Comparison of classic correct and incorrect answers for interviews at Fortune 500 companies

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Question 1: Why do you think you can achieve success in this position? Analysis: This is a rather broad question that provides job seekers with an opportunity to demonstrate their enthusiasm and desire to take on challenges. The answer to this question will provide the interviewer with key information for determining whether the candidate has sufficient motivation and confidence for this position. Wrong answer: I don’t know. I am good at doing many things. If I can get this job and decide to accept it, I’m confident I can do it quite well, as I’ve been successful in the past. Comment: Although this answer may seem acceptable on the surface, it has shortcomings in several aspects. First of all, this language is very weak. Phrases like “good at doing many things” and “quite good” cannot reflect your ambition, and if you cannot demonstrate sufficient ambition, it will be difficult for you to get into the best companies. Furthermore, linking everything that has been done in the past to this position implies that the applicant does not have sufficient ambition for achievement or genuine enthusiasm for this specific role. Correct answer: From my experience, this is the best job for me in my career. For several years, I have been researching this field and keeping an eye on your company, always hoping for an opportunity for such an interview. I possess the necessary skills (I can illustrate this by telling a simple story), I am highly suitable for this position, and I am indeed capable of doing this job well. The comment is a very convincing answer, as it allows the interviewer to see that the applicant possesses the necessary skills and knowledge to carry out this job. The story he told demonstrated the applicant’s skills and verified his initial statements. Finally, the applicant expressed a desire to do well in this job, which demonstrates his enthusiasm and ambition for it. Question 2: What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses respectively? How will these strengths and weaknesses affect your performance in the company? Analysis: The biggest trap with this question is that the first question is actually two questions, plus an additional follow-up question. The trick in these two questions lies neither in whether you can view your strengths seriously, nor in whether you can accurately recognize your weaknesses. Remember, your answers not only serve to explain your strengths and weaknesses to the interviewer, but also reflect your values and perspective on your own worth as a whole. Wrong answer: As for my strengths, I really can’t think of any standout aspects; I believe my skills are quite diverse. As for weaknesses, I think that if a project takes too long, I might get bored. The biggest problem with this kind of response is that the applicant is essentially refusing to answer the first part of the question. The answer to the second part suggests that the applicant may lack enthusiasm. Furthermore, based on their answers to the first two parts of this question, it is difficult for candidates to provide satisfactory answers to the subsequent questions. Correct answer: In terms of my strengths, I believe my greatest advantage is having a highly rational mind that enables me to sort through chaos and find clarity. My biggest weakness is that I may lack enough patience for people who lack a sense of order. I believe my organizational skills can help companies achieve their goals more quickly, and sometimes, my ability to handle complex problems can also influence my colleagues. Comment: This answer achieves three goals at once. First of all, it indeed shows the applicant’s greatest strengths. Secondly, the weakness it expresses can actually be easily understood as a strength. Finally, it points out the strengths and weaknesses of this applicant and the benefits they bring to the company and other employees. Question 3: Have any professors or counselors ever put you in an awkward situation or made you feel insecure? How would you respond in this situation? Analysis: This question assesses a candidate’s ability to work in an unfamiliar field. Through this question, the interviewer can assess the candidate’s willingness and ability to solve problems when the assigned task exceeds their current skill level. Wrong answer: I believe it’s important to question authority, but I can’t learn everything at school. Many people think they know the answers to all questions, but in reality they don’t understand what’s going on in the real world. You know, those are things from the ivory tower. Comment: The biggest problem with this kind of answer is that the applicant shifts the focus of the question away from themselves. Serious interviewers don’t care about your views on higher education. What they want to know is how you would handle the situation described in the problem. Another drawback of this response is that it makes the interviewer doubt whether you are willing to follow orders. Correct answer: During my years as a student, I did my best to learn as much knowledge as possible; I often chose courses that were unfamiliar to me, which led to me being questioned by the professors. Whenever I feel that I know very little about a subject, I try to anticipate some questions in order to prepare for answering them. When I’m stuck, I try to make scientifically sound guesses, admit what