Three ‘gotcha’ job interview questions

We’ve all dreaded answering unanticipated job interview questions. When you’re caught off guard or just aren’t prepared, the tendency is to go with the first answer that pops into your head. Your response usually does little to improve your chances of continuing in the hiring process.

Here are three surprise questions and responses that can keep you on safe ground, put you back in control of the interview and improve your odds of landing that job.

‘What are your salary requirements?’

You might encounter a situation in which the hiring manager will ask you for a salary requirement during the initial job interview. Don’t be the first to toss out a number! You don’t want to be eliminated from further consideration based on some arbitrary number that flew out of your mouth. If the hiring manager asks you to provide a salary requirement in your cover letter, provide a 5 percent range with your salary number as the median. For example, if you require a $90,000 salary, then a 5 percent range would be $4,500 or a range of $87,750 on the low end to $92,250 on the high end. If you receive an offer, the general human tendency would be to “split the difference” and the offer might likely come in at $90,000. Don’t write that you’re “flexible” or “negotiable.”