Job Interview Instantly Goes South After A Guy Fails To Answer The ‘Dumbest’ Question
In a way, interviewing well is one of the most important skills to have to be successful in the job market. If you can’t effectively communicate your experiences and strengths to recruiters, you may miss out on opportunities that could propel your career forward.
Reddit user WoodyStLouis recently got a call back for a role he applied to. The conversation with the hiring team was going rather smoothly until suddenly, the man heard what he thought was “the dumbest” question he had ever received in his quest for employment, and it completely threw him off.
To find out if his reply was correct, he turned to the subreddit ‘Anti Work‘ for help.
This applicant admitted he fumbled a job interview because of a single question that he later realized could’ve been a trap
Image credits: Edmond Dantès / pexels (not the actual photo)
So he described the conversation to the internet and asked people to share their take on it
Image credits: Gabrielle Henderson / unsplash (not the actual photo)
Image source: WoodyStLouis
While it’s a difficult spot, sometimes candidates can still find a way to continue the interview even without an answer to a specific question
According to Neha Parashar, an experienced executive coach and former HR leader who helps people find clarity and growth in their professional and personal lives, many hiring managers are looking out for a few things beyond applicants’ hard skills and experience — their values, goals, and work styles. To get a feel for those things, they’re asking themselves:
- Will this person be comfortable working here and be able to give their best?
- Is their work and communication style compatible with my team members?
- Will everyone be able to collaborate and perform at their best?
That’s why Parashar believes that during the interview, potential employees should show that they are aware of:
- The values of the organization (“I know what is important to you”);
- The mission and goals of the organization (“I know where you are going, and I’d like to come along”);
- The organization’s style and way of working (“I understand how things work here and I could do it that way”).
However, in situations where you don’t know how to answer the recruiters’ question, Teresa Freeman, who has 25 years of experience as an HR executive for companies like Amazon and Deloitte, says there are three ways you can regain composure:
- Repeat or reframe. Sometimes you can’t answer or think that you don’t know how because you didn’t hear it right or the way it’s framed.
- Bring in a related topic. If you still have no idea what the person is asking you, you can try to redirect the interviewer with a related thought or example of your expertise. For example, “I understand that your employees’ time management skills are important to you, so can I tell you about a recent project where I met tight deadlines…” could’ve been a shot worth taking in our case.
- Show that you are eager to learn. Another possible exit from the dead end could be showing the interviewer that you want this job and that you’re willing to acquire the required expertise.
According to Freeman, if candidates express positivity, energy, and interest, they can go a long way even if they aren’t able to fully answer a specific question.
As his story went viral, the man joined the discussion in the comments
Red Flag alert! OP updated that it is a salaried position. If they’re already insinuating that a scheduled 830 means something different, then you can bet that a 5pm scheduled time to leave will also mean something different. These people are going to most certainly make you work over 40 hours…probably a lot more.
I'd have had to say "about ten" wait for their response and remind them about asking stupid questions.
Dumbest interview question I ever got: "If you could be any kind of cow, would you be a chocolate cow, a strawberry cow, or a peanut butter cow?" My response was "Uhh, I'm not doing this."
It's strange how "15 mins early is on time and on time is late" only applies to you arriving at work and not leaving isn't it?
Mine was, "If you could be any kind of fruit, what would it be and how would it help you in the workplace?" My (internal) question was, "How does fruit relate to work abilities?" I forget what I said, but I remember they were really impressed by it. And it was all BS. I don't know how one can answer such a BS question with anything other than BS. Got the job, though! 🤷
Load More Replies... The correct answer is "I would be like George Costanza and live at the office and sleep under my desk."
