The 10 Hardest Questions to Ask in a Temporary Job Interview
BusinessTemporary or contract jobs are at their peak, and according to a survey, around 40% of hiring is done through temps. Also, the retention rate after being hired as a permanent employee contractor is on an increasing trend. Therefore, the job applicant must frame her answers and must give appropriate answers to the most frequently asked questions described below.
Even if the temporary employee wants to work full-time instead of as a temporary employee, they do not need to mention that they want to be a full-time employee. Because the employer who hires the temporary resource wants or may be interested in using the resources of the job seeker for as long as he wants. Without forgetting that there is a good chance that the temporary staff that is hired will become a permanent employee if he demonstrates his skills and adapts to the work culture of the organization.
Here are some questions the interviewer would likely ask you and judge whether or not to hire you based on the answers you give.
1. Why are you interested in this temporary opportunity and do you think it is a good fit for you?
Through this question, the interviewer would like to know why you are interested in the position and what your ambitions are. You should respond in a way that highlights his intentions to be employed by the company and that his skill set and ambitions would help him achieve his long-term career goals, implying that this is not a provisional agreement. You should also mention how his skill set fits the job, mentioning that he will soon adapt to the organization’s work culture.
2. What do you expect of this organization and your co-workers if you are hired?
Before answering this question, you should have done some basic research on the company and the type of work culture it accommodates. The company’s website, its “about us” section, and some company contacts through LinkedIn would help you learn about the company’s work culture. Once he decides that he is fit and happy to work for the company, he should focus more on how he will add value to the company. Instead of mentioning flexibility and the fun aspect, mention more about professional development, training opportunities, and rewards for good performance. Also, mention that you are a team player, mix with people very early and see the bigger picture than personal goals.
3. Would you like to become a full-time employee if given the opportunity?
Staying positive is the key answer to this question. Unless he really doesn’t want to work full time, he always says he would be happy to work if given the chance to work full time. Emphasize what you like best about the job and why you want to be hired by the particular organization.
If the answer is no, briefly mention why you are only interested in a temporary job, without negative comments. You might mention that you would be happier with the flexibility and other benefits of temporary employment.
4. What do you consider to be your most significant achievement?
A good answer to this question can give you a job opportunity. After doing your research and finding that there are few problems in the company, highlighting your strengths in dealing with those problems can be a definite scoring point. Other than that, bring out more of your nature as a worker, putting in long hours of work and effort, handling pressure. You can also tell a brief story of what was his greatest achievement in his work experience.
5. How do you handle pressure? Do you like or dislike these situations?”
Few people perform well under pressure. If you are one of them, please highlight it and give an example. This question could also mean that the opening might require a bit of pressure management. Try to judge and know what exactly the position implies. Be descriptive if giving the answer sounds positive.
6. Why did you leave the last position?
This is a very critical question and the answer must be given carefully. Don’t badmouth your previous employer. You can say that it was a contract job or that you would like to improve his skills and that the current job did not offer many learning opportunities. Also, don’t mention that you had any personal issues with management or the leader if you did. You can also throw in a word of praise for the current organization by saying, I’m more interested in working for your company.
7. Deadlines, frustrations, difficult people, and silly rules can make work difficult. How do you handle these kinds of situations?”
The basic reason for asking this question is to judge how positive and willing you are to deal with such a situation, whether or not they exist. Be positive and mention that you can handle all of these situations. You can mention that you would like to work with tight deadlines and challenging conditions. Mention that you have the diplomacy, patience, and common sense to overcome these situations.
8. One of our biggest problems is. . . What has been your experience with this? How would you deal with that?
This question would judge your organizational and analytical skills. It is important to think fast and give an intelligent answer to this question. The best way to answer this question is to break it down into subsections, and if you’ve been in that situation, tell a short story of how you experienced that issue and dealt with it. After answering the subsections, summarize as a whole and conclude with a positive sentence.
9. How important has your technical skill been in achieving results?
It is very important to have the necessary technical capacity to answer this question. First, assess how much technical skill the interviewer is looking for and see if you have the skill. You should state your experience, for example, if you have a background in software, please provide information about software programs and different job roles you had in the specific industry. Also, that should be related to and explained how you would use those skill sets for the current job you are applying for.
10. What are your professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five or ten years?
This question must be answered realistically. Don’t give your answer as saying that you want to achieve a role that is not achievable. Emphasize mainly that you would cater to the growth of companies and would see yourself 2-3 levels higher if given the opportunity, as suitable to carry out the aspirations and objectives of the companies. However, if you have a particular goal in mind, you can mention it, considering you have decent experience and track record. Always try to judge what the interviewer expects of you and therefore it is important to understand the recruiter’s problem.