What's the stupidest interview question you've been asked or stupidest answer you've

[jjfz3000]

What are some of the stupidest questions you've been asked?
What are some of the stupidest answers you've provided for questions?

Stupidest question: Why do you want to work with us?
-90% of the people will think its the money, but only 10% will use that answer
-tests how good you are at lying
-doesn't tell them anything about your character (if you love the company so much, why are you not working for free?), doesn't tell them how qualified you are for the position
-only works for volunteer positions

According to Business Week here are some of the other "stupid" interview questions:

-Where do you see yourself in five years?
Here's why it's dumb. No company will guarantee you a job for five years, much less a career path. To construct such a plan for yourself, you'd have to make predictions about industries, companies, and your likes and dislikes that could only serve to constrain your choices. And in any case, why is it so all-fired important to have a dang career plan in mind? Every successful entrepreneur and many top corporate people will tell you their key to success: I did what I felt driven to do at the moment...


-If you were an animal/a can of soup/some other random object, which one would you be?
(Soup) "Probably the low-sodium chicken broth." Fix the interviewer with a penetrating gaze -- she won't know whether you're mocking her imbecilic question or are deadly serious...

-What are your weaknesses?
Of course, they want to know of a weakness that will affect your performance on the job, but no one's dumb enough to reveal anything relevant to the job right? I mean even if you're saying "I have trouble organizing time but I'm using a planner and have improved significantly...", they'll still want someone who doesn't even have it as a weakness... Would you buy a car with a broken engine but fixed or a car with perfect engine?

-What in particular interested you about our company?
I mean, please. Most of the job-seeking population is living on the lower two-thirds of Maslow's pyramid, where the most appealing thing about any job is that you got the darned interview. Why am I interested? Because you guys called me back. But you can't say that, so you have to rhapsodize about the company's wonderful products and services and the world-class management team and so on.

-What would your past managers say about you?
Why not try: My past managers would say that I was an outstanding individual contributor who also supported the team 100%. Or: My managers would say that I came up with breakthrough solutions while never losing track of the bottom line. You can probably dream up something better.
Stupidest answer:

http://www.businessweek.com/careers/content/sep2005/ca20050921_1099_ca009.htm

Sorry if you guys have already read this article, but it pretty much sums up the irony of an interview.


An employer once asked me what I would do to improve my post-secondary school (it was a position for something at the university), I answered "the food". Well the food was overpriced... $8.00 for one rice/one side chinese combos... wtf? Manchu Wok sucks. And they told me it was an unique answer... I really was prepared to answer technical questions about the job and didn't think what I really liked about the university (which really isn't a whole lot, just there to get a job)

[smolek]

I was being interviewed for a position at a gym.

We spent a good 10 min. talking about different workout programs, exercises, routines etc.

Then he started the serious part of the interview, asking me what was my biggest weakness....I said deadlifts. lol

[bobbings]

I was being interviewed for a position at a gym.

We spent a good 10 min. talking about different workout programs, exercises, routines etc.

Then he started the serious part of the interview, asking me what was my biggest weakness....I said deadlifts. lol

Should've said hot girls in tight TNA pants with revealing sports bra tops in many different positions on the gym mat. That would be my weakness. :D

[angekfire]

Stupidest question: Why do you want to work with us?
-90% of the people will think its the money, but only 10% will use that answer
-tests how good you are at lying
-doesn't tell them anything about your character (if you love the company so much, why are you not working for free?), doesn't tell them how qualified you are for the position

I hate that question, but I don't think it is dumb.

Many people want a job for the money, but some people want a job doing what they love, or want it for the job security over the money. Or the benefits such as insurance or pension. Or vacation time offered, or even company dynamic.

Why not work for free? Because everybody requires money. Food costs money, shelter costs money, clothes cost money, everything costs money. If you can make money while doing something you love, why not do it? Also, why do something for free that you could otherwise be paid for?

