How I answer questions during a job interview.

quantumsheep · 3 months

Nothing worse than hearing yourself mid-sentence and realising that what's coming out of your mouth hasn't been formed by any kind of thought process you're actively aware of.

"Oh my God what am i saying?!?!?"

crash331 · 3 months

I did this once, lost where I was going, just stopped mid sentence, apologized, and waited for the next question.

kharmakazy · 3 months

Far too often I'll end a sentence in interviews with... "yeah, I think that's about it." I don't imagine that sits well.

shockzone · 3 months

My, philosophy is, basically this. And this is something that I live by. And I always have. And I always will. Don't, ever, for any reason, do anything, to anyone, for any reason, ever, no matter what, no matter where, or who or who you are with, or or where you are going, or, or where you've been. Ever. For any reason. Whatsoever.

I_am_not_angry · 3 months

You are not alone.

turnsta · 3 months

"I hate disappointing one person, and I really hate disappointing everyone...but I love Burlington Coat Factory"

siamthailand · 3 months

Some of my best jokes start off with this approach. (Some of my worst, too)

It's important to have a go-to exit strategy, like my personal favorite, sneezing violently and saying "excuse me" while holding your nose, pretending to go off looking for a kleenex.

I learned the hard way not to use that trick multiple times in a single job interview, though. :-(

abeuscher · 3 months

You might watch some news pundits for a while to learn how to deal with this. The two best responses to a question you need to think about are either, "that's a great question. Give me a minute I want to make sure I answer it accurately..." or ask a followup question where you rephrase it back to them. Example: "Where do you see yourself in five year?" "Well, are you interested in where I see myself professionally, in my personal life, or both?".

Just avoid talking before you know what you're going to say if you can help it. Also, people tend to conflate brevity and silence with intelligence, so you can leverage that as well.

Thinc_Ng_Kap · 3 months

This is how I live my life...

Magnos · 3 months

This is pretty much how I give every presentation.

manny_plaquiao_dds · 3 months

Must be nice getting an interview.

saturnelia · 3 months

This goes for first dates, also.

wretcheddawn · 3 months

I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some, uh. . . people out there in our nation don't have maps and, uh, I believe that our, uh, education like such as in South Africa and, uh, the Iraq, everywhere like such as, and, I believe that they should, our education over HERE in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, or, uh, should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries, so we will be able to build up our future, for our children.

sbowtor · 3 months

Had a phone interview today... this, exactly.

_sentient · 3 months

As someone on the other side of the interview table, I know when you're doing this.

Bloodfeastisleman · 3 months

My biggest weakness? Great question! Probably that I work too hard.

red321red321 · 3 months

this is basically how i answer all questions and how i talk in general. i talk slow as shit. i feel like as i get older i'm getting wiser but less capable of articulating my thoughts which makes me sound retarded in conversation.

Duncanconstruction · 3 months

I remember my very first job interview ever. I was 16 years old and applying to work at a grocery store. They asked me why I wanted to work there and I drew a blank... literally just sat there saying "umm... uhh... umm" for 30 seconds straight, before rambling about something. It was horrible.

ClysmiC · 3 months

"It's an improversation."

Vexxxi · 3 months

I always make it sound like I have a really interesting life, with lots of experience. I don't. Same with when I'm at the hairdressers.

provides_apparatus · 3 months

This is how I ask questions on job interviews.

the_huddled_masses · 3 months

This is also how certain politicians answer press conference questions.

50_mike_mike · 3 months

As an interviewer this doesn't bother me. I know people get nervous.

studmuffffffin · 3 months

Relevant video.

catspajamas28 · 3 months

Every presentation, interview, first date of my life! Most of the time I hope that people are also so lost that they don't notice I make no sense.

rib-bit · 3 months

say it with confidence -- most of the time the other person won't have all the information so they can't say you're right or wrong.

EveryoneElseIsWrong · 3 months

i do this all the time. i always feel like a politician. i answer a question with a long answer that SOUNDS good/confident ... but i feel like i rarely answer the ACTUAL question

m1kepro · 3 months

Relevant

fuLc · 3 months

This could work on r/trees too.

tucsonrat · 3 months

If you're interested, this is how I've been told one should answer questions in an interview: http://www.drexel.edu/scdc/resources/STAR%20Method.pdf

RockyCMXCIX · 3 months

I'm having flashbacks now.

