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The Dumbest Interview Question

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Re: The Dumbest Interview Question

#21

Post by jcl »

IsaacSchlueter wrote: post #20
bayareaguy wrote: post #3

I always respond to this one by saying "my greatest weakness is that I don't know my greatest weakness".

The only time I was asked that question, I responded with "That's kind of a weird question, don't you think? I mean, it's not really in my interest to answer it honestly." The interviewer agreed, and we chatted about interviewing technique for a little while. He admitted that he only asked to see what people say, and that mine was probably the best answer he'd heard. Got an offer the next day.

It's ironic that such a vapid and well-known question still reveals useful information about a candidate -- precisely because it is vapid and well-known.

Re: The Dumbest Interview Question

#22

Post by strlen »

mikeryan wrote: post #8

Has anyone actually been asked this? When I first entered the workforce and started interviewing I remember prepping for this question (and its corresponding strengths one) and had nice prepped answers. To date no one has every asked me this - and when hiring I've never asked it.

When still a college student I went cold into an interview for a very senior position (slated to start after graduation). I am sure I answered all technical questions correctly, but I certainly gave the wrong answer to this specific question - which (along with showing up in a suite for an Internet company interview and several other things) gave the impression that I'm too "fresh" for a position like this.

Three to four months later (and two or so months before graduating - much closer time-line) I sat down with a hiring manager at a big-co and went over such stock questions and their purpose and interviewed for a different position at the same company which required the same skill set and level - and got the position.

I would say my answer to this question is always honest, but I'll never ask the question myself.

Re: The Dumbest Interview Question

#23

Post by snprbob86 »

I once had an interviewer ask me my greatest weakness, stop me before I started to speak, and added "don't even try to give me an strength dressed up as a weakness because I'll keep rejecting your answer until you give me one I like." Upon hearing my response, he asked me what I was doing to combat that weakness. Upon hearing that response, he asked me how progress was and to project how long it would be before it was no longer a weakness. That line of questioning was far more effective and a whole lot more fun.

Re: The Dumbest Interview Question

#24

Post by Hexstream »

IsaacSchlueter wrote: post #20
bayareaguy wrote: post #3

I always respond to this one by saying "my greatest weakness is that I don't know my greatest weakness".

The only time I was asked that question, I responded with "That's kind of a weird question, don't you think? I mean, it's not really in my interest to answer it honestly." The interviewer agreed, and we chatted about interviewing technique for a little while. He admitted that he only asked to see what people say, and that mine was probably the best answer he'd heard. Got an offer the next day.

You might have had the offer almost regardless of your answer to that question.

Re: The Dumbest Interview Question

#26

Post by gruseom »

mattmichielsen wrote: post #18
jwesley wrote: post #13

This is a great interview question. The point isn't the actual answer, but the way an interviewee responds. It's a mind game to see how the person will react. Will they deny weakness? Will they confess a horrendous flaw? It reveals a lot of character. Plus it is just plain fun to ask people ridiculous questions with no correct answer.

One of my previous coworkers and I were interviewing a guy together, and I believe his was one of the most ridiculous questions ever: "If you could get rid of one of the United States completely, which would it be and why?"

It's ridiculous, but no more so than the brain-twister puzzle type that used to get so much attention.

Actually, it would be fun to conduct an interview consisting of nothing but ridiculous questions like this, while acting as though the interview were completely normal. I don't think I could pull it off with a straight face though.

Re: The Dumbest Interview Question

#27

Post by andreyf »

cchooper wrote: post #6
thisisnotmyname wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I totally agree - and in fact I think this is one of the best interview questions. In my experience, the people who identify and actively work on their weaknesses are the most likely to succeed. That said, I might rephrase the question to be something like "What new things would you like to learn, and how are you going about learning them?"

I identify my weaknessess and actively work on them, but I would never answer this question honestly, because I can't assume that the questioner is someone as enlightened as you.

because I can't assume that the questioner is someone as enlightened as you

But if they aren't, I don't really want to work for them. My being genuinely philosophical is often off-putting to people as overly smart-ass-ish or academic. I realize the dark side to this is that it limits my selection of jobs, but it makes for good conversation when I find a job I like.

Re: The Dumbest Interview Question

#28

Post by ardit33 »

snprbob86 wrote: post #23

I once had an interviewer ask me my greatest weakness, stop me before I started to speak, and added "don't even try to give me an strength dressed up as a weakness because I'll keep rejecting your answer until you give me one I like." Upon hearing my response, he asked me what I was doing to combat that weakness. Upon hearing that response, he asked me how progress was and to project how long it would be before it wa…

Can you just say "can't say no to pretty girls"? So, you reveal a maybe real weakness, but it is totally outside your work field and yet doesn't affect your hiring.

So, I still think this question is dumb.

Re: The Dumbest Interview Question

#29

Post by ardit33 »

andreyf wrote: post #27
cchooper wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I identify my weaknessess and actively work on them, but I would never answer this question honestly, because I can't assume that the questioner is someone as enlightened as you.

because I can't assume that the questioner is someone as enlightened as you But if they aren't, I don't really want to work for them. My being genuinely philosophical is often off-putting to people as overly smart-ass-ish or academic. I realize the dark side to this is that it limits my selection of jobs, but it makes for good conversation when I find a job I like.

you are assuming all great companies that you want to work for, have only excellent people.... wrong. Even good companies, have bozos inside. You don't know yet who are you dealing with. If the guy is asking this question, there is a great chance that he is a bozo. Yes. I have been asked this question before, and during the conversation I could tell the guy asking was not a good engineer.

Re: The Dumbest Interview Question

#30

Post by IsaacSchlueter »

Hexstream wrote: post #24
IsaacSchlueter wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The only time I was asked that question, I responded with "That's kind of a weird question, don't you think? I mean, it's not really in my interest to answer it honestly." The interviewer agreed, and we chatted about interviewing technique for a little while. He admitted that he only asked to see what people say, and that mine was probably the best answer he'd heard. Got an offer the next day.

You might have had the offer almost regardless of your answer to that question.

I'm pretty sure you're right.
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