Strange, or is it not?

Weird. I just came from a job interview at a large Production Company. I have already interviewed last week with HR, the person I would report to plus the teams in the different Business units. Today I met with the VP. He was a bad a**. Not only did he make me terribly nervous but he asked me to describe an orange to a blind person. I answered as best as I could (juicy, sweet and somewhat tart). He said he posed the question because people freeze up when asked questions outside of the box. I did hesitate when answering. I hope my answer doesn't mean that I get the job.

i like your answer...hope you get the job.

good luck,

her325

If VP is that awful, do you feel you would like to be his employee?

Imagine what he might ask you (or ask of you) if you work for him.

I second the above two comments. Don't forget that you are also interviewing them. You learned quite a bit about the place from your interview. The place may be deciding if it wants to employ you - but at the same time you are deciding if you want to work for it!

Best of luck with your efforts.

If you are interested in contributing your interviewing stories to this site, they're seeking both positive and negative stories about job interviews.

www.professional-resume-example.com/job-interview-experience.html

maybe your boss worked for the social service for the blind,he was just having a flashback

Judit in Los Angeles, California said: Weird. I just came from a job interview at a large Production Company. I have already interviewed last week with HR, the person I would report to plus the teams in the different Business units. Today I met with the VP. He was a bad a**. Not only did he make me terribly nervous but he asked me to describe an orange to a blind person. I answered as best as I could (juicy, sweet and somewhat tart). He said he posed the question because people freeze up when asked questions outside of the box. I did hesitate when answering. I hope my answer doesn't mean that I get the job.

This was a cheesy attempt by the VP to sound like he knew how to interview. Stress questions are pretty common, but a good interviewer will use behavioral interviewing techniques to probe how you respond to real life stress situations. ("When was the last time your superior asked you to break a rule, and how did you handle it?" "What was the biggest disaster you created and how did you fix it?")

Google "behavioral interviewing questions" to find a list of the likely ones.

A good book to read on behavioral interviewing is "Landing the Job You Want" by Byham and Pickett.

I agree with the other three posters. You want to use the interview to make sure that this is a place that you would be happy in as well. Do you see yourself having a career there? What are you looking for from them?

When preparing for an interview, I feel it is just as important to think of what questions you want to ask as well as how you'll answer their questions. You may find my article on interviewing the interviewer valuable...you can find it here:
www.halliecrawford.com/articles/article13.html

Let us know what happens - Good luck!

Hallie

Bob Harcourt in Bloomingdale, Illinois: "'When was the last time your superior asked you to break a rule, and how did you handle it?' 'What was the biggest disaster you created and how did you fix it?'"

I don't think I would admit to have broken rules or created disasters. IMHO admitting to have done either could make the interviewer think you will again. I probably would answer that everything I've done has generally gone well with only minor glitches from time to time.

Displaced Legal Professional in Denver, Colorado said: Bob Harcourt in Bloomingdale, Illinois: "'When was the last time your superior asked you to break a rule, and how did you handle it?' 'What was the biggest disaster you created and how did you fix it?'"

I don't think I would admit to have broken rules or created disasters. IMHO admitting to have done either could make the interviewer think you will again. I probably would answer that everything I've done has generally gone well with only minor glitches from time to time.

It's a trick question. That answer tells the interviewer that you are either (a) inexperienced or worse (b) a liar.

The reality is that those situations occur all the time and how an applicant has handled difficult situations in the past indicates how they will in the future. You don't get hired for caretaking a smooth operation, but for how well you handle the disasters that happen all the time. By admitting that you took care of a problem, you increase your worth as well as taking responsibility.

i went on a interview, and they seem very impressed with me, i took a background check, but they never call me back, i had all the qualification for the job, i dont know what went wrong, i call them back and left message, never a return call, if they choose someone else for the position they could have told me, it just seem so taky, maybe that job just wasnt for me, i know i be bless with another one.

[QUOTE who="Bob Harcourt in Denver, Colorado: "That answer tells the interviewer that you are either (a) inexperienced or worse (b) a liar."

They would see on my resume that I am experienced. As far as lying goes, I should think they would want to believe me. They have just met me. If they are branding me as a liar, I don't want to work there anyway.

In the legal profession, one does not knowingly break rules. I stand by my comments about dealing with questions about breaking rules. I would say if a supervisor asked me to break a rule I would refuse. Period.

cleasta turner in Chicago, Illinois: "i went on a interview, and they seem very impressed with me, i took a background check, but they never call me back, i had all the qualification for the job, i dont know what went wrong, i call them back and left message, never a return call, if they choose someone else for the position they could have told me, it just seem so taky, maybe that job just wasnt for me...."