I have seen a great much debates about this for the last few years. "Corporate Business" seems to have not moved on from the employee is owned by the company philosophy that states you will be at the companies beck and call at all times and younger employees are the exact opposite in that you schedule me to work from this time to thus time I will be turning up at the first and leaving at the 2nd and there will be no deviation from this. The best companies and employees are the ones that have mutual respect for each other, work life balance is a thing but an employee making sure that you are set up and ready to commence work at the time you are being paid for is respected by the company. Then at the end of the work scgedule there is the respect that should go the other way, where the company gives enough time to the employee to close their work off and all work station equipment is returned to its standby / tidied away position. Personally my job takes 10 min setup and 10 min close down
I head HR and I'm almost wondering if they're expecting you to say 8:45 because you stopped to say good morning to people. It's either they want someone on time or someone who carea about saying good morning. I would respond saying that and explaining how I would adapt to the culture around me. Or say 8:30, but I'd come in 10 minutes early to talk to my co-workers. It all depends on the vibe. But you can ask them what they mean. Or say, "I'd be there when you expected me to." Dont assume it's a tardy issue. If so, 8:25 would have been the right answer. The fact that it's not tells us they're looking for something else.
Never, ever, work for free. (unless, you know, family friend charity). The employer is trying to not hire enough people to get the work done and are shaming you into giving them your time for free. Usually goes along with "We're like a family here.". But you're not family and you don't have a stake in the business unless you get profit sharing. Trust me, they won't have loyalty to you. They'll just expect more and more of your free work.
"Is there a requirement for me to actually be here before 8:30?" *pause so they can reply* "If not then I'll be at the desk by 8:30 ready to go."
There's no one time that I'd be there. Most times I'd be there a bit before 8:30. A few times I'd be there way before 8:30. And now and then, I'd be there a little after 8:30. Do you think you're hiring a robot?
About 20 years ago I had an interview for a new Walmart store. Pre-hiring for the grand opening. I had to go online and do a multiple page questionnaire. One of the questions was " If a coworker did not show up for a shift and did not call in should he be terminated immediately" I said no. The reason I said no was because anything could have happened. A car accident etc. ( in fact I had worked for a restaurant where someone got in a car accident and did not show up. She was OK but stuck on the highway and had no way to call ) I went for the interview and the guy interviewing me went over my questions and literally blew up at my answer. BLEW UP. He starts loudly berating me and asking if that's the kind of person I am . Someone who just does not show up. I tried to speak and he would not let me. Then he kicks me out. Yes kicks me out and says the interview is over. I will never forget how embarrassed and stupid his power trip made me feel.
Some folks are more concerned with the "appearance of productivity" then they are with actually being productive.
When I was young, "start at 8:30" was different than "arrive at 8:30". For example, school starts at 8:30. I don't arrive at 8:30, get a drink from the machine, stop by my locker, go to the restroom, etc etc etc. I get to school, I do whatever needs to be done to be ready, and I'm IN class, READY to learn, at 8:30. That carried over to when I started working. For me, "the job starts at 8:30" doesn't mean I'm walking through the front gates at 8:30. It means I'm there, ready to work, at 8:30. I get to work early: usually before 8:00. That way, if the train is late, the bus is late, etc etc etc, I'm still on time. I come in, get a cup of coffee, check my email, go over my schedule for the day, chat with people, etc etc etc. Then at 8:30, I'm mentally ready for work. However, I'm OLD. I've noticed a lot of younger people have a very different mindset. For a lot of younger people, 8:30 means they arrive at 8:30, and a lot of them simply WILL NOT arrive one second sooner.
Because they, unlike us old-timers, have realised they aren't paid until the start time and working for free is not fair. Arriving in time to do the work is absolutely correct. Despite the bosses that want people to arrive an hour early so they can feed their own egos about how 'devoted' their ripped-off employees are.
Load More Replies...
are people overlooking the fact that he said he snickered then answered thats probably why
Red Flag alert! OP updated that it is a salaried position. If they’re already insinuating that a scheduled 830 means something different, then you can bet that a 5pm scheduled time to leave will also mean something different. These people are going to most certainly make you work over 40 hours…probably a lot more.
I'd have had to say "about ten" wait for their response and remind them about asking stupid questions.
Dumbest interview question I ever got: "If you could be any kind of cow, would you be a chocolate cow, a strawberry cow, or a peanut butter cow?" My response was "Uhh, I'm not doing this."
It's strange how "15 mins early is on time and on time is late" only applies to you arriving at work and not leaving isn't it?
