Job Search Blog

Join us on August 24 from noon to 1 PM EST for Part 2 of "Fielding Interview Curveballs"

What do the OSU/Michigan game, Super Bowl and World Series have in common? They are all scheduled events for which contenders will train right up to the coin toss. Teaming with strength coaches and trainers, every waking moment will be dedicated to winning their main events. By the big game, each finalist will know the competition and practice sessions will even include videos of the other’s last performance.

Unfortunately job search isn’t as user-friendly. It is the one competition in which candidates never have the advantage of a match scheduled in advance nor do they know the identities of their competitors. Job search is the only competitive event in which you’ll never see the competition perform and won’t even be told the winner, unless you are the winner!

So as you shadow-box your way to a job offer it should become apparent that you need to begin training immediately. There is no better technique to perfect than fielding those dreaded interview questions. We regularly conduct interview boot camps and during practices we see traditionally savvy professionals blossom from tongue-tied deer in the headlights into confident communicators. The process of learning to field questions in a smooth conversational manner requires much practice. It is not an exercise in memorization because canned answers do not impress. Neither will these!

-- Why Did You Get Demoted?

-- What Would You Take Such a Large Pay Cut to Work Here?

-- Why Have You Been Out of Work So Long?

There is no way that you can anticipate each interview question. But you should be aware of the various categories of questions so you can reach into your vault of experience for tales of when you dealt with difficult people, resolved difficult situations or performed in less than perfect circumstances. Learning to field interview questions requires as much training and rehearsal as winning the big game. Candidates will eventually be able to produce smooth responses as they develop quick recall while the question is being asked. You can’t fake it till you make it. An interview is no time for thinking only for performing.

You can develop an agile interview messaging style! Join us on August 24 and practice!

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Welcome to the world of controversy. As if job seekers didn't have enough to worry about now comes the issue of inappropriate or illegal interview questions.

The most important fact to remember is that illegal is a term related to the use of a question that has been deemed unacceptable by law. Inappropriate is a totally different subject.

It is illegal not to hire candidates because of their race, color, sex, religion, national origin, birthplace, age, disability or marital/family status.

So for example while it is illegal to ask, "That's an unusual name; what does it mean?" It is acceptable to ask, "Are you eligible to work in the US?"

It is illegal to ask, "Are you planning to have children?" But it is acceptable to ask, Would you be able to work a 9:00AM to 6PM schedule?"

It is illegal to ask, "Do you attend church every week?" but acceptable to ask, "Can you work on weekends?" only if asked of all applicants and weekend work is a business necessity.

If asked an illegal question you have four options:

- Briefly answer the question anyway, if you are comfortable doing so.

- Respond to the intent of the question.

- Ignore the question and change the subject.

- Refuse to answer the question, telling the interviewer that the question is illegal and not relevant to the job.

To me inappropriate questions though legal are worse! They may involve personal questions that have more do with personal conversation on other activities that have no business in the workplace. I've always said that if anyone addressed me inappropriately, I'd just leave.

Remember some employers really might not know the legalities of asking on which continent you were educated, but they all know what they are harassing an individual who very badly needs to go back to work!

Resource - University of California at Berkley



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