WHO thinks up these HR interview questions???

[kaytieeldr]

The oddest question I was ever asked was "when you die, where do you want to be buried?" True!

Ah, I would have needed to be a little older than 22, but not much, to have responded, "___ Cemetery, because I got a GREAT deal on a cremation plot at a charity auction!".

 

[DisMN]

Those donkeybutt questions were most likely thought up by the same people who thought up that Six Sigma bullpoop.
I find it incredible that people actually get paid lots of MONEY to invent that garbage! LOL

 

[DisMN]

The oddest question I was ever asked was "when you die, where do you want to be buried?" True! I told the interviewer that I hadn't really contemplated my death since I was only 22 at the time and that while I believed planning ahead was a good practice, I hadn't gotten around to planning that aspect of my future. Sheesh! Needless to say, when that job was offered, I turned it down. In addition to this "lulu" of a question, he asked a few others that made me think he was either suicidal, homicidal or just plan weird!

I don't think you need to choose. My guess he was all three! LOL LOL

 

[dejr_8]

Hope you did well! The trick here is to understand what the questions are really asking and these are pretty good really.

I understand what they are looking for but I am the type of person that only remembers failures in vivid detail. I personally expect technical success so when I achieve I think no big deal.

But this also gets at a larger issue. Some people really enjoy - and are really good at - "enhancing" their successes and their input into successful projects. They sound really good during the interview process and then fall flat on their face in the job.

 

[dejr_8]

Those donkeybutt questions were most likely thought up by the same people who thought up that Six Sigma bullpoop.
I find it incredible that people actually get paid lots of MONEY to invent that garbage! LOL

Ain't Six Sigma the biggest load of cow manure.

Don't get me wrong. It has a useful place in all industries but it ISN'T the answer to every question.

 

[dakcp2001]

I once got "Sell me this pen" at an interview with the manager for a non sales job. I did the sales pitch anyway (have lots of sales experience), then asked him how that question pertained to the job and he had no answer. It was an office job in which you interacted with NO other people. It was all data entry type of stuff. They did offer me said job, I did refuse. Didnt want to work for an idiot.

 

[sbell111]

I had an interview today to be an Instructor at a local community college. It was a five-on-one interview and all the questions were HR type.

What are three strengths, weakness, etc.

Some were just b.s.

Tell us a time when you were overloaded with information and how did you handle the overload.

Tell about a time when things did not go as planned and how did that impact you.

Have you ever had to explain something to a group of people and did they understand you explanation.

You would hate to interview with me because I use some questions that are quite similar to those. I really believe that it gives me valuable info about the candidates.

For the last one I'd be so tempted to say "Well, I just explained a bunch of stuff to you five. Did you understand?"

Never be a wiseacre in an interview. It's a very effective way to not get a job.

I had an interview last week & was all prepared to answer questions like yours. Instead I got a bunch of yes & no questions.....

We feel teamwork is essential, blah blah blah - do you agree? Umm, yes - aside from restating everything you just said...what's the best answer to this?

This is a fast paced department, multi-tasking & proritization is key. We need someone who is well organized & reliable...are you? Again, what the heck?

I did not get one "tell me about a time", " how would you handle" or "tell me about yourself" type of question. The whole thing was just awkward.

A good plan to handle that kind of interview is to employ active listening. Rather than merely answering 'yes' or 'no', rephrase their position and explain why you feel the way that you do.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

Worst question I ever had was

"Why are manhole covers round?"

 

[Gigi22]

Agreed with Sbell111. Just before I retired, the new theory for creating staffing questions required that interviewers ask experiential questions during interviews. The idea was that if job applicants had to explain something they had actually done in particular circumstances, their answers would be more reliable that if we asked them what they would do in those circumstances.

 

[Pakey]

I am on the asking side and I do ask theoretical questions but only work related (I could care less what type of flower you perceive yourself as).

I do ask questions like "tell me about an overload situation and how you handled it." I think they give good insight and tell me if the person will fit and be happy working with me.

Just as many of you have a favorite question, I have a favorite answer. We work a lot of overtime so I always cover that in interviews. So when I ask if there is any reason you would not be able to work the required overtime, a candidate answered: "I have a boat".

 

[lovesmurfs]

I had an interview last week & was all prepared to answer questions like yours. Instead I got a bunch of yes & no questions.....

We feel teamwork is essential, blah blah blah - do you agree? Umm, yes - aside from restating everything you just said...what's the best answer to this?

This is a fast paced department, multi-tasking & proritization is key. We need someone who is well organized & reliable...are you? Again, what the heck?

I did not get one "tell me about a time", " how would you handle" or "tell me about yourself" type of question. The whole thing was just awkward.

When I was interviewing, I found that those who weren't experienced interviewers would ask those close-ended questions.