I don’t know, and start learning from where I’m unfamiliar*. (If possible, you could give an example…) Comment: The greatest advantage of this answer is that it clearly shows that the applicant is willing to face difficult situations positively. It also shows that job seekers are ambitious and have a clear attitude, knowing how to handle unusual and ambiguous problems. Question 4: Have you ever received a grade that was lower than what you expected? If you have received it, how did you handle the situation? Analysis: By answering this question, it is possible to reveal not only a candidate’s enthusiasm and drive but also whether they are willing to strive for a certain cause and to fight for fairness. Wrong answer: I remember once thinking I should have gotten a B, but I got a C. I went to my advisor, who showed me my scores for each task – I was on the edge of a C grade, but it was clearly a C. I was glad to be able to verify this rather than just accepting the assigned score. Comment: The answer to this question was good at the beginning, but it fell short towards the end. At first glance, it seems that the job seeker is willing to pursue things to the end. But it became clear later that he/she did not try to make any changes. Correct answer: I once had a memorable experience with a professor who studied earth sciences. This person is known for favoring science students, and I happen to not be a science student. In our class, all the non-science students felt that he had very unrealistic expectations regarding our knowledge base. Due to his bias, most of these non-science students performed poorly. Although I performed fairly well, I joined other students in submitting a statement to the department head, suggesting that the university review his teaching methods. Comment: This kind of response shows that this candidate has the ability to overcome difficult situations and to stand out and take the lead. Such an answer can also indicate that this applicant attaches great importance to a sense of fairness. It also shows that job seekers are very concerned about collective interests. Question 5: For the sake of career advancement, do you plan to pursue further education? Analysis: This is a simple question that can be used to gauge your ambition, as well as to determine whether the company’s attention to you will influence your focus on your own future. Wrong answer: I don’t know. I have obtained a bachelor’s degree in management, and I believe I have received a solid education. I think practical work experience is more valuable than what is learned in school. Comment: Although candidates try to show their positive side through such answers, and such responses can indirectly please the interviewer to some extent (as the interviewer is part of the \"actual work\"), they do not reflect any desire on the part of the candidate to strive for improvement. Therefore, based on the information provided by the applicant, if they encounter an optimistic interviewer, that person may think you lack ambition, while if they meet a pessimistic interviewer, that person might consider you to be arrogant. Correct answer: As a college student, the copyright for “Interview Questions from the World’s Top 500 Companies and Comments on Responses” belongs to the author ； Please indicate the source when reproducing! I have learned a lot of knowledge. If there is a suitable opportunity, I will certainly consider pursuing further studies. However, I will consider this matter carefully; I think many people go back to school to study * in a rather blind manner. If I find that the work I do is truly valuable and that I need more education to excel in this field, I will certainly not hesitate to learn*. Question 6: What competitive events have you participated in? Are these activities worth it? Analysis: By examining the actual competitive situations you have experienced, it is possible to gauge your ability to adapt to a competitive environment as well as your level of confidence. When competition becomes a key factor, it is an excellent opportunity to discuss group activities or business operations. Wrong answer: Essentially, I am a very competitive person. I think that in everything I’ve done, I’ve actually adopted a competitive attitude. After all, that’s the only way to survive in the highly competitive business world, right? Comment: Such a job seeker has read too many stories about sharks and Hans; his response gives the impression that in the business world, it’s either you die or I die. Although the business world is highly competitive, people in companies hate it when others see them as fierce bass. Correct answer: I like team sports, and I always do my best to participate in them. I used to play basketball a lot, and I still play sometimes now. Working with a team, striving to achieve common goals, and competing for victory… these things are truly very exciting. Comment: This kind of response shows that the applicant is able to view competition correctly. This means he (she) can use competitive forces to win in the competition without ruining their colleagues’ work. Question 7: How do you influence others to accept your views? Analysis: Your answer will tell the interviewer, first of all, what your views are on influencing others. Secondly, how great is your ability to influence others? Wrong answer: Under normal circumstances, it depends on the value of this idea. If it’s a good idea and the people I’m dealing with are reasonable, then generally