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Job Interview Instantly Goes South After A Guy Fails To Answer The ‘Dumbest’ Question
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Job Interview Instantly Goes South After A Guy Fails To Answer The ‘Dumbest’ Question

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In a way, interviewing well is one of the most important skills to have to be successful in the job market. If you can’t effectively communicate your experiences and strengths to recruiters, you may miss out on opportunities that could propel your career forward.

Reddit user WoodyStLouis recently got a call back for a role he applied to. The conversation with the hiring team was going rather smoothly until suddenly, the man heard what he thought was “the dumbest” question he had ever received in his quest for employment, and it completely threw him off.

To find out if his reply was correct, he turned to the subreddit ‘Anti Work‘ for help.

RELATED:

    This applicant admitted he fumbled a job interview because of a single question that he later realized could’ve been a trap

    Image credits: Edmond Dantès / pexels (not the actual photo)

    So he described the conversation to the internet and asked people to share their take on it

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    Image credits: Gabrielle Henderson / unsplash (not the actual photo)

    Image source: WoodyStLouis

    While it’s a difficult spot, sometimes candidates can still find a way to continue the interview even without an answer to a specific question

    According to Neha Parashar, an experienced executive coach and former HR leader who helps people find clarity and growth in their professional and personal lives, many hiring managers are looking out for a few things beyond applicants’ hard skills and experience — their values, goals, and work styles. To get a feel for those things, they’re asking themselves:

    • Will this person be comfortable working here and be able to give their best?
    • Is their work and communication style compatible with my team members?
    • Will everyone be able to collaborate and perform at their best?

    That’s why Parashar believes that during the interview, potential employees should show that they are aware of:

    • The values of the organization (“I know what is important to you”);
    • The mission and goals of the organization (“I know where you are going, and I’d like to come along”);
    • The organization’s style and way of working (“I understand how things work here and I could do it that way”).

    However, in situations where you don’t know how to answer the recruiters’ question, Teresa Freeman, who has 25 years of experience as an HR executive for companies like Amazon and Deloitte, says there are three ways you can regain composure:

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    • Repeat or reframe. Sometimes you can’t answer or think that you don’t know how because you didn’t hear it right or the way it’s framed.
    • Bring in a related topic. If you still have no idea what the person is asking you, you can try to redirect the interviewer with a related thought or example of your expertise. For example, “I understand that your employees’ time management skills are important to you, so can I tell you about a recent project where I met tight deadlines…” could’ve been a shot worth taking in our case.
    • Show that you are eager to learn. Another possible exit from the dead end could be showing the interviewer that you want this job and that you’re willing to acquire the required expertise.

    According to Freeman, if candidates express positivity, energy, and interest, they can go a long way even if they aren’t able to fully answer a specific question.

    As his story went viral, the man joined the discussion in the comments

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    Rokas Laurinavičius

    Rokas Laurinavičius

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

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    Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.

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    Rokas Laurinavičius

    Rokas Laurinavičius

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.

    Kotryna Br

    Kotryna Br

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    Kotryna is a Photo Editor at Bored Panda with a BA in Graphic Design. Before Bored Panda, she worked as a freelance graphic designer and illiustrator. When not editing, she enjoys working with clay, drawing, playing board games and drinking good tea.

    Read less »

    Kotryna Br

    Kotryna Br

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Kotryna is a Photo Editor at Bored Panda with a BA in Graphic Design. Before Bored Panda, she worked as a freelance graphic designer and illiustrator. When not editing, she enjoys working with clay, drawing, playing board games and drinking good tea.

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    R F.
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Red Flag alert! OP updated that it is a salaried position. If they’re already insinuating that a scheduled 830 means something different, then you can bet that a 5pm scheduled time to leave will also mean something different. These people are going to most certainly make you work over 40 hours…probably a lot more.

    Andrew Bridge
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'd have had to say "about ten" wait for their response and remind them about asking stupid questions.

    Justin Tyme
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Dumbest interview question I ever got: "If you could be any kind of cow, would you be a chocolate cow, a strawberry cow, or a peanut butter cow?" My response was "Uhh, I'm not doing this."

    George McClelland
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's strange how "15 mins early is on time and on time is late" only applies to you arriving at work and not leaving isn't it?

