I don’t know whether it’s guilt on their part because they’re looking at an older worker and there are afraid of you being suicidal because you are putting in all sorts of effort. They probably found someone else. That’s the reality behind this question. There is this something being revealed unit that suggests, “OK. You put in your best. It wasn’t good enough and what will you do?”
You have a couple of different ways to play this. The first one is to answer it straight on. And in the classic suggestion of an answer to this question, this 1 comes out of the book called, “301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions.” It is where I got this question. I always look for more tough interview questions. When I saw this one, I just was revolted.
What they suggest is, “ I tend to think positively, rather than negatively. So, honestly, I can’t imagine what I will do if I don’t end up getting this job because I have dreamt about working here for years. So, let’s talk about why you feel I’m the perfect candidate.” Then, hit them with your best soundbite is that why you were born to do this job.
What a load of crap!
I think you are best off just simply saying to them, “Before I answer, can I just ask you if you’re telling me something with this question?”
I think that’s a far more positive approach to take so that you can have a more open conversation.
So, “No. I am just curious. What would you do?”
And then, from there, what you do is switch over to the tact of talking about why you think your well-qualified
Ⓒ The Big Game Hunter, Inc., Asheville, NC 2020
ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a coach who worked as a recruiter for what seems like one hundred years. His work involves career coaching, all as well as executive job search coaching, job coaching, and interview coaching. He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with more than 1800 episodes, and is a member of The Forbes Coaches Council.
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