What to do With Unfair Interview Questions

We've all been there.  Sitting in an interview and you get asked something that the interview really shouldn't be asking.  It may be something stupid and cliche like the whole "What's your greatest weakness?" or it could be something more personal, like your salary history.  Either way, you don't have to answer questions like these.  You don't have to just say no, jump up and run out of the room, either.  It can be handled with grace and intelligence if you know how.  And it just so happens, at Career Dragon we know how, and we're in a sharing mood.


1.  Let's start with the easiest one, "What's your biggest weakness?"  We've all been asked that question.  It's pointless, stupid and doesn't provide the interviewer with any real information.  They're probably just asking because that's what they were asked when they were hired.  Here's how to answer it well:  Describe a time when you were given constructive feedback during a yearly review and told what you could improve, communication or time management for example.  Talk about how you evaluated your method of time management (just for example, you may be a genius at time management, I don't know) and identified ways to improve.  Give examples like, scheduling tasks in your calendar for a specific amount of time, organizing your schedule more efficiently, reducing the number of meetings you attend, etc.  Then tell them the positive results you experienced.  Describe how much more efficiently you do your job and the increase in the workload and responsibility you were able to accept.  Do that and you will have answered a pointless and lazy interview question in an outstanding way.

Related:  Questions to Ask Your Interviewer

2.  "What's your salary history?" This one is just tactless and demonstrates either a lack of experience on the part of the interviewer, or that the company is already not willing to pay what the job is worth. The only time salary should come into the conversation is when they're making an offer.  If you're asked this, respond with a question of your own like, "Why? Are you ready to present me with an offer?"  Say it with a smile and be nice.  They aren't ready to make you an offer and hopefully the interviewer catches on that they've asked something they shouldn't.  If they keep on about it, tell them you're happy to discuss salary when an offer is made but not before.  Tell them you'd like to focus on the responsibilities and expectations of the postion and discuss what you can do to benefit the company.  If they still won't let it go, politely (seriously, politeness and a smile will take you far) explain again that you won't be discussing the issue of salary until it's time to negotiate their offer.  They may chase you out with a big stick, I don't know.  Probably not but don't wear too high of heels, just in case.

Related:  Make Your Interview a Conversation

3.  All interviewers should know that asking personal questions is not only frowned upon, it can be illegal. Although certain questions like marital status, number of children and age are illegal, there are ways to ask without asking directly.  Questions like "What does your spouse do?"  "How many kids do you have?"  "Are you planning on having kids?"  "When did you graduate high school?"  are all examples of getting information that is not allowed in the hiring process.  You don't have to answer these.  You can politely (notice a theme, here?) explain that while you appreciate their interest you'd rather focus on the expectations of the job.  Then go right into your own question.  Ask them what would the person doing the job need to accomplish in the first six months to be considered outstanding. Asking how you could deliver their ideal of outstanding performance will make them stop and think.  If they're not prepared, they haven't thought about this yet.  And it makes you look really good.

When interviewing just keep in mind that not every place you interview will be a good fit for you.  If you end up with an ill prepared interviewer who is asking you immediately about your salary, chances are this isn't going to be a great place to spend your days.  But, it could also be that your interviewer is just having an off day.  Maybe they didn't sleep well the night before or they're cranky because they missed breakfast.  You don't know, so keep an open mind and a polite tongue and see where it goes.