What is your worst interview question?

Submitted by Charlie Fox on Mon, 31/01/2011 - 22:20

The following interview nightmare comes from when I was sitting on the board of directors of a small nonprofit: We were interviewing finalists for the executive director position, and one director asked the last candidate, "Larry, what do you consider your greatest weakness?

http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2011/01/the_worst_interview_question_a.html

What is your worst interview question?

You are not watching this post, click to start watching

Submitted by Matt Chapman on Tue, 01/02/2011 - 10:22

Those greatest weakness questions are horrible. I mean you can't exactly say "well I sometimes get so mad I go on psychopathic rampages..." but you can't say something sickly like "I'm a perfectionist..."

A tough one for sure.

Submitted by Rizwan Ahmed ACMI on Tue, 01/02/2011 - 19:29

the question some times ask by the employeers is

tell me about your self?

Submitted by Peter Elliott CMgr MCMI on Tue, 01/02/2011 - 19:34 Profile image

My wife was asked the 'greatest weakness' question and responded 'chocolate' - she got the job!

Submitted by Jim Vasey CMgr MCMI on Wed, 02/02/2011 - 13:29 Profile image

I was asked this at an interview, in a slightly more modern form - "What would you see as areas of development for you?". Although more subtle, it's essentially the same question, and still a potential minefield.

Submitted by Adrian Gaskell MCMI on Fri, 25/02/2011 - 16:10 Profile image

Some interesting ones here at Forbes. My particular fave is this one from Google.

"You are climbing a staircase. Each time you can either take one step or two steps. The staircase has n steps. In how many distinct ways can you climb the staircase?"

http://galleries.forbes.com/gallery_slideshow/1298388915905?

Submitted by David Marsh FCMI on Mon, 07/03/2011 - 09:55

Whilst being interviewed for a middle management role in 89 the MD of the company held up a blue coaster and asked "what is this?" to which I replied "it's a blue coaster!" he said "no, it's a business, a multi million pound business"

I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about and I'm still not sure I do now but I got the job.

Submitted by Charlie Fox on Tue, 08/03/2011 - 10:20

Haha, that sounds a cracker David.

Submitted by Kevin Sheen ACMI on Thu, 24/03/2011 - 12:09

Worst Interview Questions are well known and always remembered. Great to learn from. I think my best interview question is the one I always ask last. 'What do you think of me?' It often sets a panel back in their seats but always gets an honest answer.

Submitted by Mary Flower on Thu, 24/03/2011 - 12:44

Many years ago, before the end of Apartheid, I was asked "how would you resolve the political situation in South Africa?" Impossible!

Submitted by Adrian Gaskell MCMI on Thu, 24/03/2011 - 17:17 Profile image

Mary Flower wrote:

Many years ago, before the end of Apartheid, I was asked "how would you resolve the political situation in South Africa?" Impossible!

Wow, that is a stinker. How did you answer that one Mary?