Tricky questions in the interview - and the perfect answers

"What are your weaknesses?"

Everyone has weaknesses, you know that as well as the people you want to hire. So stay relaxed and tell yourself that a self-reflected person usually arrives better than a proud rookie. But that does not mean that you should scourge yourself. Try to choose a weakness that you can also sell as a strength, advises application coach Diana Ochs. "If, for example, you have problems leaving work, it means that you like to hold the strings in your hands and keep track of them," she explains. "That should be presented in a conversation like this." You can also name a weakness that is not so relevant to your work. "For a landscape gardener, for example, a lack of sense of order may not be that dramatic," says Ochs. A third way is to explain how to deal with the weakness. Did you attend courses, for example, to learn to organize yourself better? Then say so calmly, because at the same time you show that you are solution-oriented and work on yourself.

"What was your biggest job failure?"

Again, it is a good thing to show honesty but at the same time explain what lessons you have learned from it. It is important that you present the story confidently. If you are still so embarrassed that you are already red-hot at the thought of it, perhaps you should choose a more harmless failure, advises application coach Diana Ochs. A disaster in the future or earlier main task should not be presented, for example, if you have operated as budget responsible mismanagement. Counter questions can help to fathom what the interlocutor would find problematic: 'What do you rate as a failure?'

"If you had offspring, would you want to continue working?"

No employer can discriminate against you based on your family planning. So you can easily specify that you do not want a child at all. However, that may not be necessary. Look at the company's attitude beforehand: Does it promote its family-friendly working conditions? Then you can assume that you will not be sorted out immediately because you want to start a family. If you are unsure whether or not your child will find children problematic, Diana Ochs advises: "It is best to diplomatically answer that a child is currently not an issue. And when it comes to that, you would certainly find a constructive solution for everyone involved."Statements about the duration of the baby break or the desired working hours need and should not be met here in any case.

"What does our company stand for in your eyes?"

An important question that you can and should prepare well for. "Anyone who stammered here and is not informed about the company is in very bad shape," says Diana Ochs. So you study on the homepage the company profile, current press releases, the history, the latest developments, products, mission statements, campaigns and so on. So find out how the company itself wants to be seen. "It is important to show that you understood this content"Ochs. So do not just memorize, but try to reflect what you have read in your own words and to explain your own attitude to it.

"Where do you see yourself in ten years?"

It is important to most employers that you want to be loyal to the company. Instead of 'see where the wind carries me' you should rather 'hopefully in this company!' answer, even if the position is temporary. The desire for development is always well received. Whether you are looking for a leadership position or want to develop your professional skills, that you are open for new tasks and new projects. At this point, you can also well ask the question whether the company offers a long-term perspective.

"How do you deal with change?"

"Every employer wants to hear that you are willing to learn and flexible"says Diana Ochs. Basically, you should signal that I consider changes as part of my job and I want to contribute to making something positive out of them. In a leadership position, you should do this a little more, because it may be your job to help develop those changes. Show that you enjoy new ideas, that you are curious, and that you can handle crises. If there are examples from your work experience - so much the better. To fill the words with life.

"Why do you want to leave your current company?"

Very important: Stay loyal to your old company. Even if your boss is a choleric goat or the working climate is hell. "No employer likes to do dirty laundry, because he expects loyalty," says Diana Ochs. Rather, try to put it positively: What does the new job have, what your age does not have? Was it always your dream to work for this company? If you have been with your old company for a long time, you can say that you want a change and want something new. To honesty advises Diana Ochs, if unfavorable working hours are the reason for the change. "If you have to pick up your child at 5:00 pm, then you should say so, because if the employer expects you to be in the office by 7:00 PM, no one will end up with it."

"What makes you better than other applicants?"

Given the requirements in the job profile, most applicants will probably have similar qualifications. "Try to stand out from that average and present your personal icing," says Diana Ochs. Think about what social skills you have. Can you possibly bring together conflicting parties well? Do you think very innovative? Or do you have special qualifications that could benefit the company? Can you maybe a special foreign language? Think back to situations where you were praised or particularly successful. Sometimes it also helps to talk about it with a person who knows you well and can judge from the outside.

"Why did your studies take so long?"

"Try to relieve these long times with a good reasoning"says Diana Ochs. That you were regular at the campus bar or had a learning blockade, you should keep better for yourself. "But if you studied for a long time, because you were abroad or because you had to work alongside, that's far from a blemish." The same applies if you had children or had to look after other family members. It is more difficult in a long illness. "If I was sick longer ten years ago and otherwise have a top CV, then I can say that," says Ochs. "If the illness is not so long back, I would prefer to come up with a different answer, because otherwise the impression will quickly hang that I'm currently not so resilient."

Which questions are not allowed in job interviews?

There is information that employers are not allowed to query in a job interview. These include questions about an existing pregnancy, illness, religious beliefs, union affiliation, financial circumstances or sexual orientation. "If such obviously discriminatory questions are asked, you can actually lie, without being legally prosecuted," explains Diana Ochs. "However, a lie can shake the relationship of trust with the employer, which is not necessarily ideal for starting a new job." It therefore recommends a diplomatic approach. For example: 'Religion is a very personal matter. I do not consider the question of faith to be relevant to my job. ' Or, 'You and I know that this question is not allowed, but I'll answer you anyway.' So you can reflect the employer that you have prepared.

In exceptional cases, however, these 'non-legal' questions may also be permissible, for example if you are applying as a laboratory assistant in a chemical company that is not allowed to employ any pregnant women in this job or if your employer has a religious background. "So it pays to research in advance if there is such a legitimate interest on the part of the employer for such information," says Ochs.

Tip: deviate from the standard!

Good preparation is important, of course. But Diana Ochs advises: "Stay still authentic and do not bend too much." If you simply just baseboard the perfect application, you will not be noticed in the crowd and in the worst case will not be taken seriously. "Every company wants to hire a personality and not just a professional qualification." So dare to surprise, too. Especially people who aspire to a leadership position can score points by representing interesting positions or even asking a critical counter-question.

Our expert

Diana Ochs - freelance trainer, coach and consultant - is a specialist for female specialists and executives. The focus of her work is the topics of re-entry and compatibility, positioning of women in men's teams, job search and entry into the new job, perspective development and dealing with difficult work situations such. Mobbing.Infos and contact: www.dunkelrot-beratung.de