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  3. The tough interview questions.

The tough interview questions.

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  • B Brady Kelly

    After being asked some very basic stuff about C# and SQL Server, even some basic C++ stuff, they hit me with tough ones, like, "What drives you?", "Are you a people's person? Help me understand why you said yes.", etc. My last three, sparse, interviews were more technical grillings, which I find easy. I supposed I'm just not used to this.

    V Offline
    V Offline
    V 0
    wrote on last edited by
    #10

    Brady Kelly wrote:

    "What drives you?"

    Challenge, change, the ability to make a difference in the company, ...

    Brady Kelly wrote:

    "Are you a people's person?"

    Are you easey to get along with, what do your colleagues say? If your not that easy, don't worry, most people that are not easy just have a special way of how they like being handled, find out what yours is.

    V.
    Stop smoking so you can: Enjoy longer the money you save. Moviereview Archive

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    • M merridus

      Yes, when they make no effort to even learn a few small things like just "Thanks", and then get stressed out at someone who doesn't understand them or hasn't made the chips right. ;P

      - Rob

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      Dalek Dave
      wrote on last edited by
      #11

      I have a smattering of many languages, so I am not too bad, but I was in Greece and overheard an English couple asking for the toilet. The Bar Owner, who did speak some English, pointed to a sign and said it was "Over there". Their response? "Well, that sign that says Toilet doesn't look right, I know it is in foreign gibberish, but it has too many letters to even stand for TOILET" I hid my head in shame and apologised for my countrymen as I left!

      ------------------------------------ In science, 'fact' can only mean 'confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent.' I suppose that apples might start to rise tomorrow, but the possibility does not merit equal time in physics classrooms. Stephen J Gould

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      • B Brady Kelly

        After being asked some very basic stuff about C# and SQL Server, even some basic C++ stuff, they hit me with tough ones, like, "What drives you?", "Are you a people's person? Help me understand why you said yes.", etc. My last three, sparse, interviews were more technical grillings, which I find easy. I supposed I'm just not used to this.

        P Offline
        P Offline
        PIEBALDconsult
        wrote on last edited by
        #12

        "What drives you?" I drive me. "Are you a people's person?" If I were, I wouldn't spend the day talking to machines.

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        • D Dalek Dave

          I have a smattering of many languages, so I am not too bad, but I was in Greece and overheard an English couple asking for the toilet. The Bar Owner, who did speak some English, pointed to a sign and said it was "Over there". Their response? "Well, that sign that says Toilet doesn't look right, I know it is in foreign gibberish, but it has too many letters to even stand for TOILET" I hid my head in shame and apologised for my countrymen as I left!

          ------------------------------------ In science, 'fact' can only mean 'confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent.' I suppose that apples might start to rise tomorrow, but the possibility does not merit equal time in physics classrooms. Stephen J Gould

          M Offline
          M Offline
          merridus
          wrote on last edited by
          #13

          Dalek Dave wrote:

          too many letters to even stand for TOILET

          Haha, after all, every language is just made up of anagrams of English words. :laugh:

          - Rob

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          • M merridus

            Dalek Dave wrote:

            loudly and slowly

            In the same tone, as an Englishman, you use abroad if you are talking to someone and they have the cheek not to have learnt English?

            - Rob

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            J Offline
            Joe Simes
            wrote on last edited by
            #14

            Which is probably only in America! :-\

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            • M merridus

              Dalek Dave wrote:

              too many letters to even stand for TOILET

              Haha, after all, every language is just made up of anagrams of English words. :laugh:

              - Rob

              D Offline
              D Offline
              Dalek Dave
              wrote on last edited by
              #15

              I wanted to explain this, but he (the English fellow) was a big bugger. At 6'1" I am fairly tall, but he was much bigger than me, so I figured pointing out his immense thickness was probably not a good idea!

              ------------------------------------ In science, 'fact' can only mean 'confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent.' I suppose that apples might start to rise tomorrow, but the possibility does not merit equal time in physics classrooms. Stephen J Gould

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              • D Dalek Dave

                I have a smattering of many languages, so I am not too bad, but I was in Greece and overheard an English couple asking for the toilet. The Bar Owner, who did speak some English, pointed to a sign and said it was "Over there". Their response? "Well, that sign that says Toilet doesn't look right, I know it is in foreign gibberish, but it has too many letters to even stand for TOILET" I hid my head in shame and apologised for my countrymen as I left!

