Hard questions, pay, and the questions you ask
Step 1 / 4·The four hardest questions
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Learning objectives — after this module you will:
- Answer the four hardest questions without losing marks
- Handle the salary expectation question
- Ask good questions back and follow up after the interview
The four hardest questions
Prepare the ones where marks are most easily lost.
Four questions and how to answer them
| Question | What they're testing | The principle |
|---|---|---|
| 'What's your biggest weakness?' | Whether you're self-aware, and whether you're working on it | Name a REAL weakness that isn't fatal for this role, plus the specific thing you're doing about it |
| 'Why did you leave your last job?' | How you talk about others, and whether you're running from or toward something | Keep it short, assign no blame, and move quickly to what you're moving TOWARD |
| 'Why is there a six-month gap?' | Whether you're honest and proactive | State the reason plainly, say what you did in that time, then move on — don't make it a big topic |
| 'Where do you see yourself in 5 years?' | Whether you have direction, and whether you'll stay | Talk about the capabilities and responsibilities you want, connected to a path at this company |
The weakness question: two answers
A fake weakness
“'My weakness is that I'm too much of a perfectionist and I work too hard — sometimes I forget to rest.'”
Interviewers hear this several times a week. It says you either aren't self-aware or don't want to be honest — both worse than having an ordinary weakness.
A real weakness with action
“'I tend to hold on to work instead of delegating, especially things I've done for years. Last year that made me a bottleneck for my team when volume rose. Since Q2 I've been writing down which tasks genuinely need me and which can be handed over, and I've moved three recurring tasks to two colleagues.'”
Honest, self-aware, and above all it shows you can fix things. That last part is exactly what the interviewer is looking for.
Key takeaway: The four hard questions all test self-awareness and honesty — say the real thing plus a specific action.