5 Lame but Common Interview Responses

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I once farted in an interview.
I didn't get the job.
:(

SirSmell of LA 9:25PM August 25, 2010

Hey buddy.
I'm sure you're a perfectionist and you really have researched the company so much that you know 100% of what the job will entail, but here's something I'm going to tell after hiring people:
You call yourself a perfectionist, I pretty much tune out and here's why:
per·fec·tion·ist [per-fek-shuh-nist] –noun
Judgemental and unforgiving of coworkers. Resents coworkers for failing their personal expectations. Pathological and neurotic when it comes to quality of work. Distrusts decisions by team leaders; not as good as their own. Adapts poorly to company policies and procedures but rather than compromise and work it out with the team, prefers to sow seeds of discontentment.
Yeah, thanks, but no thanks. Reread your comment and tell me you're not a judgmental and negative person.
Also, I call BS. Sure you can research a company till you could write books, but since it's a position we're just advertising about, how could you possibly know 100% of the position? Really? No questions about maybe who you're replacing? Or maybe it's a new position? What's the team like?
Of course you don't have questions like that: perfectionists are self-concerned.
Don't call yourself a perfectionist. Not because you should lie, but because you should possess enough social skills to realize it makes you sound like a common and banal jerk.

Terry of IL 8:29PM June 21, 2010

@PM
Really? You scream about how we're in a recession and you think an employer hired the best liar? Surely you can string logic better than that, like with what you're saying "recession = more candidates (more candidates = more qualified candidates)".
Lying at an interview is what makes for poor fits and bad employees into positions that screw over companies. Now that people are rehiring, and there's a much larger pool of candidates, hiring managers have a lot more leeway to be particular.
I have no reason to hire someone with poor answers, or someone with B.S. answers when I have to choose between 4-6 candidates who are personable, positive, smart, and capable with histories and references to back up their honest answers.
You can be honest without being self-deprecating - try that. In your case, negativity, dishonesty, and lack of logic might be why you're not landing the job.

Terry of IL 8:17PM June 21, 2010

@PM
Really? You scream about how we're in a recession and you think an employer hired the best liar? Surely you can string logic better than that, like with what you're saying "recession = more candidates (more candidates = more qualified candidates)".
Lying at an interview is what makes for poor fits and bad employees into positions that screw over companies. Now that people are rehiring, and there's a much larger pool of candidates, hiring managers have a lot more leeway to be particular.
I have no reason to hire someone with poor answers, or someone with B.S. answers when I have to choose between 4-6 candidates who are personable, positive, smart, and capable with histories and references to back up their honest answers.
You can be honest without being self-deprecating - try that. In your case, negativity, dishonesty, and lack of logic might be why you're not landing the job.

Terry of IL 8:17PM June 21, 2010

Miss Green, I am in so much need of your help on fixing up my resume. I have been trying to get overseas for sometime now. If you could help please do.

Anthony of GA 9:57AM June 20, 2010

I think that this whole "Just be honest and you'll land the job" approach is true and fine in theory, and would have worked 5 years ago. But wake up, people, WE ARE IN A RECESSION!!!
Right now, the employers are the ones in control and we have to say whatever they need to hear. If you give them a weakness that they don't like: "Sorry, but you are not the best fit for this company" or "We have found someone more qualified." Yeah, because that person said what they wanted to hear and landed the positon.
I tried the honesty thing before and it got me absolutely nowhere. Now I'm not saying to tell them you have a pHD when you've never been to college, I'm just saying, in this economy, you cannot afford to let them know your weaknesses because they will destroy you. Complete honesty doesen't always pay the bills. In this case, give me "hyperbole" anyday.

P. M. of NY 5:26PM June 15, 2010

I totally agree with EH.
Sometimes there's a misconception that work or being an employee puts you in the category of an "Involuntary Servant". That couldn't be further from the truth.
Yes I need a job, but you're not giving me a handout..... I'm WPRKING for that money; every hour, every minute, every day, every week, every.......well you get the idea.
That being the case, I have just as much a right to ask and inquire of you, your company, your procedures, and the like. I will spend the minimum of 33 1/3% of my day with you; I need to know of you as well. Getting IN the job is easy, but getting OUT of a bad job might not be as easy.
I am a HS teacher. At a paticular interview, I asked the General Manager if they've had to expel any student from school since she'd been working there, and if so how many students? What's the policy for dealing with unruly children from an administrative point of view? What Exactly is expected of me?
Sometimes we're so happy to get a job, we will settle for "whatever" and worry about the rest later. If you do that, you are headed for a head on collision with disaster.
Ask questions, it shows the employer that he/she/they need to be on their toes as well.
But as always....be tactful.

windycitybro of IL 10:37AM May 04, 2010

It seems the "What is your greatest weakness?" questions raises some issues. The person conducting the interview is not so interested in the exact weakness (unless its some kind of game killer) but is interested in your self awareness. No one is perfect and its speaks volumes to the person that knows their own strengths and weaknesses. Fyi.. I have hired 30+ people in the last year for a national bank.

Mike of TX 10:52PM April 28, 2010

You cannot possibly know everything about a company from your research because there are things that only people from the company will know. For example if you are interviewing for a position in a department that it is made up of about 10 people you probably won't know that from your research. Asking about company and department culture are good questions.
Other good questions you can ask the interviewer;
What attracted you to XYZ company?
What are some of the challenging aspects of your position?
What do you enjoy most about the XYZ company?
Which one of the core values/mission statement of XYZ company appeal to you the most?
At an interview you are not the only one being interviewed, you are also interviewing the company. It shows that you are interested in the position and company you will potentially be working for.The job market is tough but that only means that the best will land the positions. If you doubt my advice seek help from a career services company or some organization to go over the ins and outs of interviewing with you.Good luck!

EH of MO 7:02PM April 28, 2010

I'm surprised with the use of the word "lame" in the article and in some of the responses. As a supervisor and frequent search committee chair, the use of this type of language is a red flag that a potential team member is unable to effectively move between cultural perspectives. This is potentially a career limiting incompetency that I would need to evaluate seriously during the search process.

Scott of ID 6:59PM April 28, 2010