Interviews - the unanswerable questions

pickarooney

Do people have stock responses for these ridiculous questions they always seem hell-bent on answering? If so, give us a few examples.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
What would you say are your biggest weaknesses?
What kind of people do you have difficulty working with?

And the like. Post similar annoying questions as you think of them.

Imposter

pickarooney wrote:

Do people have stock responses for these ridiculous questions they always seem hell-bent on answering? If so, give us a few examples.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
What would you say are your biggest weaknesses?
What kind of people do you have difficulty working with?

And the like. Post similar annoying questions as you think of them.

1. Management
2. Nothing, I'm great at everything
3. Managers

straight and to the point.

WizZard

1. Living the high life in Monte Carlo
2. Money (and lack thereof)
3. Tall people

SantaHoe

Bullshít questions deserve bull**** answers... have fun with it.
I'm definitly going to try this one at my next interview... "THAT WOULD BE AN ECUMINICAL MATTER" (shouting)

Or I find answering a question with a question is quite entertaining (for me at least).

WhiteWashMan

these questions are asked to see if you actually think about what you want.
are you just going for an interview because you want a new job, or are you in an interview because you have a purpose. hence the 5 year question.
i dont think any of those questions are BS to be honest, and its interesting what sort of answers you get back from people.
those people who want to succeed and are more driven and enthusiastic, will always have a purpose.
those laid back people who will just go with the flow, wont.

if you dont know your own weaknesses, you wont get far. because you will need to address them, and the best start is to understand them. pretty simple and standard and straight forward in my eyes

what kind of people do you have difficulty working with is trying to see hwo you work with people. its about your own communication skills and you ability to adapt.

these questions, while providing pretty useful feedback for an interviewer, are a great opportunity for an interviewee to really give great answers that will upsell yourself.

dont think of them as BS, but more as opportunities to tell people how bloody great you are.
after all, interviews are only a apart of the sales process of getting a new job.l

Eoin

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

This is a very valid question - in the majority of jobs, you don't plan to be doing the same thing in 5 years time, so the interviewer wants to know what career path you see yourself following.

What would you say are your biggest weaknesses?
What kind of people do you have difficulty working with?

I think they tend to throw in these questions just to see how you handle them, rather than what you actually say. I still can't think of a decent answer to the first one: "My main weakness is that I work too hard" is far too lame / cheesy an answer. I agree with WhiteWashMan to a point - I wouldn't be overly honest about my weaknesses at the same time.

I haven't been asked the 2nd one before though - would have to think about that one.

WhiteWashMan wrote:

what kind of people do you have difficulty working with is trying to see hwo you work with people. its about your own communication skills and you ability to adapt.

Well said - if you mention the type of people you do have difficulty working with, make sure you say how you deal with them.

NotMe

Oh I hate those kind of questions. They're kind of pointless. Well I suppose it depends on the job but after going to a few interviews full of those type of questions I realised it would be much easier to get a job if I was good at acting. Being honest gets you nowhere.

The last interview I went to, at the start the interviewer said "right we're not going to ask you any of those bullsh*t questions like what are your strengths and weaknesses". I just thought "brilliant!" and the interview went great and I got the job.

Eoin

NotMe wrote:

Oh I hate those kind of questions. They're kind of pointless. Well I suppose it depends on the job but after going to a few interviews full of those type of questions I realised it would be much easier to get a job if I was good at acting. Being honest gets you nowhere.

The last interview I went to, at the start the interviewer said "right we're not going to ask you any of those bullsh*t questions like what are your strengths and weaknesses". I just thought "brilliant!" and the interview went great and I got the job.

My point (sort of) was that the first question is not a bull***t question at all - in fact, it may indicate that the company is one in which you have a career path.

NotMe

Yeah the first question is valid. They want to see what ambitions you have or whatever. My problem is that I don't plan that far ahead. I've no idea what I'll be doing in five years and I'm not worried about it. I don't think there is any point thinking that far ahead. Also if I'm in an interview then what I'll be doing in five years obviously depends on whether I get the job or not. But of course thats not what interviewers want to hear.

