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Original poster

Wanky interview questions

38 replies

CaptainCarrotsBigSword · 03/05/2024 17:35

I've got an interview next week and as it's through an agency, they've sent me some prep materials.

One of the listed examples of questions they might ask is this:

• Tell me about a time when you feel you have missed an opportunity to do something you wanted to in life?

Is it me or is that a bit too bloody personal?? I don't particularly want to tell a stranger my life regrets, unless I'm in a therapy session! And what is that going to tell you about how good or not I'm likely to be at doing the job?!

OP posts:
Original poster
CaptainCarrotsBigSword · 03/05/2024 19:20

MasterBeth · 03/05/2024 19:03

It shows your creativity, your ability to respond to a difficult question, your judgement in how to talk about your personal life...

Lots of things

Show quote history

Or it shows that I'm willing to spout bullshit lies to please my bosses and will let work trample over my personal boundaries.

It has no bearing on the job description, btw.

OP posts:
MasterBeth · 03/05/2024 19:03

CaptainCarrotsBigSword · 03/05/2024 18:50

I just think it's wank. I'm going to have to make something up that ticks the right boxes and what is the point in that?

It shows your creativity, your ability to respond to a difficult question, your judgement in how to talk about your personal life...

Lots of things

Original poster
CaptainCarrotsBigSword · 03/05/2024 18:53

Maybe I'll say I wanted to have three children but after a traumatic second pregnancy and labour I am unable to have any more children. That'll shut them up from any follow up questions and neatly tick the invisible "not going to be going on maternity leave" box at the same time.

OP posts:
Original poster
CaptainCarrotsBigSword · 03/05/2024 18:50

I just think it's wank. I'm going to have to make something up that ticks the right boxes and what is the point in that?

OP posts:
toomuchfaff · 03/05/2024 18:04

As people have mentioned above, relate it to work. I hate these type questions whereby wanting you to focus on negatives, try and turn it round so that you're not ending on a negative connotation. So you didn't do a training course, instead you enhanced your skills via xyz. Think it's trying to show you overcoming adversity

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 03/05/2024 17:58

I'd say something like I always wanted to do a bungee jump but when I got to the front of the queue the bungee broke and (fortunately) I was unable to do it which was a miraculous escape.

If they want more details, say it is too traumatic to continue talking about it, (ask for a glass of water at this point).

PickledPurplePickle · 03/05/2024 17:53

Relate it to work or something that happened at school / college

samlovesdilys · 03/05/2024 17:52

Covid would be a good reason here as something outside your control...

Singleandproud · 03/05/2024 17:44

I would do as Halzie suggests, make it work related and flip it to how you overcame it / what you did instead.

I didn't finish my first degree and had to leave at the end of the second year for personal reasons so I regretted it for a while and was concerned for my future employment prospects and then when the time was right enrolled with the OU and did X and had Y, Z experiences.

Or missing job opportunities I would have loved to do because I didn't drive, I didn't drive because when I was having lessons I had been first on scene at a multiple person fatal crash and that had put me off, so I had enough of that limiting me and passed my test at 30.

Love51 · 03/05/2024 17:43

Does the job have a person spec? Most interview questions are tied closely to something on that. I'd try to find something on the person spec to tie it to (resilience? Ability to learn from mistakes? Critical thinking? Responding to feedback?)

movintothecountry · 03/05/2024 17:40

It's all bollocks but just tell them what they want to hear. Make it about work and tell them about a time you had the opportunity to do some fabulous project but turned it down to deliver something you had a prior commitment to complete.

Make it up if you have to - outdo their bullshit with your own. Corporate recruiting is all a game you just have to know how to play it. Good luck!

ToxicChristmas · 03/05/2024 17:40

YANBU.
I've interviewed hundreds of people over the years and I can't think of any reason why I'd need to ask that question to find out what I need to know for a role.
I also think questions like this don't actually reveal anything about the person and just encourage them to make up an a story. I would. Pointless.

Halzie · 03/05/2024 17:39

I wouldn't take that as a personal question. I'd relate it to work. So like a qualification I wanted but didn't get, however I'd also spin it to say I regretted it for a while so I went out years later and got the qualification etc (all true).

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