Yes, it was extremely tacky for them not to tell you that you weren't chosen. You should be glad that you weren't chosen. By not being told you learned the company is likely inconsiderate to its employees.

Next time, though, don't leave any messages after your interview. You may have annoyed them by calling. Annoying an employer after an interview is the last thing you want to do. Rest assured they will call you if they want you.

To describe an orange to a blind person is the most ridiculous question to ask!!! The guy has no idea how to conduct an interview. He probably read this question on some interviewing website or in a magazine.
I would still describe the orange, but also ask him how it is relevant to the position I were interviewing for. For example, if you were someone with a learning disability or with a mental disability, potentially you would have been discriminated against.
An employer should only ask this question in case if the job you are applying for involves marketing oranges or working with the blind.
The answer for this question would not determine anything. If the guy is looking for creativity, well, many creative persons need some time to meditate on a topic, before giving an answer. Was he looking for a problem solver - that depends on the nature of the problem - HR, math, or art. And what are the chances of finding the answer to this question on the internet right before the interview?

If this guy selected all other employees using the same techniques, you will be working with a bunch of people as random as this orange question.

When I was in Career Services, I asked students to tell me what they thought qualified someone to be an interviewer.
-They had some good "guesses" such as "Have a Degree" or "Manager"

Truth is that nothing specifically qualifies someone as an interviewer. Thus, most interviewers are really not qualified. And the questions these folks ask can range from the illegal to the downright weird:

True story from several years ago...
A student of mine went on an interview for an entry level IT position. The "interviewer" asked him "how many gas stations are there in Los Angeles?" (We're in Florida, so it's not a subject that comes up!)

The "interviewer" did not give more specifics, nor did he allow my student to research anywhere or suggest such. It was fully a "wild guess!"

The student guessed 2,000, which wasn't tremendously off (I think the answer was 4,000.)

Here's the kicker; the "interviewer" said he wanted to "test" my student's ability to "reason."

My feeling, after a decade in placement, is that the "wilder the question is," the more likely there is no reasoning behind it. Or, at least no SOLID reasoning.

That should at least tell you something about both the person interviewing you and the company itself. They don't know what they are doing and it really doesn't seem to matter!

Job Search Dolphin in Tampa, Florida: "A student of mine went on an interview for an entry level IT position. The 'interviewer' asked him 'how many gas stations are there in Los Angeles?' (We're in Florida, so it's not a subject that comes up!)

"The 'interviewer' did not give more specifics, nor did he allow my student to research anywhere or suggest such. It was fully a 'wild guess!'

I would have asked the interviewer how that question relates to the position for which I was being interviewed. Then I would have told the interviewer I needed more information so I could formulate the right answer.

I agree that such ludicrous questions tell a lot about the interviewer and the company. Once more, although the company is interviewing candidates smart candidates are interviewing the company.

I have consistantly found that the emloyers who ask weird questions which have no bearing on the job specs are privately owned by.The "owner" who is usually is in an up stairs office.These "Owners" seem to ask and tell their hiring staff to ask the stupidist questions and make anyone who applies to their company to make the applicants feel like idiots.I walked out of many of these so called "interviews" with "Stupid Owners" and their HR people.Maybe thats why they have to own their own company.
They are so excentric and weird no one wants them.
I have found that major corporations do not ask such questions and want the usual background/experience....
So if you do research on the company who you apply to and its owned by a "Private Owner"
get ready for dumb and off the wall no bearing on your job questions....they like to make you feel inferior....I always get "well the owner says to ask....
Bull....tell your owner to get with the real world...and walk out!!!

I think interviewers ask stupid questions primarily because they really don't know how to interview. Some HR coneheads think they must ask certain questions because they learned behavioral interviewing or whatever interviewing method currently in vogue. Non-HR coneheads ask certain questions because they heard about them during an in-service or because "they read the book."

Some interviewers are sadistic. These borderline types get their jollies making candidates squirm by playing "Stump the Dummy. " In the meantime, other interviewers are dummies themselves and just don't have a clue.

In any case, you have to answer the question. You may have to help the interviewer a little bit. But, again, remember that you are also interviewing the company. Make mental notes of how the interviewer treated you and the questions you were asked. Your mental notes are part of your overall impression of the company. They help form your decision about accepting any employment offers.