Nicole (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
trickykitty) wrote2008-01-22 11:57 pm
trickykitty) wrote2008-01-22 11:57 pm
Interview Pet Peeves
Pet peeve: being asked in a job interview, "So I see that you haven't been working since October. Why are you looking for a job?"
Yes, I was asked that.
Not "Why did you choose to apply for this position?"
Not "What are you looking for in a position?"
Not "What attracted you to our company?"
Not "Did you win the lottery?"
It reminds me of the Bill Hicks' Waffle House million-dollar question of the day: "Watcha readin' fer?"
How the hell do I answer that without totally mocking my questioner and without sounding like a desperate money whore?
Pet peeve: being asked the very trick question, "So I see that you were working with the YMCA for many years. Did you like it there?"
This one sucks because it's a great one to ask to put the interviewee on her toes, but it's such a black pit, foot in mouth type question. If I say yes I liked it, then questioner wonders if I will be happy at another job or if I'm likely to leave quickly if the YMCA offers me another position. If I say no I didn't really like it, the questioner wonders if that came across as shoddy work or attitude and that I might do the same in this new position.
Pet peeve: Not being interviewed by the person who would actually be your boss.
Now, this is a special case, because in some larger companies there may be multiple interviews scheduled and you have to work through each level of the interview hierarchy. This is understandable, but not in a three-person office. Even more annoying is when said boss was to attend the interview and then just didn't show up.
So what interview pet peeves have you ever encountered?
Yes, I was asked that.
Not "Why did you choose to apply for this position?"
Not "What are you looking for in a position?"
Not "What attracted you to our company?"
Not "Did you win the lottery?"
It reminds me of the Bill Hicks' Waffle House million-dollar question of the day: "Watcha readin' fer?"
How the hell do I answer that without totally mocking my questioner and without sounding like a desperate money whore?
Pet peeve: being asked the very trick question, "So I see that you were working with the YMCA for many years. Did you like it there?"
This one sucks because it's a great one to ask to put the interviewee on her toes, but it's such a black pit, foot in mouth type question. If I say yes I liked it, then questioner wonders if I will be happy at another job or if I'm likely to leave quickly if the YMCA offers me another position. If I say no I didn't really like it, the questioner wonders if that came across as shoddy work or attitude and that I might do the same in this new position.
Pet peeve: Not being interviewed by the person who would actually be your boss.
Now, this is a special case, because in some larger companies there may be multiple interviews scheduled and you have to work through each level of the interview hierarchy. This is understandable, but not in a three-person office. Even more annoying is when said boss was to attend the interview and then just didn't show up.
So what interview pet peeves have you ever encountered?
no subject
My answer:
"Because I know what I'm doing. I know from the look in your eyes that you've been interviewing about 20 too many people who think a mouse is a foot pedal. This job involves talking to people who are depending on you to know what you're talking about. I do. Even when I don't, as far as the customer knows, I do. I'm that damned confident, it borders on arrogance. You put me on the problem and I WILL solve the problem."
I got the job too, which pissed me off. I was burning the interview because so far every question was establishing that I do indeed have a 3rd grade education. Oh well, got $15.50 an hour out of it for about a year.