Below if our latest submission for this week’s 24 hour newspaper: Part 3 – Interview Answers the Right Way. This is the last part of the article we have covered over the past two weeks (3 of 3).

Part 3– Interview Answers the Right Way.

Over the past two weeks I have covered the topic of answering interview questions the right way for job seekers from Mechanical Engineers to Bank Tellers. This is the final part, where we continue to provide information to job seekers on how to answer specific interview questions. Let’s continue with a few additional questions below:

“How have you successfully worked with difficult people?”

Job Interview Answer Notes:

It is never easy to speak negatively about other without being seen as a tattletale. This is definitely one of the hardest questions to answer; so keep things simple. Overall, you want to show the interviewer(s) your “people skills”, that you stay optimistic throughout and it’s hard to change all negative individuals. If things get out of control and you have as much as you can, don’t be afraid to approach the manager in confidence.

For example, “As a Bank Teller for busiest branch in the city, things can sometimes get stressful.  I usually stay focused and positive and hope that my actions will rub off on others around me. I had a difficult time with one individual who never seemed to see eye to eye with me and never pulled his weight. I met this individual for coffee and lunch and got to know him personally, explaining he is bringing the team down. He explained his personal situation and I was able to help him through it. In the end, he made a complete improvement and was one of the main decision makers. We continue to work well and have become good friends”.

“What kind of people do you find difficult to work with?”

Job Interview Answer Notes:

This could be a probing question to the one above. You could keep it simple by saying: “As a Mechanical Engineer, sometimes it’s challenging to work with people who don’t follow company or departmental processes and procedures or slackers. These individuals are usually confrontational, dwell on the negatives and are not able to consider the positives. They always bring others down around them with lack of work ethic, team work and solutions”.

“What are some problems you have encountered on the job and how did you resolve them?”

Job Interview Answer Notes:

Remember; always take ownership without laying blame or problems on your tools or other individuals. Always give a response of a problem you recognized and solved. For example:

“My job as a Mechanical Engineer consists of ongoing changes and multi-tasking, so its easy to overlook problems as they arise. I actually enjoy this environment because it keeps me alert and motivated to find solutions. Last year I was managing a group that consistently produced machines that were faulty. I could not understand why other groups had no issue except for my team. The pressure was mounting and it was costing the company each day. I took the time to go through the process on my own after work and realized that a few new steps were accidentally omitted. I quickly recognized the issue and brought the team together for a meeting the next day. We had a step by step session before going forward. The issue was resolved and I updated all the instructional manuals so the problem did not arise again in the future”.

I hope I was able to cover most of those tough questions our readers requested. Also, I invite you to read Job Interview Answers the Right Way parts 1-2 for additional job preparation information.

Do you have any job or work related topics you would like us to cover in the future? If so, contact us at info@hrinmotion.com