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Job Seekers Ask Strange Questions During Interviews
MENLO PARK, Calif. -- Some claim no question is a bad question, but human resources managers beg to differ. They offer some quite surprising questions they've heard from job-seekers during interviews, such as, "Do I have to be at work every day?"
Other responses reported in a recent OfficeTeam survey:
- "Would you consider going on a date with me?"
- "Do you want to take a ride in my new car?"
- "What color is the paint in this office?"
- "Is the boss single?"
- "Do you have a job for my partner?"
- "What are the women who work here like?"
- "Do you allow midday naps?"
- "Can I get every Tuesday off?"
- "How soon can I take my first vacation?"
- "Can I have three weeks off every three months to pursue my music career?"
- "Can I have my birthday off?
Then there were individuals who didn't think the following requests were out of the question
- "Can I place my desk near the cafeteria?"
- "Could I get a pay advance?"
- "Can you help me search for an apartment?"
- "Is it OK to wear shorts to work?"
- "Can I set my own hours?"
One job seeker clearly didn’t know what he was getting himself into, asking his interviewer, "What job is this interview for?"
"Job seekers can set themselves apart by asking intelligent questions about the company and the position," said Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam. "Before interviews, candidates should thoroughly research the employer and come up with questions that show interest in and knowledge of the organization.
"It's also useful to pose questions that will shed light on the corporate culture and what it takes to be successful in the role," Hosking continued. "Compensation, benefits and vacation time are often best discussed once an employer has expressed serious intent in extending a job offer."
OfficeTeam identifies eight questions job seekers should consider asking during interviews:
- While researching your firm, I learned the company recently [fill in the blank]. How does this affect your current strategy?
- Can you describe a typical workday for a person in this role?
- What skills and attributes are most important for success in this role?
- How would you describe the work environment here?
- Why is this position open?
- What is the typical career path for someone in this position?
- What do you enjoy most about working here?
- What are the next steps in the hiring process?
OfficeTeam specializes in the temporary placement of highly skilled office and administrative support professionals. The company has more than 315 offices worldwide.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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