For many of us, interviews are stressful, regardless of our level of experience or preferred field. Experienced CEOs and HR managers have their preferred interview questions. All you have to do is get acquainted with their non-traditional approaches.

"Let me tell you a story ․․․"

Going through the professional path, everyone inevitably gains a great deal of experience. No matter how good or bad they are, they all contribute equally to the development of skills.

There are many interesting questions to reveal the soft skills. For example, "Tell me about your past successes, challenges and key responsibilities." Mentioning the examples of previous experiences in overcoming challenges and failures, the candidate demonstrates their ability to motivate colleagues and convey complex ideas to an unfamiliar audience.

Let's agree that successful leaders are great at telling their story and even about the biggest failures with flexibility and creativity.

"What I have done... I better tell what I will do in the future"

Some successful people prefer not to focus on the achievements of the past but to focus on the future.

Such people get excited when they are asked, "What is the biggest dream of your life?" They can talk about their future plans and how they plan to achieve them.

Success stories typically include components such as ambition and perseverance, proactivity and entrepreneurial spirit. Answering the question also allows to highlight the areas where they want to achieve professional heights, unexpectedly transferring their enthusiasm.

"If we ever play Monopoly, all the railways will be mine"

There are people who are interested in puzzling / confusing questions, such as "Would you rather be respected or inspire fear?", "What is your preferred capital in Monopoly, why?". They know that the answer they give shows their leadership style.

Undoubtedly, this question should not be avoided: a successful answer can show the mindset of a true leader.

Experienced managers have their own "recipe" for a successful interview. It includes questions that change the rules of the game. They fall into three categories: "What do you want to be when you grow up?", "What would you do when a zombie appeared?" and "Use the ad slogan to describe yourself.” The purpose of these questions is to assess your key qualities that are not summarized in a one-page resume.

"Are you a dreamer? Tell me, what are your craziest dreams?"

If you are applying for a managerial position, then be prepared for your soft skills to be challenged. The question may ask, "What did you want to become when you were seven or eight years old?". The leader, in essence, asks you to show your true self, what your interests are, how they have developed over time, what motivates you.

They want to find out how well you fit into the company's values ​​and mission. There are other ways to achieve this goal, such as "What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning", "What is the biggest dream of your life", etc.

"The zombie epidemic is spreading rapidly. What will you do?

When the interviewer decides to change the usual course of questions and instead of wondering what you would do as a survivor in "The Walking Dead" series, he/she just wants to make sure you fit in with the team and its dynamics. It doesn't matter what you will do until you can understand why you would do so.

Pursuing the same goal, an inquisitive leader may ask, "On a scale of 1 to 10, indicate how strange you are."

"If I were an animal, I would be a lion. What about you?"

Such questions may be asked, "If you were an animal, which one would you be?", "Describe yourself in one word" or even "Tell me about your biography". No need to panic. The purpose of these questions is to assess your quick thinking and communication style. This type of questions are preferable because they allow you to create a story. Are you going to answer briefly or create a story? Are you trying to entertain or answer the question directly? This is not the time to suppress ingenuity: this is an opportunity to delve deeper into creative conversation.

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Now you have a general idea of ​​what can happen during the interview, and how to make it effective for you.

But do not forget that success always depends on the amount of work you invest. And Magnus Careers is always here to help you.