                ------------------------------------ In science, 'fact' can only mean 'confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent.' I suppose that apples might start to rise tomorrow, but the possibility does not merit equal time in physics classrooms. Stephen J Gould

                A Offline
                A Offline
                Andy Brummer
                wrote on last edited by
                #16

                When I was vising Amsterdam, I watched a New Yorker pull out a picture and explain that it was a picture of sky scrapers which are really tall buildings that they have where he lives. :doh:

                I can imagine the sinking feeling one would have after ordering my book, only to find a laughably ridiculous theory with demented logic once the book arrives - Mark McCutcheon

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                • 1 1 21 Gigawatts

                  I find that is the most embarrassing thing about being British. Those Brits that go abroad, only eat English food, and moan when the locals don't speak English. :sigh:

                  "People who don't like their beliefs being laughed at shouldn't have such funny beliefs." ~ Anon "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough" ~ Albert Einstein Just finished reading: 'The Greatest Show on Earth', by Richard Dawkins; superb book.

                  J Offline
                  J Offline
                  Joe Simes
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #17

                  I visited Scotland last year and met up with some (English, Irish and Scottish) friends. All they wanted to eat was Chinese Buffet and Indian (curry). The only native food I had was some really crap (soggy) fish and chips and the "Traditional" Scottish Brekkie I had at the Port Inn. Breakfast wasn't bad eggs, toast, ham, bacon, haggis!! All delish. The Irish guy wouldn't even eat the black pudding. He says I don't like my black pudding rare. :omg: Honestly it was really thick and if you pressed it with your fork it weeped blood! :wtf: X| The whisky and the :beer: was great though!:thumbsup:

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                  • D Dalek Dave

                    I wanted to explain this, but he (the English fellow) was a big bugger. At 6'1" I am fairly tall, but he was much bigger than me, so I figured pointing out his immense thickness was probably not a good idea!

                    ------------------------------------ In science, 'fact' can only mean 'confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent.' I suppose that apples might start to rise tomorrow, but the possibility does not merit equal time in physics classrooms. Stephen J Gould

                    M Offline
                    M Offline
                    merridus
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #18

                    Ah, probably a good call then. I hear people don't really like you coming up to them and pointing out their stupidity.

                    - Rob

                    D 1 Reply Last reply
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                    • B Brady Kelly

                      After being asked some very basic stuff about C# and SQL Server, even some basic C++ stuff, they hit me with tough ones, like, "What drives you?", "Are you a people's person? Help me understand why you said yes.", etc. My last three, sparse, interviews were more technical grillings, which I find easy. I supposed I'm just not used to this.

                      D Offline
                      D Offline
                      Dr Walt Fair PE
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #19

                      Brady Kelly wrote:

                      "What drives you?"

                      Money. What drives your company?

                      Brady Kelly wrote:

                      "Are you a people's person?"

                      Depends on the people.

                      Brady Kelly wrote:

                      "Help me understand why you said yes."

                      Refresh my memory, what was the question I said yes to? Actually I hate it when they start playing those games, so I usually do a pre-emptive strike. Somewhere at the beginning I ask why, since they've already seen my qualifications, do they think I should consider working for them. If they can't give me a good answer, there's no point in going much further.

                      CQ de W5ALT

                      Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software

                      B 1 Reply Last reply
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                      • 1 1 21 Gigawatts

                        I find that is the most embarrassing thing about being British. Those Brits that go abroad, only eat English food, and moan when the locals don't speak English. :sigh:

                        "People who don't like their beliefs being laughed at shouldn't have such funny beliefs." ~ Anon "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough" ~ Albert Einstein Just finished reading: 'The Greatest Show on Earth', by Richard Dawkins; superb book.

