Hiring Talent Summer Camp is launched. And there is still time to climb aboard. Registration ends on Friday. For more information and registration, follow this link – Hiring Talent Summer Camp.
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Rifling through my archives –
I was shocked this morning to read an article posted on LinkIn. The Strange and Difficult Questions CEOs Ask in Job Interviews. At first, I thought it was going to be a spoof article, given the questions that were listed. But, as a I read on, I found that the author was serious about sharing these questions, with attribution to a stoic CEO.
What’s your superpower… or spirit animal?
“During her interview I asked my current executive assistant what was her favorite animal. She told me it was a duck, because ducks are calm on the surface and hustling like crazy getting things done under the surface. I think this was an amazing response and a perfect description for the role of an EA.” — Ryan Holmes, HootSuite CEO
This has to be one of the most idiotic interview questions invented. It’s cute but has nothing to do with the work. Perhaps Mr. Holmes believes he has some divine (psychological or psychopathic) ability to accurately interpret a candidate’s response to such an inane question.
My mother thinks I am amazing, but that doesn’t qualify me for the role.
All I can do is shake my head and chuckle.
Here’s what I might say to transform the question from dumb to useful:
“What animal do you aspire to be like at work?”
“What is a recent example of a time where you succeeded? Of where you failed?”
“What, exactly, did you do?” …
If talking animals makes the candidate feel more comfortable I’m all for it, but it needs to get us down to past actions quickly.
Maybe Ryan misunderstood. Maybe the candidate really said, “Duck, because every time you ask a silly question I’m going to throw something hard and heavy at you!”
(Sorry, couldn’t resist!)