Three clever ploys for dealing with dumb job interview questions

Three clever ploys for dealing with dumb job bewerberinterview questionsThree clever ploys for dealing with dumb job interview questionsWeve written about The 12 Habits of Genuine People at Ladders News, but what happens when your interviewer isnt genuine?An article that promises We got 10 CEOs to tell us their one killer interview question for new hires ought to be full of impressive questions that directly connect the behavior and past performance of the candidate to the job, right?Unfortunately, no.As it happens, the ten CEOs that Quartz assembled display the usual mess of dumb questions, self-important nonsense, and bizarre voodoo rituals.And while theres a good explanation for how even the top dog at a company can end up asking the worst interview questions, the important outcome for you is to make sure that dumb questions dont keep you from landing a great gig.These bad questions shouldnt cause you concern, and in fact, theyre an opportunity for you to shine by gently moving yo ur answers to the core of what really matters - your likely success in the job.Interviews are strange, of course. Its tough for you to get a feel for whether youre supposed to be buddies with the person across the table, or try to impress them, or puff yourself up. Thats why its common to have a bit of sympathy for anybody whos going on a job interview - almost everybody says good luckBut we should also have a dash of compassion for the person doing the interviewing. As these CEO questions confirm, most interviewers in the United States are horribly trained - if trained at all - and are often just thrown into interviewing without preparation, education, or practice.Thats how you wind up on the receiving end of questions like these - and lets face it - these are terrible questions Talk to me about when you were seven or eight. Who did you want to be? A key test comes early in the meal I give them the wine list. I told him to sing for us Would you rather be respected or feared?T he reason theyre terrible is they have nothing to do with job performance.And I dont just mean directly. There are plenty of questions that are not directly about how you did your job that are nonetheless effective in assessing future job performance (Ken Moelis Monopoly question being a good example of assessing analytic skills via non-job-related subject matter.)What I mean is that these questions are not predictive of future job performance. There is nothing about what you wanted at eight years old, how well you know your way around a wine list, or your propensity to sing in public that has any ability to determine whether or not youll be good at the role youre interviewing for.So lets get to the practical matter how should you handle dumb questions from the CEO, or anybody else, in an interview?Here are your three clever ploys for dealing with interview oddities. Your can use some variation of these responses, always delivered in a pleasant, accommodating, welcoming way, to move the conversation to the substance of your ability to do the job.The But What About Me? MoveWhat are you trying to understand better about my background with this question? Perhaps I can help clarify something I havent made clear.The Let Me Highlight What I *Am* Good At GambitI think what youre trying to ask is whether Im good at ___________ fill in the blank with something youre good at. Let me share with you the time thatThe Jiu Jitsu, Turn-It-Right-Around-And-Send-It-Back ActionI know this job is important for your team / group / company. What would be the answer youre looking for from somebody in this role, and I can tell you if I match up with that?Each of these moves, alone or combination, can help you keep your interview flowing in the right direction. So rather than frittering away valuable interview time on answering daft questions, or getting annoyed with an ungelehrter interviewer, turn the conversation towards something that puts your abilities in a better light.For exam pleWould you rather be respected or feared?Help me understand what are you trying to assess about my experience with that question. Whether Im effective at motivating people, right? Well, let me tell you about the time thatSing for us.I think what youre trying to ask is whether Im comfortable in front of audiences, and the answer is definitely not Thats why Im applying for this economics analyst job. Numbers sing to me, I dont sing for themWhat did you want to be when you were seven or eight?Great question, and I know this job is important for your team. What kind of answer are you looking for from the candidate youll hire for this role? And then I can tell you whether I match up with that.In every case, turn the conversation back to the job, your experience, and how your background indicates that youll be successful in this role.