I would botch these interview questions

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I read this article earlier today about job interviews:

http://www.inc.com/zoe-henry/8-stealth- ... d=ps002ros

I think these questions are ridiculously hard. I'm lucky if I understand a joke someone else tells, nevermind trying to tell my own.

What do you all think? Are the questions fair/unfair? Suitable for certain types of jobs? Could someone with AS pass these?

Please join in the discussion.

Yep...I think the joke one might be difficult.

If you don't play or appreciate sports, the sports question would be difficult as well.

They are pain-in-the-butt questions--but not necessarily impossible.

You, Nerdygirl, might only botch up the "joke" question.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Kraftie, but I'd only do OK if I had some serious job-interviewing training. Just reading the questions completely stressed me out.

I botched my last (and only adult-world) job interview, which was almost 9 years ago. I knew it didn't go well when I left, but I couldn't figure out where I went wrong. It could have been so many things, from what I was wearing to my answers to questions, etc. etc.

I realized tonight job interviewing is just one more reason I'm in music... Getting work by being able to show my competence through an audition or portfolio, or via word of mouth is the best way I roll.

I realized a few months ago why I never had a problem talking in class, but still had problems on the playground... Class is *structured* and the questions are pretty predictable with predictable answers. To this day, I still have problems talking in an open-ended conversation with someone I don't know well without freezing up, never mind the added pressure of a job interview (potentially with multiple people in the room, too!)

I'm glad you are able to show your talents as well....without having to deal with the subtleties of interviews.

I would fail the interview on the first question ("What's your favorite restaurant?"). I doubt that answering Chipotle would earn me any points.

But, from my perspective, it would be appropriate for me to fail. As, according to the article, they are looking for people who are: "connected to the culture and get it". That is not me.

These questions reminded me of an interview several years back. During that interview, I was asked “What is your Super Power?". I was flummoxed. I started picturing all my favorite Super Heroes, trying to think if there were any Super Powers that I possessed. Superman. He had xray vision, super strength, flying ability. Nope. Spider man. He had radioactive powers and could spin webs. Nope. The Flash. I was, by far, the slowest runner in my class. Nope. Batman. He is a human and has no super powers. Nope. Green Lantern. I forgot what his powers were. Nope.

The interview room seemed to get warm. I started to perspire. Eventually, I said that I had the ability to see the future. I spoke about my ability to look at details, put them together and forecast what would happen later down the line.

I never heard back from that company. Another failed interview. It wasn't the first. And, it certainly won't be the last.

This is dumb. Forget people who can, say, do the work that they're being paid to do while acting like adults and getting along with co-workers despite differences, we need a hugbox full of people who are never ever going to disagree with each other.


I'm going to try answering the questions because I'm bored.

1. I don't know; I like a variety of foods.
2. A human. I am a human.
3. Long story short, my life choices and your HR department have led to an interview where I'm being asked about my "story" rather than about my work experience and abilities.
4. *insert inappropriate Australian humour here*
5. - "Holy s**t, there's an elephant in my backyard!"
- Make sure my dog is safely inside
- Take photo
- Upload to Facebook
- Call a zoo or the animal shelter or something
6. Yes, swimming, that position where I'm in the lane alone and trying to beat only myself.
7. Something to do with music, because that's what I'm best at and enjoy.
8. What makes you think that?

Those interview questions are, to put it mildly, bullsh*t. Especially the last one, where the interviewer tells a deliberate lie, just to see how the candidate responds. Why would anyone want to work for someone that manipulative?

I wouldn't pay too much attention to articles like this anyway. They're almost always aimed at the kinds of jobs autistics/aspies are not usually suited for - i.e. customer-facing or management roles. The vast majority of interviews I've attended have been relatively BS-free, focussing on the technical details of the job itself.

If an interviewer made the last comment on the list to me, I would tell them, "Thank you for wasting my time, as well as yours.", then walk out.

This seems an amalgamation of questions from different companies each seeking a certain personality type that more often succeeds in their business. I am a technical type that has had more than a few job interviews and have not been asked questions like these other than the cliche "tell me about yourself". Fortunately that one is so predictable that it can be prepared for.

As far as the last so-called question, as has been mentioned I would not care to work with an organization that plays mind games to that degree.

