Interview Questions – ‘What misconceptions do people have about you?’

For Service-leavers who haven’t got recent interview experience, the prospect can seem daunting. Here, we dissect another of the more common but no less difficult interview questions so that you can show your best side to interviewers and land your next post-Services role.

‘What misconceptions do people have about you?’

All about you
This is character question that aims to find out how well you know yourself. That includes appraising your own strengths and weaknesses. 

Honesty is highly valued among employers for obvious reasons and that starts with being honest to yourself and about yourself. If you can secure self-awareness, you are likely to be able to grow as an individual and as an employee. 

Service-leavers and Veterans
This is likely to be a question asked to Service-leavers and Veterans since civvy interviewers may have their own preconceptions about former Service personnel that they’d like you to tackle. 

Think carefully about what these might be, relevant to the role you’re looking for and design an answer.

Assessment
Employers are likely to ask this question in terms of how it relates to your previous professional experience in order to gauge how you will take to the role in question. Although they are looking for professional qualities, they will also be looking for rounded individuals that can fit in with others. 

Start with the truth
Saying what you think others want to hear may land you the job – but you might find it miserable if that job turns out to be the wrong one for you.

On the other hand, the interview might see through your charade, in which case, you will likely fail the interview.

Self-awareness
The way you answer is likely to reveal things about you such as how optimistic or pessimistic you are. The interviewer is likely to want to examine if you can remain positive under pressure and so on. 

Don’t care?
You should. Employers usually value team players. Saying that you aren’t bothered by what other people think can come across as unnecessarily defensive or arrogant.

Your answer will say much about how you want to be perceived and where you think you sometimes fall short.

Opportunity
This question provides a straightforward opportunity to outline strengths that (literally) go unnoticed – hence ‘misconceptions’. Align these strengths to the job role and the organisation’s values and you’re laughing…

It may also give you an opportunity to offer up your weaknesses on your own terms, rather than having them magnified by a later question. Reframe weaknesses – for instance, your reputation for taking your time may actually be based on efforts to be conscientious about outcomes. 

Don’t try to defend the indefensible. Avoid saying that people think you’re lazy or rude, for instance.

Have a strategy
Get on the front foot early on by addressing any obvious concerns directly. For instance, you might sense that the interviewer may be unsure about how you as a Service-leaver or Veteran will be able to transition into the role.

You could be bold if and ask the interviewer what their impressions are about you – but remember, you’re the one being interviewed.

Once you’ve answered it, the question could be turned into a close – ‘Is there anything else along these lines preventing you from considering me for the job?’

Confidence
As usual, believing in what you’re saying and a general air of confidence, helps a great deal. You should be able to relax if you’ve selected a straight answer that won’t therefore be likely to unravel under pressure. 

Also, as usual, don’t let your answer spiral out of control. Keep it brief, tidy and relevant.

Character questions
A good interviewer not only examines what your skills are and how they might be applied to a particular role, but also your character.

Your character will be central to your success or failure in anything you take on, such as a job. It’s essential to be able to express not only what your competencies qualify you to do but also what type of a person you are and how you like to go about things. 

Emotional intelligence
The term emotional intelligence describes the ability to understand and manage your own emotions, as well as recognising and influencing those of people around you. 

This is a valued skill in most workplaces.