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I'll mention one which I've had which I considered bad. Worse than most on the linked list IMO. The question was "What is the worst challenge you've faced, and

I'll mention one which I've had which I considered bad. Worse than most on the linked list IMO. The question was "What is the worst challenge you've faced, and how did you deal with it or overcome it?" and on me asking if it should be work related, "it doesn't have to be work related". I can't remember whether the wording was exactly "hardest challenge" or "worst problem" or "most difficult challenge", but it used an absolute term (worst/hardest/most, not "a difficult challenge" or "a time in which you faced..."), and it was certainly very close to one of those. I think that most people's hardest challenges in life are things like "my parents passed away" or "I came out as trans, and my parents disowned me, and I've had to come to terms with that" or "I had a divorce".. basically, interpersonal relationship experiences which really aren't very work relevant. The use of "hardest" also makes it feel like you're lying if you go for something less serious, but work related. I brought up a non-work-related rough time in my life from years ago, which still easily stood out as the most challenging time in my life, and then specifically asked again "this doesn't seem work relevant, should I choose a less serious work-related challenge?" and the interviewer asked me to continue with my non-work relevant one (i.e. asked me to relive some trauma). It soured the experience massively for me, I had to try and disassociate some to avoid crying, and all in all it was the least comfortable I've ever felt in an interview. I can't imagine what signal that gave them. That somehow also didn't disqualify me since I still got an offer, though I of course declined it. Anyway, the company was osohq. I hope they don't ask this question anymore, but I guess prepare a story just in case if you do interview there.

jlund-molfese 4y ago
The interviewer’s phrasing is a little clumsy, but an interview goes both ways. The candidate has a responsibility to maintain boundaries too. It sounds like the interviewer was trying to give you the opportunity to provide a non-work related response if you wanted, and anticipated something like you volunteering on a difficult project where you overcame challenges and helped people. Really, the challenge isn’t what’s important, it’s how you handled it and the result that matters. It’s like how, in the US, if a stranger asks how you’re doing, you shouldn’t actually tell them how you’re doing. You should just say you’re doing fine, because they aren’t asking the question literally.

jlund-molfese 4y ago

The interviewer’s phrasing is a little clumsy, but an interview goes both ways. The candidate has a responsibility to maintain boundaries too. It sounds like the interviewer was trying to give you the opportunity to provide a non-work related response if you wanted, and anticipated something like you volunteering on a difficult project where you overcame challenges and helped people. Really, the challenge isn’t what’s important, it’s how you handled it and the result that matters. It’s like how, in the US, if a stranger asks how you’re doing, you shouldn’t actually tell them how you’re doing. You should just say you’re doing fine, because they aren’t asking the question literally.