How to answer an interview queston

[heidi_storage]

I usually make up a set of fictional stories to fit just about every situation I can anticipate they will ask. I do know they’d rather have a fictional answer that fits their question than a true answer like, “I’ve never experienced that situation,” or “I never heard back from management so I assume they got what they needed.” In future interview situations, you should concoct a fiction where management responds with something positive.

I tend to get along really well with my coworkers and customers. I almost never have any difficulties with anyone and my job just isn’t that challenging that there are job tasks I have difficulty with. I’ve held several levels of my same position where I’ve had to have interviews. The first time I had one of those “…tell me a time when _ happened” interviews, I answered honestly with either real situations or told them I’d never experience the situation. Big mistake. I had a recent interview where I had only concocted customer-based stories and all the questions they asked were for co-worker stories. I was like a deer in the headlights. I’m not good at making up stories on the fly. BTW, they like lots of detail so make sure you include stuff like day of the week, exact words used, possibly what you were wearing or what the weather was like.

I’m living for the day companies change to a different interview method. This one has been around over a decade and it isn’t getting the companies the best candidates, just the best creative storytellers.

Lying doesn’t seem very ethical.

 

[Eliza10]

Right, Heidi - lying is definitely not ethical. Its understandable in this dog-eat-dog world, or when we are afraid, or insecure, or do not feel smart or experienced enough. But our Holy Mother the Church teaches us that the ends does NOT justify the means. Yes, in our eyes it might seem so at times, but God’s ways are not our ways. Hopefully lying has not become such a habit that one does not even feel guilty any more about lying - that’s a problem. When we take such things to confession, the priest can let us know if there were any extenuating circumstances that mitigate the severity of the sin. But it* is* a sin, it does displease God, and He wants to help us stop doing that. The extraordinary graces He ordinarily pours out in the sacrament of Confession give us the power to do what we cannot do ourselves - to do things His way.

Whatsmyname, there a lots of people and resources that can help prepare you for those job interview stumpers. Like you said, preparation is everything. (But not prepared lies!).

 

[whatsmyname]

Lying doesn’t seem very ethical.

I would not consider it lying any more than I would consider what Stephen King or James Patterson do lying. It is creative storytelling and that’s what that particular type of interview style is designed to elicit.

I’ve sat in these interviews and been asked to make up stories. When I’ve said, “I’ve never had an experience like that,” I’ve been told just to make something up because the interviewer can’t leave the answer blank. When I’ve told a story and left out details like date, time, hair color, flight number, etc, I’ve been told to add them even if I can’t remember them because details are important to the process. The interviewer has to have something to write down on their question sheet to fill in all the blanks. It’s a particular style of interview; it isn’t the way they used to interview for jobs where they wanted to know about you, your experience, education and skill set. I know numerous people who have experienced the same situation. They don’t want a true story; they want to know how you think and create a response to a situation.

In response to, “Whatsmyname, there a lots of people and resources that can help prepare you for those job interview stumpers. Like you said, preparation is everything. (But not prepared lies!).”

It isn’t really a matter of interview preparation. The first time I experienced one of these types of interviews (they have a name, but I can’t remember what it is), I was asked, “Tell us a time when you had a customer become physically violent and how you handled it.” I answered in some surprise, “I’ve never had that happen. I’ve never even seen it happen to someone else.” The interviewer replied, “Just make something up.”

Another time, I was asked to tell about a time I’d had to confront a coworker who wasn’t following policy. I had a story from about 5 years prior which was the last time I’d worked in a supervisory capacity. I did not know the coworker’s name (I’d never seen her before or since) so they asked me to either make up some details or think of another story.

At least this type of interview isn’t as bad as the, “Tell us how you’d make a peanut butter sandwich”-type interviews. I just have this feeling business school students make up these interview methods for kicks and laugh themselves silly when corporations actually start using them.

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[Eliza10]

Ok, thats a really strange interviewing technique that I have never experienced.

