Weirdest interview question
-
I had an interview on Friday that had one of the weirdest questions I've ever had. "Do you consider yourself politically correct?" I was ready for every .NET framework and software development related question, but this one caught me completely off guard. It was every last bit of self control not to answer with what was on my mind.
That's a gotcha question meant to gauge your reaction to the unexpected.
"My interest is in the future because I'm going to spend the rest of my life there." - Charles F. Kettering
-
"You are not allowed to inquire about my political beliefs in a job interview."
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains. -- Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Not true. While it is possibly unethical, it is not illegal.
"My interest is in the future because I'm going to spend the rest of my life there." - Charles F. Kettering
-
"You are not allowed to inquire about my political beliefs in a job interview."
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains. -- Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Thanks, I have no more questions. You will hear from us within the next 2 weeks.
John
-
I had an interview on Friday that had one of the weirdest questions I've ever had. "Do you consider yourself politically correct?" I was ready for every .NET framework and software development related question, but this one caught me completely off guard. It was every last bit of self control not to answer with what was on my mind.
The real irony is that any answer besides yes would result in you not being considered. An answer of "No" means you could expose the company to a harassment lawsuit. An answer of "Depends on the group I am around" means you could expose the company to a harassment lawsuit. And an answer of, "Sugar tits, go get me some coffee, the men need to talk" ...
Need custom software developed? I do C# development and consulting all over the United States. A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation." --Stephen Crane
-
By this point in the interview I had already made up my mind that this wasn't going to fly. The interview was with this HR rep and the development manager who didn't ask a single technical question. When I turned down a 2nd interview request, the HR rep confessed that I would have been their first senior level .NET developer and they didn't ask the tough questions because no one there had the expertise to come up with the questions.
Joe Programm3r wrote:
no one there had the expertise to come up with the questions.
You should have offered to write some better questions for them. (For a fee of course)
Simon
-
The real irony is that any answer besides yes would result in you not being considered. An answer of "No" means you could expose the company to a harassment lawsuit. An answer of "Depends on the group I am around" means you could expose the company to a harassment lawsuit. And an answer of, "Sugar tits, go get me some coffee, the men need to talk" ...
Need custom software developed? I do C# development and consulting all over the United States. A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation." --Stephen Crane
Ennis Ray Lynch, Jr. wrote:
"Sugar tits, go get me some coffee, the men need to talk" ...
...gets you into the House of Lords?
Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done.
-
I had an interview on Friday that had one of the weirdest questions I've ever had. "Do you consider yourself politically correct?" I was ready for every .NET framework and software development related question, but this one caught me completely off guard. It was every last bit of self control not to answer with what was on my mind.
-
The real irony is that any answer besides yes would result in you not being considered. An answer of "No" means you could expose the company to a harassment lawsuit. An answer of "Depends on the group I am around" means you could expose the company to a harassment lawsuit. And an answer of, "Sugar tits, go get me some coffee, the men need to talk" ...
Need custom software developed? I do C# development and consulting all over the United States. A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation." --Stephen Crane
Ennis Ray Lynch, Jr. wrote:
And an answer of, "Sugar tits, go get me some coffee, the men need to talk" ...
That would have been my pick... :) Actually, I think you can answer the question honestly and still get hired. "I've never met a person who is completely politically correct. Given the multicultural nature of the modern work force, no matter how carefully measured or considered a response, there is the likelihood that one or more individuals will simply misinterpret what was said or the spirit in which the statement was made. I personally try my best not to offend when in a professional environment, but sometimes it simply cannot be avoided. Someone in the group may not have gotten their self-perceived allotment of stink-finger the night before, or a little extra breakfast made their obvious weight problem more pronounced, or any number of other factors may be affecting their mood. I'm not a f*cking mind-reader, so whatever I say may be misconstrued as pissing in their Wheaties. One last thing - I'm applying for a programming job, not running for f*cking office."
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
-----
"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001 -
Ennis Ray Lynch, Jr. wrote:
And an answer of, "Sugar tits, go get me some coffee, the men need to talk" ...
That would have been my pick... :) Actually, I think you can answer the question honestly and still get hired. "I've never met a person who is completely politically correct. Given the multicultural nature of the modern work force, no matter how carefully measured or considered a response, there is the likelihood that one or more individuals will simply misinterpret what was said or the spirit in which the statement was made. I personally try my best not to offend when in a professional environment, but sometimes it simply cannot be avoided. Someone in the group may not have gotten their self-perceived allotment of stink-finger the night before, or a little extra breakfast made their obvious weight problem more pronounced, or any number of other factors may be affecting their mood. I'm not a f*cking mind-reader, so whatever I say may be misconstrued as pissing in their Wheaties. One last thing - I'm applying for a programming job, not running for f*cking office."
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
-----
"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
"I've never met a person who is completely politically correct. Given the multicultural nature of the modern work force, no matter how carefully measured or considered a response, there is the likelihood that one or more individuals will simply misinterpret what was said or the spirit in which the statement was made. I personally try my best not to offend when in a professional environment, but sometimes it simply cannot be avoided. Someone in the group may not have gotten their self-perceived allotment of stink-finger the night before, or a little extra breakfast made their obvious weight problem more pronounced, or any number of other factors may be affecting their mood. I'm not a f*cking mind-reader, so whatever I say may be misconstrued as pissing in their Wheaties. One last thing - I'm applying for a programming job, not running for f*cking office."
You are my hero!
-
I had an interview on Friday that had one of the weirdest questions I've ever had. "Do you consider yourself politically correct?" I was ready for every .NET framework and software development related question, but this one caught me completely off guard. It was every last bit of self control not to answer with what was on my mind.