Iago

pickarooney wrote:

Do people have stock responses for these ridiculous questions they always seem hell-bent on answering? If so, give us a few examples.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Sitting in your chair

Seriously though, I normally just answer this by outlining what I want from my next position. "I see myself working in this role I'm interviewing for, for around 12-18 months and then maybe moving into a mangerial position in the same section if an opportunity presents itself. I've also got an interest in X and Y, and would like to pursue that if possible".

What would you say are your biggest weaknesses?

This is probably the most telling question any good interviewer will ask you. They are looking to see if
A) You recognise that nobody is perfect and that we all have areas that we can improve on
You can highlight areas that you know you can improve on
C) That you see where taking this job with this company will help you improve in those areas.

My normal answer is that my biggest weakness is lack of experience within this company/area/sector (delete as applicable) and also that I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist and as such spend too much time ensuring that all the small details are dealt with when my time may be best spent working on a different area or project.

What kind of people do you have difficulty working with?

Another interesting question, why not say that the people you have the most problems with are people who have the attitude of "this isn't my area" and that while you understand that everybody has their own priorities you do try and help others out as much as possible even where it doesn't involve your area.

With the obvious proviso that it doesn't impact on your objectives or responsibilities.

seamus

pickarooney wrote:

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
What would you say are your biggest weaknesses?
What kind of people do you have difficulty working with?

Stock answers:

1. "Since IT is an industry that moves so quickly, it's hard to say, but ideally I see myself still learning, evolving with the new technologies, and getting stuck into a position incorporating the next 'big thing' in IT, whatever it may be."

2. "I have a tendency to get stuck on the finer details, instead of seeing the big picture". (A roundabout way of saying 'perfectionist' without sounding smarmy).

3. "Anyone who doesn't really integrate with the team, and share their finding with others. I get frustrated when I find that they have an answer I needed 3 weeks ago, or I find that they don't know how to do something I taught them a week ago."

Actual answers

1. "In whatever position makes me the most money for the most craic."

2. "Every so often, I like to take a day, usually a Friday, where I do absolutely nothing. Or next to nothing. Also, the more experienced I get at a job, the more I tend to fob the crap work off onto the newbies, and pretend like I'm too busy to take calls from the particularly annoying people."

3. "Anyone like me."

Eoin

Iago wrote:

My normal answer is that my biggest weakness is lack of experience within this company/area/sector (delete as applicable) and also that I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist and as such spend too much time ensuring that all the small details are dealt with when my time may be best spent working on a different area or project.

Obviously this depends on the role you are applying for. For instance, if you were applying for some type of management role I wouldn't use this response as it may indicate an overly micro-management approach.

If it was for a role where you know you will be managed and an eye for detail is a serious plus (programmer for example), then it would be a good response as it indicates a methodical mindset.

Iago wrote:

Another interesting question, why not say that the people you have the most problems with are people who have the attitude of "this isn't my area" and that while you understand that everybody has their own priorities you do try and help others out as much as possible even where it doesn't involve your area.
With the obvious proviso that it doesn't impact on your objectives or responsibilities.

Excellent answer - will remember that should I be lucky enough to be called for interview

NotMe wrote:

I've no idea what I'll be doing in five years and I'm not worried about it

Good point - 5 years is excessive. 18 months/ 2 years would be more realistic, and a time frame where you would expect anyone applying for a permanent role to have an idea of what they want to do then.

idontknowmyname

For the question about your biggest weaknesses most people say being a perfectionist, its a standard answer but one intervewers hate as most people say it. Try and be original

FGR

Something as simple as not remembering names is a very good weakness.

Something innocent, really.

Eoin

ForegoneReality wrote:

Something as simple as not remembering names is a very good weakness.

Something innocent, really.

Excellent answer.

