What was one question you didn't want me to ask today?
This question can stand in for the common 'What is your greatest weakness' question. The interviewer expects you to be unprepared because it's an uncommon way of asking this question. You may be less scripted than other points in your interview, and the interviewer wants to see how you deal with that.
Two scenarios commonly play out: either a candidate blurts out a weakness, or they pause and respond with something thoughtful. This question gives the interviewer information about you, but it also tells them if you can think on your feet and answer a tough question. Use this as an opportunity to show how a weakness can be a strength or explain something they have not yet asked but may be an objection to you getting the job. It is then up to you to overcome the opposition.
Remember, it is okay to pause and be thoughtful about your response rather than blurting something out or seeming too rehearsed. Be prepared, but be sincere in your replies.
"I suppose I did not want you to dig into why I applied three years ago and rescinded my application. I feel embarrassed about it because I thought I was ready to leave my current organization and decided that, to be the superstar I wanted to be at Expedia, I needed a bit more time and experience. I know that, in the past three years, I have learned everything I could need to know to shine here, and I can't wait to put those last three years of learning and growth into action."
"I didn't want to discuss why it took five years to graduate college. I was working full time while attending college and double majoring. Initially, I was taking the full course load and working full time; then, I switched my major, which added a semester. At that time, I hunkered down and upped the course load while working full time. So, while it may have taken me longer, I learned a lot about time management and upping productivity. I know these are important skills, and I look forward to leveraging them here at Expedia."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
What is the cause of the observed accelerated expansion of the universe? No, but seriously, I suppose a problem-solving question where I have to do math in my head and on the spot. Mental Math has not been my strongest suit; however, now that phones have calculators, I can run with the best of them.
Rachelle's Feedback
This question is another form of 'what is your greatest weakness' so it's totally okay to have fun with it, but be sure to end your response actually addressing a weakness and what you are doing to improve on it.
"What is the cause of the observed accelerated expansion of the universe? No, but seriously...I suppose a problem-solving question where I have to do math in my head and on the spot. Math has not been my strongest suit; however, I have taken a course on math for business, which has significantly improved my ability to do calculations quickly."
Anonymous Answer
I suppose I did not want you to ask me a very technical question in SQL. I was working with SQL 3 years ago in my bachelor's degree, and right now, I'm focused on other languages such as Python and R. I'm planning to take some online courses to recap my knowledge.
Rachelle's Feedback
Well said! Although you are not as confident in your SQL technical abilities, you mention a plan to freshen up your knowledge. Excellent!
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