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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 had an interview that went really, really well until the last question they asked me was: If you were a biscuit, what biscuit would you be?
    Now me, I love a biscuit, so that's my nightmare question - how could I decide on one? I said Fox's assorted, because I couldn't just pick one.
    I didn't get the job. Maybe they deemed me too greedy!
  • in reply to Liisa

    Hindsight really no use for such moments Lisa, save for future guidance should similar happen again - appropriate answer to that maybe something like: “Carr’s Table Water - crisp and smooth, not flaky, and generally much-esteemed......”

    .....such as that might impress them, save for those who just might recoil and gape and ask what the heck are Carr’s Table Water biscuits - eg

    www.sainsburys.co.uk/.../carrs-water-biscuits-125g

    A (too flippant / complacent?) response to that question too might be something like “I suppose it means that I’m simply a little cracker”

    - here endeth the biscuitology lesson, but vividly recall seeing them being made in their traditional brick ovens in Carlisle and those at McVities there who make them seemed exceedingly proud of their being able to craft these rather sophisticated and palatable biscuits from simply flour and water and a little veg oil.

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  • in reply to Liisa

    Hindsight really no use for such moments Lisa, save for future guidance should similar happen again - appropriate answer to that maybe something like: “Carr’s Table Water - crisp and smooth, not flaky, and generally much-esteemed......”

    .....such as that might impress them, save for those who just might recoil and gape and ask what the heck are Carr’s Table Water biscuits - eg

    www.sainsburys.co.uk/.../carrs-water-biscuits-125g

    A (too flippant / complacent?) response to that question too might be something like “I suppose it means that I’m simply a little cracker”

    - here endeth the biscuitology lesson, but vividly recall seeing them being made in their traditional brick ovens in Carlisle and those at McVities there who make them seemed exceedingly proud of their being able to craft these rather sophisticated and palatable biscuits from simply flour and water and a little veg oil.

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