4 ms·

My two favourite questions to ask at interview are: 1. Tell me about a time things didn't go to plan and what you did about it afterwards? 2. Do you enjoy wo

My two favourite questions to ask at interview are: 1. Tell me about a time things didn't go to plan and what you did about it afterwards? 2. Do you enjoy working here? Of the two, the second one gives me the most useful signal. Every business has difficult times, so the first usually isn't too hard to answer, and they can gloss over stuff. The second one is more personal. Nobody can say no to that one. It's the way they say yes that's interesting.

anticristi 5y ago
> Do you enjoy working here? I wouldn't ask non-factual questions. Of course the default answer is "yes". I wouldn't be able to answer such a question honestly in front of a stranger.
- leetrout 5y ago
  > I wouldn't be able to answer such a question honestly in front of a stranger. For me it is even easier to be honest to a stranger. "You may or may not find it as rewarding to work here as I have- of course it is a rollercoaster but I wouldnt still be here if I didnt like somethings about it but it is a job like any other."
  - waynesonfire 5y ago
    Right.. maybe it's because it takes some experiance and consciousness to give such a response.
- MattPalmer1086 5y ago
  Well, I am looking for a bit more than just "yes". Some context has to be given. In my last interview, there was a lovely, slightly panicked pause as the interviewers all looked at one another. Then the main interviewer said something like "Well, there are times it can be frustrating, it's not always a smooth ride. But I like the people I work with, the company is supportive and I get a kick out of it.". I appreciated the honesty, and he seemed genuine. I took the job, and I can confirm everything he said was true :)
  - wly_cdgr 5y ago
    Cacklin'
Nullinker 5y ago
I once had an interviewer tell me that he loved working there so much that he was happy to go to work every single day. Even when I explicitly asked him if there never was a single day where felt less happy he denied ever feeling anything other than pure joy for work. At that point I concluded that he was either lying or unable to relate to people who are not happy all the time since he was supposed to be the supervisor it was one of the reasons to decline the job.

anticristi 5y ago

> Do you enjoy working here? I wouldn't ask non-factual questions. Of course the default answer is "yes". I wouldn't be able to answer such a question honestly in front of a stranger.

leetrout 5y ago
> I wouldn't be able to answer such a question honestly in front of a stranger. For me it is even easier to be honest to a stranger. "You may or may not find it as rewarding to work here as I have- of course it is a rollercoaster but I wouldnt still be here if I didnt like somethings about it but it is a job like any other."
- waynesonfire 5y ago
  Right.. maybe it's because it takes some experiance and consciousness to give such a response.
MattPalmer1086 5y ago
Well, I am looking for a bit more than just "yes". Some context has to be given. In my last interview, there was a lovely, slightly panicked pause as the interviewers all looked at one another. Then the main interviewer said something like "Well, there are times it can be frustrating, it's not always a smooth ride. But I like the people I work with, the company is supportive and I get a kick out of it.". I appreciated the honesty, and he seemed genuine. I took the job, and I can confirm everything he said was true :)
- wly_cdgr 5y ago
  Cacklin'

Nullinker 5y ago

I once had an interviewer tell me that he loved working there so much that he was happy to go to work every single day. Even when I explicitly asked him if there never was a single day where felt less happy he denied ever feeling anything other than pure joy for work. At that point I concluded that he was either lying or unable to relate to people who are not happy all the time since he was supposed to be the supervisor it was one of the reasons to decline the job.