 

[PaulinVA]

whatsmyname, what industry, what job interviews possibly do this?

 

[punisherthunder]

I used to give job interviews all the time.

One question like that shouldn’t sink you. To me it’s a loaded question because as an employer I’m wondering why someone on the team wouldn’t cooperate to begin with!

But seriously, one question like that won’t sink you. The only ones that were red flags to me were ones dealing with suspicious behavior, criminal activity, or if you actively WERE NOT paying attention in the interview.

 

[Anglewannabe]

One question like that shouldn’t sink you. To me it’s a loaded question because as an employer I’m wondering why someone on the team wouldn’t cooperate to begin with!
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That was my though as well, ie why do they keep uncooperative people. However, being over educated for my current position, I have a theory on that. I think that management knows that if they are not willing to pay more, they will not get top notch employees. To them it is better to have an uncooperative person doing some work, then not being able to replace them.

However, since I was the interviewee, I did not think it would be appropriate to mention the other person needed changing

 

[shainski]

If I were to ask a question such as this - I don’t really care what the answer is - I would care HOW the candidate handled an uncomfortable question.

Did he/she squirm? Did he/she lie?

If I asked a candidate something like this:

“I see that while you had a decent GPA, you seem to have had a hard time your first year. What happened?”

I would rather a candidate say something like.

“You know, when I went to college, I was unprepared and too immature to handle the freedom. I spent too much time partying and not enough time studying. I was horrified when I saw my grades, and I made a conscious effort to change. While I’m not particularly proud of that first semester, I am proud of how I grew since.”

You will never be able to anticipate every question you might get. You can, however, answer enthusiastically even when you are thrown a curve ball.

as hazcompat mentioned, it’s fine to take your time when answering a question. It may even be a positive as it makes your answer seem more sincere. Even if you said something like. “Would it be okay to come back to that question, so I have time to think of a good example?”

And interviewers and not machines. They vary from one to another. What impresses one person may not impress another - and what disqualifies one may not disqualify another. However, if you find yourself always being second best, it would help you to practice your responses. Practice with a friend or family member. Have them purposely ask you difficult work questions that you are for which you are unprepared. (Even if those questions may not be legally asked to you, it will give you practice answering questions you have anticipated).

 

[Anglewannabe]

If I were to ask a question such as this - I don’t really care what the answer is - I would care HOW the candidate handled an uncomfortable question.

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As an interviewer, can you please tell me how you would feel about how I did answer the question. IE I went to management and told them I could not get the information and left it at that.

I realize that not all interviewers will see it the same way, however, I am curious to hear different opinions

Angie

 

[shainski]

As an interviewer, can you please tell me how you would feel about how I did answer the question. IE I went to management and told them I could not get the information and left it at that.

I realize that not all interviewers will see it the same way, however, I am curious to hear different opinions

Angie

Well, I could not think fast enough of an example with a successful outcome. To be honest, I was a bit surprised at the question and started to panic inside. So I told about an example where I had to meet with a guy for him to give me information and all he did was look in his desk and answer emails and after 20 minutes looked at his watch and then said ‘Got to go home’ So I went to management with the information I had, told them about the information I did not have and told them where in the report my concerns were.

The interviewer asked how it was resolved to which I said 'I never heard back from management so I assumed they got what they needed and if this guy got his fingers slapped, then I would never find out about it.

On the face of it, your answer is fine. I can’t know what your body language was. you “panicked inside” so it may have come across well or badly - I just can’t tell.

And the answer depends on the type of job you are trying to get. Would I expect that you should have followed up later to find out about the information you couldn’t get? Depending on how important your role was in this project and how important the project was, I don’t like this:

I never heard back from management, so I assumed they got what they needed…

I think I would have preferred that you said something like

“Looking back on this episode, I wish I had followed up the next day to see if I could get the information that was lacking. I don’t know the consequences of that day, and I think I should have been more proactive.”

xxx

 

[Anglewannabe]

Thanks for your reply Shainski