By Ed Orum
Five hundred resumes came down to one simple question:
If you were at a baseball game and a foul ball came your way, would you stand up and try to catch it or just wait in your seat and hope it fell your way?
No, the job opening wasn't for a baseball team, but a $13-an-hour administrative assistant at a trucking company. That's the story according to a recent New York Times article, which explains how hiring managers are getting creative in this competitive job market, with far more qualified candidates than openings.
One finalist said she'd wait for the ball to come to her, the other would reach up and grab for it. Who would you rather have on your team?
The go-getter ended up getting the job.
Often, we go into interviews with the mindset that it's all about us, and many times it is. Hiring managers wants to know more about who we are as a person and an employee - abstracts not always easily reflected in a resume.
But these days, interview questions can go far beyond inquiring about your background and everyday skills. They run the gamut from straight up knowledge based facts to mind-teasing "What if's?"
A friend who was interviewing for a tech job was recently asked: "Just curious, what is the population of the United States?" "How many apps are there for the iPhone?" "Name three of the top tech blogs"
I once interviewed for a job that required a written news test. People, places, important historical dates - I felt like I was back in high school taking my AP history exam.
Does it really matter in this day and age of instant Internet search to be able to list off all nine Supreme Court justices? Probably not, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared for curve ball questions during the interview process - stand tall and catch 'em, and you just might land yourself a job.
Next: Eight Worst Things To Say In An Interview >>
See Also:
- We're Eliminating Your Position by Ed Orum
- 5 Questions You Need to Ask Your Mate Now from AOL Personals
Nov 1st 2009 @ 2:12PM M
I feel that these questions are not right, nor fair. Espeically if it is not related to the job in question. Why the sudden curve balls that employers are throwing at people? Is it because they can do it? Is it because there are others out there vying for the same job and they have the pick of the litter? Is it because they feel that they can take advantage of situation knowing this person wants and needs a job? Is it a power play? And by the way, not every over qualified or even qualified person is going to jump ship once the economy improves.
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Nov 3rd 2009 @ 1:49PM Peanut Gallery
No wonder you're having a problem Mandy; assumptions. The article didn't say it was a (work)day game... In this particular case, the interviewer was looking for somebody who was proactive, instead of someone who sits back and waits for things to come to them. Plain and simple. Try it, you might find yourself actually beating out the competition...
Nov 1st 2009 @ 2:18PM C.B.
And this story is the perfect example of why being on unemployment isn't, as Reagan so stupidly put it, being on a paid vacation and why Congress needs to get a move on in passing another extension. You can't get a job at Target with a college degree because they view you just like this hiring manager weeding out overqualified candidates. If you made more than $45,000-$50,000 in your previous job before the bottom dropped out you are out of luck, too, since employers are trying to low ball prospective employees. Who would have ever thought that you would have too much experience at the ripe old age of 33? Down right scary times indeed!
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Nov 1st 2009 @ 3:28PM gr8bsn
Maybe they can even extend these benefits to people who speak English. I mean, I know that I'm not an Illegal Alien with 34 children in tow, but I could use some help too during my job hunt.
Nov 1st 2009 @ 4:06PM dorothy
I AGREE, TOTAL B--- S---, OVER QUALIFIED, PLEASE, THAT SHOULD NOT BE AN OPTION, ONE CAN DO A JOB, OR NOT, PERIOD-DOT.
Nov 2nd 2009 @ 2:37AM Mandi
You are SO right C.B.! I have been unemployed now for almost 6 months, made 60K at my last job before they sold it to another company. I was lower management to say the least, but I have had at least 3 telephone interviews and 1-2 live ones a month. Got close twice so far (2nd choice). Was it education? Age? Dress? Intelligence? Nope. It all came down to "who they wanted to play with every day". Over qualified, you bet. For I would have answered the question, "I wouldn't have been at a ballgame during work hours." There employers, is the difference between a $13/hr. Secretary and a $50/hr. Manager.
Nov 1st 2009 @ 2:48PM dean
the woman in the picture is showing cleavage.
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Nov 1st 2009 @ 8:33PM ur2sensitive
I showed a lot of cleavage and I didn't get the job...of course, I'm a guy.
Nov 2nd 2009 @ 2:36AM Faye
Dean
That's probably the real reason she got the job.
Nov 1st 2009 @ 2:19PM bill
Yeah, a lot of those go getters at the ball parks these days. People who aren't going to just stand up and grab for the ball, rather they will knock you down or climb up your back to get the ball away from you. Too many of them populating the world in my view. Thing is, sitting and waiting for the ball? It'll never get to you through the gauntlet of grabbers. But being one of those people who'll climb up over your back to steal it from you isn't being much better in my book either. Guess the aggressive grabber does sound better to business owners.
