Interview question inappropriate to the profession?

[Gary_Robson]

@Hostile_Dialect

Borders’ personnel structure is somewhat unique for a MNC in that…

What’s a MNC?

@Hostile_Dialect

Anyway, you’re not actually talking about knowledge of books, you’re talking about knowledge of store sections. If you work at a big enough bookstore, you don’t actually have to read Anne Rice books to know that they belong in the Gay Vampires section (or whatever), you just have to give half a shit about your job.

Actually, I was talking about knowledge of books, but in that particular store, I found that they didn’t even have section knowledge.

I expect my employees to be able to answer questions like, “I really enjoy these two authors*, but I’ve read all of their books; what else is similar?” or “Could you recommend a good mystery that’s set in this area?” or “Which local history book is most likely to have information about [some specific event that happened near here]?”

It’s not quite as important to be able to handle questions about things that can be easily looked up (e.g., “What’s the sequel to Eragon?” or “What’s that book about the cat that’s on the NYT bestseller list this week?”), although I expect them to be able to look up the answers quickly.

• Obviously, this depends on the authors named, but if they’re not authors we sell well here, the employee should at least be able to quickly look up the author’s genre, style, and so forth and make a recommendation.

[BlinkingDuck]

@dalej42

I’ve always thought that was the interviewer’s way of finding out if you’re an active, go-getter type of person. They’re looking for answers like training for a triathlon as opposed to, “I like to read and go to the opera.”

(above is for the ‘spare time’ question)

I had terrible interviewing skills when I was younger. As time went on I became better and, to my surprise, discovered I interviewed very well in my early 30’s.

This was one of the questions I used to suck at but became much better.

I am not an employment expert. I work in a technical field (Statistics). The answer they are looking for is not well-roundedness, well-read-ness, volunteerism etc etc etc etc.

They are looking to see if you do in your spare time what you do for work.

For example, if you are applying for a computer programmer position, they want to hear that you program stuff in your spare time. Sure, mix this up with other things…but be sure to strongly bring up this programming.

Most people don’t do this…but if you find one they are likely to do better at their job.

[Hostile_Dialect]

@InvisibleWombat

What’s a MNC?

Multi-national corporation.

@InvisibleWombat

Actually, I was talking about knowledge of books, but in that particular store, I found that they didn’t even have section knowledge.

I’m sure that all comes down to local hiring practices. I was generally impressed by the depth, if not (always) the breadth, of my coworkers when I worked at Borders. If it’s important to you, you ought to talk to the manager about it. Or just buy books somewhere else, which I presume is the solution you’ve already employed.

Of course, I know my way around a bookstore well enough that the quality of service doesn’t bother me, so I shop based on price and selection–but that’s just me.

As for computer programmers, if I were hiring them, I would absolutely skip over anyone who didn’t code in their spare time. I’ve known a lot of programmers, and every one of them who cares remotely about it spends all of their spare time honing their skills and hacking together little programs for their own use. (That might be different for Windows programmers, actually.)

[Anne_Neville]

@Morbo

“Do you eat meat? We’re meat eaters around here. Don’t want to deal with some silly vegan when we all pick a place for lunch. <ha ha>”

They’re opening themselves for a religious discrimination lawsuit here. What would they have done if someone like me, who keeps kosher, applied, and said so in response to that question? (I will eat kosher fish and vegetarian food in non-kosher restaurants, but no meat or poultry) What if the applicant was a Catholic who doesn’t eat meat on Fridays during Lent? Either one would seem to have a reasonable case for a religious discrimination lawsuit.

“Do you care if some of us smoke in the back room of the office?” (NOTE: This is Oregon, which has a pretty clear policy on this one).

There they’ve admitted to doing something illegal. If someone felt badly treated in the hiring or interview process, what’s to stop them from reporting the illegal activity?

[Hal_Briston]

@levdrakon

I had a woman interviewer ask me “do you have a problem working for women?”

“That depends…how many of them do I get each year?”

[Morbo]

@Anne_Neville

They’re opening themselves for a religious discrimination lawsuit here. What would they have done if someone like me, who keeps kosher, applied, and said so in response to that question? (I will eat kosher fish and vegetarian food in non-kosher restaurants, but no meat or poultry) What if the applicant was a Catholic who doesn’t eat meat on Fridays during Lent? Either one would seem to have a reasonable case for a religious discrimination lawsuit.

There they’ve admitted to doing something illegal. If someone felt badly treated in the hiring or interview process, what’s to stop them from reporting the illegal activity?

Oh, nothing could stop them, I would think. Excellent points. I’ll have a sit-down before the next time we go through the interview process. (I don’t think they’re being willfully negligent; just uninformed).

[CookingWithGas]

@Morbo

Here are some [questions] verbatim:

“Do you have a problem with dogs? Because I like to bring my dog to the office. He’s kinda the office mascot. HERE MICKEY!!! HERE HE IS!!” ::dog runs into room, starts playing with me::
“Do you have a problem with swearing?”
“Do you eat meat? We’re meat eaters around here. Don’t want to deal with some silly vegan when we all pick a place for lunch. <ha ha>”
“Are you a Republican?”
“Do you care if some of us smoke in the back room of the office?” (NOTE: This is Oregon, which has a pretty clear policy on this one).

So is this a “small company” thing, or a “we’re getting sued soon” thing? I’ve only ever worked at these two places, so I have no frame of reference.

@Broomstick

Below a certain size the rules are different. I’m not sure which, if any, of those questions would be over the line for a company that small in Oregon

I am an executive at a small company. With fewer than 50 employees, you are exempt from certain labor laws, though IANAL and I am not conversant with details (it has to do with things like paying for time off for jury duty, Family Medical Leave Act, etc.) But a small company can never be exempt from laws against discrimination against protected classes.

However, none of the questions discuss protected classes. The smoking question might be a little iffy if it deals with an illegal act.

You do not have to accommodate someone who is allergic to dogs if you have dogs in the workplace. You can decline to hire vegans and Republicans. (However, if you are hiring for government civil servant positions [i.e., not a political appointee], you can *not *ask questions about political affiliation or policy opinions).

[CookingWithGas]

@Morbo

Here are some [questions] verbatim:

“Do you have a problem with dogs? Because I like to bring my dog to the office. He’s kinda the office mascot. HERE MICKEY!!! HERE HE IS!!” ::dog runs into room, starts playing with me::
“Do you have a problem with swearing?”
“Do you eat meat? We’re meat eaters around here. Don’t want to deal with some silly vegan when we all pick a place for lunch. <ha ha>”
“Are you a Republican?”
“Do you care if some of us smoke in the back room of the office?” (NOTE: This is Oregon, which has a pretty clear policy on this one).

So is this a “small company” thing, or a “we’re getting sued soon” thing? I’ve only ever worked at these two places, so I have no frame of reference.

@Broomstick

Below a certain size the rules are different. I’m not sure which, if any, of those questions would be over the line for a company that small in Oregon

I am an executive at a small company. With fewer than 50 employees, you are exempt from certain labor laws, though IANAL and I am not conversant with details (it has to do with things like paying for time off for jury duty, Family Medical Leave Act, etc.) But a small company can never be exempt from laws against discrimination against protected classes.

However, none of the questions discuss protected classes. The smoking question might be a little iffy if it deals with an illegal act.

You do not have to accommodate someone who is allergic to dogs if you have dogs in the workplace. You can decline to hire vegans and Republicans. (However, if you are hiring for government civil servant positions [i.e., not a political appointee], you can *not *ask questions about political affiliation or policy opinions).