How to Answer Any Interview Question Don't let your next job interview shock you. You can answer any question you are asked. As? By preparing and knowing how to direct the conversation to the topics you want to cover. To get started, take advice from consultants who coach executives and politicians on how to handle media interviews. These trainers say you can convey the message you want to an employer, no matter what question you are asked. “Most people don't realize that their purpose is not to sit there and hope they get asked the right questions,” says Aileen Pincus, president of the Pincus Group, a media interview training firm in Silver Spring, Maryland . “They need to develop two or three key messages and make sure their point gets across.” Go to CareerJournal.com to test yourself with the Interview Prep Tool. Unlike some politicians who ignore questions from the press and immediately introduce a different topic in response, job candidates must respect and answer the employer's questions directly, says Jeff Braun, vice president and general manager of the Ammerman Experience, in Stafford , Texas, media interview training company. However, he says, you can quickly move from your answer to the important points you want to convey about your qualifications. He suggests answering job interview questions by applying the formula Q = A + 1: Q is the question; A is the answer; + is the bridge to the message you want to deliver; and 1 is the point you want to make. “If you take the '+1' out of the formula, the interviewer controls the session,” Braun says. Thorough preparation is also required to effectively answer any interview questions, for example senior executives. Their suggestions and those of the media trainers follow:...... middle of the paper... tailor your response to what the company is facing and how you can help," he says. Be positive about the negatives. Conte when asked about a past mistake or flaw in your career, and don't try to evade the issue. “If you have a vulnerability, you have to be prepared to answer the question,” she says should lie or dodge. Reply and move on. “When discussing a mistake, be ready to say how you learned or benefited from it. “You learn as much by dropping the ball as by catching it,” says Mr. Herzog. During the interview for In his current job, which he began to August, Mr. Herzog says he mentioned having been involved in successful turnarounds and one that failed. “And I said what I learned from this,” he says. Test yourself with the interview preparation tool. Email your comments to [email protected].