If you haven’t read 15 Toughest Interview Questions (and Answers!) by Angela Astley on the New Grad Life blog, go read it now. The post is two years old, but is still very relevant.
Some key points:
None of the suggestions should be new to you. If you find you can’t answer any of them, be sure to do additional research prior to the interview. Then, think through the logical follow-up questions. For example, with the question of why you want to work in the industry, think of specific examples of projects or challenges related to the industry. For PR, feel free to talk about the time you helped a campus group get press coverage for their event. Know the challenges facing the industry and be prepared to ask your interviewer about how the firm you are interviewing with views those challenges. You can ask follow-up questions, too!
Be ready to give examples of how you worked with your previous boss and what kind of management style works best for you. You shouldn’t come out and say, “I like to be left alone to do what I want and hate micro-mangers,” that may be true, but it isn’t the impression you want to leave the interviewer with. Instead try, “I like working with deadlines that give me the opportunity to be creative in reaching specific goals.”
What was the hardest interview question you’ve ever had to answer?