[ffpsy4]

I was asked pretty stupid questions for an intern position such as

Are you going back to your country during this summer ?
Hum, No If I work that means I can not go back.

Do you plan on staying in Canada after graduation ?
Hum, Yes, (If I say No you are not going to hire me)

[nhui06]

I don't think they are dumb questions. A company that is spending money on hiring you wants to hear the right answers. If you aren't willing to even play that game, then is that a job you really want? Of course if you are just out to make a quick buck, then lie, but it may catch up to you.

-Where do you see yourself in five years?
They obviously want to hear that you want to remain and grow in the company, esp if they will be investing in your training. Whether they keep you for 5 years is a whole other story, but at the same time whether you want to stay is also a question park. Just play nice for now (hey its the courting stage).

-What in particular interested you about our company?
This is where you are suppose to show your research on how much you know about the company. OK so you can tell them cause they called you back, but do you really want the job? Again, if there is nothing that you are interested, then why are you even at the interview.

Interviews are more to learn about the person by meeting them, rather than the actual answers themselves. Recruiters hear the same answers over and over again, so its the other things like their first impression of you, your likability, your communication skills, your ability to think quickly etc..

[yesstyle]

i am always nervous for these interviews. Are there any model answers that anyone here can provide me with those generic interview questions such as those mentioned above? ie. why do you want to work with us...etc

[jjfz3000]

I don't think they are dumb questions. A company that is spending money on hiring you wants to hear the right answers. If you aren't willing to even play that game, then is that a job you really want? Of course if you are just out to make a quick buck, then lie, but it may catch up to you.

-Where do you see yourself in five years?
They obviously want to hear that you want to remain and grow in the company, esp if they will be investing in your training. Whether they keep you for 5 years is a whole other story, but at the same time whether you want to stay is also a question park. Just play nice for now (hey its the courting stage).

-What in particular interested you about our company?
This is where you are suppose to show your research on how much you know about the company. OK so you can tell them cause they called you back, but do you really want the job? Again, if there is nothing that you are interested, then why are you even at the interview.

Interviews are more to learn about the person by meeting them, rather than the actual answers themselves. Recruiters hear the same answers over and over again, so its the other things like their first impression of you, your likability, your communication skills, your ability to think quickly etc..

1. The problem with the 5-years question is that they might not even need you for that long. No one guarantees a candidate a 5 year contract... so why would he base his plan on the fact that he would be in the company for 5years? And then what can he say? I expect to be promoted after the 2nd year, be senior executive of this division by the 5th. (not all jobs like certifications like CMA/CA)

2. Most people choose jobs for the position not the company. It's not like I want to go to the position of VP Finance... I'll just pick by favourite company and ask them about the job? Plus, the main reason why that question never yields great answers is that it's too easy to fake. Oh I love your company, I heard it got this blah blah blah award and has AMAZING training programs. Also the fact that you're developing this gadget for Apple makes me very excited and motivated to work for you.

The problem with the two questions is that they're good at finding out who's obviously not qualified but not who IS qualified.

[UncleSteve]

The problem with the two questions is that they're good at finding out who's obviously not qualified but not who IS qualified.

That's exactly what the function of an interview at the HR level is supposed to do.

[jjfz3000]

That's exactly what the function of an interview at the HR level is supposed to do.

So at what level do they choose people who is qualified? What I'm saying is that if you have 20 candidates... it's good at eliminating 3-5 of them but doesn't tell you anything about the rest (since they probably all got their answers from expertinterviews.com).

Most jobs or at least entry level ones don't have more than one interview.

[robster77]

Had a telephone interview once because the job was across country. Being young and foolish, I was horribly hungover and really didn't want to be interviewed, much less vertical. But I figured that at least since they couldn't see me, then they couldn't see what sort of a mess I was. So then they get to the "What is your greatest weakness?" question. About the only thing I could think of at the moment was,"Urggh...umm...well, I drink too much."

I guess they thought I was joking because they laughed, and I ended up getting the job.