Answering Interview QuestionsAll interview questions are not the same. Some require very spe-
cific answers. Some warrant more vague and open-ended
answers. Still others do not and should not have to be answered
at all. These more difficult questions require a special kind of
strategy so that you can navigate around them. In the next few
chapters we’re going to talk about four types of questions and the
special strategies required for handling each type:
- Straightforward questions
- Questions behind questions
- Stress questions
- Questions you ask the employer
We’ll also talk about how to recognize and deal effectively with
illegal questions. Finally, we’ll review some of the most important
facts about body language.
Straightforward Questions
Most of the questions in the interview will usually be straightfor-
ward. These questions are designed to assess whether you possess
the kinds of skills, and to what degree you are in command of
those skills, that the job requires. Your skills arsenal and Q state-
ments should be able to help you answer almost all of these types
of questions. Here are some examples of straightforward ques-
tions and recommended replies.
QUESTION: Tell me about yourself.
ANSWER:I have 7 years’ experience as a case manager, spe-
cializing in issues of adolescent behavior, substance
abuse, and juvenile delinquency. I earned a B.A. in
psychology from the University of Wisconsin and a
master’s degree in social work from the University of
Texas at Austin. In my last position at the Teen
Discovery Center, I developed a curriculum to train
juvenile offenders for job readiness. Within a year of
the implementation of the program, over 75 percent
of our clients found gainful employment and kept