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Original poster

were these interview questions weird?

36 replies

Tortington · 30/01/2011 21:17

"i would ask this of a man or woman, how would your family feel about you being away for 10 days at a time"

whist reading it it sounds innocent, try to answer that without divuging how many children you have and any childcare in place etc. even family life. thought it was weird what do you think?

also, it is a christian charity and i got asked ' We don't know anything about you from your application form...' the monitoring form obviously seperated to allow for unbiased interview '...but how comfortable would you be going into a house of worship and talking about God'

try answering that without declaring your religous beliefs - i did try, i really did, i talked about the equality and diversity training i had been on, about working in multicultural areas, about going to mosques and temples...when i blatently knew thats not what they were getting at

..so then she reiterated "would you be comfortable talking about god" she may even have said 2spreading gos word" or something i can't remember exactly.

just weird? or as a christian charity - totally fine?

they also asked me 'what's the maddest thing you have ever done?'

and 'what gives you JOY!

fking joy

anyway - what say you? oh and feel free to add your own!

OP posts:
NancyDrewHasaClue · 30/01/2011 21:20

Presumably after hearing that you've decided you didn't want the job anyway Grin

Songbird · 30/01/2011 21:20

erm, do you really want this job? Very strange questions! It amuses me to think of you frustrating them by not answering te question they were really asking.

sevendwarves · 30/01/2011 21:22

Yes, very weird indeed.

Plumm · 30/01/2011 21:22

I'm an atheist but would be happy to talk about God, as long as they respected my views on religion - but I doubt whether that's the kind of talking they intended.

Original poster
Tortington · 30/01/2011 21:28

at the moment i can't be picky...but was bloody weird. and then i thought that maybe with it being a christian charity - the god thing would be ok - and i mean, they never for one instant said 'do you beieve in god' or anything like that - they were careful, but like i said, try answering it - in a way which means you might actually get offered the job, without saying your religous views.

what say you on the childcare thing?

OP posts:
Original poster
Tortington · 30/01/2011 21:29

eventually i did actually tell them my religous views, it was impossible not to

OP posts:
BooBooGlass · 30/01/2011 21:31

They didn't ask specifically about childcare though did they?
It's one of those things. My aunt worked in what I assume was a similar organisation, and everyone there was a practicing Christian. I think it's fair enough for them to want someone with Christian beliefs in the role tbh, though political correctness and employment law will forbid them saying this explicitly.

Original poster
Tortington · 30/01/2011 21:37

no that's the thing, they didn't ask specifically about childcare, but it was impossible to fully anser the question - in a way you woudl do if you actually wanted the job - without explaining these things

OP posts:
Watersign76 · 30/01/2011 21:49

I am guessing they were just testing your suitablity re willingness to travel and religion. And it gives you a chance to think about whether or not you'd mind working there.

As BBG says, there is the law and then there is working there. It might not fit well for you if you don't share the same beliefs etc.

Do you want the job?

Original poster
Tortington · 30/01/2011 21:53

i wouldn't say no to shovelling shit at the moment - a jobs a job i'm not in a position to be fussy as long as it pays

OP posts:
CMOTdibbler · 30/01/2011 21:55

I think the travelling thing is an important question - for some people 10 days away at a time is a dealbreaker

create · 30/01/2011 22:00

Is the 10 days away thing really about childcare though, or just finding out if you are willing/able to travel?

Even before we had DC, one of the reasons DH left a previous job was becasue he hated being away from home for more than a day at a time. I think there are a lot of people who wouldn't chose to take on a job on that basis, whether they have children or not.

Original poster
Tortington · 30/01/2011 22:06

it was a specific part of the application under 'essential' so not a surprise for the applicants, maybe i am indeed reading too much into it!

OP posts:
CMOTdibbler · 31/01/2011 08:52

Certainly when I was applying for my current job, and didn't have or plan to have children, it was an area they really concentrated on as travelling is a major reason for losing staff in my company. Sometimes people apply for jobs without really thinking the consequences of the requirements

notyummy · 31/01/2011 08:59

I think the travelling thing is fair enough, as it would be a deal breaker for some people and they need to flush that out.

I find the 'joy' thing a bit cringey TBH - but I can see it is just another way of seeing what makes you tick and seeing if you will fit within the organisational culture.

SnapFrakkleAndPop · 31/01/2011 08:59

If travelling is a requirement I'm not surprised they asked. Ditto if evangelism is a part of the role the question about going into church and talking about God is important. They wouldn't want someone who couldn't do that part of the role because their religious beliefs prevented them or someone who when push came to shove was uncomfortable with it.

The maddest thing/joy questions are strangely worded though.

fartmeistergeneral · 31/01/2011 09:02

What did you answer for the maddest thing you've ever done?

I was once asked 'to work in marketing they say you have to be crazy. Are you crazy?'. I actually felt sorry for the guy having asked such a ridiculous question.

Original poster
Tortington · 31/01/2011 09:35

i did struggle to think of anythng mad, that didn't involve an alcohol related event Grin

OP posts:
StillSquiffy · 31/01/2011 11:11

The travel question is fine.

The God questions have definitely crossed the line (assuming that religion is irrelevant to the role itself?), and I am quite Shock at the depth of pushing - asking if you would be comfortable 'spreading his word' sounds like pretty major league discrimination, but of course that would depend on the job description and whether they could justify that a deep christian belief is necessary in order for you to carry out the role... what was the role?

Hassled · 31/01/2011 11:14

Isn't there some employment/discrimination law opt-out thing though? So that a Catholic or Muslim school can specify they want Catholic or Muslim candidates, etc - or have I made that up? If I haven't, then presumably that would apply to a Christian charity as well.

Decorhate · 31/01/2011 11:18

Yes travel question is a normal thing to ask if the job involves travelling & have come across it when childless so they are not trying to ferret out your childcare situation.

I do think the god thing means they are hoping you will preach on their behalf!

I have an interview this week, haven't done one for a decade, just know I will hate all those bulshitty type questions...

GetOrfMoiLand · 31/01/2011 11:19

Re the travelling, I don't think the question was necessarily a childcare question at all. I have to travel for my job, it always has come up in interviews (as in are you happy to travel abroad as part of the job). I have never mentioned anything about having a child in interviews - I have always just said 'yes i am fine with travel'.

God knows about the religious question - I am an atheist but talking about religion really interests me, so would have no problem talking about god, and would have answered in this vein. However, don't companies with a religious aspect actively look for someone who 'embraces christianity' or something? You see it a lot in job adverts I have found.

notyummy · 31/01/2011 11:20

I think there must be an opt out of some sort Hassled, as I have seen jobs advertised v recently in the volunatry sector that stated something like 'as a Christian charity we will be seeking to a appoint candidates who are able to represent our stated beliefs and values.'

GetOrfMoiLand · 31/01/2011 11:20

Good luck anyway Custardo.

I too have two interviews this week so fingers crossed.

StillSquiffy · 31/01/2011 14:57

The 'genuine occupational need' opt out is very strictly defined, and that is why I am so surprised at the quesitons being asked. For those interested, the defining case is summarised here