Stoans · 3 months

Thank you for giving me a way to explain the interview I just got out of.

mapruse · 3 months

Remember the The Illusion of Transparency and you'll probably be fine.

[deleted] · 3 months

I have a knack for this sort of thing which is somewhat legendary among my friends. Put me in front of a crowd, class, meeting, whatever, tell me what the topic is (whether I understand it or not, or have any expertise in it at all) and I can wing it right then and there on the spot, as if I'd done the talk a hundred times before. I have no idea how it works, it just does, and it usually leaves folks who know what's going down in awe.

As an example, I once guest lectured as an expert in a particular kind of paleontology (can't remember what it was, something to do with mollusks or a mollusk-like creature? I remember it looking like a giant potato bug) for a professor friend of mine, to see if anyone in his class could pick me out as a fake. My knowledge of paleontology doesn't extend beyond a love for "Jurassic Park", especially scenes with the T-Rex. I got a standing ovation. :-)

When it comes to on-the-fly bullshit, I'm the king, baby!

Pit_of_Death · 3 months

I do this even more so on phone interviews.

ThatLaggyNoob · 3 months

Interviewers: If you ask what my biggest weakness is, I hate you. Theres no way that anyone can answer that without shooting themselves in the foot.

rootyb · 3 months

I just got offered a job after doing this. :)

Gebus · 3 months

this is how i start every sentence ever.

bionicmonkeyboy · 3 months

If you're interviewing for a job in any sort of professional position, please do not do this.

Prepare for the interview. Google the top 20 behavioral interview questions and practice answers for all of them. Remember to include specific examples. Familiarize yourself with the company. Know the history before you go in. Remember to ask questions during the interview. A lot of them. Employment is a two way street and the company needs to be a suitable fit for you. Also asking questions and digging will draw out the needs of the interviewer and allow you to sell yourself on those points. Dress well. Shave. Sit up straight. Be confident and respectful. Do not be late. Bring a copy of your resume and your references to the interview. Be friendly but not phony.

And DO NOT take it personally if you do not get hired for a position. There are a million different reasons a company may not choose a specific candidate, and it's likely not because of anything you did or didn't do.

JustForCancer · 3 months

I am a master of interviews. At one point I wanted to give interviewing classes. When I was 24 I was applying for a sales manager job at a very very competitive company against people with college degrees and many years of experience. I was friends with the Director that was conducting the interview with another colleague. He told me flat out "do not even bother, nothing personal, but you have no chance."

I studied their interviewing method (it is important to study interviewing methods btw) and at one point during the interview after giving an answer, my friend hung his head down trying not to laugh in disbelief.

I was told I didn't get the job, then 2 hours later, HR called me back saying that they decided to give me a 2nd interview with the V.P.

Nailed it. After that I always got really excited for interviews. I never fail at them. If they ask me what my weakness is, I still make a strength. NEVER let them give you the opportunity to show yourself in a bad light.

hero0fwar · 3 months

This is why I'm terrible at job interviews

knomz · 3 months

Had my first real job interview today, and yes, OP this did happen more than once, actually most of the time.

[deleted] · 3 months

Story of my life, especially when I'm high.

edpwns · 3 months

What I say the most during a job interview: "What was the question again?"

ceri23 · 3 months

It's funny you say this because it was one of the first things out of my business communications professors mouth. Never start a sentence if you don't know how it finishes yet.

SIXB · 3 months

I did this today while making an announcement from the floor at my school

i_murk_children · 3 months

I had to do this for the interview part of state academic decathlon competition... It didn't turn out so well..

lettucetogod · 3 months

I defended my master's thesis today and this was me the entire time lol

vatuska · 3 months

I do this quite often miself. It can be adventurous if you don't take it too seriously, occasionally scewing it all up I mean.

ubersiren · 3 months

And everything I ever have to bullshit my way through in life. I remember doing this in mock trial in high school, as well as many job interviews and first dates (ones that were forced and uninteresting).

YouPornJude · 3 months

I do this everyday.

ryder77 · 3 months

This is pretty much what I do every time I speak. Usually ends in weird results that have people question my sanity.

fakelife2 · 3 months

I also do this and it sometimes comes out sounding like I am just rambling like I am right now.

sneakersotoole · 3 months

I just spent the last 3 hours doing this at a job interview in Boston.

stash0606 · 3 months

I sometimes do this when I talk with friends. And at other times, my memory will pick up on some word from the recesses of my brain and hold on to that like a clingy bitch, and every sentence from thereon needs to have that word in it for some reason.

