Interviews: how to handle tricky questions
Dr Steve Joy This post is a companion to my last piece about preparing for an academic interview [and is a re-posting of my latest piece to appear on the Guardian Higher Education Network 's website]. I've trawled the archives to pick out common yet tricky questions, and I offer some ideas for how to handle them. Clearly, this is not an exhaustive list. You will always get unexpected questions. The trick is to take a deep breath and let go of the anxiety that you need to find the "right" answer. Interview questions have countless plausible and convincing answers, but what sets good candidates apart is their ability to deliver structured answers, to articulate their thinking clearly, and to speak to the concerns of their interviewers. 1) Why do you want this job? It's amazing how many people struggle to give sensible answers, which creates a dreadful impression – particularly if it's the opening question. Prepare your response, which needs to be confident