Mine was, "If you could be any kind of fruit, what would it be and how would it help you in the workplace?" My (internal) question was, "How does fruit relate to work abilities?" I forget what I said, but I remember they were really impressed by it. And it was all BS. I don't know how one can answer such a BS question with anything other than BS. Got the job, though! 🤷
Load More Replies... The correct answer is "I would be like George Costanza and live at the office and sleep under my desk."
I have seen a great much debates about this for the last few years. "Corporate Business" seems to have not moved on from the employee is owned by the company philosophy that states you will be at the companies beck and call at all times and younger employees are the exact opposite in that you schedule me to work from this time to thus time I will be turning up at the first and leaving at the 2nd and there will be no deviation from this. The best companies and employees are the ones that have mutual respect for each other, work life balance is a thing but an employee making sure that you are set up and ready to commence work at the time you are being paid for is respected by the company. Then at the end of the work scgedule there is the respect that should go the other way, where the company gives enough time to the employee to close their work off and all work station equipment is returned to its standby / tidied away position. Personally my job takes 10 min setup and 10 min close down
I head HR and I'm almost wondering if they're expecting you to say 8:45 because you stopped to say good morning to people. It's either they want someone on time or someone who carea about saying good morning. I would respond saying that and explaining how I would adapt to the culture around me. Or say 8:30, but I'd come in 10 minutes early to talk to my co-workers. It all depends on the vibe. But you can ask them what they mean. Or say, "I'd be there when you expected me to." Dont assume it's a tardy issue. If so, 8:25 would have been the right answer. The fact that it's not tells us they're looking for something else.
Never, ever, work for free. (unless, you know, family friend charity). The employer is trying to not hire enough people to get the work done and are shaming you into giving them your time for free. Usually goes along with "We're like a family here.". But you're not family and you don't have a stake in the business unless you get profit sharing. Trust me, they won't have loyalty to you. They'll just expect more and more of your free work.
"Is there a requirement for me to actually be here before 8:30?" *pause so they can reply* "If not then I'll be at the desk by 8:30 ready to go."
There's no one time that I'd be there. Most times I'd be there a bit before 8:30. A few times I'd be there way before 8:30. And now and then, I'd be there a little after 8:30. Do you think you're hiring a robot?
About 20 years ago I had an interview for a new Walmart store. Pre-hiring for the grand opening. I had to go online and do a multiple page questionnaire. One of the questions was " If a coworker did not show up for a shift and did not call in should he be terminated immediately" I said no. The reason I said no was because anything could have happened. A car accident etc. ( in fact I had worked for a restaurant where someone got in a car accident and did not show up. She was OK but stuck on the highway and had no way to call ) I went for the interview and the guy interviewing me went over my questions and literally blew up at my answer. BLEW UP. He starts loudly berating me and asking if that's the kind of person I am . Someone who just does not show up. I tried to speak and he would not let me. Then he kicks me out. Yes kicks me out and says the interview is over. I will never forget how embarrassed and stupid his power trip made me feel.
Some folks are more concerned with the "appearance of productivity" then they are with actually being productive.
When I was young, "start at 8:30" was different than "arrive at 8:30". For example, school starts at 8:30. I don't arrive at 8:30, get a drink from the machine, stop by my locker, go to the restroom, etc etc etc. I get to school, I do whatever needs to be done to be ready, and I'm IN class, READY to learn, at 8:30. That carried over to when I started working. For me, "the job starts at 8:30" doesn't mean I'm walking through the front gates at 8:30. It means I'm there, ready to work, at 8:30. I get to work early: usually before 8:00. That way, if the train is late, the bus is late, etc etc etc, I'm still on time. I come in, get a cup of coffee, check my email, go over my schedule for the day, chat with people, etc etc etc. Then at 8:30, I'm mentally ready for work. However, I'm OLD. I've noticed a lot of younger people have a very different mindset. For a lot of younger people, 8:30 means they arrive at 8:30, and a lot of them simply WILL NOT arrive one second sooner.
Because they, unlike us old-timers, have realised they aren't paid until the start time and working for free is not fair. Arriving in time to do the work is absolutely correct. Despite the bosses that want people to arrive an hour early so they can feed their own egos about how 'devoted' their ripped-off employees are.
Load More Replies... are people overlooking the fact that he said he snickered then answered thats probably why
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