“A job interview is a conversation between two liars.” Claudio Fernández-Aráoz
There are stupid questions. Make a list of 25 common job interview questions. Don’t ask any of them.
5 Stupid Questions for a Job Interview
#1. “What’s your biggest weakness?”
People spin this into a strength like, “I work too hard.” Anyone who says this is hiding something.
#2. “Where do you see yourself in five years?”
Unless you’re a fortune teller, it’s guesswork that invites flattery. If you ask this stupid question, follow up with, “What will you do your first 30-days to move in that direction?”
#3. “Why should we hire you?”
Ask this if you want a sales pitch that obscures reality.
#4. “Why do you want to work here?”
After asking, go for coffee while they answer.
#5. “If you were an animal, what would you be?”
Gimmicks reveal creativity at best. Another stupid question is, “What color best describes your personality?”
The danger of gimmicks is they’re distracting.
Bonus:
“How many golf balls fit in a school bus?”
This is theater unless you sell golf balls. If you want to assess problem solving, ask how they’d handle a backstabber on the team.
2 Smart Questions
#1. “What have you learned from failure?”
Don’t ask about weaknesses. Listen for a growth mindset.
Follow up, “How are you using those lessons?”
#2. What kind of challenges energize you?
Explore what people love to do. Love is energy. When they answer, ask, “What’s energizing about that?”
Power Tips:
#1. Always ask the second question. “So you love helping people, how do you do that? Who have you helped? What was the result for them?”
#2. Go to the store for a jar of pickles. Talk while you shop.
What are your favorite job interview questions?
10 Dynamic Job Interview Questions
Brian Cook recently purchased, The Vagrant. He left this comment.
“I read the Vagrant this weekend. Starts like every other book and then goes in a completely different direction. It’s a great book. I highly recommend.”
Thank you, Brian!
