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4. INTERVIEWS
  4.8 ANSWER QUESTIONS
   
  Situational Questions
   
  You also need to think about “What if . . .” questions. These can be difficult to answer. For instance:

“What would you do if your supervisor told you to do something illegal?”

  Use common sense. These types of questions need answers based on your knowledge, experience and personal values. Consider what the employer wants to hear. A calm approach is best. Don’t rush into an answer. It is better to cushion your answer. For example: “One thing I might consider doing, would be . . .” If the interviewer does not like your solution, you can consider a different approach.

Another situational question might ask for an example of how you had to deal with a difficult situation. The interviewer might ask you to describe a time when you had to deal with a difficult supervisor, co-worker, or customer. You should highlight your contributions and keep your answer relevant to the job you are interviewing for.

 
Woman Writing Notes Another area of difficult questions may concern your family responsibilities, age, health or other personal information. They are not always fair questions and may be illegal, but you need to be prepared to deal with them. Refer to the application section that deals with inappropriate questions. You may choose to deal with these type questions by refusing to answer, in which case you will probably not be hired. Another response could be: “If you can tell me how that relates to the position, I would be happy to answer the question.” You must make the decision about how to answer based on how much you want the job.

An interviewer will form opinions about whether you are:

  • Mature
  • An initiator
  • Emotionally stable/even-tempered
  • Thorough
  • A team worker
  • Self-confident
  • Tactful
  • Assertive
  • Adaptable
  • Conscientious
  • Tough minded
  • A hard worker
  • Self-disciplined
  • Honest and sincere
 
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