Lets get to the point. Interviewing is an uncomfortable process no matter what side of the desk you sit at. No one ever hires anyone else unless they believe that revenue can be generated as a result of that hire. Right?
As a healthcare executive recruiter with more than 20 years of experience, you might imagine the countless conversations that I have had with my clients– looking to fill job openings- and my candidates– looking for jobs!
After an interview I usually follow up with both the employer and the candidate to debrief and find out how the interview went. My first question is usually to ask how long the interview went. Obviously if the interview was less than 10 minutes long than chances are great that the interview was a disaster.
If however an interview lasts longer than an hour, that is a pretty good sign of some mutual interest.
There are so many questions that are asked by both candidate and employer during an interview as each party is learning about each other. Some questions by employers are so completely lame that it is almost comical.
Here are the top 4 most annoying interview questions to a candidate:
1. What are your weak points?– Like someone is really going to tell a complete stranger something incriminating about themselves. Would someone really say “I come to work late sometimes” or “Sometimes I spend the entire day surfing the net” or “I am really lazy”? Of course not.
2. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?– If you want the job bad enough you’re going to almost certainly lie and say something politically correct such as “If it’s with your company, then where you feel my abilities will be of most benefit to the organization.” Yeah, right. Most people have no clue where they see themselves tomorrow! It is such an annoying question.
3. How would others describe you?– Well doesn’t that depend on who the “others” are in question? If the “others” are your friends and family, they’ll say great things- they’ll would even lie for you. If “others” are your co-workers, than each one would have a different description of you because each has had different experiences with you- and they too would lie for you.
4. Why do you want to work here?– Wow, how original. Another completely annoying question that does not provide for any useful information in getting to know someone at an interview. Is anyone going to tell the truth and say “I’m unemployed and I’m broke- I couldn’t care less who I work for” or “I want to work here because I’ve been turned down by every one of your competitors”?