Good-Luck on your search!

 

So…. I was reading this very interesting article earlier on today about a woman who went on a job interview that apparently went “very well”. So the interview started out with – how many siblings do you have (my first thought was - that sounds a little bit unorthodox especially to use to initiate an interview), that question was followed by; what are their current professions, which eventually progressed to the final question, after a series of other peculiar questions “If your siblings were colors what colors would they be and why”. Yes, I know that's an absolute bizarre not to mention impractical question to ask. Anyway, as the interviewer kindly escorted the interviewee out of the building the interviewer commended the interviewee on her intelligent and witty responses to the questions. She then proceeded by assuring her of a call-back and a second interview. Just as the woman was reaching for the door handle to exit the building, the interviewer says “Good-Luck on your search”!

 

What the hell… what does that even mean… Doesn't that completely shut down the hope of even receiving the complimentary “We regret to inform you that we have …… (you know the rest)”. I whole-heartedly can relate to that experience. Although the story doesn't mention what position she applied for, and if in fact those ambiguous questions actually relate to the position – my guess is it DOES NOT!  Let me humor you readers out there with some of the most bizarre questions I have been asked during interviews (this is a combinations of interviews conducted over the phone and face-to-face).  I'll list my “Top Ten” questions; keep in mind that my background lies in the realm of Information Technology AND there's a fine line between technical, behavioral, and just “I have to screen X amount of applicants to report to my superior” questions!

1. Why is it that when you press 2 + 2 into a calculator it equals 4?  

2. If you were in a room with three lamps and in the adjacent room there were three switches that controlled (in other words turned on and off the lamps) these lamps, how would you know what switch belonged to what lamp? Provided you were allowed to enter the adjacent room (room with the switches) once.

3. If you were conducting this interview what questions would you ask yourself?

4. If you were a fruit what fruit would you be and why?

5. This one wasn't even really a question; it was more like the interviewer needed clarification. I heard (not - is it true) that Nigerians use cooking stoves (keep in mind this certain person was referring to those little stoves that students *use* to carry to school from home. To those who took Home Economics or Food & Nutrition in high school like me; remember those little archaic stoves we use to have that could only prepare one dish at a time, lol) AND OOOO while preparing the food everyone else needed to vacate the house because the smoke coming from the stove could choke the residents and cause instant death?

6. Can I look in your purse?

7. Who do you prefer your mum or dad?

8. What smart-phone do you currently use and why?

9. Using a word, what makes you different from your counterparts?

10. *This wasn't to worrisome* These words follow a logical progression: TOOTHSOME, FORECAST, SIXTINE, ATONAL
    Which of these could come next? SUMMER,BOAT  TENDERNESS, TYPICAL

BTW - CAN ANYONE GUESS THE ANSWER TO THE LAST QUESTION? I'LL SHARE THE ANSWER IN MY UPCOMING POST!

Had I known then what I know now I would respond to questions like the ones mentioned above by first suggesting to the interviewer politely, any of the following questions listed below:
 

"How do you think this information will enable me progress in this position? Why do you think it matters if I know this information? How will it help me be more successful on your team? And how do you know you've even got the right answer? …. Etc.

This is meant to serve as a decoy not with hopes that the interviewer will forget he asked the question; but allow you have those extra “crucial” seconds/minutes to quickly come up with a "somewhat meaningful" response to the question. I've learnt that giving yourself room to play out an answer in your head before blurting it out makes one heck of a difference. Those few seconds you use to process your thoughts and analyze your answer, will guarantee you a much better shot of responding to the already obtuse question with a less imprudent answer – which of course is another benchmark on whether you have a shot of getting the job or not. This is because, at the end of the day just like; eating, sleeping, drinking and those other inevitable things we do on a daily basis there's something these interviewers are trying to extract (although I hate to admit it – there is an underlying subtext they are trying to dig out from the gist of your response to the supposed “ridiculous question”). You know what, I should have named this post – “There's no such thing as a “silly question” :)

..."hello again"

Being an international student is so difficult, so so difficult – it amazes me how tedious a simple problem can be once it’s being escalated to the wrong person. Travel visa, student visa, work visa – it’s this daunting cycle that has no destination. Instead, we as foreigners are given no option, cause “God Forbid” we even think of option 2 we can already envision glancing into the abyss of cynicism.

And…. What the hell is it with females these days and their negative attitude towards other females. (I’m not digressing, it in fact relates) Like actually being nice to a complete stranger (“someone whom you do not know”) is some kind of sin. I’m sick of the fact that we as females can’t seem to pull each other up after a fall. Talk about negative vibes and unpleasant attitude, like life is some competition between all women. Just the thought makes me want to scream – not to mention voicing it out, it makes me want to slap one silly (okay – not – literally) *maybe*. My inspiration starts from a certain unit, with a certain someone that likes to feel tall even though she’s the shortest in the room.

I know… I’m not even going to bother apologizing for my inane attitude towards the blog-world. Instead, like that bad boyfriend who cheats on his girlfriend without remorse, or that thief who steals a wallet at an airport and returns it saying “you have no cash just credit cards” and dashes, or that friend who abandons her fellow girlfriends because of her new guy-friend, or that guy on the metro that accidentally hits you but doesn’t apologize …. I’m going to MOVE ON … and say I’ve sure as hell missed blogging.

Welcome to the beginning of the end of the year. We as human beings will keep doing our “wrongs” till that clock hits midnight (12:00, 2011) with &hopes& that the baggage from last year has all washed away. Even in our wildest dreams – it hasn’t. Okay ^jokes^ but really where did this year go …. I remember this time last year l was preparing to depart this country and go back home – were things are a lot simpler than the average – in a way J. This year it’s SO MUCH better because I’m departing to see two love birds part the single lifestyle  and unite as “one”. Yes, my lovely sister – whose character complements every trait a big sister should have – CONGRATULATIONS!

Work is unbelievably tedious, and when I’m actually free – all l want to do is SLEEP. Wake up and then SLEEP some more. Yes, extremely ridiculous. Gone are the days when l partied like a rock-star or like it was 1999, had a week for Thanksgiving, slept till noon – then went back to bed and slept till 3pm, lol (seriously), had a week for Spring Break, drove an hour away to my favorite store (God l miss that store). All l want to do these days, is just stay in the comfort of my place and s-l-e-e-p. Just the thought is scary – I’m growing into an old soul!

Oh FYI – Hope you smart readers out there are grasping my meandering technique in updating you on the “happenings” in my life :) 

Okay… like l said a certain phone call about 30 minutes ago, inspired this – got to get back to work :)