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Really, really weird interview...

Teresa

I've just had a second interview with a local medium-sized company for the role of HR manager. First interview was standard with several 'Give an example of when you...' and 'What would you do if...' questions. So far, so good.

I was one of two asked back for a second interview. The second interview, which with the same two interviewers as before but also the CEO, was an hour of 'If you were an animal, what would it be', 'Who would you most like to have round for dinner', 'Where's your ideal holiday', and 'What's your perfect weekend'. 

Eh??? Did I miss the CIPD's briefing on new questioning regime?

Were they just trying to see if I'd fit in (which is what I was told) or were there ulterior motives behind each of the questions. Because I said 'hedgehog' to the animal question does this mean I'm prickly and hide from conflict; should I have said something more aggressive like Rottweiler or polecat? As 'Italy' was my ideal holiday does that mean I'm unadventurous and conventional; should I have gone backpacking in the Andes or building schools in Malawi? By the end of the hour I was absolutely drained. 

Joking aside, it was actually a surreal experience and made me wonder what I was getting myself into. Luckily, I didn't get the job. Anyone else had - or conducted - an interview like this?

Parents
  • I once walked into an interview where I was asked to take a seat and there were no chairs in the whole room apart from the one the interviewer was sitting on.... apparently it was a "test" to see what i would do. I didn't take the job.
  • in reply to Alun
    I once interviewed for a very senior role with a trustee who was in banking. He was astounded when I set up the room with a chair for the candidate we would be interviewing. He made it clear that in their organisation, candidates aren't given the luxury of a seat (this was clearly despite the fact that the interview was quite lengthy, for our most senior role and that the rest of the panel would be seated).

    But hey, maybe it wasn't that weird if we weren't actually hiding the chair!
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  • in reply to Alun
    I once interviewed for a very senior role with a trustee who was in banking. He was astounded when I set up the room with a chair for the candidate we would be interviewing. He made it clear that in their organisation, candidates aren't given the luxury of a seat (this was clearly despite the fact that the interview was quite lengthy, for our most senior role and that the rest of the panel would be seated).

    But hey, maybe it wasn't that weird if we weren't actually hiding the chair!
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