The Players Corner Archive

Here are some sample questions *I* would ask:

I see you are graduated from a top-notch college. Congratulations! Education is very important in life. Tell me, what part of your education do you plan on bringing to this job?

Although we look for individuals, rather than "cyborgs" to become part of the "team," I do need to know that my employees will work well together. Tell me what you think the worst thing could happen in a group office setting, and what you would do to resolve it.

What do you know of our company? Have you ever used our product/services? If no, why not? Where would you need to be in life, that would give you a reason to use it/them?

If yes, what did you think of the product/service? What would you do to improve it?

We hire people of all cultures, not because of any quota but because we find that a variety of people can provide better approaches to solving problems than a myopic view. Is there any one thing in your personal background that you feel would offer a unique perspective to the job? (Keeping in mind that asking people to divulge their cultural background is illegal in Connecticut, but the information can be volunteered if the applicant wants to)

There will be times when it isn't very busy, and you'll have literally nothing to do. They won't occur often, but they will happen sometimes. We understand and acknowledge this, and don't force people to do menial tasks that don't fit within the job description just to fill up time. What would you do during those moments?

You will have access to a computer and the Internet. We have filters and firewalls to prevent employees from downloading .exe files, but other than that we trust our employees not to abuse the privilege. What website are you most likely to visit during your lunch period? Why?

We need someone who is willing to work in an atmosphere in which a job description cannot be considered the "bible" of one's position. Here is the actual written job description. What things beyond what you see on that page would you be willing to do? What, if anything, would you expect from us as your employers, as compensation for working outside that written description?

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If only interviewers would ask questions like these, I would be such a happy - and employed - person.

R
reg

Education is important to me too. I come from a family that placed learning as a priority, and I continue to improve and increase my knowledge in things that interest me. I bring to this interview training in computers, including the software your company uses. I bring an excellent command of written English and superior typing skills. I bring a love of learning, which can be useful when you introduce me to applications and procedures I am not familiar with.

Well the worst thing that could happen is a disgruntled employee with a bazooka, as far as I can tell. I think I would probably run, and barring that, die in the attempt. But in a non-violent setting, I think the worst thing would be an employee who tries to justify failure by blaming it on everyone else. In a case such as this, especially if I were the one blamed, I would try to talk with the person and help them learn from their failure, encourage them to improve, show them some trick or hint I might know to help them see how they can do the task more efficiently. I would also document the incident, and my attempt to help.

Your company has been listed on the Fortune 500 list of small businesses for the past seven years. You have grown magnificently since you incorporated a decade ago, and the trend seems to continue. I've never had any need for widgets before, but if I were a home builder I would certainly be interested in your widgets. They seem to be very useful for roofing contractors. A great safety precaution to keep them from slipping while they're up there. I also like that you use Lexan plastic; I recycle myself, it's nice to think that some of my own efforts in recycling might end up in your products.

I came from a very old European family, but all the relatives I can remember spoke English as a first language. However as I mentioned before, my family has always placed education very high on the list of life's priorites. The desire, the need to improve one's knowledge, can allow someone to delve into the details of things, and look at issues from a myriad of perspectives. I think that would be very useful in any position within your company.

During "off-times," I would probably enjoy reading. It is one of my passions, and I've been known to read the dictionary and thesaurus if a novel wasn't handy. My first choice would be a "high fantasy" novel about dragons and magic and wizards and such, but I would even read the spec sheet on your widgets with interest if that was what was available.

My favorite website is a bulletin board forum that players and former players of a text-based roleplaying game contribute to. I used to play that game and am one of the forum's moderators. But I enjoy surfing for interesting and unusual things, odd news around the world. I like CNet to keep up on the latest computer technology, and CNN for the world news. I also get a kick out of the Dilbert home page and its related links.

Making coffee isn't on the job description. I would be more than happy to make the coffee for the office staff and visitors. My only request would be that you provide decent coffee. I won't drink coffee that has been sitting in a can for 5 months on the supermarket shelf, and therefore I won't make that kind of coffee. In fact, I would even be willing to bring fresh ground coffee into the office if your petty cash fund would pay for it. I would also be more than happy to help the rest of the staff with anything they need to learn regarding software. I take pride in my understanding and capacity to learn different software applications and love to to see others interested in it as well.

[This message has been edited by Desharei (edited 01-11-2002).] reg

::busily jots down some notes from Roberta's posts for future reference::

Great wordings! Then again, I wish they would ask me those questions. I'm getting stupidly tired of being asked the following, and of course I *wish* I could answer them with my real answers.

"Why do you want to work here?"
Because you have a job opening and I'm running out of coins in my piggy bank.

"Where do you see yourself in 10 years?"
Filthy rich from winning the lottery, lying on the poolside lounge chair of my summer home in Hawaii.

"What are your weaknesses and strengths as an employee?"
I'm terrible at answering the phone and using the fax. They confuse me. And I hate using spell checker. (Are they serious when they ask this?)

"What do you like least about being in your position?"
The fact that I have to answer these ridiculous questions.

"Why did you decide to apply to this position?"
You called me! Why am I doing the answering when you saw my resume and liked it enough to want to meet with me. Don't waste my time if I'm not up for consideration. Sheesh. reg

I don't want to work here. In fact I don't want to work at all. What gave you the impression that work was even near the top of my life's goals?

In ten years, I see myself as having been retired for the past ten years and living comfortably in an adobe home at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in southern Arizona.

Weaknesses: I can't lift more than 30 pounds, so carrying the weight of incompetent co-workers would not be an option.

Strengths: I know how to sign my name to the back of my paycheck.

What I like least in my position? Well actually I prefer to be on top, if it's any of your business.

I decided to apply to this position because my personal masseuse sprained his wrist playing Polo at the Club and I had a free hour to kill.

quote:

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Originally posted by CrystalTears:

"Why do you want to work here?"

"Where do you see yourself in 10 years?"

"What are your weaknesses and strengths as an employee?"

"What do you like least about being in your position?"

"Why did you decide to apply to this position?"

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reg

It I was being "serious" and "playing the game" I probably would've said something like..

I have an active imagination that allows me to come up with ideas that help me contribute to the team's efforts.

If I was being totally me with no care if I got the job or not, I might have said...

I don't have any imagination. The aliens sucked it out of my brain last year when they broke into my home.

R
reg

I didn't get too honest--I could have told them about the roaches with swords fighting over a cheerio, or exploding hemmorhoids but yanno.... reg

Summer

[This message has been edited by Summerlyn (edited 01-11-2002).] reg

R
reg

Another thing that I look for when participating in interviews, is something unique about the applicant. An unusual piece of jewelry, a tie that shows a sense of humor, a bright scarf, anything that subtly draws your attention to the person and makes them "different" from the masses.

Of course, an applicant can be too honest. In an oral interview with one man, he told us that he was fired from his last job because he likes women too much. He can't stop thinking, dreaming, looking, touching women. He went on to explain that he's trying to get help for his problem and recently joined Sex Anonymous, but so far it wasn't working. At this point, eyebrows were being raised all over the room, and I was frantically trying to button the top buttons on my blouse! The poor man was truly bewildered why he didn't get the position.

Summer

[This message has been edited by Summerlyn (edited 01-11-2002).] reg

quote:

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Originally posted by CrystalTears:
"Where do you see yourself in 10 years?"

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Lounging in my south-seas cabana, eating grapes and sipping root beer after successfully embezzeling this company's liquid assets. reg

quote:

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"Where do you see yourself in 10 years?"

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I once answered "In your seat."

Got the job though

-=Insomniac=- reg