Hiring Process FAQs (2024)

FAQs

Can one bad answer ruin an interview? ›

In a job interview, every word counts. Even one bad answer could kill your chances at getting hired, Eric Yaverbaum, CEO of Ericho Communications, tells CNBC Make It. Yaverbaum has interviewed thousands of candidates throughout his 40-plus year career as a public relations expert.

If you still have no idea what the person is asking about and you can't answer the question directly, you can try to redirect the interviewer with a related thought or example of your expertise.

Interview answers should be 30 seconds to four minutes, depending on the context of the questions. Your response may be short (30 seconds to two minutes) if the question is simple.

These weren't especially hard questions and I feel like I should have gotten them all. Yes, process and ideas matters a lot as it will help the recruiter judge you on how you're approaching the issue. Giving right answers matters less I would say.

The STAR method is a structured manner of responding to a behavioral-based interview question by discussing the specific situation, task, action, and result of the situation you are describing. Situation: Describe the situation that you were in or the task that you needed to accomplish.

Example: “My greatest weakness is that I sometimes have a hard time letting go of a project. I'm the biggest critic of my work. I can always find something that needs to be improved or changed. To help myself improve in this area, I give myself deadlines for revisions.

Provide a Brief Highlight-Summary of Your Experience

The best way to answer "Tell me about yourself" is with a brief highlight-summary of your experience, your education, the value you bring to an employer, and the reason you're looking forward to learning more about this next job and the opportunity to work with them.

How to say no if you don't know the answer in an interview? ›

You could say something like “I've never encountered that before,” or “I'm not familiar with that term.” From there, ask for clarity before proceeding. Once the interviewer clarifies, use the new information to answer their original question. This showcases your ability to adapt and apply new information quickly.

Saying "I don't know" doesn't mean the end of the road; it's an opportunity to showcase your curiosity and eagerness to expand your knowledge. Use the interviewer's question as a springboard for a discussion, expressing your genuine interest in learning more about the topic.

If you felt you answered a question wrong, don't beat yourself up. Practice self-compassion and learn from the experience so you'll be better prepared next time. Remember, you are interviewing the company as much as they are interviewing you. It has to be a good fit for you as well!

Handling mistakes is an integral part of most jobs so if you messed up one question but handled it correctly it could actually increase your chances of getting a job offer. Can you still get the job even if you didn't answer some of the questions right or to what the employer was looking for in an interview? Sure.

What is this? No matter how thoroughly you prepare, mistakes can still happen during the job application and interview process. But, they don't always mean game over—yes, even imperfect people get jobs.