How to answer stupid interview questions

[slackerinabox]

I totally bombed an interview because they asked some trendy, inane questions.. Anyone know of a site that preps you for "creative" questions? The first question was "What's your favorite section in the grocery store?" and "If you could be any animal what would it be and why?" are among the questions that have nothing to do with being a good word processor..but still.. how do you answers these questions? I blanked out and babbled off some b.s.

Edit: Since I didn't get the job I wanted to email them asking what they wanted to hear for the grocery store question. Unprofessional, right? but I'm still pissed - what the fvck does that have to do with typing up word documents?!?!?

 

[mugs]

I'm convinced that the hiring process was designed by the stupidest idiots they could find when they were handing out jobs. They're one step below hair dressers (no offense to hair dressers, but it's not rocket science. ). It's almost as if they took everything that would make sense when you're hiring someone and did the opposite of it. Intelligence? No that's a bad thing, it means you have no interpersonal skills. And what's the deal with "following up" on your resume? Apparantly they interpret that as you showing an interest in working for their company - yeah, I thought that's what I was doing when I sent you my freaking resume. What section of the grocery store do I like best? The section where they sell batteries and socks, so I can put the batteries in the socks and BEAT THE INTERVIEWER OVER THE HEAD.

 

[minendo]

http://purdue.placementmanual.com/interviewing/interviewing-05.html

 

[Deeko]

I just interviewed for a IT position on friday...the interviewer asked me how I would figure out how many quarters it would take to fill the Empire State Building...not too difficult. He said my answer was so good that he wasnt going to ask me the other one. Great...then came the end of the interview, when I talked to HIS boss. Well, he didn't spare me. THe question was "why are manholes round"...he didn't want the right answer, he just wanted you to rattle off as many reasons as you can think of, to figure out how you think. He also started out by saying "I've not given people a job because they did so poorly on this quetsion...yea, that puts alot of pressure on you, but thats good, I want to see how you handle pressure". It was fun...

 

[slackerinabox]

I'm still trying to find out how to answer the grocery store aisle question... And also what the hell it has to do with anything...

 

[FrustratedUser]

Why do they ask these dumb questions anyway?

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
I'm still trying to find out how to answer the grocery store aisle question... And also what the hell it has to do with anything...

You should have said the female hygeine aisle... it shows that you have a feminine side.

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
Why do they ask these dumb questions anyway?

Get to know one's personality and mindset.

 

[ggavinmoss]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
Why do they ask these dumb questions anyway?

They want to see how the interviewee thinks.

Often times work requires people to respond to problems that "aren't textbook" and require creative thinking to solve.

-geoff

 

[waitman]

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
I'm still trying to find out how to answer the grocery store aisle question... And also what the hell it has to do with anything...

I thought all men knew it was the frozen food aisle!

 

[bleeb]

My answer to the grocery isle question would have to be the fresh produce isle. I like fresh vegetables and fruits. The stuff here is usually fresh & healthy for you and are items which are changed out more regularily.

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
I'm still trying to find out how to answer the grocery store aisle question... And also what the hell it has to do with anything...

The meat department cuz I'm a freaking CARNIVORE!!! :|

I agree these are suck questions.

 

[slackerinabox]

Originally posted by: DurocShark

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
I'm still trying to find out how to answer the grocery store aisle question... And also what the hell it has to do with anything...

The meat department cuz I'm a freaking CARNIVORE!!! :|

I agree these are suck questions.

Hhaha.. That's what I said.. Though I don't think that they liked that answer, stupid hippies!

 

[StageLeft]

Yeah those questions are pretty stupid really. I think they're applied by incompetent HR people. They should be asking questions pertinent to your job or give you a job-related problem and ask how to solve it, not what kind of animal you'd like to be, your favorite position in the sac, or how many feet it is from the moon.

