Job Interview: What questions cause you the most anxiety?
- Thread starter ClanCy
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In my line of work, I just call them up and do a phone interview. No set questions to ask them. Tell them about the company, my experience with the company, our expectations, salary and then let them ask questions. If the salary is in their wheelhouse, I just pass it up to the chain.
Since when is being honest considered a weakness??
Since when is being honest considered a weakness??
The last CEO that I worked for (Ivy leaguer trained by Frito-Lay) believed "Interviewing candidates for managerial positions is a waste of time". He made all of his staff hires based only on references.
- Mar 27, 2006
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Yeah, me too, to some degree.
I have a friend who was selected for the Iowa State Patrol. And during that application process, they do a pretty thorough background check. He hadn't even listed me as a reference, but the officer in charge found out I was a friend/co-worker through his investigation and called me for a very in depth reference interview. It probably took an hour, and he asked me some very, very personal questions about my friend. And I totally get it. There are some jobs where you just have to know.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
When I was researching at the Boston Public Library, the archive folks let me know that someone else was coming in that day to do different research on abolitionists. They introduced us, and I asked what he was researching, thinking it was an easy conversation starter.
The rest startled me, because the idea of speaking nearly gave him a heart attack. He muttered, "Yes, that's a good question. This is good for me. I should be able to answer this" and finally came out with an answer. I think that humans aren't his thing.
But he was at Yale, so he'll get a full-time job.
I do a ton of interviewing and train employees in my organization (most mid career so this isn't their last role) on how to interview better. One of the simplest ways to handle the "strengths" question is to take the Gallup/Clifton Strengthsfinder profile assessment. It is cheap and fast. I wish I had a dollar for every time I have heard "I am a people person." If on the other hand they pull out their Strengthsfinder profile (or even an actual review from their boss) and say something like, "My top strength is Maximizer meaning I like working with people who are successful to see if I can get them to excellence. That is why I prefer to work with top performing sales teams as well as new early career talent in developing them." Having an example in their portfolio. FYI only about 1 of every 15 people I interview bring a portfolio of examples to the interview and they generally have better success as they are better at telling their story.
Ugh.
If it makes you feel better, we don't actually look at pedigree that closely. We are far more interested in your ability to communicate.
Never had that one, but I was asked once "What do you think about pink elephants?". After I responded "Sorry, I don't", the interviewer nervously recorded the 'creativity' score and ended the interview.
- Mar 27, 2006
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Our HR department has candidates fill out something similar to this before interview, and distribute the results to the person interviewing. I've never had someone bring one in that they filled out on their own, though. I think I might find that impressive, if it was delivered the right way. Delivered the wrong way, and I feel like it could be weird
- Mar 27, 2006
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I interviewed a guy whose current job had him going to customer's houses on work orders. We were talking about good customer service and the best way to deal with stressful situations. He was telling me about how one customer really, really liked him and would schedule service calls and request him personally, sometimes without an actual need for service. The guy would always ask him to eat dinner with him or help him move furniture. I asked him if he ever felt threatened, and he said a little, but he tried to stay polite. And then I asked him if he "put the lotion in the basket?" and the candidate sort of matter of factly responded with "of course, I didn't want to get the hose again" which I felt was a pretty damned good answer.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
Worst question: "If we offered you the job, would you take it?"
Answer: "Is that an offer?"
Equally bad: "No, not yet, but I wanted to make sure you were serious before we go any further."
Answer: "I am certainly interested, but until you are ready to make an offer, it is likely premature to have a discussion on acceptance."
Answer: "Is that an offer?"
Equally bad: "No, not yet, but I wanted to make sure you were serious before we go any further."
Answer: "I am certainly interested, but until you are ready to make an offer, it is likely premature to have a discussion on acceptance."
That’s the person who had their friend ask out dated for them. Will you go out with such and such if they ask you out? Are they asking me out? No, just want to know if you would if they did.
Best to walk away right then if they are that insecure.
“What have you been doing the last five years?”
My “traveling and fishing” response always seems to cause them to pause.
My “traveling and fishing” response always seems to cause them to pause.
Interviewing at Kingland Systems in college I was asked "What part of a pizza would you be?" I word vomited the sauce, of course, yadda yadda lol..
Another question I don't love is, "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?". Got shot down after an interview with Marsh & McLennan because of how I answered that. Apparently saying something along the lines of "hopefully a few steps up from the position I'm applying for, perhaps supervisory in nature" was too ambitious for what they were looking for..
When the staffing company told me that was the reason they passed on me, I was actually happy. I was promoted to supervisor a year & a day after starting at my current company, so I'm still happy with how it worked out.
