# Odd interview question **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 13, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-interview-question/637625 "2012-10-13T16:49:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-interview-question/637625/41 "2012-10-14T03:40:09Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > See. Shitty questions. I hate all this new HR wave bullshit. Bring me in and talk to me about the fucking job. If you can’t get a grip on what kind of person I am without asking bullshit touchy-feely questions then you’re an idiot. Don’t assume I’m one because I can’t tell you what kind of tree I’d like to be. The point is they know many people will have rehearsed answers to all the obvious questions. They want to throw at least one off-the-wall question at you to see how you handle something without preparation. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-interview-question/637625/42 "2012-10-14T03:53:39Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The point is they know many people will have rehearsed answers to all the obvious questions. They want to throw at least one off-the-wall question at you to see how you handle something without preparation. No shit. Then let’s just talk like adults normally talk. You explain the job requirements and I ask frank and relevant questions about the job. You answer the questions and we continue to discuss the possibility of us reaching an agreement. Maybe we divert and talk about the weather or the NHL lockout, or whatever is in the news. But don’t ask me the touchy-feely bullshit questions. I can see through them. I know how to stretch the truth to tell you what you want to hear and it’s not doing anyone any good. Formulaic bullshit is all. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-interview-question/637625/43 "2012-10-14T03:57:29Z")
> [@Rollo\_Tomasi](#): > > At two separate interviews for positions at completely unrelated companies, my friend was asked, “If you were part of a salad, what part would you be?” > > 😕 Is that a new standard question for interviews? Haha! That is an epic question. “Which letter of the greek alphabet reminds you most of your father?” How about that one 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-interview-question/637625/44 "2012-10-14T03:59:33Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > No shit. Then let’s just talk like adults normally talk. You explain the job requirements and I ask frank and relevant questions about the job. You answer the questions and we continue to discuss the possibility of us reaching an agreement. > > Maybe we divert and talk about the weather or the NHL lockout, or whatever is in the news. But don’t ask me the touchy-feely bullshit questions. I can see through them. I know how to stretch the truth to tell you what you want to hear and it’s not doing anyone any good. Formulaic bullshit is all. You missed the point. It’s not touchy-feely. It’s seeing if you can think on your feet. The fact that you missed that makes me think you didn’t see through the question as well as you believe you did. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-interview-question/637625/45 "2012-10-14T03:59:34Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Haha! That is an epic question. > > “Which letter of the greek alphabet reminds you most of your father?” How about that one 😃 I’d walk out. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-interview-question/637625/46 "2012-10-14T04:01:51Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I’d walk out. Then the question works! ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-interview-question/637625/47 "2012-10-14T04:14:52Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > You missed the point. It’s not touchy-feely. It’s seeing if you can think on your feet. The fact that you missed that makes me think you didn’t see through the question as well as you believe you did. No. You’re wrong. I’ll bullshit my way through it. They’re shitty questions and I will never ascribe to this touchy-feely crap. I’m not going to change my mind. In my opinion, the best interview is to take someone to lunch. You can learn a lot about a person during a lunch interview: how they treat others, what they order, do they order alcohol, how easy is it to maintain a natural conversation, do they offer to pay their part, leave a tip? Way better interview and a real-life opportunity to see your potential employee in a normal environment. I’ve been on two of these types of interviews and got the job. I’m way more comfortable with this than forced shitty questions. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-interview-question/637625/48 "2012-10-14T05:08:53Z")
I’m pretty much with you Leaffan. I think you have to extend the interview and get the subject to loosen up and see how they deal with things outside the typical interview environment. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-interview-question/637625/49 "2012-10-14T05:16:46Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > You can learn a lot about a person during a lunch interview: You can during a Dope thread, too, I’ve found. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-interview-question/637625/50 "2012-10-14T05:19:59Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > You can during a Dope thread, too, I’ve found. Well, you’re obviously insinuating something here about me. Care to share your thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-interview-question/637625/51 "2012-10-14T05:21:25Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Well, you’re obviously insinuating something here about me. Care to share your thoughts? You explicitly said you were going to sound sexist, so you already know how you came off. I don’t think I need to insinuate anything. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-interview-question/637625/52 "2012-10-14T05:33:17Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > You explicitly said you were going to sound sexist, so you already know how you came off. I don’t think I need to insinuate anything. Should I start a poll on (generally) which sex is more or less likely to bring personal issues and backstabbing into the work place? Actually I think I [will](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=668676). ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-interview-question/637625/53 "2012-10-14T05:34:38Z")
Be sure to talk about men versus females. That’s my favorite. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-interview-question/637625/54 "2012-10-14T05:38:04Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > In my opinion, the best interview is to take someone to lunch. You can learn a lot about a person during a lunch interview: how they treat others, what they order, do they order alcohol, how easy is it to maintain a natural conversation, do they offer to pay their part, leave a tip? > > Way better interview and a real-life opportunity to see your potential employee in a normal environment. I hate to have to be the one to tell you this but those weren’t job interviews. You were out on a date. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-interview-question/637625/55 "2012-10-14T05:39:18Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Be sure to talk about men versus females. That’s my favorite. What’s that mean? I should say men versus women? I don’t get you, and you’re definitely trying to portray me as something I’m not. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-interview-question/637625/56 "2012-10-14T06:36:39Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > See. Shitty questions. I hate all this new HR wave bullshit. Bring me in and talk to me about the fucking job. If you can’t get a grip on what kind of person I am without asking bullshit touchy-feely questions then you’re an idiot. Don’t assume I’m one because I can’t tell you what kind of tree I’d like to be. Why should I waste time asking questions any idiot knows the right answer to? Salad questions are bullshit, because they don’t have anything to do with actual work, but open ended questions like the one in the OP are directly relevant to work. I’ve managed engineers and programmers for a long time, and we’re not exactly touchy-feely. But those kinds of things make the difference between groups that produce and those that don’t. If you can’t answer some of the questions you gave - like leading a team and convincing them of something - then I’d have to conclude that you either never led a team, or never convinced a team of anything, or don’t think at all about what you do. It is actually a great question. Managers who think they can get everyone to do what they want just from their title are crappy managers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-interview-question/637625.md?page=2)