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
I totally bombed an interview because they asked some trendy, inane questions.. Anyone know of a site that preps you for "creative" questions? The first question was "What's your favorite section in the grocery store?" and "If you could be any animal what would it be and why?" are among the questions that have nothing to do with being a good word processor..but still.. how do you answers these questions? I blanked out and babbled off some b.s.

Edit: Since I didn't get the job I wanted to email them asking what they wanted to hear for the grocery store question. Unprofessional, right? but I'm still pissed - what the fvck does that have to do with typing up word documents?!?!?

These are great questions to see how someone reacts when presented with a question they need to think about. It also may put someone under pressure and allow the interviewer to guage how the candidate reacts.

Finally, if you work directly with clients, then you will know that not every question they ask is appropriate, pertinent or even intelligent. The worst thing you can do with clients is make them feel stupid or outside the loop. If this happens to the wrong client, then the project will not be successful. Interviewers may want to see how you deal with stupid questions.

 

[optoman]

just interviewed for a IT position on friday...the interviewer asked me how I would figure out how many quarters it would take to fill the Empire State Building...not too difficult.

This isn't a trick question is it? What did you say?

I would of just blabbed something about volume, LxWxH divided by the volume of the quarter but did they care about the internals of the building such as walls or am I making this harder than it should be.

 

[alkemyst]

pull a reinactment of the scene from fight club when he gets fired in his bosses office...you may have to have a second interview...but you will be better prepared.

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: optoman

just interviewed for a IT position on friday...the interviewer asked me how I would figure out how many quarters it would take to fill the Empire State Building...not too difficult.

This isn't a trick question is it? What did you say?

I would of just blabbed something about volume, LxWxH divided by the volume of the quarter but did they care about the internals of the building such as walls or am I making this harder than it should be.

yea what did u say?

 

[ghostman]

Shoot! I have an interview coming up. This totally freaked me out. Any good answers for the questions proposed?

For the manhole question: It can be rolled, one doesn't have to worry about orientation when placing it back, and the lid can never fall down the hole.

Any other questions?

I know of "how would you move mount fuji?" and "how many payphones are in NYC?"....ugh...

 

[fonzinator]

Originally posted by: ghostman
I know of "how would you move mount fuji?" and "how many payphones are in NYC?"....ugh...

What are some responses you've heard to these?

 

[gistech1978]

easy:
answer them with stupid interview answers.

 

[ghostman]

Originally posted by: fonzinator

Originally posted by: ghostman
I know of "how would you move mount fuji?" and "how many payphones are in NYC?"....ugh...

What are some responses you've heard to these?

Unfortunately, I've only heard the questions, not the answers. I heard a technical answer to move mount fuji, which involves determining the volume of the mountain by assuming it's an approximate cone, but I don't know if this is considered the "right" answer.... never got an answer to the payphones one.

Damn...wish i paid attention to all that stats listed in that Phone Booth movie...they probably mentioned it. Then again...nah!

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
I totally bombed an interview because they asked some trendy, inane questions.. Anyone know of a site that preps you for "creative" questions? The first question was "What's your favorite section in the grocery store?" and "If you could be any animal what would it be and why?" are among the questions that have nothing to do with being a good word processor..but still.. how do you answers these questions? I blanked out and babbled off some b.s.

Edit: Since I didn't get the job I wanted to email them asking what they wanted to hear for the grocery store question. Unprofessional, right? but I'm still pissed - what the fvck does that have to do with typing up word documents?!?!?

So you think you didn't get hired because you 'failed' to answer a question on groceries? Just because you don't understand the relevant of the question, doesn't mean it's not relevant to the person who asked the question. It could be as simple as how well you conduct yourself under stress. Most likely, you 'failed' because you weren't up to their standards.

 

[DrPizza]

I haven't heard "how would you move Mt. Fuji".... I've heard "how long would it take to move Mt. Fuji?

 

What section of the grocery store do I like best? The section where they sell batteries and socks, so I can put the batteries in the socks and BEAT THE INTERVIEWER OVER THE HEAD.

Indeed.