With many thanks to Examiner.com (where you can find this and much, much more!)
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Welcome to the world of ambiguity.
Job interviews are often filled with unnecessary questions and ambiguity. The problem is so common that I often dream about the opportunity to apply for a job I don't want just to see how it unfolds. Based on the top 50 interview questions available at Trader's Psychology (the undisputed leader of all things Job Interview), I have provided an example of how that interview might go down:
1. Tell me about yourself:
Do you want the whole thing or just bits and pieces. I have a very 'storied' past.
2. Why did you leave your last job?
I didn't. It left me.
3. What experience do you have in this field?
I have worked in it.
4. Do you consider yourself successful?
Yes.
5. What do co-workers say about you?
I've never asked them to talk about me.
6. What do you know about this organization?
That you have a job opening.
7. What have you done to improve your knowledge in the last year?
I have read the news and I watch public television and listen to public radio.
8. Are you applying for other jobs?
Not at the moment, but I applied for tons of jobs earlier this week.
9. Why do you want to work for this organization?
I don't recall saying I did. Do you already know why you want me to work for you?
10. Do you know anyone who works for us?
No, if I did, I probably wouldn't have to sit through this BS.
You can read the rest of the questions & answers at http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-3040-Minneapolis-Life-in-the-Cubicle-Examiner~y2009m4d1-Top-50-job-interview-questions-answered-the-way-they-should-be
3 comments:
Hunh. 5 words. Ain't it the fucking truth.
I just had an interview for a much higher (better paying) job within SSA. I seem to have impressed the interviewer but I sometimes wonder if I should not be "dumbing down" my responses. When asked what I felt my greatest achievement in the agency was when I previously worked here, I mentioned the systemic IBM printer problem that I fixed. The fanfold paper printers would add 3 sheets of blank paper in between each printed page. The IBM field engineer replaced all the circuit boards but this did not solve the problem. I studied the server manuals, concluded that a line of code was missing, interpolated the code, reprogrammed the servers and fixed the problem. As you recall, I got a nice award out of it too. My approach to problems is to invent a solution. I wonder though if this ability is seen as an asset in such a rigidly beaurocratic organization as Social Security? Am I hurting myself by displaying abilities that are not in any job description? What do you think?
While I very much appreciate the fact that you enjoyed my article, would it be possible to just provide a couple of the questions with a link to the full article? By posting my entire article you are placing an entire copyrighted article on your blog and thus I do not get paid for actually creating unique content on the internet.
Thanks,
Dudley
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