Unusual Interview Questions

Gael23

I had an Interview with An Accountancy Firm a few days ago and some of the questions were a bit odd so I just wanted to get some opiions.
First som background. The Managing Partner rang me last Friday and asked me some questions which were quite similar to what you would expect in an interview. We were talking for about 8 or 9 minutes and onw of the last things he said was that from talking to me he thought I was a "good fit" for the firm, in his exact words.
His secretary rang me again Monday morning and a face to face interview was arranged for Tuesday. One of the first things he said then was that he was impressed by my application and that my CV was very detailed, almost to excess.
This was followed by questions about my education and my college course which are fairly standard. Then he asked my did I have any family/friends in accountancy and what area did my parents work in. I felt this was a realy odd question and still cant figure what he was getting at. He also aksed me did I have other interviews and that I could have a good chance with some of those firms as they are taking on more trainees than he is.

Does any of this have indications of a good or bad outcome?

blindsider

Not ideal questions TBH - he should probably know better. I wouldn't be saying things like 'good fit' to a candidate over the phone.

Honestly, it sounds to me like he's trying to find out about your 'background' i.e. are your parents 'professional'. Sounds a bit 'old-school' to me.

Hope it goes ok!

Jim2007

Sounds like a straight up guy who is interested in you but feels you can probably can do better than what he has to offer.

Gael23

blindsider wrote: »

Not ideal questions TBH - he should probably know better. I wouldn't be saying things like 'good fit' to a candidate over the phone.

Honestly, it sounds to me like he's trying to find out about your 'background' i.e. are your parents 'professional'. Sounds a bit 'old-school' to me.
.
Hope it goes ok!

I spoke to a friend from a HR background who used the term "old school" too. And he was indeed an older man. I looked him up on Linkedin afterwards and found he qualified as an accountant in 1977 which puts him about 60ish give or take

Jim2007 wrote: »

Sounds like a straight up guy who is interested in you but feels you can probably can do better than what he has to offer.

Well I really want the Job! Would him thinking that go in my favour or otherwise in his eyes?
Looking back I should have emphasised that more when he asked me about the other firms.

Jim2007

ryanf1 wrote: »

Well I really want the Job! Would him thinking that go in my favour or otherwise in his eyes?
Looking back I should have emphasised that more when he asked me about the other firms.

No idea, but since he is old school a little thank you note might not go a miss. It could even give you an edge:)

Gael23

Jim2007 wrote: »

No idea, but since he is old school a little thank you note might not go a miss. It could even give you an edge:)

I can't find a direct email for him on the website so not sure how to go about that.
I started a thread here a while back on the topic of thank you notes for another interview I had and got very mixed responses so didn't do it. AI knew that interview didn't go well though.

danthefan

It's not unusual to be asked if you've applied to other companies at all, though saying you've a good chance at another firm is a bit weird. Though maybe he wanted to see how you reacted, that was a chance for you to show you really wanted the job with that firm.

Gael23

danthefan wrote: »

Though maybe he wanted to see how you reacted, that was a chance for you to show you really wanted the job with that firm.

I was thinking this after. I just brished it to one side in a way, partly because it wasnt a question I was prepared for. I should have said why I thought the firm was so suitable for me. I did day something to that effect in my cover letter though.
Its just so hard to know what someone like that is looking for in a person. If I get a second interview I will try to get in how much I want to work there.

Jim2007

ryanf1 wrote: »

I can't find a direct email for him on the website so not sure how to go about that.
I started a thread here a while back on the topic of thank you notes for another interview I had and got very mixed responses so didn't do it. AI knew that interview didn't go well though.

It is never be too polite. You could pick his email address of linkedin or send him a message via the same. And of course there is always snail mail.

Jim2007

danthefan wrote: »

It's not unusual to be asked if you've applied to other companies at all, though saying you've a good chance at another firm is a bit weird. Though maybe he wanted to see how you reacted, that was a chance for you to show you really wanted the job with that firm.

You meet all sorts and it really depends the relationship you establish with them...

At one time I was interviewing with the managing partner at one of the big four accounting firms, when I happened to mention that I was traveling to a certain town the next day... He put his pen down and said, "so you are talking to XYZ then, well I'm sure they will make you an offer and it will be at least 25% better than anything we can do"! (And he was right)

Chattastrophe!

Yeah I remember having a strange interview, a bit like that, a few years ago. He basically asked if I was interviewing for the big 4 firms in Dublin, I said that I was, and he said I'd definitely get an offer from at least one of them, and anyways if not then I'd get an offer from one of the bigger firms in that town, but that he'd be delighted to take me on if for any reason that didn't happen ... it was really strange, definitely seemed to be some sort of an inferiority complex on his part! Basically saying that I'd be better of going for any other firm but his ... sure I wouldn't have been there unless I had a genuine interest in the job! And he was asking too about what my parents did for a living ... (your interview wasn't in Sligo, by any chance? :pac: )

Gael23

Chattastrophe! wrote: »

. (your interview wasn't in Sligo, by any chance? :pac: )

No it was in Dublin. At the end I asked him how many positions were available because for these jobs its common for firms to take multiple trainees. He said tere was just one and went on about how expensive it is for him to take someone at trainee level compared to someone at bookkeeping level.

I do get the feeling if Im lucky enough to get an offer its not going to be fantastic, although these roles dont pay that well anyway. If I find myself in a position where I have 2 offers with not much between them then I would probably take his one.

Jim2007

Chattastrophe! wrote: »

Yeah I remember having a strange interview, a bit like that, a few years ago. He basically asked if I was interviewing for the big 4 firms in Dublin, I said that I was, and he said I'd definitely get an offer from at least one of them, and anyways if not then I'd get an offer from one of the bigger firms in that town, but that he'd be delighted to take me on if for any reason that didn't happen ... it was really strange, definitely seemed to be some sort of an inferiority complex on his part! Basically saying that I'd be better of going for any other firm but his ... sure I wouldn't have been there unless I had a genuine interest in the job! And he was asking too about what my parents did for a living ... (your interview wasn't in Sligo, by any chance? :pac: )

I would not really think it was inferiority, but rather reality! In a way, I'd prefer to work for people like that than the other...

The other thing about recruiting graduates is that very often after you take them the realise it is not for them, so by taking on someone with a background in the area might make them feel there is a better chance you'll stay around. (Although I doubt it).

Gael23

I didn't get it:mad:
I kind of had a bad feeling by some of the questions he asked me really.