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Beyond specific technical questions, Maureen's favorite interview questions and some believe-it-or-not but true responses.

Here are some of my favorite questions; what are yours?

Question: Tell me about a time you had a conflict with a co-worker.
Strange but true response: “Sheila really pissed me off so I waited until she was in the hallway where everyone could hear and then I reamed her. I yelled and let her have it! I really showed her!”

Question: What’s the last thing you did to improve yourself?
True but telling response: “Nothing.”

Question: What was the business impact of your last project?
Boring but true response: “We provided better reports.”

Question: (Asked after you “close” the interview and the candidate is relaxed)…What do you do for fun?
Candid but uninspiring response: “Drink beer and watch TV.”

Question: Tell me about a time you made a big mistake. What happened and what did you do?
Response: “I never make mistakes.”
Pleeeezzzee!!

Question: What is one word a previous boss used to describe you?
Response: “Couch Potato.”
(Not a great description AND it’s TWO words!)

Any interesting questions? Any entertaining responses?

  Posted by mclarry on February 13, 2007 7:52 AM |

Comments

Gotta love interview questions, on either side of the desk.

Me: What do you do on a project if you need help from someone and you don't get it?
Them: Nothing! If I can't get the help I need there's nothing I can do.
(No, there are about a dozen ways of solving that problem. Doing nothing isn't one of them).

Interviewing someone for a contracting job:
Me: What's your greatest strength?
Them: I excel at coming into a group, seeing confusion and a vacuum of authority, and then taking over and giving directions.
(Thank you, I have three levels of management giving my people orders, I don't need a bottom-rung contractor trying to be the boss).

==Ed

Posted by: Edmund Freeman | March 4, 2008 9:16 PM

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