Dubin & Lee Blog

6 Most Common Job Interview Traps

  

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When interviewing for a job, have you ever felt like you were asked a trick question? You may have been.

The job interview process is one of the most grueling processes of eliminations you will ever be involved in, unless of course are in show business.

We don’t like to think of a potential employer as trying to trick us or lure us into a trap but given the steep competition for some opportunities and the nature of the process of elimination, they are sometimes forced to do so.

Here are the 6 Most Common Job Interview Traps

1. “Relax.” It is human nature for many people to try and make others feel as comfortable as possible but in a job interview there can be an ulterior motive. If they can get you to drop your “game face” the interviewer feels he or she will get closer to seeing how you will act on an everyday basis 6 months into the job.  Don’t be lured to falling into the trap of behaving as if you are hanging out with your college buddies on the weekend.  You might think you are just letting them see the “real you” but if you’re not careful, it can be seen as a lack of professional judgment.

2. The mole.  Spies are everywhere and never forget it. The classic mole is the receptionist.  I worked at a company where the receptionist had been there over 20 years and no one got hired without her approval. It makes perfect sense that if you are dismissive or rude once, you will be again.

3. Strengths? This one is not as hard as it sounds but so many fall into this trap.  Make sure you answer with your strengths that are in line with the company’s priority needs for the role.  Spending too much time talking about your fantastic skills that are not of much use to the company will cause them concern that you might not be fulfilled in the job.  To learn more on how to hit the company hot buttons, check out How to Sell the REAL You in a Job interview.

4. Weaknesses? This one is a little trickier.  Saying you do not have weaknesses translates as, “I have weaknesses but I’m not going to share them with you.” or “I think I’m infallible.” Neither of which will shine a very good light on you.  It is best to phrase a strength as a perceived weakness. Beware of sounding cliché by saying something like, “I work too hard.”  It needs to come from a sincere place.  Use a scenario where you identified a weakness, worked on it, and it is now a strength.

5. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years? BEWARE!!! Trick question alert! If you say a salary figure, title or anything tangible it will more than likely be used against you. Stick with intangibles that align with the company’s hot buttons.

6. What are you looking to make? Sorry, there is no short answer to this. Check out my 2 minute video on how to answer this question. If you feel you are ever pushed into a corner, you can request the 8 minute follow up video for how to handle the situation.