    Petra
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Mine was, "If you could be any kind of fruit, what would it be and how would it help you in the workplace?" My (internal) question was, "How does fruit relate to work abilities?" I forget what I said, but I remember they were really impressed by it. And it was all BS. I don't know how one can answer such a BS question with anything other than BS. Got the job, though! 🤷

    Load More Replies...
    Justin Tyme
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The correct answer is "I would be like George Costanza and live at the office and sleep under my desk."

    michelle s
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have seen a great much debates about this for the last few years. "Corporate Business" seems to have not moved on from the employee is owned by the company philosophy that states you will be at the companies beck and call at all times and younger employees are the exact opposite in that you schedule me to work from this time to thus time I will be turning up at the first and leaving at the 2nd and there will be no deviation from this. The best companies and employees are the ones that have mutual respect for each other, work life balance is a thing but an employee making sure that you are set up and ready to commence work at the time you are being paid for is respected by the company. Then at the end of the work scgedule there is the respect that should go the other way, where the company gives enough time to the employee to close their work off and all work station equipment is returned to its standby / tidied away position. Personally my job takes 10 min setup and 10 min close down

    Amy Semenov
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I head HR and I'm almost wondering if they're expecting you to say 8:45 because you stopped to say good morning to people. It's either they want someone on time or someone who carea about saying good morning. I would respond saying that and explaining how I would adapt to the culture around me. Or say 8:30, but I'd come in 10 minutes early to talk to my co-workers. It all depends on the vibe. But you can ask them what they mean. Or say, "I'd be there when you expected me to." Dont assume it's a tardy issue. If so, 8:25 would have been the right answer. The fact that it's not tells us they're looking for something else.

    ADZ
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'll wager the pay would be much lower once the job offer was made.

    marianne eliza
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Never, ever, work for free. (unless, you know, family friend charity). The employer is trying to not hire enough people to get the work done and are shaming you into giving them your time for free. Usually goes along with "We're like a family here.". But you're not family and you don't have a stake in the business unless you get profit sharing. Trust me, they won't have loyalty to you. They'll just expect more and more of your free work.

    Ken Beattie
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Is there a requirement for me to actually be here before 8:30?" *pause so they can reply* "If not then I'll be at the desk by 8:30 ready to go."

    John Harrison
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There's no one time that I'd be there. Most times I'd be there a bit before 8:30. A few times I'd be there way before 8:30. And now and then, I'd be there a little after 8:30. Do you think you're hiring a robot?

    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "8:20 or two minutes before my boss arrives, whichever is later."

    Scott Wilkins
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some folks are more concerned with the "appearance of productivity" then they are with actually being productive.

    similarly
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When I was young, "start at 8:30" was different than "arrive at 8:30". For example, school starts at 8:30. I don't arrive at 8:30, get a drink from the machine, stop by my locker, go to the restroom, etc etc etc. I get to school, I do whatever needs to be done to be ready, and I'm IN class, READY to learn, at 8:30. That carried over to when I started working. For me, "the job starts at 8:30" doesn't mean I'm walking through the front gates at 8:30. It means I'm there, ready to work, at 8:30. I get to work early: usually before 8:00. That way, if the train is late, the bus is late, etc etc etc, I'm still on time. I come in, get a cup of coffee, check my email, go over my schedule for the day, chat with people, etc etc etc. Then at 8:30, I'm mentally ready for work. However, I'm OLD. I've noticed a lot of younger people have a very different mindset. For a lot of younger people, 8:30 means they arrive at 8:30, and a lot of them simply WILL NOT arrive one second sooner.

    Ephemera Image
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because they, unlike us old-timers, have realised they aren't paid until the start time and working for free is not fair. Arriving in time to do the work is absolutely correct. Despite the bosses that want people to arrive an hour early so they can feed their own egos about how 'devoted' their ripped-off employees are.

    Load More Replies...
    Gwyn
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He said he snickered- I bet it wasn't that he answered the question wrong but the attitude he had about it that made them react that way.

    Tobias Reaper
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    are people overlooking the fact that he said he snickered then answered thats probably why

    R F.
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Red Flag alert! OP updated that it is a salaried position. If they’re already insinuating that a scheduled 830 means something different, then you can bet that a 5pm scheduled time to leave will also mean something different. These people are going to most certainly make you work over 40 hours…probably a lot more.

    Andrew Bridge
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'd have had to say "about ten" wait for their response and remind them about asking stupid questions.