1. "I don't know many. I usually eat at home. Does McDonald count as a restaurant?"
2. "A cat. I like being alone and I have my own ways."
3. "My story? I was born in..." <tells whole life story>
^I know I would fail this one:lol:
4. "Joke... joke... joke... Ok. Here we go:
A drunk student was passing near graveyard at night and seen a graveyard worker digging a grave. So he decided to scare the graveyard worker. He sneaked at him and growled: "Rawr", like a zombie. But graveyard worker ignored him. Student growled again and once more - the same effect. After a while the student got bored and decided to leave the graveyard. He was almost at the gate when suddenly he got hit in head by a shovel.
- Wanted to take a walk - sure, walk. But leaving graveyard is a no-no. - graveyard worker said."
5. "I would suppose it escaped from a zoo so I would call a zoo to take it home."
6. "I like swimming. But it's not the kind of sport you are asking for... team sports, hmm... I used to like playing hockey at school sport lessons. I was the attacker. I was focused on the puck and I could score goals."
7. "I might open a computer fixing company. Or perhaps something teaching old people how to use computers... Or both. Some kind of IT first aid company. <huge smile to show it was supposed to be fun> It's something I am already used to do and I know that kind of service is needed because elder people in my family often ask me to fix their computers or teach them got to do some computer tasks."
8. "Can you tell me what exactly went wrong? I wonder if it's something I can change..." - in case I was thinking I am actually a good fit.
"I see... It's alright... I understand I might be not experienced enough... But contact me in case you are looking for an additional worker. You have my documents, right? For example I would be interested in a trainee job if you ever look for a trainee in this department. I have a feeling I would catch up pretty fast because I learn the best when I handle practical problems." - in case I suspected I am a good fit but lack something that can be fixed.
"I see... It's alright." - in case I didn't feel like I am a good fit either.


Do you think I would pass?

1. What's your favorite restaurant?
Personally, I like seafood, but I don't often have time or money to eat out, because I'm busy teaching.

2. What's your spirit animal?
I don't know, but I really like cats. They're sleek and effortlessly stylish, but they also have a lot in common with people like me. People just don't get us. They think we are both unfriendly and mean, but we make great companions once you get to know us.

3. What's your story?
I would take this as an invitation to tell something negative about myself. A question worded like this would probably prompt me to disclose some of the less savory aspects of my life, such as my status as a Katrina victim or my Asperger's diagnosis.

4. Tell me a joke
Knock, knock...
Who's there?
Oh, come in, Who.
I've been expecting you!
What, When, and Where are already here!

5. What would you do if you woke up and found an elephant in your backyard?
That would be really weird, because I live in an apartment and do not have a backyard. It would probably be in the parking lot, and I would probably take pictures and gawk for a while until someone notified animal control and kept him from stepping on any of the vehicles. I would also probably seek spots on the news to talk about the wacky events that transpired today.

6. Have you ever played a sport, if so, what position?
I was the quarterback on the flag football team. I wonder why they call it a quarterback. You are actually allowed the most movement of anyone on the team. It seems like the quarterback's moves would actually belong to the fullback, but the fullback is only allowed part of the field.

7. If you opened your own business, what kind would it be and why?
I would open a bakery, bug shop, and pet store, because I enjoy cooking and collecting animals.

8. I'm sorry. I don't think this is the proper position for you.
I understand. Well, call me if you change you mind.

hahahahahahaha

I laughed here by myself in my kitchen for several minutes, then DEARLY wished I had thought to ask this question when I was working, that Who_Am_I was interviewing, so I could have instantly hired her (?), even if someone else had to go.

You know why interviewers REALLY ask these dumb questions? Because they're bored and need something to do between going to Starbucks. I had to keep myself on a short leash during interviews because I just wanted to throw the real questions out of the window and ask them who their favorite Star Trek Next Generation character was. If they couldn't come up with one, SORRY! On to the next one! I mean, that's why people like me should never be left alone in charge. I always had a more responsible employee check my questions over to make sure I wasn't being silly.

Really, anything in almost all jobs can be learned on the job, and most of the real questions are useless anyway. You're just looking for the "right" person.

Such nonsense questions. They seem like a good way to hire somebody completely unsuited to a job.

I may not be the most experienced when it comes to job interviews but I have never ever been asked any of these! It's usually questions that are actually, you know, relevant to the job. I have had the tell me about yourself type thing, though.

Also, I always thought I messed up interviews because I did joke (well, try to) - although it could be my inability to fake enthusiasm that's been my problem.

These seem rather absurd to me but I also haven't had an interview for a while. Perhaps things have changed quite a lot since then.

I feel like if some interviewer asked me what my spirit animal was, I'd go off on a rant about cultural appropriation and Native American genocide.

The last time I was interviewed I was asked what my dream project would be. I had to make up a lie on the spot. I made up a "dream project" that was made up of all the work tasks in the job I was interviewing for. I got the job and continued to use the bizarre question when I hired other people. It was a tricky question because it could show your work style- if you liked to sit back and do assigned tasks or if you liked to take control.

My actual dream project would be to sit at my house, watch TV and read, have no expectations and no one overseeing anything I do, and then get paid for that. This continuing project is called being on disability and it's a dream I realize every day.