How Do You Answer a Tricky Interview Question? Smart Tips That Work

What Makes a Question "Tricky" in an Interview?

First off, not every weird question is meant to trick you. But yeah, some of them definitely are. Employers want to see how you think, how you react under pressure, and if you can keep your cool when something unexpected hits.

Examples of classic tricky ones:

• "What’s your biggest weakness?"

• "Why should we hire you?"

• "Tell me about a time you failed."

• Or the wild ones like: "If you were an animal, which one would you be?"

At first glance, you're like... What does that even have to do with this job?! But hang tight, there’s usually a method behind the madness.

Understand the Hidden Intent Behind the Question

Before you jump into an answer, stop and think: What are they really asking here?

They want to test:

• Your self-awareness

• Problem-solving approach

• Communication skills

• Integrity and honesty (even under pressure)

Take the "biggest weakness" question. They're not trying to humiliate you. What they want to know is: Can you recognize your flaws, and more importantly — are you working on them?

Structure Your Answer With a Proven Framework

Okay, here's where a bit of strategy helps. Don’t wing it. Use a structure — not rigid, just helpful.

STAR method (yep, still relevant):

• Situation: Set the scene

• Task: What needed to be done

• Action: What you did

• Result: What happened (and what you learned)

You don’t need to announce the steps out loud — just let the flow follow that pattern. It keeps your answer focused, but also natural.

Let’s say they ask: "Tell me about a time you handled a conflict at work."
You don’t need a dramatic soap opera. Even a minor misunderstanding you handled calmly can do the job.

Don’t Be Afraid to Pause and Reflect

Some candidates panic if they don’t answer immediately. But real talk? Taking 3-4 seconds to collect your thoughts looks thoughtful, not dumb.

I actually remember bombing an early interview because I rushed to fill every silence — and just rambled nonsense. Learned my lesson there.

Tips:

• Say something like, “Hmm, that’s a great question — let me think about that for a second.”

• Don’t be afraid of short silences. Interviewers know you’re not a robot.

Tactics for Especially Awkward Questions

Some interviewers throw curveballs. They wanna see if you’ll freeze, lie, or get defensive.

“Why did you leave your last job?”

Oof. If it was a bad experience, don’t trash-talk your old boss. Focus on what you're moving toward, not what you’re running from.

“I felt like I wasn’t growing in that role anymore, and I’m looking for something more aligned with my long-term goals.”

“What would your previous manager say about you?”

Tricky because it’s indirect. But you can shape the answer to highlight your strengths, with a little dose of honesty.

“I think they’d say I was reliable under pressure. Probably that I could be a little too detail-focused sometimes, but that I always delivered.”

That little self-critique at the end? Gold.

When in Doubt, Be Honest but Strategic

Don’t try to sound perfect. It’s boring — and unbelievable. Real people have flaws. But own your flaws with maturity.

Good example:

“I used to struggle with delegating tasks because I felt I needed to control everything to make sure it was done right. I’ve learned since then that trusting others actually improves team results — and reduces my stress.”

That sounds human. And competent.

Bottom line? Tricky interview questions aren’t traps. They’re tests. And like any test, a little prep and self-awareness go a long way.

Honestly, I used to hate interviews. But once I realized most of these questions follow patterns, it became way easier. And if you mess up one answer? Eh. Shake it off and move on. What matters is the overall impression you leave: confident, thoughtful, and adaptable.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.