You have one minute to persuade me to buy this pen - and 9 other job interview questions

It’s every interviewee’s worst nightmare: Being grilled while interviewing for their dream job, and the questions keep getting worse.

Many dread the “Why should we hire you?” question, but is it really the worst interview question hiring managers are asking in 2020?

Career experts at Resume.io decided to find out so they surveyed 2,000 job seekers in the US to uncover the trickiest questions recruiters have asked in recent interviews.

These are the top 10 that made the cut:

How to answer the toughest job interview questions

While interviewees can never be 100% prepared for a job interview, working hard and learning to expect the unexpected can help everyone make a positive impression.

Resume.io have provided a list of possible answers that may impress recruiters:

Q: You have one minute to persuade me to buy this pen - GO!
A: "So tell me, how long have you been in the market for a pen?"
Motivational speaker Jordan Belfort recommends turning the question around to identify the interviewer's needs, allowing the candidate to start controlling the conversation.

Q: Where do you see yourself in five years?
A: "I'm excited by this position because in five years, I'd like to be seen as someone with expertise in the sector, and that's something I'd have an opportunity to do here."
The Muse CEO Kathryn Minshew says candidates should think about where this position could take them, and think about how that aligns with some of their professional goals.

Q: Why should we hire you?
A: "You're looking for someone with strong management skills. In my 15 years of management experience, I've twice been awarded manager-of-the-year for my innovative motivational strategies and the results they drove."
Careers expert Alison Doyle says that candidates need to provide details on their experience and key qualifications for the role, while also highlighting related success.  

Here are some more question-answer ideas for both recruiters and job seekers:

All images / Resume.io

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