How to Handle the Tough Interview Questions with Personal Branding

Congratulations!  After working hard on your resume you have received an invitation for an interview.  Great! Now, how do you handle some of the tough questions: 

• Why are you leaving your current position?
• Discuss an ethical dilemma you've faced and how you responded.
• Tell me about one of your weaknesses.

Whether one of these questions or another is one you dread, if you are prepared and understand your personal brand you can confidently respond to them.

Personal branding allows you to confidently answer any question an interviewer will ask you because you know who you are, what you want and don't want. If an employer wants someone who is strong in areas you are weak in, you want a different position anyhow. And you will feel good about knowing that.  

When you understand your personal brand, your "weakness" no longer matters to you. You can confidently discuss who you are and what you have to offer, without being evasive.

Ethical dilema are easy to discuss too because when you know your brand, you know your values and how to live in alignment with them. You will feel confident in your choices and also recognize mistakes and correct them. All good stories to share with an interviewer.

People leave their current jobs for a variety of reasons, but often without thinking deeply about the true reason for wanting to leave. Often the reason given for a job change is about a lack of opportunity, disliking management, or better pay. Then the employee finds exactly the same problems with the new company. When you understand your brand, you will know deeply why you are leaving and be able to articulate that in the interview process. Even better, you will be able to question the interviewer to make sure the new employer can provide you with what you are looking for.

What interview questions do you dread?