Interview questions
Discussion
swerni said:
Countdown said:
swerni said:
If some asked me that in and interview I'd probably call them a 
as I walked out he door.
Why? as I walked out he door. 
Yes it's an odd question but why not just "walk out of the door" without swearing?
Now I take a sharpie with me to interviews just in case.
I once was asked the classic one for a sales role, I had always said I would walk if I was asked it.
The tt picked up a calculator, I thought 'oh no the tt's going to do it'.
He did, he asked me to sell it to him, I said no.
After s few seconds standoff he tried to continue, I stopped him and left.
The t
t picked up a calculator, I thought 'oh no the tt's going to do it'.He did, he asked me to sell it to him, I said no.
After s few seconds standoff he tried to continue, I stopped him and left.
swerni said:
Do you do this for a living?
If some asked me that in and interview I'd probably call them a as I walked out he door.
Are you honestly that easily upset? And unprofessional that you'd leave an interview halfway through and verbally abuse the guy as you didn't like a question? It isn't that offensive really is it. It's not a nosy question, more about assessing someone's character by how they respond to that sort of question, and seeing if you think you have chemistry and would get on in / with the team. Unless the job is completely silo-ed, often the ability to get on with people well can lead to far greater team achievement that hard workers who can't get on. If some asked me that in and interview I'd probably call them a
as I walked out he door. Sharted said:
I once was asked the classic one for a sales role, I had always said I would walk if I was asked it.
The tt picked up a calculator, I thought 'oh no the tt's going to do it'.
He did, he asked me to sell it to him, I said no.
After s few seconds standoff he tried to continue, I stopped him and left.
Well done to you, what a superb 'can-do' attitude! The t
t picked up a calculator, I thought 'oh no the tt's going to do it'.He did, he asked me to sell it to him, I said no.
After s few seconds standoff he tried to continue, I stopped him and left.
Big Pants said:
What character trait that you weren't planning to tell me about today is really going to be pissing me off in a year's time? (If I hire you?)
What's 15% of 360? - Sit back and enjoy the panic stricken expression.
That's 15% is a bit of an easy one compared to some they ask in city What's 15% of 360? - Sit back and enjoy the panic stricken expression.
Ones I remembers from my interviews from years ago
What's 4 to the power 8
How many ping pong balls an you fit in a 747
You have a box made of small cubes, the box is 8 cubes on each side, how many cubes on the outside layer (this one is a real s
t in an interview - really easy once you've t the maths but that's really hard with three people watchingBig Pants said:
What character trait that you weren't planning to tell me about today is really going to be pissing me off in a year's time? (If I hire you?)
What's 15% of 360? - Sit back and enjoy the panic stricken expression.
I'd have to be honest and say that I rarely make the tea.What's 15% of 360? - Sit back and enjoy the panic stricken expression.
If I can establish via LinkedIn or CV or whatever who their current line manager is, I'll ask "if I was to phone <x> and ask them about you, what would they say?"
Alternatively, "some time in the future, you'll ask me for a recommendation on LinkedIn; what will I write?"
An interesting one I heard but have never used: "tell me about your life from birth until today, without mentioning school or work."
HR don't like me much
Alternatively, "some time in the future, you'll ask me for a recommendation on LinkedIn; what will I write?"
An interesting one I heard but have never used: "tell me about your life from birth until today, without mentioning school or work."
HR don't like me much
swerni said:
Countdown said:
swerni said:
If some asked me that in and interview I'd probably call them a as I walked out he door.
Why? as I walked out he door. Yes it's an odd question but why not just "walk out of the door" without swearing?
Hes probably thinking he's had a lucky escape tbh.....
jakesmith said:
Well done to you, what a superb 'can-do' attitude!
Unlike you eh?JAKESMITH:
Student job at chemical plant, the stupid ignorant oaf who managed the facilities office and was a small minded ignorant fool. He didn't like an up and coming student who knew he was going somewhere with his life. I had a better car than him and he was a fully grown man. Sacked me for being late and it was an utter relief, there was no work for me there & all I could do was read a book all day
Working in a marketing role for a prominent retailer, made a number of mistakes that lead to operational issues & was performace managed & rightly so. Had a terrible stupid manager who couldn't organise a round of tea and knew nothing about the market or had any commercial accumen. Pathetic bloke. Anyway I got out of the performance management as improved, but by the time they told me I had found another job with a competitor.
Deviating from competency-based questions happens less and less these days, but a couple of questions I was asked back in the 80s which I thought were quite good were:
1. If you'd been made managing director of your current/last employer for a day, what changes would you have made?
2. What would the cleaning lady (you were allowed to be sexist in the 80s) at your current/last employer say is the biggest challenge facing the company?
1. If you'd been made managing director of your current/last employer for a day, what changes would you have made?
2. What would the cleaning lady (you were allowed to be sexist in the 80s) at your current/last employer say is the biggest challenge facing the company?
Edited by V8mate on Thursday 3rd November 20:11
jakesmith said:
Ha, nice attempt to blag your way out of yoyr cock up
It was very definitely done on purpose to highlight three issues.1. People often approach an issue with the correct process but make a mistake. That's fine!
2. It brings out all the people that are so cock-sure of their own interpretation and opinion that it gives me a clue as to whether I even want them involved in my life. (Unrep on the DEM/GOP debate thread for example.)
3. If you really believe I can't add 36 & 18 I pity yoyr [sic] view of the rest of humanity.
V8mate said:
2. What would the cleaning lady (you were allowed to be sexism in the 80s) at your current/last employer say is the biggest challenge facing the company?
Had something similar when I was looking after one instrument lab at ICI, about 20 HPLC rigs, a few Gas Chromatographs and a bench top Mass Spec.Cleaning lady used to come in and ask if she could use the phone internally... i.e. phone one of her mates on site. The response was always 'Yeah, of course, so long as you wash it afterwards...'
jakesmith said:
swerni said:
Do you do this for a living?
If some asked me that in and interview I'd probably call them a as I walked out he door.
Are you honestly that easily upset? And unprofessional that you'd leave an interview halfway through and verbally abuse the guy as you didn't like a question? It isn't that offensive really is it. It's not a nosy question, more about assessing someone's character by how they respond to that sort of question, and seeing if you think you have chemistry and would get on in / with the team. Unless the job is completely silo-ed, often the ability to get on with people well can lead to far greater team achievement that hard workers who can't get on. If some asked me that in and interview I'd probably call them a
as I walked out he door. I must add that neither am I the right person as I would have walked out leaving at least 2 swear words behind me. Following up with a strongly worded letter to the HR department or the MD.
Why do people take the David Brent character from The Office as a role model. Do people not realise that he was portraying the way not to do it.
Edited by Bobhon on Thursday 3rd November 20:13
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