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Nov 1st 2009 @ 3:38PM Mark
I'd go after the foul ball but would then probably give it to a nearby little kid as I have enough baseballs.
As far as the interview described was concerned...a one-hour interview for a $13/hr. job? Come on! I'd ask Mr. Interviewer a question. Have you done anything at work to your employees that you would never consider doing do to your family? And, if he has, why?
Nov 1st 2009 @ 2:22PM Pam
How about "Can you spell and use correct grammar?" I think that would be a fair question to ask a job applicant for ANY job, but especially for a writer (that means you, Ed Orum). It's "Guess WHOSE answer got them the job" not "who's" - that translates out to "who is" -
"Guess who is answer got them the job"?!? Gaaaah!!!
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Nov 1st 2009 @ 5:46PM Bob
Ok your the smartest person in the room. Does that make you happy? So give yourself a nice pat on the back and get back to smelling your own farts. geeez you smug pain in the a_s!
Nov 1st 2009 @ 5:55PM Wendell
I hear you, Pam! It's amazing to me how many people can't spell, not to mention bad grammar(some of them are corporate executives and government officials). I still can't understand why. I guess they either were asleep during spelling a English class or they're just plain lazy.Go figure.
Nov 2nd 2009 @ 1:19AM Ron
Proper spelling certainly helps. The company that I've now worked 37 years for expanded our operations and needed about 200 more employees.
The local newpaper's web site has a place where you can reply to news stories and I was appalled at the people who replied. Most couldn't spell the name of the company which will gain zero points with the HR people.
Over 2,000 applied for the job at the state employment service. Most have felony records so they won't take anyone until 7 years after the conviction. Anyone "saqging" won't get past HR as they want someone who can use both hands and not have to hold their pants up with one. We had one person fired for indecent exposure because his underwear was showing.
Next you have to pass the piss test. There goes about half of the applicants. After that, they give you the written test, one kind of similar to the one above. Lastly, a physical.
Pass all of the above then you might have a shot at getting work there. Having a relative with a good record already here helped or people in the area with experience in what we do and there were plenty of those!
Nov 2nd 2009 @ 3:24AM Josh
Get over yourself...people make mistakes. Maybe your smugness is the reason why you are sitting here reading this and he is sitting there getting paid to write it.
Nov 1st 2009 @ 2:24PM Sue
I am so sick of these stupid irrelevant questions, "what kind of animal would you be?" uh - a tiger, so I could rip your dumb throat out. "So you recently moved to Arizona from the Midwest, what brought you here" uh, a big assed truck! Have you ever BEEN to the midwest during winter? DUH! Don't ask me why I moved here, it has nothing to do with my abilities and background.
God, I want to strangle some of these morons
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Nov 1st 2009 @ 2:41PM hector
you r right sue i ve been sooo many times with interviewers tht ask some very stupid questions tht got nothing to do with the job u r applying for i think it should be against the law to be asked questions tht stupid. i dnt knw wht the rest of people here think but i think it should.
Nov 1st 2009 @ 4:00PM Mackus
Hector,
If you chose to use capital letters and spell your words correctly you might not be rejected "sooo" many times. Don't you see the irony in your own behavior by calling others stupid in the same sentence where you use the word "got" incorrectly, instead of "has", and leave the vowel out of the word "that" each time you spell it. I know this not a job interview but people judge you whenever you communicate. You really want to pass laws that govern what people say? With all of those errors in your own writing?!?
Nov 1st 2009 @ 4:47PM kymberlyc89
I agree completely! I think they have fun sitting on the other side of their big, bad desk asking stupid, worthless questions just to see the looks on our faces. Who cares how may apps an iphone has? What does it prove if you know or don't know? What if the person that knows gets the job but they are a lousy employee because they're on their phone all day or just are lousy, period. And it is dumb to assume someone might jump ship once the economy improves. Many people I know, myself included, are discovering the stress we put up with in our previous higher paying jobs was not worth the salary and b.s. we put up with. This is a stupid way of picking an applicant for any type of job, if you ask me. Maybe someone should tell them so and get up and walk out of the interview, if they didn't the money so badly. I had an interview and was kept waiting in the lobby for 25 min. past my interview time. I finally got up and went over to the receptionist and said, I'm sorry but I can't wait any longer, I'm leaving. She looked shocked and said, you're missing your interview? I said, Yes. I don't want to work for someone who is so unorganized and disrespectful, they keep someone waiting for 25 min.! I took this as a sign...out the door I went and I don't regret it. I may be out of work right now but I still have my respect. Just because employers can take their pick right now doesn't mean they have the right to make u squirm with stupid azz questions in an interview or keep u waiting for a ridiculous amount of time, with no update or apology for the delay. Shove it.