It’s not my problem, so I don’t get involved.”

On the surface, the example answer above might seem appropriate, but it actually reveals a lot about a candidate. Aside from being terse to the point of almost being dismissive, the above response suggests a lack of initiative and a willingness to let problems go rather than addressing them. Employers want team members who contribute to a positive work environment, not those who passively allow issues to grow. Check out this good answer:

“At my last job. I encountered a coworker who was always gossiping. I addressed the issue by focusing on maintaining a positive work environment and setting boundaries. When the negativity started to affect our work, I calmly spoke with the person one-on-one to express my concerns. That seemed to clear things up, but if the problem persisted, I would have eventually gone to my supervisor.”

This answer shows that you handle conflict maturely, and you know when to escalate issues appropriately. It demonstrates your ability to remain professional under challenging circumstances.

“Which animal would you be and why?”

This question is a classic personality test. The interviewer is looking for insight into your traits and how you perceive yourself. Here’s an example of a bad answer to this question:

“I’d be a lion because I like to be in charge and dominate others.”

It should be fairly obvious why this is a bad answer. It comes off as aggressive, which is never a good look. It also suggests a potential for clashing with others and a lack of collaborative skills, which would be a concern to most employers. Confidence and leadership qualities can be expressed in a far more constructive way. Here is an example of a good answer:

“I would be a dolphin. Dolphins are known for their intelligence, communication skills, and ability to work well in a team. I believe these traits reflect my strengths in collaboration, problem-solving, and maintaining a positive work environment.”

This answer uses animal traits to demonstrate desirable professional qualities. It shows self-awareness and an understanding of what the employer values in a team member.

“Which fictional character would you have dinner with? Why?”

An interviewer will ask this question or variations of it in order to test a candidate’s creativity and personality. In addition to this, they’re attempting to gain insight into your interests and how you connect with them. Here is an example of an answer you shouldn’t give:

“I’d have dinner with Homer Simpson because he’s hilarious and we could just hang out and not talk about anything serious.”

As fun as this imagined scenario might sound, an answer like this might make you seem less serious about your professional responsibilities. It also doesn’t reveal too much about your character or values, which is a missed opportunity to connect with the interviewer. Instead, respond with something like this:

“I would love to have dinner with Atticus Finch from To Kill and Mockingbird. He has an unwavering sense of justice even in the face of adversity, and I’ve always admired that about his character. I think it would be fascinating to discuss his perspectives on courage and morality.”

This answer reveals your thoughtful and introspective side, and demonstrates values such as integrity and moral courage, which are attractive to potential employers.

“You find a wallet with $500 in it on the ground. What do you do?”

Speaking of integrity, this question is designed to gauge a candidate’s ethics and decision-making process. As always, let’s get the bad answer out of the way first:

“I’d keep the money. It’s their loss for dropping it, right?”

This answer raises all sorts of red flags about your ethics and reliability. Employers want to hire people they can trust, and this response indicates a serious lack of integrity. For better results, say something like this:

“I would try to find the owner by looking for identification in the wallet. If I couldn’t locate them, I’d turn it into the nearest police station. It’s important to do the right thing, even when no one is watching.”

Responding like this will demonstrate honesty, responsibility, and respect for others’ property. All of these are critical traits of a great candidate, and that is exactly how you want the interviewer to see you. Answering with something similar to the example above will show that you can be trusted to do the right thing.

Answering tricky interview questions requires a combination of honesty, self-awareness, and strategic thinking. Of course, there are lots of other tricky interview questions out there but learning to approach them in a way that showcases your strengths is key. Remember, the goal is to present yourself as a thoughtful, ethical, and collaborative candidate who will be a valuable addition to the team.