20 Hardest Job interview questions

gookah

Zorg Guru (IV)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Dec 7, 2011
Points
170
Location
Shropshire
Model of Z
2.8 Z3
Maybe I am old school Alan Sugar style, but all these arty farty sales/marketing type questions just don't do it for me.
I turned down a final interview as Engineering Manager at JLR for the new Midlands engine plant because they wanted to do an interview with their "physco-analytics' department.
I just thought my 'tell it as I see it' answers wouldn't be suitable, when they can get a 'blue sky thinking' 'ducks in a row' candidate that can spout 'b*******s' for England, at age 23 just out of uni with more degrees than a protractor, yet no common sense..

I have no wish to be subject to psychometric tests or trick questions.

by the way an orange is a fruit, its round and orange, but WTF has this to do with this vacancy unless I am going to be a greengrocer..!!
 

Lee

Zorg Expert (I)
British Zeds
M Power
#ZedShed
Joined
Mar 26, 2014
Points
213
Location
Basingstoke
Model of Z
Z4 Coupe 3.0si
They're not getting any better. I made it to the last three for the engineering manager of Terminal 4 and they surprised me with an hours worth of role playing where I had to be a manager controlling an overactive employee. Quite a few times said how ridiculous it was and very nearly walked out.
 

oldcarman

Zorg Guru (V)
Supporter
Canadian Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Feb 11, 2014
Points
188
Location
Pine Falls Manitoba can.
Model of Z
1.9 M44
How do I qualify @Andy McDonnell?? Do you cover the cost of transport to the interview?? Sometime around the 23 August would work as it's my 70th BD!! Oh and I'd need that day off also!! JIM
 

andyglym

Shiny Dust Caps Make Your Zed Go Faster.
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Feb 20, 2015
Points
231
Location
Moresby, West Cumbria, England
Model of Z
2.8 Roadster
Maybe I am old school Alan Sugar style, but all these arty farty sales/marketing type questions just don't do it for me.
I turned down a final interview as Engineering Manager at JLR for the new Midlands engine plant because they wanted to do an interview with their "physco-analytics' department.
I just thought my 'tell it as I see it' answers wouldn't be suitable, when they can get a 'blue sky thinking' 'ducks in a row' candidate that can spout 'b*******s' for England, at age 23 just out of uni with more degrees than a protractor, yet no common sense..

I have no wish to be subject to psychometric tests or trick questions.

by the way an orange is a fruit, its round and orange, but WTF has this to do with this vacancy unless I am going to be a greengrocer..!!
Agreed, all fair points (no degree's here, just the one "O" Level, grade C). Don't do "blue sky thinking or low hanging fruit" etc. I like random and like to see the body language as it tells you a lot about a person. Can they adapt and step outside the norm quickly and talk b******s convincingly. All firefighters need to be able to talk b******s, I've been doing it for 34 years ;)
 

andyglym

Shiny Dust Caps Make Your Zed Go Faster.
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Feb 20, 2015
Points
231
Location
Moresby, West Cumbria, England
Model of Z
2.8 Roadster
They're not getting any better. I made it to the last three for the engineering manager of Terminal 4 and they surprised me with an hours worth of role playing where I had to be a manager controlling an overactive employee. Quite a few times said how ridiculous it was and very nearly walked out.
Yeah, been doing it in the Fire Brigade for years now. Personal Qualities and Attributes. A whole day of roll plays, airport managers, sports centre managers etc.
 

andyglym

Shiny Dust Caps Make Your Zed Go Faster.
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Feb 20, 2015
Points
231
Location
Moresby, West Cumbria, England
Model of Z
2.8 Roadster
How do I qualify @Andy McDonnell?? Do you cover the cost of transport to the interview?? Sometime around the 23 August would work as it's my 70th BD!! Oh and I'd need that day off also!! JIM
If you can talk b******s JIM, you're in. Leading question ;)
 

hard top

Zorg Expert (I)
Dutch Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Dec 5, 2011
Points
213
Location
Netherlands
Quite a few times said how ridiculous it was and very nearly walked out.
Yep, its all darn.

This was one of my job interviews......
I was sat having dinner in a Chinese restaurant, mobile goes, was a German chap from Wintershall, Libya.....

"When can you get your ass down here"?

Flew out the next day and did a year down there.
 

andyglym

Shiny Dust Caps Make Your Zed Go Faster.
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Feb 20, 2015
Points
231
Location
Moresby, West Cumbria, England
Model of Z
2.8 Roadster

gookah

Zorg Guru (IV)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Dec 7, 2011
Points
170
Location
Shropshire
Model of Z
2.8 Z3
I will be interviewing for an engineer soon, part of the process will be giving the candidate some different rating offcut armoured cables, an isolator, 3 phase 32amp socket, a pack of glands and some basic tools.

I will at no stage be asking them what they think about the inner surface of a tennis ball and how that affects the monarchy in Switzerland.
Maybe I should? because if they answered that without saying '.... off' I really don't want them.=))
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lee

oldcarman

Zorg Guru (V)
Supporter
Canadian Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Feb 11, 2014
Points
188
Location
Pine Falls Manitoba can.
Model of Z
1.9 M44
If you can talk b******s JIM, you're in. Leading question ;)
Have you never read any of my post Andy?? Self explanatory!! Could you please forward the airfare ASAP so I can get the ticket sorted out? I think a couple of grand should get me there first class, JIM
 

andyglym

Shiny Dust Caps Make Your Zed Go Faster.
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Feb 20, 2015
Points
231
Location
Moresby, West Cumbria, England
Model of Z
2.8 Roadster
Have you never read any of my post Andy?? Self explanatory!! Could you please forward the airfare ASAP so I can get the ticket sorted out? I think a couple of grand should get me there first class, JIM
:wideyed: Sorry JIM, just spent €1050 on Zed stuff, skint ;)
 

MaryMac

Zorg Guru (I)
East Anglian Crew
Joined
Apr 29, 2012
Points
94
My interview for manager of pre- school in 1984 consisted of 2 questions. "You have childcare training don't you?"and "You fancy giving it a go?". I was on the committee and been working a couple of days a week in the setting. That job lasted 29 years and the interviews that I took part in for new staff were so in depth. How things have changed.
 

oldcarman

Zorg Guru (V)
Supporter
Canadian Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Feb 11, 2014
Points
188
Location
Pine Falls Manitoba can.
Model of Z
1.9 M44
Sorry Andy, just had another offer come up!! So @gookah i''m your man now f**k off and leave me alone I have work to do such as booking a ticket so I can report for work. I should be there sometime around my BD (see above post to @Andy McDonnell) and if you don't like that then f**k off! Didn't realize how many jobs in the UK I qualify for that only require being a good BSer!! JIM
 

hard top

Zorg Expert (I)
Dutch Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Dec 5, 2011
Points
213
Location
Netherlands
Here's another one, I had only been home a couple of weeks.
Phone goes, bloke from HSC in Lebanon........."Do you know where Slovenia is"?
Me "err".......
Him "well, you had better find out quick because you will be going there this week"

Worked for them for 3 years.
 

Redline

Zorg Expert (I)
British Zeds
Joined
Mar 10, 2015
Points
208
Location
Nuneaton
Model of Z
E89 20i msport
I will be interviewing for an engineer soon, part of the process will be giving the candidate some different rating offcut armoured cables, an isolator, 3 phase 32amp socket, a pack of glands and some basic tools.
I could do that despite not having worked with tools for a good few years. It's what's happening in my head that you really need to worry about =))
 
Top