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Woman Shares How To Answer The Most Annoying Interview Questions
Know what you need to say and not say in an interview!
We want to stand out in job interviews, but not for bad reasons. Unfortunately, interviews have proven to be the biggest hurdle to overcome for many. Some appear too confident they seem full of themselves, some end up blanking out, and some are too nervous to form proper sentences.
Erin McGoff is an award-winning documentary director who also works as an editor. As someone who’ve interviewed people before, she shares tips on how candidates can convey their passion for the job they are applying for and the right words to use while doing so!
More info: TikTok | erinmcgoff.com
Three things you shouldn’t say in a job interview (especially your first one!).
@erinmcgoff I could do a billion of these #careeradvice #dontsweatit #careertiktok #tiktoktaughtme #learnontiktok #jobinterview #interviewtips
Coffee Music – Cafe Music BGM channel
When you’re late:
Don’t rant on and on about how the street, the vendors, the weather, etc. were being uncooperative. Instead, remain professional and explain that you prioritize the interview, appreciated them for waiting, and that this isn’t a repeated behavior.
Resume gap:
Whatever the reason was for the gap, make sure to condense them in a way that does not dive too deep with your personal story. Add on with how it might have affected your career and possibly, end it with a positive tone that you have recovered and ready for the next challenge.
Unexpected questions:
Some interviews can throw a wrench into your confidence with unexpected questions. But don’t panic! Erin’s way of asking for a moment respectfully is this: “Hmm, that’s a great question! Would you mind if I took a moment to think about my answer and we could come back to it?”
What is your greatest strength?
@erinmcgoff this question is alllll about gauging your self-awareness! #careertiktok #jobinterview #tiktoktaughtme #interviewtips
Steven Universe – L.Dre
When it comes to pointing you your strength, you don’t want to sound:
– Unprepared: Ummm… I don’t know. Nothing comes to mind.
– Cocky: Well I’m really good at making money. I have a lot of money and I’ll make this company a lot of money.
– Arrogant, but vague: I’m really really good at what I do. When you hire me today, you won’t regret it.
Here’s an example:
“I think one of my greatest strengths is my ability to focus. I’m really grateful that I’ve always had the ability to focus. And it contributes to my ability to consistently meet deadlines. (Not only humble, but you also explain how your strength point proves to be useful)
Something I’ve been told in the past is that I have a really good attitude and I inspire those around me to be more creative. (Be specific about how your soft skills are relevant to being your strength)
I’ve had previous managers tell me that I’m dependable. They can always count on me to get the job done right and on time. (Again, relevant and be confident!)”
What is your greatest weakness?
@erinmcgoff Reply to @ssa.brook.pascal you can name anything as long as it’s honest & you’re taking tangible steps to better yourself #careertiktok #jobinterview #fyp
Steven Universe – L.Dre
A common answer she heard: I work too hard, I care too much, and I sometimes am too invested in my job. (This isn’t really a weakness and you don’t sound like you’re trying to fix it.)
Here’s a sample where you not only mention, but also addresses how you are working hard to overcome that weakness:
“Something I’m working on right now is just my general confidence. I tend to have a lot of anxiety when it comes to public speaking or giving presentations. Honestly, even in this interview I’m feeling a little bit of anxiety. So something that I’ve done in the past year is I’ve joined a public speaking group, where we practice speaking in front of each other. and that’s been really helping me with my confidence and with my presentation skills.”
Why should we hire you?
@erinmcgoff there are tons of different ways to answer, but I love this formula 👌 #careertiktok #tiktoktaughtme #jobinterview #interviewtips
♬ Steven Universe – L.Dre
She shared three examples NOT to follow:
– I don’t know, you posted the ad saying you need someone and now I’m here.
– You should hire me for my skills, experience, and personality.
– I will work harder that ANYONE ELSE you’re considering.
Here’s a sample answer that points out strong arguments as to why you’re the right person for that job:
“That’s a great question. As you can see on my resume I have all the hard skills you’re looking for in a candidate. I have 10 years of editing experience, I know how to produce, and I have a degree in marketing. (This points out your hard skills aspect.)
But I also have the soft skills you need for this job. I’m a team player, collaborator, clear communicator and I have a sense of humor. (You also don’t want to leave out the soft skills!)
I’ve been following this company for a while now, and I know that you’ve been looking for someone who can take ownership of this role. I have ideas that I think will help this company reach its short-term and long-term goals. And I would love the opportunity to share them with the team! (That unique value that you possess and others don’t)”
Why do you want to work here?
@erinmcgoff don’t talk about yourself—talk about the company! #jobinterview #careertiktok #producer #internship #filmschool
She Share Story (for Vlog) –
Here’s a don’t example for a producer’s position:
“I guess I just always wanted to be a producer (self-centered). Ever since I was young I’ve always been obsessed with working like behind the scenes (unspecific), working on commercials with different brands (sounds naïve and too many fillers!). You guys have won so many different awards, I just think it would be so awesome to work for you. (shallow)”
Here’s how you can show your passion and even fangirl about the company without sounding naïve or shallow:
“There are so many reasons. First of all, I’ve been following years and I’m just a huge fan of the work you put out. I particularly love this campaign for 2019, and also this campaign from earlier this year (be specific). I love how creative, yet accessible it was, I bet that was very successful for your client (shows how you got involved). I’ve also spoken to a few people who work here, and I feel as though I’d fit in with the culture really well (connections!). I also really resonate with the company’s mission to create top working content (you did your research). And from my past experiences, I think I have the perfect skill set to fulfill the duties of this job (how your experiences led you here).”
Tell me about yourself.
@erinmcgoff follow this formula to nail this question#jobinterview #careertiktok #lifehack #filmschool #fyp
Steven Universe – L.Dre
Umm… Okay, well, I… I’m from [X], and my dad always wanted me to go to business school, even though I really wanted to go to film school, which was annoying. So… I ended up going to [X] university because my dad said he’d pay for it, so I went, and I was in the sorority, and that was really fun, so yeah… And I ended up here, so… I hate my boss, so looking for a change.
Your body language screams unpreparedness and there are too many fillers and personal info your employers don’t need.
“Well, I’m from X, I went to [X] University, and I graduated in 2017 with a major in business and a minor in media and communications. And then after college, I moved to New York City, where I now work as an acquisitions manager at HBO, which I totally love. But I’m looking to pivot to more of a boutique agency, where I could have a smaller team and more creative freedom.”
Three things you should never do when applying for a job.
@erinmcgoff If you think your resume/cl don’t have typos, go check again!#careeradvice #careertiktok #interviewtips #learnontiktok #resume #edutok
Oh No – Kreepa
Erin explained, “Never ever send your resume as a PDF unless they explicitly stated otherwise.”
She also reminds people to follow up their job interviews; usually, around 3 days to two weeks is the sweet spot.
The last most common issue is the TYPOS! Erin suggests that people run their applications through a spellcheck app before sending them in for an application. Those typos could make or break your application!
