What was the most difficult question that was asked during your interview at Alpha Natural Resources?

The same question that is hardest in any interview. What your compensation expectation is. This question is always hard for a couple of reasons. First you are fully aware that when you get ask the question, the interviewer already knows what the position pays. Second if you put out a number that is lower than they had in mind, you will get short changed. Last if your too high, you will lose consideration, because the interviewer will most likely feel that if they were to hire you that you would only stay until you found a higher paying position elsewhere. It is always a completely no win question. The interviewer should approach it as "This position has a salary between 55 and 70k annually, based on the experience of the applicant. Do you that you would be comfortable in that range, and where in the range do you feel you would fit?" This puts the facts in the open, and still allows the interviewer to obtain all of the desired information.