Reply to: Interview / Soft skills - Training - Any recommendation

[Goatfell]

Well it's time for another one tomorrow. Wish me luck.

Break a leg

[worzelGummidge]

Well it's time for another one tomorrow. Wish me luck.

[worzelGummidge]

Agreed. Interviews come in all shapes and sizes it seems from crap to ok.

In the past, I've had:-

- Panel from Indian consultancy asking stupid tech questions which weren't on my CV and trying to outdo each other. Didnt get that one.

- Phone interview where they just rattled off 40 tech questions and that was it. I had 3/4 of the skills so 10 of them I had little idea. Didnt get that one.

- Interviews where they ask a few questions about what you've done then try and work out if you're actually a decent contractor. These are the ones I tend to get.

Same Here. I get those type of interviews.

[AMH]

They just wanted to see if you had the cojones to ask if you could move the chair. That is exactly the kind of tulip I am talking about.

yea... I know that now, this was about 15-16 years ago.

Now I interview them at my interviews. If I got that far, then they must be desperate to want me, so need to see if I am as desperate to do some work for them.

[suityou01]

I once had to do a thing called a pizza test at interview.

Then one interview yonks ago (permie days) I was grilled by a Microsoft Certified consultant at the same consultancy they had dragged off a project to give me a grilling.

He would ask a question like what kind of locking mechanisms does ADO have. I started to list them. I got the first 2 out and he said ok thanks. I said but what about the other 3? He wasn't interested but the PM was so asked me to list them.

The consultant got more and more nervous with every question while I outclassed him, and the PM was playing us off against one another for kicks. I actually felt pretty sorry for him.

Then I got the job, and apparently beat 50 other candidates for the role.

Then my new peers didn't want me there as I was "too good". I got bullied to feck and 7 weeks later had a complete breakdown.

I guess what I'm saying is that the interview should have told me to question deeper what their motivation for being such nitpickers at interview was. If I'd have done that I would have learned they inherited a bunch of incompetent hackers from a merger and we're trying to raise the bar by hiring someone half decent. Then I would have insisted on being made the team leader, and getting some clout rather than being tossed in the lions den at the same level.

[tractor]

.....

I just try to be honest.
If I cant answer a question, I dont see the point lying about it... If I cant answer 3 or 4 Q's, then its not the role for me as it sounds like to much hard work.


Worst interview I ever had was my chair was placed right in line of the sunlight coming thorugh a crack in the blinds.
I sat there pulling faces like I was having stroke.

Didnt get that role.

They just wanted to see if you had the cojones to ask if you could move the chair. That is exactly the kind of tulip I am talking about.

[AMH]

I just try to be honest.
If I cant answer a question, I dont see the point lying about it... If I cant answer 3 or 4 Q's, then its not the role for me as it sounds like to much hard work.


Worst interview I ever had was my chair was placed right in line of the sunlight coming thorugh a crack in the blinds.
I sat there pulling faces like I was having stroke.

Didnt get that role.

[vwdan]

Panel from Indian consultancy asking stupid tech questions which weren't on my CV and trying to outdo each other. Didnt get that one.

Had exactly the same - they'd already pissed me about once by cocking up the time which had annoyed me as I'd had to drive away from the office I was working at (No signal whatsoever in the sticks) in order to sit in a layby and wait half an hour for a call that never came. Anyway, when we did eventually speak it was exactly as you describe - I could never tell who was who and half the questions were totally nonsensical.

By the end I'd grown tired of the whole thing and let the last trick question descend into a row, because they'd tried to catch me out with an utterly idiotic "Gotchya" that was so stupid I can't even work out an equivalent analogy, but something along the lines of "F1 cars are rubbish because you can't use them to take the kids to school".

Anyway, it remains the only official job interview I've not had an eventual offer from.

[psychocandy]

Agreed. Interviews come in all shapes and sizes it seems from crap to ok.

In the past, I've had:-

- Panel from Indian consultancy asking stupid tech questions which weren't on my CV and trying to outdo each other. Didnt get that one.

- Phone interview where they just rattled off 40 tech questions and that was it. I had 3/4 of the skills so 10 of them I had little idea. Didnt get that one.

- Interviews where they ask a few questions about what you've done then try and work out if you're actually a decent contractor. These are the ones I tend to get.

[worzelGummidge]

In my own humble onion, I tend to think that if you go on a training course for this type of thing you end up talking just as much tulip as 'they' do.

lol. I sincerely hope so.
That's a good tip reference the water. Thanks. I think that thinking time would be very useful.

Otherwise, as corny as it sounds, be yourself and focus on what you are good at. As a slight aside, I was once asked in an interview (by a HR twonk) which member of the project team would I save first if they were all trapped in a cave. I asked if this was a scenario that would be likely to arise in this role, and managed to avoid playing his tulipy game.

The one paying the invoice.

Thanks. Good advice.

This website is a self help group really isn't it.
Group hug.

[OnceStonedRose]

I was once asked in an interview which object I would like with me if I was trapped on a desert island. I said a boat. He said I wasn't allowed that. I said I thought I could have anything. He said yes, but not a boat. We argued a bit. I didn't get the job.

Liar

[JRCT]

I was once asked in an interview (by a HR twonk) which member of the project team would I save first if they were all trapped in a cave. I asked if this was a scenario that would be likely to arise in this role, and managed to avoid playing his tulipy game.

I was once asked in an interview which object I would like with me if I was trapped on a desert island. I said a boat. He said I wasn't allowed that. I said I thought I could have anything. He said yes, but not a boat. We argued a bit. I didn't get the job.

[Ramrod]

In my own humble onion, I tend to think that if you go on a training course for this type of thing you end up talking just as much tulip as 'they' do.

Every interview I have ever attended I have been offered a drink - I don't normally want one but I always ask for a glass of water. As they finish their question a sip of water normally gives me just enough thinking time to comprehend what I am ACTUALLY being asked. I too suffer from blathering on about something without answering the real question (who knew?) so a stall tactic like this gives me a chance of avoiding these pitfalls.

Otherwise, as corny as it sounds, be yourself and focus on what you are good at. As a slight aside, I was once asked in an interview (by a HR twonk) which member of the project team would I save first if they were all trapped in a cave. I asked if this was a scenario that would be likely to arise in this role, and managed to avoid playing his tulipy game.

[worzelGummidge]

Good advice thanks. I am not very good with the bulltulip anyway so never really try.
I think that I would still like some training though or role playing scenario's.

[tractor]

...

Hi

Serious question.

Been for a few interviews recently and I am a bit out of practice with interviews (well dealing with other members of the human race also but we will not go there).

First set of interviews in four years and prior to that I just used to walk into roles.

I am the usual technical geek who does not have problems dealing with others but I do have "autistic tenancies" so some training in being interviewed would be beneficial.

For example.. I always miss the question designed to see if I can work in a team and immediately try solving a pretend technical issue.

Does anyone have any experience of interviewing courses where I can be trained how to answer questions better. ?

Yes, it is a bit of a weird question but so am I
and I think that I would benefit in interview situations.

Any experience or ideas anyone?

Whilst some training would undoubtedly be good for anyone, it is impossible to determine how one HR 'specialist' from the next will try to trip you up. They all think they are the smartest and they all think they have developed the killer questions that will ensure their success.

But then they all get it wrong so often so I would suggest just being honest and do your best, don't BS and appear as helpful and personable as you can. Just don't get argumentative when they start talking tulip.