Tricky interview questions - and suggested answers

cantdecide

I had an interview recently and didn't get the job. I think there was a moment that went wrong when I was asked a particular question and floundered with the answer. After that question, I think the mood changed and I felt that it was the kind of question with one right answer. I'll paraphrase;

'If a certain procedure exists but a more experienced colleague insists you must take a certain shortcut they insist is effective, what would you do'?

I can't remember what answer I actually gave but I'm pretty sure the answer should have been - tell the colleague to go to hell and do it by the book.

Any others??

na1

- tell the colleague to go to hell and do it by the book.

Yes, that is a sort of a correct answer, but needs to be re-phrased:
You should not to rely on any of your co-workers words even if the person is your direct mentor/manager, if they contradict official company policy 
When employed what you should do is:
1)know what are the company policies/ procedures, and where to read them online. (the printed versions could be out-dated, and if in doubt always refer to the latest updated policy online)
2)know whom to contact regarding the policy violations. And even if your direct manager ask you do do something that contradicts the official policy,procdedure - make sure the conversation is duplicated in email or any other electronic form, and escalate to the higher management if needed.
3) if the other person is violating the policy/procedure - make them aware about this politely, and if they don't stop doing this escalate to the management

Of course these is not what you WILL be doing when employed, but this is what they want to hear from you!

cantdecide

na1 wrote: »

Of course these is not what you WILL be doing when employed, but this is what they want to hear from you!

I'm sure they must think they're going to end up with 'the right stuff' when they set their recruitment policies for nightshift operatives. It kind of becomes a question of beating the system then. Lesson learned.

I'd like to hear more tricky questions for the next one

PieOhMy

Good idea for a thread.

A common one I've gotten is "Why do you want to leave your current roll?"

Clearly not an opportunity to slate your current employer or bring up poor work practices but rather to show a desire to be part of the company you currently interviewing for and how you want to grow professionally and deliver in the role available etc

na1

PieOhMy wrote: »

Good idea for a thread.

A common one I've gotten is "Why do you want to leave your current roll?"

-Why do you want to leave your current role?
-The same question I asked them: why do you want me to leave?

daheff

na1 wrote: »

-Why do you want to leave your current role?
-The same question I asked them: why do you want me to leave?

Why did the last person who held this role with your company leave?



Sane answer to the question is i outgrew the role. Nowhere to go. Your co is go ahead and opportunity for progression/learning....etc

cantdecide

daheff wrote: »

Why did the last person who held this role with your company leave?



Sane answer to the question is i outgrew the role. Nowhere to go. Your co is go ahead and opportunity for progression/learning....etc

Wouldn't that kind of come of as dissing your existing job or company? Would it not point to you being flighty, I wonder?

In the spirit of playing the game, what about suggesting that you always 'wanted to work in this sector and this job is a way for me to do that'??

GreeBo

cantdecide wrote: »

I had an interview recently and didn't get the job. I think there was a moment that went wrong when I was asked a particular question and floundered with the answer. After that question, I think the mood changed and I felt that it was the kind of question with one right answer. I'll paraphrase;

'If a certain procedure exists but a more experienced colleague insists you must take a certain shortcut they insist is effective, what would you do'?

I can't remember what answer I actually gave but I'm pretty sure the answer should have been - tell the colleague to go to hell and do it by the book.

Any others??

I'd say the correct answer varies based on industry.

If you are Air Traffic Control and the procedure is for taking toilet breaks, then its procedure, procedure, procedure, for everyones sake.

If you are working in coffee shop then the procedure for toilet breaks might not be critical.

Amirani

GreeBo wrote: »

I'd say the correct answer varies based on industry.

If you are Air Traffic Control and the procedure is for taking toilet breaks, then its procedure, procedure, procedure, for everyones sake.

If you are working in coffee shop then the procedure for toilet breaks might not be critical.

Agreed.

Answer I'd give would be something along the lines of checking whether the helpful alternative offered by colleague is within/fulfills policy and make a decision based on whether I think it's an effective approach or not. I'm not going to say in an interview that I'll outright reject a co-worker's suggestion to blindly follow a set of procedures - unless they're completely explicit as in your example above. The majority of employers in any skilled industry are going to want you to be able to show initiative and flexibility.

PhoenixParker

Follow procedure while clarifying procedure with other colleagues, specifically my boss and the people in charge of policy. I'd also want to reexamine any compliance requirements /legislation surrounding the recommended procedure to understand the context of both the shortcut and the correct way.

If the approach suggested seems like it's better & compliant then the advised procedure, urge colleague to talk to relevant people about getting official handbook updated.