I generally ask "What was the name of Hong Kong Phooey's Cat?", and "Can you name all of Trumptonshire's Fire Brigade?". I'm not expecting people to give me the correct answer, it's more to see how they cope with my particular mindset. We are a small team, so it's vital that I hire people who will fit in with me.
"WPF has many lovers. It's a veritable porn star!" - Josh Smith
As Braveheart once said, "You can take our freedom but you'll never take our Hobnobs!" - Martin Hughes.
-
I generally ask "What was the name of Hong Kong Phooey's Cat?", and "Can you name all of Trumptonshire's Fire Brigade?". I'm not expecting people to give me the correct answer, it's more to see how they cope with my particular mindset. We are a small team, so it's vital that I hire people who will fit in with me.
"WPF has many lovers. It's a veritable porn star!" - Josh Smith
As Braveheart once said, "You can take our freedom but you'll never take our Hobnobs!" - Martin Hughes.
-
I generally ask "What was the name of Hong Kong Phooey's Cat?", and "Can you name all of Trumptonshire's Fire Brigade?". I'm not expecting people to give me the correct answer, it's more to see how they cope with my particular mindset. We are a small team, so it's vital that I hire people who will fit in with me.
"WPF has many lovers. It's a veritable porn star!" - Josh Smith
As Braveheart once said, "You can take our freedom but you'll never take our Hobnobs!" - Martin Hughes.
Pete O'Hanlon wrote:
I generally ask "What was the name of Hong Kong Phooey's Cat?", and "Can you name all of Trumptonshire's Fire Brigade?".
If that were the case, I'd expect a question like "What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?"
-
Not true. While it is possibly unethical, it is not illegal.
"My interest is in the future because I'm going to spend the rest of my life there." - Charles F. Kettering
in some states, and in the federal government, it is illegal to use political beliefs as part of the hiring decision, therefore interviewers are highly encouraged to not ask, since it opens them up to charges of discrimination.
-
John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
"I've never met a person who is completely politically correct. Given the multicultural nature of the modern work force, no matter how carefully measured or considered a response, there is the likelihood that one or more individuals will simply misinterpret what was said or the spirit in which the statement was made. I personally try my best not to offend when in a professional environment, but sometimes it simply cannot be avoided. Someone in the group may not have gotten their self-perceived allotment of stink-finger the night before, or a little extra breakfast made their obvious weight problem more pronounced, or any number of other factors may be affecting their mood. I'm not a f*cking mind-reader, so whatever I say may be misconstrued as pissing in their Wheaties. One last thing - I'm applying for a programming job, not running for f*cking office."
You are my hero!
Joe Programm3r wrote:
You are my hero!
Raise your bar.
"Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw later in life what you have deposited along the way." - Unknown
"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons
-
Pete O'Hanlon wrote:
I generally ask "What was the name of Hong Kong Phooey's Cat?", and "Can you name all of Trumptonshire's Fire Brigade?".
If that were the case, I'd expect a question like "What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?"
-
Pete O'Hanlon wrote:
I generally ask "What was the name of Hong Kong Phooey's Cat?", and "Can you name all of Trumptonshire's Fire Brigade?".
If that were the case, I'd expect a question like "What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?"
I like quirky, rather than textbook questions.
"WPF has many lovers. It's a veritable porn star!" - Josh Smith
As Braveheart once said, "You can take our freedom but you'll never take our Hobnobs!" - Martin Hughes.
-
"What was the name of Hong Kong Phooey's Cat?" It was 'Spot', but he had stripes.
There are two kinds of people. Those who need closure
Correct, but did you need google for this or was this from memory? BTW - nobody gets the Trumptonshire one. They always forget one.
"WPF has many lovers. It's a veritable porn star!" - Josh Smith
As Braveheart once said, "You can take our freedom but you'll never take our Hobnobs!" - Martin Hughes.
-
Joe Programm3r wrote:
You are my hero!
Raise your bar.
"Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw later in life what you have deposited along the way." - Unknown
"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons
DavidCrow wrote:
Raise your bar.
Is that a euphemism?
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.”
-
Ennis Ray Lynch, Jr. wrote:
And an answer of, "Sugar tits, go get me some coffee, the men need to talk" ...
That would have been my pick... :) Actually, I think you can answer the question honestly and still get hired. "I've never met a person who is completely politically correct. Given the multicultural nature of the modern work force, no matter how carefully measured or considered a response, there is the likelihood that one or more individuals will simply misinterpret what was said or the spirit in which the statement was made. I personally try my best not to offend when in a professional environment, but sometimes it simply cannot be avoided. Someone in the group may not have gotten their self-perceived allotment of stink-finger the night before, or a little extra breakfast made their obvious weight problem more pronounced, or any number of other factors may be affecting their mood. I'm not a f*cking mind-reader, so whatever I say may be misconstrued as pissing in their Wheaties. One last thing - I'm applying for a programming job, not running for f*cking office."
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
-----
"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001But if your running for office you answer yes then ask for coffee! :laugh:
-
I had an interview on Friday that had one of the weirdest questions I've ever had. "Do you consider yourself politically correct?" I was ready for every .NET framework and software development related question, but this one caught me completely off guard. It was every last bit of self control not to answer with what was on my mind.
"Define 'politically correct'"... "If it has anything to do with kissing someones ass, I'm not your guy..."
A guide to posting questions on CodeProject[^]
Dave Kreskowiak Microsoft MVP Visual Developer - Visual Basic
2006, 2007, 2008