Another one I remember was "what is your greatest disappointment?"
Reminds me of David Brent in "The Office" - when he was asked that he said
"Disneyland. It was rubbish"

damnyanks

Those questions pop up in different interviews. They shouldn't be a surprise; you should have a strong answer developed for them. It is quite easy to turn the "what is your weakness" into something that makes you look good.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years has come up in just about all interviews I've done this year (Industrial placement). I've gone from small local companies to large multi nationals and I wouldn't be surprised if that was in all interviews. It definitely has been in nearly all of them.

Like I said they are pretty standard questions. If you don't have a strong answer developed for them you probably don't care too much for the job. Don't just pass the question off with something short and sweet. Sell yourself... its why you are there


And yes before someone points it out, I have been on many interviews. I have also been offered a few of those jobs… so it doesn’t seem like bad form

Imposter

"what is your weakness"

Answering stupid interview questions.

SantaHoe

WWM wrote:

i dont think any of those questions are BS to be honest

I can see that they're "telling" questions alright, but I consider bullshít questions to be ones that you have to answer with a sales pitch instead of honesty... ie. they're not really questions, more invitations to give your interview speech.
Which is fine... but at least make it clear that that's what you want.
Of course we know that's what's expected when these questions pop up, but these disguised questions píss me off mostly because of the way they're framed.

Instead, how about ... "Ok, next question - Lie to me about how rewarding you find your toilet-scrubbing carreer has been thus far, and put a spin on it to make yourself sound more enthusiastic than you really are."
I know how the game is played, but that doesn't mean I have to like it... I feel uncomfortable that the interviewer is sitting there reading between the lines and forming oppinions of me that may or may not be true based on how well I spin (read lie) my shpeel.

This whole bullshít psyche-interview approach has gotten to the point where you'd want to be an expert in body language going into an interview... keep an open posture, firm handshake, enough eye-contact but not too much, lean slightly forward to show that you're interested in what's being said, don't fidget, sit up straight, and a hundred other little nuances that have somehow become hard-and-fast rules of being interviewed.
Now if the people being interviewed know the same tricks the interviewers know, then what's the point in the first place? You're not going to be seeing someones natural body language, so why study it?
It all becomes a kind of farce where you're rated on how well you've studied interview techniques and how well you can 'play the game'... you're essentially being rated on something that has no relation to the job you're applying for.

Imposter wrote:

"what is your weakness"

Answering stupid interview questions.

hehe

WhiteWashMan

and you know Santahoe, thats fine.
if you dont want to do that, then dont.
no one is forcing anyone to make these answers their own. no one is forcing anyone to make these answers.

they are simply questions that are asked, how you answer them is entirely up to you.
these are not right answers or wrong answers, they are just questions that are used to show up traits. it will show up that you dont sell yourself.

i mean you may think they are BS, but some people dont.
personally, im willing to play the game, and im good at it, so i dont mind. these questions do not scare me. infact i see them as ammunition to shoot another half an hour of conversation. and if you make conversation, you dont get these questions!!!!

you get down to interesting stuff in an interview.
i had approx 11 interviews for my current job. i was sent to the US for 4 days where i met the CEO, the CFO and the COO of my company, along with directors etc.
the fact is, that i fi didnt play the answers game wiht some of those people, i wouldnt be here. but also, if i wasnt myself with some of the others, i wouldnt be here. of course, if i didnt nearly choke to death on a prawn in front of the COO, chances are i might not have a job, who knows

you just have to understand the interview, and more importnatly, you need to manage youre interviewer. If you have someone who wants these answers, be prepared to give them. if you find someone that you can talk to on a base work level, then be yourself.

but you should be prepared.

Eoin

WhiteWashMan wrote:

i had approx 11 interviews for my current job. i was sent to the US for 4 days where i met the CEO, the CFO and the COO of my company, along with directors etc.

Must have been quite a senior role?

Reminds me of an ex-colleague of mine: He applied for a job in a company literally across the road from the one we worked in. He was asked to do a telephone interview, and he said there was no need as he was across the road and could drop in anytime that suited them. They said that they insisted on carrying out a telephone interview before a face-to-face interview so he ended up having to sit outside in his car on his mobile. Was quite funny to see him trying not too look shifty whenever a manager from our company walked past his car.

