offbeat but effective interview questions
Mike Maslanka
236 Posts
have some friends who own and operate restaurants...they tell me that when they interview an applicant who is applying to be a cook they go through the resume,get the applicant to commit himself to a history in the food and beverage industry,and then ask to see his arms---no one---or so they tell me---who does this work has not burned themselves and left a scar...so,my question to you all:any insider questions
as to an applicant in your industry you can share with us?...regards from texas,mike maslanka
as to an applicant in your industry you can share with us?...regards from texas,mike maslanka
Comments
As for my experience in industry specific questions, I cannot really think of any since the positions I interview require very little experience.
Johnette
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They may or may not be caused by an the individual being burned at work.
And is there acertain number of scars that are acceptable. Would too many scars indicate an unacceptable Workers' Comp risk?
Thus, the use of scars to identify whether or not the indivudal is a good chef or has worked as a chef can't really be probative unless something is asked about them. And of course, about the only thing to be asked is whether or not the scars were caused by cooking incidents.
But beyond that question, further questions may get into ADA issues and partuclar care has to be taken since an emplyer is prohbiited under ADA from asking a prospective employee questions that a likely to elicit information about a disability (of which the scar may be reflective) or to inquire into Workers' Comp claims.
How they take the compliment says alot. Some people look stunned. Some go ON AND ON about the outfit. Some seem emberassed. Some smile and say "Thank you."
To me it tells something about their ability to handle the unexpected, maturity, communication skills, and social graces.
Paul
I have been trained in behavior based interviewing techniques....... they are very good ways to interview, cuts through the fluff of "I am a great team player" good give me specific examples.
Dennis
Now, from the other side of the desk (a story I may have told here before)...
As a college student, I once applied for a job at a factory. The plant only ran during the day, but I was applying to be one of two people who came in at night and did light interoffice (and interbuilding) delivery and mail sorting.
Anyway, the owner of the plant (I think he was at least 120 years old) was asking me a lot about my personal habits, my transportation, etc. - fairly reasonable questions to ask a 20-year-old, I guess.
Then he leaned across the desk, fixed his gaze on me and asked: "Have you ever had sex with a co-worker?"
Well, I had learned years earlier that one of the most effective ways to buy time to collect yourself when surprised like this, is to ask a "clarifying question". My stupid clarifying question: "Do you mean *at* work?"
End of interview.
I found out a month or so later from an acquaitance who was hired for that job that the other person working in that position was the old man's 16-year-old granddaughter, hence his keen interest in my sexcapades.
The professor handed out the blue essay books and announced "you have exactly one hour to complete your essays starting now."
Barely a minute had gone by when a student approached the professor at his desk and handed him his blue book. The stunned professor watched the student grab his back pack and leave the class.
He turned over the cover of the essay book to find only two words written on the first page: "This is."
According to the story, the student received an A+.
Paul
Actually able to weed out some applicants without even talking with them.
He told me of another business owner that for senior mgmt. candidates always had the candidate and their spouse join him and his wife for dinner. One he also got his wifes input, knowing that she does not have on the blinders that he may if he is "in love with" a candidate. Also he said you would be suprised at the number of times people fought with their wives at dinner he said. That eliminated them or if they treated their wife rudely or with disrepect. Again, the meal situation takes a person out of "interview mode", you see more of the real them.
My $0.02.
DJ The Balloonman
Picture yourself at your retirement party. What would your co-workers and managers be saying about you and your work with the company?
Pretty insightful stuff, gets the candidate to think a little more than just your old run of the mill, "what would your references say about you" question. Helps them to think a little more outside of the box.
Of course, I haven't heard this particular answer yet:
"Retirement? What's that? I'm going to work until I die."
Don't know what I'd do if I did.
His response was that your interview should include this simple question:
"Tell me about the best boss you ever worked for...and the worst boss you ever worked for".
He went on to say that reasonably adjusted employees will have something nice to say about their "best boss", will downplay the "worst boss" situation, and will almost always speak longer about the best boss than the worst boss. The folks you have to watch for are those who can't think of a "best boss" but can give you 10 minutes of detail on every bad boss they've ever had. Just as bad are those who give you just the vague "oh, I get along with all my bosses"....you can tell they're hiding something.
I've tried this on an informal basis since receiving this advice, and you'd be amazed at how accurate it is.
>you ever worked for".
>
Guess I've been doing something right after all! I've used this question for years. It is truly effective along with the, "What would your co-workers say about you?" or "What 3 words would someone who didn't know you well say to describe you vs what someone who did know you well would say."
Thanks for telling everyone else about this great question, and validating my ego by re-enforcing that I'm doing a good job!