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                        L Offline
                        Lost User
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #20

                        I do the same, and I'm not even British! :)

                        1 Reply Last reply
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                        • J Joe Simes

                          I visited Scotland last year and met up with some (English, Irish and Scottish) friends. All they wanted to eat was Chinese Buffet and Indian (curry). The only native food I had was some really crap (soggy) fish and chips and the "Traditional" Scottish Brekkie I had at the Port Inn. Breakfast wasn't bad eggs, toast, ham, bacon, haggis!! All delish. The Irish guy wouldn't even eat the black pudding. He says I don't like my black pudding rare. :omg: Honestly it was really thick and if you pressed it with your fork it weeped blood! :wtf: X| The whisky and the :beer: was great though!:thumbsup:

                          M Offline
                          M Offline
                          merridus
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #21

                          Joe Simes wrote:

                          English, Irish and Scottish

                          Am I the only one who read that as the start to a joke? :D Might just be an English thing as the Englishman always comes out on top in the ones I've heard :D

                          - Rob

                          J 1 Reply Last reply
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                          • B Brady Kelly

                            After being asked some very basic stuff about C# and SQL Server, even some basic C++ stuff, they hit me with tough ones, like, "What drives you?", "Are you a people's person? Help me understand why you said yes.", etc. My last three, sparse, interviews were more technical grillings, which I find easy. I supposed I'm just not used to this.

                            R Offline
                            R Offline
                            ragnaroknrol
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #22

                            Brady Kelly wrote:

                            "What drives you?"

                            My wife. Duh. You think I drive myself anywhere? That's her job, oh and being pregnant and barefoot. That and the unstoppable homicidal rage quietly evaluating everyone I meet to see if they meet a high enough standard for me to think they deserve to live. Usually HR people are right below rats. I poison rats.

                            Brady Kelly wrote:

                            "Are you a people's person?

                            No, given the opportunity I much prefer the company of chain saws, bone saws and exsanguination machines. Though usually I do want people to be around for this. hmmm... Alright, I am a people's person. They just have to be bound in saran wrap and in a plastic lined room on the table. So what are you doing at, oh, say , seven tonight?

                            Brady Kelly wrote:

                            Help me understand why you said yes

                            Because if I said no you wouldn't give me the job, dolt. Yeesh, you act like you don't do this song and dance with every person and they don't jump through hoops answering how they THINK you want them to so they can get 3 meals a day and a roof over their head. Have you been out there Mr./Ms. HR Person? The market sucks, people are willing to take anything and if this paid well enough I would be willing to chop people into manageable bits for a meat packing plant. Wait, I like doing that. Well, it'd be a bonus. So, you never answered me on what you are doing at seven...

                            B 1 Reply Last reply
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                            • M merridus

                              Ah, probably a good call then. I hear people don't really like you coming up to them and pointing out their stupidity.

                              - Rob

                              D Offline
                              D Offline
                              Dalek Dave
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #23

                              Happens in the VB Forum all the time! :)

                              ------------------------------------ In science, 'fact' can only mean 'confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent.' I suppose that apples might start to rise tomorrow, but the possibility does not merit equal time in physics classrooms. Stephen J Gould

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • M merridus

                                Joe Simes wrote:

                                English, Irish and Scottish

                                Am I the only one who read that as the start to a joke? :D Might just be an English thing as the Englishman always comes out on top in the ones I've heard :D

                                - Rob

                                J Offline
                                J Offline
                                Joe Simes
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #24

                                The start of the joke was when this American stepped off the plane in Edinburgh and my Irish friend met me at the gate with a Starbucks coffee in hand. I had a red eye flight from Boston/New York to Auld Reekie and I couldn't sleep on the plane. I believe that Starbucks was the only non-alcoholic liquid to pass my lips the whole three days!! 15 minutes later we were in Leith at the Port Inn drinking Strong Bow because it was before noon! ;)

                                1 Reply Last reply
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                                • M merridus

                                  Dalek Dave wrote:

                                  loudly and slowly

                                  In the same tone, as an Englishman, you use abroad if you are talking to someone and they have the cheek not to have learnt English?

                                  - Rob

                                  B Offline
                                  B Offline
                                  Brady Kelly
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #25

                                  It is coincidentally a UK based company, Johnson Matthey.

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • V V 0

                                    Brady Kelly wrote:

                                    "What drives you?"

                                    Challenge, change, the ability to make a difference in the company, ...

                                    Brady Kelly wrote:

                                    "Are you a people's person?"

