Interview questions

[CrufflerSteve]

As an engineer, I've been given a white board and told to show how I'd solve a problem.

There's also the BS questions like 'Name your faults." If they're handing out BS I'll give it back. "I'm a perfectionist and I try too hard getting ti right."

Steve

[Mtn.man]

"It's hard to be humble,, when your perfect in everyway"

[Bailey Guns]

JeffCo Sheriff's interview in 1989. Little, short corporal named Ron R. asked this question of me:

Q: What's the strangest thing you've ever done sexually?

A: Uhhh...you mean like with animals or people? Ha, ha, ha!

(Nervous laughter from other board members...I'm not sure they were prepared for the question/answer)

I got hired.

[Richard K]

JeffCo Sheriff's interview in 1989. Little, short corporal named Ron R. asked this question of me:

Q: What's the strangest thing you've ever done sexually?

A: Uhhh...you mean like with animals or people? Ha, ha, ha!

(Nervous laughter from other board members...I'm not sure they were prepared for the question/answer)

I got hired.

I was a Captain at Jeffco in '89. I probably chaired that board.

[Irving]

Question I hated the most (both when I was interviewed, and when I was administering them): Assume I'm hiring you to replace me, so I can be promoted. What can you do that relates to the job, that you can do better than I can?

This is a strange question, as you wouldn't know anything about how that person does his/her job unless you are interviewing for an internal promotion. I'd probably get myself into trouble and say something like, "Well, I don't know anything about how you do your current job, but I probably wouldn't run an interview off of a pre-printed form like you're doing now."

There's also the BS questions like 'Name your faults." If they're handing out BS I'll give it back. "I'm a perfectionist and I try too hard getting ti right."

Steve

Trap question. Both you and the interviewer know that it is a trap question, but I'd advise against giving the answer you suggested. It is lame and what many people say. Instead, I plan to give a more true, but less related answer. For example, "Well, I wish I could solve complex math problems in my head. I had friends in school that could solve calculus problems in their head and I always admired that ability."

That answer is honest and specific, but not really related to the job (not the one I'm applying for anyway).

I find that off the top of my head I tend to struggle with "Name a time that...." questions. I'm sure I have examples, but since those scenarios are just part of the job, nothing ever stands out for me. In the past I've never really prepared for interviews (I never had any career jobs before) and did okay. Now I'm finally in a place that I can better answer questions though.

I'm actually excited to answer the "What can you bring to the company?" question, because for the first time in my life, I feel like I finally have something to bring to a company.

Story time. At my first corporate, big boy job out of college, I was asked about a time that I had to solve a problem at work, but didn't have anyone to turn to for help. I told them the story of the time I was the opening delivery drive at Papa John's. The opening driver and a manager open the store, so it is only those two people there until about noon or 1 o'clock. If an order came in, the driver would deliver it and the manager would stay in the store to run the till, take calls, etc. The problem was that my manager came in hung over from the night before. So hung over in fact, that he was still drunk and passed out in his office shortly after the first few orders came in. I couldn't leave the store with him sleeping on the floor (under the desk with his feet on the chair) of the office, but I had to make the deliveries at the same time. Fortunately, as I was looking for the number of another person to call, his friend just happened to stop by the store for a visit. I convinced the friend to hang out in the store at the register and tell people that the system was down and take orders by hand. This guy came around a lot and could make the food just fine. He protested, but I convinced him to just stay while I made the two deliveries and we'd figure out what to do when I got back. I left the story at that and I got the job. They really liked that answer.


The rest of the story is that when I got back, my manager was awake and in the bathroom. His buddy was mopping the clean floor however. When I asked why he was mopping my clean floor, I found out that the manager had pissed himself while he was passed out in the office. He came out of the bathroom and said that he needed to move his truck to the back of the building. I told him that I'd do it. He reached in his pocket and handed me his keys with a soaking wet leather key fob on it. I cringed as I took them and he said, "Hey Stu! Have you been pissing in my pocket?!" I told him that even though that was funny, I wasn't in the mood for his drunk bullshit.

[StagLefty]

I was too pissed to post this a few weeks ago but I went through an interview process recently that took about 2 hours. Job was to manage a facilities team. Interview was going well - I thought-until I was asked if I spoke Spanish. That is a requirement for this position I was told. My response was why wasn't this on the job posting or at least why wasn't it brought up during phone conversation. I was pissed to say the least. I had just wasted 2 hours and I pretty much lost it with the interviewer. I'm an American in my own homeland so why should I have to speak Spanish ? I don't respond to jobs that say being bi-lingual is a plus because I'm not and have no intention of becoming bi-lingual. WTF

[Irving]

I was working on becoming bi-lingual a while ago, but fell off the bandwagon (have to do Rosetta Stone every single day and it wears on you). I totally agree that they should have posted up immediately that the position required you to be bi-lingual. They wasted a lot of both of your time.

[funkfool]

River answer...
Forget about the river...
Just forget about it...


He didn't notice for ten minutes... had to go back ten minutes...
20 minutes total....
so...
1km in 1/3 of an hour.
1*3=3
The rate of change of position, or v = 3km per hour.


Displacement over time.
The river is a distraction from the equation...
You start thinking about the river and all the implications - when they specifically state: "the river flows at a constant rate".
Ignore it.

[Zundfolge]

I was asked if I spoke Spanish. That is a requirement for this position I was told. My response was why wasn't this on the job posting or at least why wasn't it brought up during phone conversation.

I wonder if HR people get some sort of bonus for wasting peoples' time.

I recently replied to a help wanted ad with my resume and salary history/requirements (just like the ad requested).

Well after a long drawn out interview (full of the latest corporate psychobabble "behavioral interviewing" crap) at the end I caught a glimpse at the HR lady's info sheet on the position and I noticed the top figure on the pay range was a hair over half of what I make now. I didn't say anything at the time but got a nice "thanks but no-thanks" letter a few days latter. Apparently they decided not to offer me the job because they couldn't come close to my salary requirements.

[Byte Stryke]

I love it when they have a Bilingual requirement.
I apply and when they call me for an interview if I'm not doing anything that day I go.

"Was Meinst du dep? I kann Einfluss auf Deutsche Gesprächen. möglicherweise meine Grammatik ist nicht perfekt, aber ich kann Deutsche Sprechen.

Verdammten Rassist.

Ausländer RAUS!"