I often advise candidates on targeting their answers in a job interview. But sometimes this gets misinterpreted. It's something hiring managers will complain about occasionally, "I think the candidate was just telling me what I want to hear." Avoiding that seems to be a very slippery slope, and a very fine line when trying to do your best in a job interview.

It is always a good idea to ask the interviewer what they feel are the most important qualifications to have in the job for which you are interviewing. Listen carefully to the response. Then try to target your answers accordingly. What you want to avoid is attempting to interpret what the interviewer wants to hear in answer to each question.

Interview questions come in all shapes and sizes. Some are quite innocent and straight forward. Others are designed to see how your respond to tricky questions. Others still are open ended and attempt to get you to "speak freely" about a subject. Don't attempt to get tricky in your response. Just remember what the job is, and what the interviewer said are the qualities they feel are important. Highlight the truth about your background and skill set that compliment those things.

It will help to be well prepared. Be sure you know your resume as it applies to the job description. In an great article written by A-List Solutions' Jeff Lipschultz on How To Prepare for the Interview, Jeff suggests making a check list to bring with you to the interview:

• On the left side of your desk, put the job description (and any other company information beyond the job description—a good recruiter will have this, along with the company’s web site). Put your resume to the right. Then put a blank sheet of paper next to the resume.
• Literally connect requirements and company info on the left with the resume experiences and skill set on the right. Literally, it’s like connecting the dots with a crayon—child’s play! Hopefully, you create a complex web of connections as you may connect a requirement to several spots on your resume. And several requirements on the left may link to the same experience on the right. These connections are checklist items.
• Build your checklist by listing the requirements (and related company info) along with the best examples of your ability and experience. You should include boxes to check off as you interview. You need not write out details, as all you will need is some code words to remind you of the example(s) you want to share. More

And what about those tricky interview questions? It may help your nerves a bit to know, in advance, what some of the seemingly innocent and obviously tricky questions you may be asked are geared toward. Colleen Clark has a nice list of What an Interviewer Wants to Hear on Monster.com.

What motivates you the most?
They want to know what gets you out of bed - helping people, building a safe facility, developing teams, completing projects on time, implementing fair and honest practices, making people laugh.

How would you describe your personality?
Mention two or three personal characteristics that you are confident about -- a sense of humor, patience, supportive of others or highly versatile. Try to make them relevant to the company or position being applied to. If you have done any assessment testing, take words you most identify with out of them. Of course, prepare for this question beforehand.

How do your subordinates perceive you?
Stick as much as you can to work-related skills that you know they know you have. Interviews are not personality disclosing interrogations; they are to ensure you have the skills and fit to do the job. Say you are conscientious, ambitious, tenacious or helpful.

What can you offer us that other candidates cannot?
You have no idea what the other candidates bring to the table so your best answer is to mention at least two benefits you will provide: I will save the company money on.... OR I will decrease OR improve OR increase OR implement...

What is the most demotivating work environment for you?


This question comes in the back door of what kind of people or office personality do you like best? Negativity, inflexible, non-team supported or closed-door policy are safe answers and not too revealing. You can always turn that question around and say, work environments that are supportive, friendly, helpful and congenial are my favorite places to work.

Where would you like to be in five years from now?
Keep in mind that you are not interviewing for any other position than the one you are there for right now. Best you say something like, I hope to still be working for the company and hopefully promoted based on my accomplishments. Telling them you want their job is not a job idea or saying that you want to start your own business, but you need some practical experience first, do not go there.

What important trends do you see coming in our industry?
This is your opportunity to tell them your opinions and to show that you have read up to the minute articles or books on what's coming down the pike.

In your last position, what where the things you liked the least? The most?
Have a reserved list ready of activities or tasks that you don't like, but really try to accentuate the positive as best as you can. Know your must-haves and flexibilities.

So now that you have seen these questions, remember not to try to do any interpreting on the fly by saying what you think the interviewer wants to hear. Know yourself, your background, and your skills. Know how they apply to this job. Target your answers, but don't suck up. A savvy interviewer will spot it and likely rule you out as a candidate.

The bottom line is that if you are well prepared, you will be most likely to do well in an interview. Being prepared gives you confidence and a positive attitude. And if that still isn't enough to you you the job? Chances are there are other factors involved about which you will never know. No use worrying about them. It's also possible that the job is not right for you. In which case you chalk that interview up to good experience and move on.

You will land the right job if you continue to prepare properly and stay positive. Happy hunting!