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7 Stupidest Interview Questions and What They Really Mean
39 Comments
If you’ve been in the workforce long enough, the same inane questions will continue to creep up in interview after interview. What is your greatest weakness? Where do you see yourself in five years? You know, the small-talk questions that fill up ...
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bougiegirl08
almost 2 years ago
2 comments
less than a minute ago
2 comments
I agree, these are all cliché questions and interviewers should be fired for even asking them! Here's a tip, research the company...know their mission and vision statements, really know why you would want to work for the company b/c that is a "sure to be asked" question. When he/she/they ask "Do you have any questions?"...think to yourself hell yeah! 1. What would a typical day in the position be like for me? 2. Why did you choose to work for this company and what is an average day like for you in your position? 3. What is your idea of the perfect candidate for this job (you have already interviewed so it's not like they are coaching you AND it gives you an idea of what they think in terms of YOU being a "fit" for the company and the position you are interviewing for.) 4. (Depending on the type of company you are interviewing for)....What part of your mission statement do you most identify with?
These questions aimed at the interviewer/s will let them know you are focused, serious about the job and they will either be intimidated and not offer you the position or know that you are an interactive, desirable candidate who may be the best fit for their company or at least rank really high on the “call back” list.
xcoastie88
almost 2 years ago
2 comments
I love this article!!! I have been on a million job interviews at I can honestly say I have had every single question that is listed on here. I like that the article list why its stupid and what the real meaning of the question is... very helpful. I landed a job yesterday mainly because the interviewers did not ask any stupid questions and because I was my skill set was a good fit. I also took a job interview last week that was by far the most odd and borderline creepy interview I have ever had in my 25 years in the work world. The interviewer sat 2 feet next to me side by side and kept touching my leg! And I gave him my resume which he never looked at and he started off the interviewer by stairing straight at me with this strange smirk!! UGH!! it was so bizarre that it really should be a comedy routine. I was thinking where are the candid cameras! And to top it off this bozo wasted my time for 45 minutes to tell me at the end I was over qualified even though he never asked me any questions off my resume. UGH!! But for every bad interview their will ba good one like the job I just landed.
gopherindian
over 2 years ago
2 comments
Employers are looking for career-minded people; not those that are working on their degree then leave once a better job comes along. Not to mock those going for their degrees but, they know how hard it is to secure a job that can work around their school schedule. And to kirkydoll1941: excellent observation! Interviewers should be awake and 'there' or 'in-the-moment' with you. Asking someone in your position may require a sarcastic answer. Keep in mind that employers have many many choices now considering the unemployment rate is so high. You should be ready fr the interview. There are no right answers only truthful ones. Be yourself. When you are yourself, it shows and then you can muster up a response to those dumb questions quicker.
Kirkydoll1941
over 2 years ago
2 comments
Doesn't make sense to a retiree who is looking to come out of retirement to a new job.
jka061650
over 2 years ago
2 comments
Excellent article. It helped me work through several issues pre-interview, rather than during one.
kofosu44
over 2 years ago
8 comments
Where do I see myself in five years ? Does it take only five years to achieve prosperity or failure? Why only the five year number is always been used? Even though that is not really a bad question as such but the motive behind it is what make it look bad.Nobody knows his or her future but only God does,all the same, we can think of having a long term goal but not exactly in five years.Why don't ask a question like how do you see yourself in the future instead of five years?
kofosu44
over 2 years ago
8 comments
I just hate those questions myself,because there are no sense in them. Why should people like to know others weakness? I guess to use it against them or sabotage them if they want to fire you. Knowing the weakness of your employee won't bring any achievement for the company, neither can it serve as advantage for any purpose.
FiscalResidue
over 2 years ago
2 comments
These seem to be common sense explanations that most people already know. Helpfull to someone without a lot of experience, high school kid looking for a job etc, you bet...but there doesnt seem to be any jewels of wisdom in this article.
redtaper
almost 3 years ago
16 comments
What this is supposed to be is the so-called "behavior-based" employment interview.I thikn if people are preparing for these kind of interviews,people will tend to give safe kind of answers the interviewer so nobody will be honest about their feelings. Do interviewers use it as an easy way to weed out people to find the person they want to give the job to? Maybe in time this method will not be used anymore.
redtaper
almost 3 years ago
16 comments
No one is perfect and theire's always room for improvement.I think a person conducting an interview should be more interested in the strengths of the the prospective employee and how that can help the company. What they want to hear as a weakness is really not a weakness.but a desire to grow, improve and do better in their position.Any normal person would do that.
redtaper
almost 3 years ago
16 comments
If the person interviewing someone has the application and the resume infront of them, that should tell them something about the person they're interiewing .They can ask questions based on that. Most people are nervous enough as it is and not all people are very comfortable talking about themselves People try to be honest and humble, not conceited and better than the person interviewing them.
redtaper
almost 3 years ago
16 comments
I think these days people have left their last jobs because their employers laid them off do to the necessity of cutting costs due to the decline of business. It had nothing to do with anything personal and it was a move that the employer had to do reluctantly.So there was no problem that caused the person to leave. In a few cases, the fact the last job didn't fulfill career goals and this new job will do that. Most of the people left because they were laid off and no one has the idea if they would ever be called back.
redtaper
almost 3 years ago
16 comments
That can be found out when they contact your former employer and ask about your performance or if you are part of LinkedIn, look at what people say about you. Who's going to hide and listen to the gossip other people say about you? Unless a person is conceited, you really can't say what people would say about you.
redtaper
almost 3 years ago
16 comments
Yes, everyone wants a paycheck and decent benefits,especially if they were laid off from their last position.A person could say they thought the position sounded nitesting and challeging snd that with their experience and ablilities they can make a substantial contribution to the operations of the company.
redtaper
almost 3 years ago
16 comments
That's something no one can predict. Anyone would be dumb not to take a better employment opportunity with better salary or benefits.if it would come along within those five years. If they are satidfied with their job and have gotten a higher salary, benefits and perhaps a promotion , they'd have no reason to leave. How does anyone even know the company would even still be there five years from now? If a person is treated right and is still with the company, they've shown their company loyalty.The only answer I would see to that question is that someone was doing the best job they can to the best of their abilities.