“What do you do outside of work to relax?”
“I enjoy reading, working out, and playing with my dog.”
False! You don’t read. You stopped working out on January 8th. You yell at the dog for taking too long to poop.
What to Ask to Avoid This Terrible Interview Response
- If the interviewee response is similar to the drivel above, ask these follow-up questions:
- “To what extent does A Tale of Two Cities argue that personal sacrifice, rather than collective revolution, is the true engine of historical change—and how does Dickens’ use of doubling paradox, and resurrection imagery complicate this claim?”
- “In evaluating the physiological, psychological, and sociocultural dimensions of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), to what degree can its purported benefits (e.g., metabolic efficiency, time-economy, cardiovascular adaptation) be disentangled from its potential drawbacks (e.g., injury risk, adherence challenges, inequitable accessibility)—and does the very framing of HIIT as a universally ‘efficient’ exercise modality obscure more than it reveals about fitness, health, and human performance?”
- “Considering evolutionary biology, domestication theory, cultural symbolism, and the psychology of human–animal relationships, how valid is the claim that ‘dogs are man’s best friend’ is an empirical truth about interspecies bonds versus a socially constructed metaphor that privileges certain narratives of loyalty, utility, and affection while excluding alternative human–animal dynamics?”
- Ask this question instead, “The American business environment has fundamentally changed following the insider trade and savings and loan scandals. Explain business ethics and how they are applied today.” If they look at you confused, move on to the next candidate. If they start referencing The Puppy Who Lost His Way, stop the interview, and hire them immediately.
- Ask this question instead, “What hobbies do you think I partake in?” This is where you will need to check your ego. An honest employee is better than a “Yes Man”. Also, if the position you are hiring for involves reading/understanding people, award more points for accurate responses.
- “You look like someone who hates the sun, so anything indoors.”
- “Dungeons & Dragons in your mom’s basement.”
- “Doing copious amounts of curls while checking yourself out in the mirror.”
- “Coming up with backstories for Squishmallows.“
- “Making sweaters from the decorative moss balls you cultivated from your moss garden.”
Regardless of what option you choose, the interview is going to be a lot more fun.
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