My response would be, "Yes. Teamwork is absolutely essential to any organization. For example, in my last position, we had situation XX where I did YY, which resulted in ZZ." This way, you're answering the question and making it a more open-ended one.

 

[samshane]

I was prepared for all the typical interview questions - went in for my first interview out of college and the first request out of the interviewers mouth was:

"Tell me a joke."

I froze - I mean, literally was speechless. The interviewer told me that she'd come back to it later - and went on with the interview. At the end - she asked me again - so, being blonde myself, I said, How do you make a blonde's eyes light up? Shine a flashlight in her ear. (OMG - it was the ONLY joke I could think of!).

I got the job. The boss ended up being horrible - and she was fired in the end... But, every interview I have gone to since then I have always had a joke in my head - just in case.

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

I recently conducted interviews where we were seeking a case manager to work with families in crisis. Towards the end of the interview I always ask the person if they have any questions for me.

My favorite question was this one...."I really don't like working with people all that much, how often do I have to interact with clients?" Um, gee....hello? You are an MSW working toward an LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) interviewing for a case manager position and you don't like to interact with people?!?

Well, naturally I said, "8+ hours a day, every working day. And why did you become a social worker if you don't like to work with people?" Her response was that she flunked out of medical school and thought this would be a good fit !

Nope....didn't hire her!

 

[kamik86]

I'm a technical person as well. The questions I like alot that are a bit odd are things like.

Estimate how many basketballs would fit in this room.

The point is to see how you answer the question. If the first thing you say is a number you didn't do well. If you start with asking things like "With or without table and chairs and xyz stuff in it?" and then give estimates for the dimensions of the room, the size of a basketball (which being wrong on that is fine as long as its something reasonable. I would guess a basketball takes a cube foot of space) etc. then you do well.

My interview for my current job was surprising I expected it to be hard, the position seemed too good to be true, where I wanted to work, pay for grad school, great salary, etc. And they spent most of the interview saying things that sounded like they were trying to get me to like the company then I had to say to convince them they wanted me!

 

[helloirishkitty]

If you were a tree what kind would you be and why?

Yes, they really get weird sometimes.

I've gotten "If you were an animal, which one would you be and why" more than once.

Because that will really give you an insight into my character.

 

[sbell111]

Worst question I ever had was

"Why are manhole covers round?"

Sometimes, it best just to answer the question.

"Manhole covers are round so they don't fall in the hole."

 

[blanq]

I had an interview today to be an Instructor at a local community college. It was a five-on-one interview and all the questions were HR type.

What are three strengths, weakness, etc.

Some were just b.s.

Tell us a time when you were overloaded with information and how did you handle the overload.

Tell about a time when things did not go as planned and how did that impact you.

Have you ever had to explain something to a group of people and did they understand you explanation.

I am in management, and have hired plenty of people over the last 13 years. The questions that you posed above, and call BS, are not BS questions at all. The last one in particular totally relates to the position you are applying for. Let's see...you are applying to be an instructor (which I assume requires that you impart information to others that they will need to remember) and the interviewer had the gall to ask you a question about how well you are able to explain (communicate) with others? If you did not take these questions seriously (which I question since you stated to us they were BS) to see through to what the interviewer was asking, my guess is this interview might not have been too successful for you.

 

[declansdad]

I am currently a college instructor and I have also been the one to hire instructors. These question are quite appropriate to the field. You may be technically strong and I am sure that would come across in the interview (and be verified in a reference check); but can you teach? Asking technical questions will not help them determine the answer to that question.

 

[HerdOHuds]

Right out of college I had a disastrous interview.

I was late (totally my fault, but I underestimated the impact of Chicago construction traffic on my travel time), I was unable to call and warn the principal of my tardiness because their phones were out, and then the first question out of the principal's mouth was "Tell me about yourself." If she had asked me about an educational theory or behavioral modification plan or what inspired me or how I would handle any situation, I was prepared. The open-ended and vague 'Tell me about yourself' question left me speechless. I had no idea what she was going for.

I told her about my personal life, which by her immediate reaction was NOT the desired answer. I spent the rest of that interview trying to make up for the first question and knew as I filled out an written portion that they would not be offering me that job.

The good news was, I had interviewed successfully for another position that was part-time earlier and was offered that job. It became full-time and I spent two years in that district before I moved into a larger, more financially stable and well-respected district. I always tell every person I know that will be interviewing to consider what to say if you get the vague "Tell me about yourself" question.

 

[Explodo]

My last Yob interview (panel interview...6 people) I was asked right off the bat...by the VP of Engineering the following question:

"Why?"

I answered: Because I'm the Dad and I say so!

I think the room laughed for 10 minutes.

Got the job...