There is no denying that job interviews test even the strongest of nerves. But, the key to a successful interview is being prepared for the questions that may be asked and being able to give good answers that make your case as to why you are the best person for the job.
In order to help you get prepared, I would like to start a new series where we can tackle a new interview question each week and develop a strategy to answer it without getting trapped by trick questions.
So, here is the The Tough Interview Question of the Week:
Question:
Why have you been out of work for so long?
Why it's a trap: The whole point of this question is to determine how desperate you are. Even though it isn't fair, many employers look at job candidates who have been unemployed for long periods of time as somehow defective, and they think that if you were a great employee, you would have been scooped up by another company fairly quickly.
Best answer: Your goal here will be to try to emphasize the factors that have made your job search take longer that were by your own choice rather than your lack of ability to attract employers.
For example: “After I was laid-off, I made the tough decision not to just jump on the first company that would take me. Over the years, I have learned that there is always a way to turn something negative into something positive. And, in this case, I was determined that in order to turn this situation into a positive change in my life, I needed to give myself whatever time I needed to think about what it is that I do best, what I love to do, where my passion is, and where I would most like to do it. Then, I needed to find out what companies could offer me that opportunity.”
“And also, I think it is important to take into consideration how the recession has impacted the financial industry. So, between me making the choice to be selective about my job opportunities and the companies in our industry downsizing and laying-off workers, the process has taken a long time. But, I am still convinced that when I find the right match for my skills and experience, all of the work and research will have been worth it for both me and the company that hires me.”
By spinning your answer to point out the reasons that you have taken longer with your job search by choice rather than out of a lack of options, you can completely overcome any objection the interviewer may have about hiring someone who has been out of work for a longer than average time.
What interview question do you think are the toughest? Are there any interview questions you would like to see me tackle here? Let me know in the comments.
Are you looking for a job in Finance? Be sure to visit FinancialJobBank.com
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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