Business English - Handling Difficult Interview Questions with Confidence

Activity 1: Let's Get Started! (Warm-up)

Think about this: What makes a question in a job interview feel 'difficult'? How can you stay calm and give a good answer even if a question is tricky?

Activity 2: New Words (Vocabulary)

Here are some new English words. These words will help us talk about answering hard questions in an interview.

Tricky Question: A question that is hard to answer or makes you think a lot.

Example: Sometimes interviewers ask a tricky question to see how you think.

Confident: Feeling sure about yourself and your abilities; not nervous.

Example: Try to look confident and speak clearly even if you are a little nervous inside.

Pause (noun/verb): A short stop or a moment to wait before you speak or do something.

Example: It is okay to take a short pause to think before you answer a question.

Honest: Telling the truth and not trying to hide anything.

Example: It is always best to be honest in your interview answers.

Positive: Thinking about good things, or being hopeful and helpful in your answers.

Example: Stay positive, even when you are talking about a mistake you made in the past.

Rephrase (verb): To say something again in different words, or to ask someone to say something again in different words so it is clearer.

Example: If you don't understand a question, it's okay to ask the interviewer to rephrase it.

Activity 3 (Reading)

Let's read about Anna. She is in a job interview and gets asked a hard question.

Anna is in a job interview for a new job. The interviewer asks her a tricky question: "Tell me about a time you made a big mistake at work." Anna feels a little nervous when she hears this, but she wants to answer well and stay confident. First, she takes a short pause to think for a few seconds. She remembers it's very important to be honest when answering questions. She thinks of a real mistake she made in her last part-time job where she mixed up a customer's order.

Anna explains what happened simply and clearly. Then, she tries to be positive in her answer. She tells the interviewer what she learned from that mistake and how she made sure it didn't happen again. She explains that now she always double-checks her work very carefully to avoid similar problems. Anna knew that if she hadn't understood the question, she could have politely asked the interviewer to rephrase it for her. By taking a moment to think, being honest about the mistake, and then staying positive by showing what she learned, Anna answered the tricky question very well. She showed the interviewer that she could learn from her mistakes and improve.

Think about the story:

What kind of tricky question did the interviewer ask Anna?
What did Anna do first when she heard the question to help her stay confident? (Hint: She took a short ____.)
How did Anna show she was honest but also positive when talking about her mistake? If Anna didn't understand the question, what could she ask the interviewer to do?

Activity 4: Role Play

Read this dialogue with a partner. One person is Tom (who is nervous about an upcoming interview), and the other is Maria (his friend who is giving advice).

Tom: Maria, I'm really worried about my job interview next week. What if they ask me a very tricky question that I don't know how to answer?

Maria: Hi Tom! It's normal to worry a little. The most important thing is to try to stay calm and be as confident as you can.

Tom: But what if I don't know the answer right away? I might just say nothing!

Maria: It's perfectly okay to pause for a moment. You can say, "That's a good question, let me think about that for a second." Don't rush your answer.

Tom: What if they ask me about a mistake I made in a past job? Should I try to hide it or say I never make mistakes?

Maria: No, definitely not! It's always best to be honest. But after you talk about the mistake, be sure to explain what you learned from it.

Tom: So, I should try to make my answer sound positive in the end, even if I'm talking about a mistake?

Maria: Exactly! Focus on what you learned and how you improved. And what if you don't understand the question clearly when they ask it?

Tom: Can I ask them to say it in a different way, or explain it more?

Maria: Yes, absolutely. You can politely ask them to rephrase the question. It's much better to ask than to answer the wrong thing.

After reading, discuss: What is one thing you can do to help yourself feel more confident before going into a job interview?

Activity 5: Let's Practice

Objective: Practice using the new vocabulary about handling difficult interview questions.

Scenario: Priya (the learner) is talking to her career advisor, Mr. Chen, about her worries about difficult interview questions.

Mr. Chen: Priya, you said you are worried about the interview. Sometimes interviewers will ask a just to see how you think on your feet. Don't worry too much if it seems hard at first.

Priya: I know, but how can I make sure I look like I feel when I answer, even if I am very nervous inside?

Mr. Chen: Well, if you need a moment to think before you speak, it's always okay to take a short and collect your thoughts. Just take a breath.

Priya: What if they ask me about a time I failed at something or made a mistake at work? Should I avoid answering that kind of question?

Mr. Chen: It is very important to be and tell the truth in your answer, but also make sure you show what you learned from that experience.

Priya: So, even if I talk about a mistake, I should try to keep my answer by focusing on the lesson I learned and how I improved afterwards?

Mr. Chen: Exactly! That shows you can grow. And remember, if a question is confusing or unclear, don't be afraid to politely ask the interviewer to it for you so you understand.

Try to fill in the blanks with appropriate words or phrases from this lesson!