speaking, it’s not too difficult to get others to accept my idea. Comment: The problem with this kind of answer is that it doesn’t solve the actual issue. Essentially, this question is asking how you deal with those who do not agree with your views. This answer indicates that you are willing to work in a harmonious working environment and dislike a stressful or disharmonious work atmosphere. Correct answer: This is a field that I have been working hard to explore for many years. People sometimes do not accept good ideas, or even great ideas. I now realize the fact that the way you express your ideas is just as important as the ideas themselves. When I try to influence others, I usually assume I’m in their shoes and try to view things from their perspective. Then I’ll be able to present my ideas to them in a way that is more likely to succeed. Comment: First of all, this answer shows that you understand the complexity of interpersonal communication and are aware that it is somewhat difficult to change someone’s opinions. Secondly, this answer also shows that you understand the importance of using strategies when influencing others, as well as the ability to persuade them in a reasonable manner. Finally, this answer also shows that you understand that in situations of difficult communication, the way communication is carried out is just as important as the content of the communication. Question 8: What experience do you have with oral presentations? How would you evaluate your verbal communication skills? Analysis: This question is designed to assess your public speaking skills, as well as to understand your own assessment of those skills. Wrong answer: I think everyone feels nervous when giving a speech. I can speak verbally, but to be honest, people aren’t always willing to listen. I think that sometimes, it’s better to provide people with written information and then answer their questions. Comment: This kind of response clearly shows a lack of competence in this area; it not only indicates that you don’t like speaking verbally, but it also means that you’re unwilling to improve your verbal communication skills. Correct answer: I once read an article saying that public speaking is the thing Americans fear the most. I realize that if most people are afraid of giving public speeches, then by overcoming my own fears and mastering oral presentation skills, I will be able to stand out in competition. Therefore, I seized every opportunity to give speeches, and I found that the more speeches I gave, the more comfortable I became with them – and of course, I got better at doing them. Comment: This is a great answer. Because it specifically demonstrates your abilities in this area, and it also shows that you are continuing to work hard to improve your public speaking skills. By acknowledging that oral presentations are complex, the applicant demonstrates their honesty and integrity at the same time. Question 9: How do you compare your oral skills and writing skills? Analysis: This is a question with hidden dangers. No matter when, whenever you are asked to compare two things, you must be careful. Questions like this are usually meant to make you reveal your weaknesses. Wrong answer (any answer indicating that one of one’s skills is better than another) Comment: You’ve fallen for the trick. Correct answer: Given the current situation, companies are placing increasing emphasis on employees’ abilities, hoping that they can express themselves clearly and concisely both verbally and in writing. I always take the opportunity to improve my verbal and written communication skills. I believe that both of these skills are extremely important; anyone who wants to succeed in the business world should possess them. Comment: This answer avoids the trap of being perceived as weak in a certain area. At the same time, it can also show that you understand the importance of effective communication skills. More importantly, it allows interviewers to be confident that you have a solid foundation in general skills, which are needed by any company. Question 10: What aspects do you dislike the most when writing academic papers? Analysis: This question helps determine whether you are willing to engage in research work, and whether you are ready to discover information and find solutions to difficult problems. Wrong answer: What worries me the most is having to work on a research topic that I’m not interested in. If I am interested in the research topic, I have no problem carrying out the research work. But in many cases, the results of research cannot be applied in practice. Comment: Although many readers may agree with this answer, it will not satisfy the interviewer. Many job tasks are monotonous and tedious, and it’s uncomfortable to hear job seekers say they dislike such dull work. Correct answer: If I work hard, I will find that there is an infinite amount of information on a given topic. I think the most difficult task is determining when enough information has been gathered to start writing the paper. Comment: This response indicates that the applicant understands the significance of research and is willing to engage in research work. It also shows that candidates are able to conduct in-depth research, as well as that they are competent in writing written papers. Comment: This kind of response demonstrates the candidate’s ambition, enthusiasm, and drive. It also shows that job seekers have unique minds and are very serious about major career decisions.