WhiteWashMan

eoin_s wrote:

Must have been quite a senior role?

i guess youre right!

eoin_s wrote:

Reminds me of an ex-colleague of mine: He applied for a job in a company literally across the road from the one we worked in. He was asked to do a telephone interview, and he said there was no need as he was across the road and could drop in anytime that suited them. They said that they insisted on carrying out a telephone interview before a face-to-face interview so he ended up having to sit outside in his car on his mobile. Was quite funny to see him trying not too look shifty whenever a manager from our company walked past his car.

why? did he lose the keys to his front door that he could phone from in there?

the_syco

WhiteWashMan wrote:

you get down to interesting stuff in an interview.
i had approx 11 interviews for my current job. i was sent to the US for 4 days where i met the CEO, the CFO and the COO of my company, along with directors etc.
the fact is, that i fi didnt play the answers game wiht some of those people, i wouldnt be here. but also, if i wasnt myself with some of the others, i wouldnt be here. of course, if i didnt nearly choke to death on a prawn in front of the COO, chances are i might not have a job, who knows

Good luck with that Google job.

=-=

The "5 yers" thing comes up every time. Usual answer is "tech support of one particular system, eg; cisco, whereby I'd know everything I could about how to fix the problems".

WhiteWashMan

the_syco wrote:

Good luck with that Google job.

??

pickarooney

Some interesting answers and a couple of things are becoming apparent. If you really want the job you're applying for, as in you'd sincerely enjoy doing it every day rather than being desperately in need of cash for your mother's operation, the questions will seem a lot easier to answer in an honest way that doesn't sound overly rehearsed. On the other hand, if you're applying because it's the best of a bad lot of offers going or because you want to save up for a round-the-world trip in 12 months, the questions will seem tedious and your answers forced. I've had probably three interviews in my life where I really wanted the job and - perhaps coincidentally - the interviews were a relative breeze and I was offered them all. It's when you're applying for a call-centre position or a dead-end invoice-logging job that the whole five-years-time line of questioning seems pointless and irritating.

I once sabotaged an interview on that question, incidentally. I had been a temp for a year and was applying for the same position on a permanent contract. It was in late 1999 and all permanent staff were on-call for Dec 31st in case the Y2K bug materialised and caused havoc. Having made plans long in advance I wasn't having any of that, so told the interviewer I would probably be in Australia. As it worked out, I stayed there almost three years (got a perm contract three months later) while the interviewer went on maternity leave not long after and never came back

spunkymunky

damnyanks wrote:

Those questions pop up in different interviews. They shouldn't be a surprise; you should have a strong answer developed for them. It is quite easy to turn the "what is your weakness" into something that makes you look good.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years has come up in just about all interviews I've done this year (Industrial placement). I've gone from small local companies to large multi nationals and I wouldn't be surprised if that was in all interviews. It definitely has been in nearly all of them.

Like I said they are pretty standard questions. If you don't have a strong answer developed for them you probably don't care too much for the job. Don't just pass the question off with something short and sweet. Sell yourself... its why you are there
QUOTE]


I think with the weakness question you have to turn it into a positive. Its tough to do but make one up in advance. Doesnt have to be true.

What is your main weakness?
'Well sir, I worked to hard. I found myself putting to many hours into my work and while i know this doesnt sound to bad it was affecting my life outside of work. The thing is i have realised this problem and am working to fix it. I have focused on better time management, being more efficient with the work I have and establish different levels of priorities on the different projects i receive. While I this weakness still pops up now and again I feel it has helped me become a better worker'

Whats is your main weakness?
'Not being fully proficient (spell) in every aspect of my job. This does encourage me to strive towards a higher level in these areas.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
'I think 5 years is very far to look ahead. I am an ambitious person would be dissappointed if ,in say 2 years, i was still in the same position. I believe that progression in a company is important, for both and employee and the company, so i would keep that as a work ethic in mind and work towards that.'

Dont think ive used these particular examples but have spun a few in the past. :rolleyes: