Really long interview questions

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Is it now common practice for interviewers to ask really long, multi-part questions? I had an interview at the beginning of the week (didn't get the job, obvs) and every question was like, "As part of this role you will be required to [insert stuff here]. What in your view makes x, how do you y, and can you give us an example of how you dealt with z?"

😨

Each one would have worked as an essay assignment from uni or something to do a presentation on. So there's me, trying to say something sensible all the while wondering what the hell the first part of the question was again. In hindsight I should have taken a step back and asked them to repeat each part, but that just goes of your head in the pressure of an interview situation, particularly when you're outnumbered. Anyway, I spent most of the train ride home thinking, "Hang on, I didn't answer that bit about x, and damn, I had an absolute belter of an answer for that. Damn."

Lessons learned for next time, but yeah, are these types of questions now a thing?

(Note that I asked one question there, not three.) 🙂

Absolutely- this happened to me recently. Lots of ( very similar) 4 part theoretical questions.
By the time they had finished asking the question I had forgotten the first part.
I wish I had asked them to repeat or I could have framed the questions back at them so we were all clear.
The whole experience was exhausting. And I didn’t get the job.

If an in person interview it's usual to write them down to make sure you've cornered everything. In a virtual interview I now post the questions into chat as they are read out so they can see them.

Usual for questions to be of this nature but you need to make sure you give yourself the means to think for a moment before speaking and then check you've covered everything before finishing

It’s a competency based question. The question will have been based on one of the competencies outlined in the job description. Passing these interviews is a competency in itself. There is lots of information online about how to prepare for these. Next time check with the company what still of interview it will be .

I have ME/CFS. Do you know if it would be a reasonable adjustment to make a note of the different parts?

This method must be a thing. It certainly does feel like a bloody uni assignment!

It's bad technique from the interviewers. But I always bring a pen and paper to an interview and write the question down. Once when asked a really long rambling "question", I read it back to the interviewer to check I had it all.

I’ve been told I can’t bring a note pad in before…
@Menopants could you possibly post a link to a good one please? I have one next week 😘

There's no reason you can't write notes. Write the question down

Say you know your strengths and weaknesses and you're aware that reading info is easier to comprehend than just hearing

It's not normal to have to answer questions in this format in day to day life. Even politicians dont have to

Competency based questions don't need to be multi part though. That sounds exhausting

When I interview and am expected to ask candidates questions like that, I refuse to ask them all in one go. I’ll ask one overarching question and they will often answer all the sub bullets as part of their answer anyway. If they don’t, I will then ask each sub question individually, wait for the answer, then move to the next one.

interviewing isn’t an opportunity to catch people out - interviewers should help candidates be able to do their best.

We do multi-part question but print out the questions in advance for the candidate, we read them, give the candidate time to read them and then ask them to answer it, in virtual interviews we put the questions in the chat box.

Having long winded questions like that is not inclusive, employers are going to miss out on excellent candidates that have ASD, Adhd, dyslexia, lower processing speeds or simply have interview nerves. The only time it might be reflective of the workplace is if the role required answering questions at press conferences or similar.

@Singleandproud

Great response! Yes, it's not prime
Minister question time. Boris Johnson certainly wouldn't have coped if questions
Were like this

I dont think id want to work for an organisation with this way of working

If you have a long term condition which results in a disability you are covered by the equalities act. This gives you the right to request reasonable adjustments, and this also applies to the recruitment process.
You will need to declare your disability when you're invited for interview and tell them what reasonable adjustments you require. eg. accessibility of room, seeing questions in advance, having written questions as well as verbal, online instead of in person. Whatever is relevant to your disability and health need to ensure you have the chance to perform equally well at interview as someone without a disability.

I ask a few questions in multiple parts - random example - give an example of a time you've initiated a process change, what was the outcome and what would you do differently next time?
So what I do when interviewing is ask the "whole" question, repeat the first bit, then if the candidate answers that bit and pauses I prompt with the next bit etc.
I also make it clear in my pre-amble and introduction at the beginning that I will repeat any questions at any point, and the candidate is welcome to take time collecting their thoughts before answering any question.
Recently I had a candidate come in with a notepad and pen to jot down key words from the questions and it was really refreshing to see someone confident in doing that. Once they are in the job I'd expect them to feel able to make notes in meetings etc to help their understanding/focus so why not also in the interview. As an interviewer I'm there to find the best candidate for the role, not just the candidate who is best at interviews. Practically everyone I've ever interviewed has been visibly nervous at the start, that's completely normal, and my aim is always to get them more relaxed after a few ice breakers so that they can answer as well as they can.
I'm sure it varies role to role though - I interview for quite technical roles, perhaps someone looking for a public speaker would feel differently.

yes, you can.

i have a SpLD, and have never not been allowed to write questions down/ make notes as I think.

I have found that the best way to approach it is

be upfront (as pp says) and ask for it to be an accommodation when you accept the invitation

When you get in the interview politely remind them of this and why you need it

i have had interviewers ask me to leave the notebook or page of the notebook with them — to demonstrate you aren’t a ringer who will be feeding the questions back to a subsequent candidate. So be prepared to do that or at least offer to do so

^ bugger.

that was in response to @Errolwasahero

kind of proves my point. I forget what I’m doing… whilst I’m actually doing it

Thank you all - I really appreciate the advice and support. I was just totally thrown by it, and it never occurred to me that I could take a note of the questions, although part of me wonders how that would have gone down. Would it look a sensible and rational strategy, or would they think I'm having a dig at the way they're interviewing. "Look, your questions are so unnaturally long-winded I'm going to have to write down what you're asking..." Like imagine having to do that in an everyday conversation.

@BurnerName101 and @HyuNis thank you, some great advice x

We send questions out to all candidates in advance now (HE), usually the day before. Feedback is that this is helpful, and it levels the playing field just a little.

I've had a few interviews like this recently. Either just really long winded with multiple points to cover in one question or so incredibly specific it's almost impossible to come up with a scenario off the top of your head that covers everything or exactly what they asked.

I get that they want to cover a lot of skills in one question and test how you cope with responding but it just felt like I was being set up to fail.