Online Community Specialist| PMINewtown Square, Pa, United States
All of us here in the Community have interviewed for jobs at one time (or many times) throughout our professional lives. While some of us get jittery, others approach it with beaming confidence, ready to tackle the onslaught of questions. Now, here come the questions!! We expect the typical ones, followed by the difficult, and then, umm the WACKY ones?! “Excuse me, hiring officer, what did you say?” is most likely scurrying in your mind at this time. But do take note, these “wacky” questions occur more often than we think. Most likely, they are designed not to have a right or wrong answer, to be unexpected and “nonconforming to the norm” that do not fit the mold of typical interview questions.
So, as we wind down another week, let’s hear your most eccentric question(s) asked during an interview. Were you taken aback? Did to stare blankly into the interviewer’s face?
So get those comments posted, we can’t wait to read your responses!
Much, much earlier in my career, I was interviewing for an IT director role in a tech company. I'd made it to the final interview stage, and the person interviewing me was showing me their data center. He pointed to a computer server which was facing an HVAC unit's control panel - there couldn't have been more than an inch between the front of the server and the HVAC control panel. He asked me "Why have we kept the server so close to the HVAC control panel?".
I started at it for a couple of minutes and then decided to move in for a closer examination. I noticed that the face plate of the CD drive on the server was facing a large red button on the HVAC unit. I guessed (correctly) that the positioning was to enable staff to remotely activate or deactivate the red button by logging remotely onto the server and opening/closing the CD drive door.
I got a job offer shortly thereafter. I didn't end up accepting it, but did appreciate the ingenuity of their team and their creativity in interview questioning!
Kiron
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1 reply by Kimberly Whitby
Jul 09, 2021 3:22 PM
Kimberly Whitby
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Kiron - I love this! The hiring manager clearly wanted you to utilize your analytics skills while quick on you feet. Great example!!!
Can anyone else share a similar scenario, or total opposite?
Online Community Specialist| PMINewtown Square, Pa, United States
Jul 09, 2021 2:54 PM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
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Ok, I'll "bite", Kimberly :-)
Much, much earlier in my career, I was interviewing for an IT director role in a tech company. I'd made it to the final interview stage, and the person interviewing me was showing me their data center. He pointed to a computer server which was facing an HVAC unit's control panel - there couldn't have been more than an inch between the front of the server and the HVAC control panel. He asked me "Why have we kept the server so close to the HVAC control panel?".
I started at it for a couple of minutes and then decided to move in for a closer examination. I noticed that the face plate of the CD drive on the server was facing a large red button on the HVAC unit. I guessed (correctly) that the positioning was to enable staff to remotely activate or deactivate the red button by logging remotely onto the server and opening/closing the CD drive door.
I got a job offer shortly thereafter. I didn't end up accepting it, but did appreciate the ingenuity of their team and their creativity in interview questioning!
Kiron
Kiron - I love this! The hiring manager clearly wanted you to utilize your analytics skills while quick on you feet. Great example!!!
Can anyone else share a similar scenario, or total opposite? Saving Changes...
Financial Management Specialist | US Peace CorpsYaounde, Centre, Cameroon
HI Kim,
While going through the last interview phase for my present job where I have risen to Senior accountant, I was asked to begin work immediately, something I declined asking for a two weeks delay that will permit me do a handover in my previous job. I used this to explain the pertinence of finance roles and I won the approval of the panel
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1 reply by Kimberly Whitby
Jul 12, 2021 10:35 AM
Kimberly Whitby
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Wow, Kwiyuh, that's a great response, thanks for sharing!
Online Community Specialist| PMINewtown Square, Pa, United States
Jul 12, 2021 7:27 AM
Replying to Kwiyuh Michael Wepngong
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HI Kim,
While going through the last interview phase for my present job where I have risen to Senior accountant, I was asked to begin work immediately, something I declined asking for a two weeks delay that will permit me do a handover in my previous job. I used this to explain the pertinence of finance roles and I won the approval of the panel
Wow, Kwiyuh, that's a great response, thanks for sharing! Saving Changes...
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