WhyWontThisWork · 3 months

Sometimes

zbaylife · 3 months

THIS. I'm so glad I'm actually decent at improving stuff

wr80 · 3 months

You never lose if you don't give up.

skysolo · 3 months

2 Days ago I applied to a local coffeeshop because hey, I need a summer job.

The next day I get a call (right after I got up) and asked if I was ready for a phone interview I said yes, but then decided that tomorrow would be better.

I said I was going to call her, but as I hung up it was a Restricted number.

Damn, that sucks.

I walked into the Coffeeshop in person, threw the manager off-guard, had a nice conversation and there's a good chance I'm getting the Bartista position, I'll find out next week.

spanky34 · 3 months

I gave this exact advice to my friend while prepping him for a job interview at my place of work.

FromAshyToClassy · 3 months

Like an improv conversation. An improversation.

entbeard · 3 months

Every tutorial i've ever been in. Totally works.

moose_sex · 3 months

Tell me about a time when you went above and beyond what you had to do?

gregthewhat · 3 months

Then just look up what questions people typically ask you during an interview and practice answering ahead of time. I thought everyone learned this in 10th grade?

QuitReadingMyName · 3 months

Hey,

lawyer_for_absurdity · 3 months

I have no idea what the context of this scene is - though it isn't hard to imagine knowing the character... But what I love about it so much is that this is actually a commonly employed tool of improvisers- and Steve Carrell most surely knows this. Ah, it's the little thing.

kaiwolf26 · 3 months

This is how I've gotten through every conversation of my life.

zachgravesisgod · 3 months

I thought the office wasn't going to be good without Steve Carrell but I love it all the same even with him gone :)

dream5eller · 3 months

i know probably a stupid question, but which movie is that pic from?

myocardia · 3 months

I wish I could limit that shit to interviews.

Kracus · 3 months

I have a job interview tomorrow for a position I really want. I've been doing nothing but going through what I'll be saying tomorrow.

gaj7 · 3 months

Don't, ever, for any reason, do anything, to anyone, for any reason, ever, no matter what, no matter where, or who or who you are with, or or where you are going, or, or where you've been. Ever. For any reason. Whatsoever

silentkill144 · 3 months

How I wright essays.

DroolingIguana · 3 months

How I wish I could answer questions during a job interview.

ladinu · 3 months

This is how I wrote all my IB papers.

cbec · 3 months

How do you do it any other way? Do you normally think of full sentences before you start talking?

Xx_Black-out · 3 months

I'm guessing you get to do a lot of job interviews..

QuaereVerumm · 3 months

That is how I answer all questions.

PhillyT · 3 months

Easily one of my favorite quotes from the office

coolposser2011 · 3 months

You have to look at the eyes of the interviewer. Speak with confidence. You are selling yourself so you have to give him/her an idea of how you could help the company. They have to see your unique features so that they will hire you.

Mongos_Banjo · 3 months

This is how a lot of things are answered for me..

dolphinhunter · 3 months

NO ONE WILL BELIEVE ME BUT I AM WATCHING THIS EPISODE AND READ THAT LINE AS IT HAPPENED. I KID YOU NOT. I AM SO SCARED.

Y0urShadow · 3 months

Shit, I live my life by this code.

entropybasedorganism · 3 months

Or, "How I talk during life."

HipsterTree · 3 months

Then you come up with the perfect response after the question is no longer relevant

Iheartstreaking · 3 months

Ugh. I applied to an internship at a law firm this summer and got through to the interview phase, but I ended up not getting the job after that. I think my interview did me in. I did this many times. I found the whole interview process just extremely fake and not at all a gauge of my potential in any way. Questions like "Describe a challenge you once faced" make me cringe. They know I'm bullshitting but they just want to see how much you bullshit. I also definitely ended a bunch of sentences with "so yea." Haha. I really need to practice a LOT. I'll peruse this thread but does anyone have any tips for doing well in these types of interviews?

Beckyc123 · 3 months

That was me during my interview yesterday, but it worked :D

funny

MODERATORS

you'll need to login or register to do that

create a new account

login