Yesterday, I went for an interview at a software company, as I had applied for the position of a full-time writer.
I was quite happy. I was supposed to reach the place at 3pm and I arrived at 2.45pm.
The interview started and went on for about twenty minutes. This was not my first interview. I have been interviewed at several places.
As the panel continues to ask me moronic question after moronic question, an idea for a blog post began to form in my mind. I tried to make a list of the fifteen most stupid questions that interviewers ask you. The list could go up to thirty questions, but ET might not take such a lengthy blog, so I am sticking to fifteen.
I am sure I can expect many emails and angry responses from HR recruitment people after this post.
Q1: Where do you see yourself in five years?
Do you know where your company will be in five years? Sorry, I didn’t know that you were looking to hire an astrologer.
Q2. Describe yourself in three words.
Why do you want a three-word description? If I say I am bold, smart and beautiful, will you be happy with that? Which three words do you want to hear–hard working, motivated and intelligent? You’ve gone through my resume, but still insist on asking me to describe myself. Just read the document carefully and you might find your answer there.
Q3. Are you ready to work overtime?
If you advertised your timings to be 9-5, don’t suddenly change your mind. If I say yes, it wouldn’t make any sense, and if I say no, I will be considered lazy. Are you ready to pay me for overtime?
Q4. What is your biggest weakness/worst quality?
Oh my God! Shall I really tell you my biggest weakness? Ice cream is my biggest weakness. Mobilink asked my brother the same question, after assuring him they wouldn’t share the information with anybody else. Are you guys making a database of candidates’ weaknesses? What if something I consider a strength looks like a weakness to someone else? If I say I’m a workaholic, it’s strength to me, but a weakness to others. Do people really discuss their weaknesses in public?
Q5. Can you manage to work in teams and groups?
My resume states very clearly that my skills include leadership ability, conflict resolution and team management skills. Didn’t you read it? Secondly, what if I am asked to work with a group of lazy dudes who don’t even bother to work much? It depends on the team. Anyway, were politicians ever asked about their leadership skills?
Q6. What are your salary expectations?
I applied for this job after reading about the salary you advertised. Are you trying to avoid paying that amount by asking me that? Anyway, my salary expectation is Rs200,000. Thank you so much for caring about me.
Q7. Do you mind if I call your previous employers?
Either I voluntarily left my job, or I got fired. Neither situation could have made my employers happy. Which ex-boss is going to speak highly of me?
Q8. What did you do in your last job?
I was hired as a plumber by the previous company after I finished my MBA.
Q9. Why shall we hire you?
So that I can steal your office equipment and break the office furniture.
Q10. Are you married, divorced, separated, or single?
This question annoys most female candidates. I’ve heard friends complaining about it too. Why are you interested in knowing my marital status? I am not a contestant for Miss World, for which I’d need to be single.
Q11. Who are you living with these days?
In Pakistan, where girls live with their families, this question doesn’t make any sense. I am living with my pets.
Q12. What do your co-workers say about you?
Some people suggested that I should dye my hair. Others said that I should use a glossy lipstick with thick eye liner.
Q13. What are your expectations from this job?
That I shouldn’t have to come to work on time. I also expect diet drinks and low calorie food for lunch. Also, I want an AC in my own room.
Q14. Why do you want to work for us?
I want it because I have to buy new clothes and cell phone.
Q15. Why are you leaving your current job?
Because I love giving job interviews.
The article was published in Express Tribune.
That's more like it, Pictures & video added more beauty to the post as compare to original one on ET :-)
ReplyDeleteBTW any plan of writing squeal of it being there is plenty of room for it :D
yes.......keep waiting for part 2 as well.....I sent 20 job questions...Et cut it short.....wait for the next epidoe as well.........:P
ReplyDeleteOoooh ...
ReplyDeleteFact is that there is no end of stupidity so I'm afraid you might end-up writing a 'Star Plus Drama Serial' :D
Will wait for episode 2 of it :-)
I've always managed to resist the impulse so far but just once in my life, I'd love to answer the "five years" question with "Bringing the USS Enterprise safetly back to Earth". But unless I got very lucky and the interviewer was also a Star Trek fan, that answer's probably a pretty fast way being shown to the door.
ReplyDeleteAnd on that subject, I'm really not keen on the "What character from such-and-such a franchise would you be" questions. I've never had one but my sister got one during her graduate jobs hunt, she got asked which character from Friends she'd be.
She didn't get the job because she told the interviewer she'd never seen Friends, had no intention of doing so and then asked if the question was in any way relevant to her ability to do the job.
The way I see it, if you've really got to ask a candidate which animal/vegetable/mineral they'd be, that's bad enough but at least it's open-ended. But assuming that they're familiar enough with a specific franchise is just stupid.