                                    Are you easey to get along with, what do your colleagues say? If your not that easy, don't worry, most people that are not easy just have a special way of how they like being handled, find out what yours is.

                                    V.
                                    Stop smoking so you can: Enjoy longer the money you save. Moviereview Archive

                                    B Offline
                                    B Offline
                                    Brady Kelly
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #26

                                    I understood the questions. :doh: They're just difficult to answer, because I seldom need to describe and quantify things that 'are just me'.

                                    J 1 Reply Last reply
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                                    • D Dr Walt Fair PE

                                      Brady Kelly wrote:

                                      "What drives you?"

                                      Money. What drives your company?

                                      Brady Kelly wrote:

                                      "Are you a people's person?"

                                      Depends on the people.

                                      Brady Kelly wrote:

                                      "Help me understand why you said yes."

                                      Refresh my memory, what was the question I said yes to? Actually I hate it when they start playing those games, so I usually do a pre-emptive strike. Somewhere at the beginning I ask why, since they've already seen my qualifications, do they think I should consider working for them. If they can't give me a good answer, there's no point in going much further.

                                      CQ de W5ALT

                                      Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software

                                      B Offline
                                      B Offline
                                      Brady Kelly
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #27

                                      Walt Fair, Jr. wrote:

                                      since they've already seen my qualifications

                                      Maybe this was the right time to cut them some slack. They had a pro-forma CV drafted by the recruiter, on which I was very surprised to learn that I had begun reading for a BCom Informatics, and stopped at some point. I confidently told them I am only currently (resuming next year) with an LLB, and with my Datametrics (ridiculous name, CS and IS) diploma I require no further education in the IT field. I demonstrated this by giving close-on-textbook answers when asked to describe a queue and a binary tree. I also felt quite chuffed when the bird asked when does one use indexing. Every time you have a primary key of course.

                                      1 Reply Last reply
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                                      • R ragnaroknrol

                                        Brady Kelly wrote:

                                        "What drives you?"

                                        My wife. Duh. You think I drive myself anywhere? That's her job, oh and being pregnant and barefoot. That and the unstoppable homicidal rage quietly evaluating everyone I meet to see if they meet a high enough standard for me to think they deserve to live. Usually HR people are right below rats. I poison rats.

                                        Brady Kelly wrote:

                                        "Are you a people's person?

                                        No, given the opportunity I much prefer the company of chain saws, bone saws and exsanguination machines. Though usually I do want people to be around for this. hmmm... Alright, I am a people's person. They just have to be bound in saran wrap and in a plastic lined room on the table. So what are you doing at, oh, say , seven tonight?

                                        Brady Kelly wrote:

                                        Help me understand why you said yes

                                        Because if I said no you wouldn't give me the job, dolt. Yeesh, you act like you don't do this song and dance with every person and they don't jump through hoops answering how they THINK you want them to so they can get 3 meals a day and a roof over their head. Have you been out there Mr./Ms. HR Person? The market sucks, people are willing to take anything and if this paid well enough I would be willing to chop people into manageable bits for a meat packing plant. Wait, I like doing that. Well, it'd be a bonus. So, you never answered me on what you are doing at seven...

                                        B Offline
                                        B Offline
                                        Brady Kelly
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #28

                                        ragnaroknrol wrote:

                                        The market sucks

                                        The market here is quite alive and well and signing placement commissions at quite a rate.

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • B Brady Kelly

                                          After being asked some very basic stuff about C# and SQL Server, even some basic C++ stuff, they hit me with tough ones, like, "What drives you?", "Are you a people's person? Help me understand why you said yes.", etc. My last three, sparse, interviews were more technical grillings, which I find easy. I supposed I'm just not used to this.

                                          L Offline
                                          L Offline
                                          leppie
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #29

                                          Brady Kelly wrote:

                                          they hit me with tough ones, like, "What drives you?", "Are you a people's person? Help me understand why you said yes.", etc.

                                          Just reply: "Sorry, I thought this was a development position, I have no experience in HR."

                                          xacc.ide
                                          IronScheme - 1.0 RC 1 - out now!
                                          ((λ (x) `(,x ',x)) '(λ (x) `(,x ',x))) The Scheme Programming Language – Fourth Edition

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