ARE YOU IMPRESSIVE? The world’s hottest companies tell you
Riddle me this: how do you come back to the toughest interview questions in the world? A: Using this guide, of course…
Is a Jaffa Cake a cake or a biscuit?” No, not the greatest debate the UK has ever seen (after Brexit), but a question that could pop up at your next job interview. Why? To check if you’re future-proof.“The pace of change in the workplace is so fast now that interviews are less about what you know and more about how quickly you can deal with ambiguity,” says careers coach Corinne Mills, author of the You’re Hired! books.“Some jobs today might not exist in 10 years, so employers want to see how you can apply knowledge and be creative, as well as how you react under stress.” We’ve rounded up some real questions asked by companies, and the best answers. Prepare to feel unflappable. WHO ASKS IT? Sky UK THE IDEAL ANSWER “So, there’s nine million people living in London, and it’s raining outside, so more people will be catching the Tube. But it’s not rush hour...” THE WORST THING YOU CAN SAY “I prefer to cycle to work.” WHY “Getting the right answer is not the aim. The interviewer wants to see you talking through your mental process,” advises Adrian O’Connor, director of Global Accounting Network, a recruiter for Sky. “They’re assessing how you approach a problem, your creative thinking, speed of response and what calculation you apply to find a solution.”
“How many people are on the London Underground right now?”
“Have you ever persuaded someone to do something they didn’t want to?” “Which would you rather eat – dog cheese or human cheese?” “What type of shoe do you most relate to?” “Instead of politicians, why don’t we let the managers of IKEA run the country?”
WHO ASKS IT? A major environmental NGO THE IDEAL ANSWER “I convinced a friend to come to an aerial assault course. She was pretty scared by the idea, but I said that I would be by her side the whole time and that it was a lot safer than she thought. I found that there hadn’t been any injuries in the five years the course had been open, and used that to reassure her. She went and had a great time.” THE WORST THING YOU
CAN SAY “My mate really didn’t want to down that dirty pint, but I told her she had to. She threw up.”
WHY “The employer wants to assess your powers of persuasion with this question – how you influence people and get them to buy into things,” says business leadership coach Neela Bettridge.“But it also reveals your personal code of ethics. Are you expecting someone to do something that sits uncomfortably with them? Be careful what example you choose. You don’t want to look like you have questionable morals.”
WHO ASKS
IT? Google (according to one exemployee who spilled) THE IDEAL ANSWER “Human cheese – I’m thinking it’s crafted by humans. How is the dog cheese made? Are the dogs well-treated? I’d like to ask a few questions before making a decision.” THE WORST THING YOU CAN SAY
“Ew, gross, neither,” while retching in the corner.
WHY “What the interviewer wants to see is how you weigh up the pros and cons of something, and whether you can keep an open mind,” says Bettridge.“It’s important to appear inquiring – this is what they’re after.”
WHO ASKS IT? Schuh
THE IDEAL ANSWER
“A trainer, because I move fast and always come in first place.” THE WORST THING YOU
CAN SAY “Slippers – I’m all about the chill.”
WHY Comparing yourself to everyone’s favourite loungewear is unlikely to secure you a second interview, according to Dean Cowgill, a divisional manager for the company. “The answer should demonstrate your ability to inspire. This question is a playful way to get the candidate to talk about their personality, strengths and skills. We’re looking for someone to come up with a fun, original response that succinctly summarises who they are and shows us they can think on their feet.”
WHO ASKS IT The Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge
THE IDEAL ANSWER “Currently, our democracy is representative, which isn’t how IKEA chooses its managers. But maybe we need to rethink things. Also, companies are run for profit, and I don’t know if that would work when it comes to running a country.” THE WORST THING YOU CAN SAY
“We should! Meatballs for the masses!”
WHY “Anything that shuts down conversation is a no-go,” says Dr Samantha Lucy, the university’s director of admissions, meaning there is no right answer.“We want to see how someone works through ideas, which is why we ask open-ended questions that hopefully encourage logical, but also creative, thinking. We want someone who is willing to challenge their existing knowledge and basic assumptions.” Got it.