    Justin Tyme
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Dumbest interview question I ever got: "If you could be any kind of cow, would you be a chocolate cow, a strawberry cow, or a peanut butter cow?" My response was "Uhh, I'm not doing this."

    George McClelland
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's strange how "15 mins early is on time and on time is late" only applies to you arriving at work and not leaving isn't it?

    Petra
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Mine was, "If you could be any kind of fruit, what would it be and how would it help you in the workplace?" My (internal) question was, "How does fruit relate to work abilities?" I forget what I said, but I remember they were really impressed by it. And it was all BS. I don't know how one can answer such a BS question with anything other than BS. Got the job, though! 🤷

    Load More Replies...
    Justin Tyme
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The correct answer is "I would be like George Costanza and live at the office and sleep under my desk."

    michelle s
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have seen a great much debates about this for the last few years. "Corporate Business" seems to have not moved on from the employee is owned by the company philosophy that states you will be at the companies beck and call at all times and younger employees are the exact opposite in that you schedule me to work from this time to thus time I will be turning up at the first and leaving at the 2nd and there will be no deviation from this. The best companies and employees are the ones that have mutual respect for each other, work life balance is a thing but an employee making sure that you are set up and ready to commence work at the time you are being paid for is respected by the company. Then at the end of the work scgedule there is the respect that should go the other way, where the company gives enough time to the employee to close their work off and all work station equipment is returned to its standby / tidied away position. Personally my job takes 10 min setup and 10 min close down

    Amy Semenov
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I head HR and I'm almost wondering if they're expecting you to say 8:45 because you stopped to say good morning to people. It's either they want someone on time or someone who carea about saying good morning. I would respond saying that and explaining how I would adapt to the culture around me. Or say 8:30, but I'd come in 10 minutes early to talk to my co-workers. It all depends on the vibe. But you can ask them what they mean. Or say, "I'd be there when you expected me to." Dont assume it's a tardy issue. If so, 8:25 would have been the right answer. The fact that it's not tells us they're looking for something else.

    ADZ
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'll wager the pay would be much lower once the job offer was made.

    marianne eliza
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Never, ever, work for free. (unless, you know, family friend charity). The employer is trying to not hire enough people to get the work done and are shaming you into giving them your time for free. Usually goes along with "We're like a family here.". But you're not family and you don't have a stake in the business unless you get profit sharing. Trust me, they won't have loyalty to you. They'll just expect more and more of your free work.

    Ken Beattie
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Is there a requirement for me to actually be here before 8:30?" *pause so they can reply* "If not then I'll be at the desk by 8:30 ready to go."

    John Harrison
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There's no one time that I'd be there. Most times I'd be there a bit before 8:30. A few times I'd be there way before 8:30. And now and then, I'd be there a little after 8:30. Do you think you're hiring a robot?

    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "8:20 or two minutes before my boss arrives, whichever is later."

    Scott Wilkins
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some folks are more concerned with the "appearance of productivity" then they are with actually being productive.

    similarly
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When I was young, "start at 8:30" was different than "arrive at 8:30". For example, school starts at 8:30. I don't arrive at 8:30, get a drink from the machine, stop by my locker, go to the restroom, etc etc etc. I get to school, I do whatever needs to be done to be ready, and I'm IN class, READY to learn, at 8:30. That carried over to when I started working. For me, "the job starts at 8:30" doesn't mean I'm walking through the front gates at 8:30. It means I'm there, ready to work, at 8:30. I get to work early: usually before 8:00. That way, if the train is late, the bus is late, etc etc etc, I'm still on time. I come in, get a cup of coffee, check my email, go over my schedule for the day, chat with people, etc etc etc. Then at 8:30, I'm mentally ready for work. However, I'm OLD. I've noticed a lot of younger people have a very different mindset. For a lot of younger people, 8:30 means they arrive at 8:30, and a lot of them simply WILL NOT arrive one second sooner.

    Ephemera Image
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because they, unlike us old-timers, have realised they aren't paid until the start time and working for free is not fair. Arriving in time to do the work is absolutely correct. Despite the bosses that want people to arrive an hour early so they can feed their own egos about how 'devoted' their ripped-off employees are.

    Load More Replies...
    Gwyn
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He said he snickered- I bet it wasn't that he answered the question wrong but the attitude he had about it that made them react that way.

    Tobias Reaper
    Community Member
    8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    are people overlooking the fact that he said he snickered then answered thats probably why

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