Excelle

Why should we hire you?

Now really this question gets under my skin. After you sit and answer all the other questions that equsl to this one. Does it really make sense? I want to say  "I need this job" But we all know that answer sounds desperate. What would your answer be?

Leslieleigh says ...

This question is so vague.  They should hire you because you will work hard and....    (just put them first)

I keep telling people the wrong answer; when they ask me how I am, I tell them that I am unemployed!   

Thats the generic answer everyone os looking for no one wants to hear the truth. It is like asking "Why am I doing this interview?"

I hate that one too. I used to ask them, "Well, would would you like to know?" even though "experts" say never to ask this. You don't want to talk about your personal background, where you grew up, ethnicity-related issues or anything that may get you disqualified. The problem is you don't know WHAT will or will not get you disqualified at the interview. Tell us about yourself is meant to get you to open up and talk about your achievements or other such qualities. It's better to answer with a direct answer like "I managed 2 annual financial audits between 2002-2004". "I enjoy project management because it allows me to .........." That's how I used to handle this.

One of my friends, who obviously isn't well-informed and socially conscious,  advised me to just answer these "illegal" questions instead of getting defensive or upset  "if you want the job". My response to her was, "Well, if the interviewer asks these illegal questions - then I definitely don't want THIS job. Furthermore, I always look at it this way - they are evaluating me and I am also evaluating THEM. If someone has the nerve to ask this at an interview, then what will they have the nerve to ask or worse, do after they hire me? The answer is I don't want to find out.

Dana_B says ...

I was asked by the owner (an older man) the following inappropriate and, I believe, illegal questions...

• Do you have kids?


• Are they in daycare or...?


• Are you married?


• Will you and your family be able to handle the hours?

Those should've been my red flags, but the pay was good, it was closer to home, new experience...Worst place I have EVER worked in! I'm am so happy where I'm at now!!

Unbelievable! What year is it? I am sick and tired of this mind set of being, well... tired!

Verdaria says ...

I had a job interview in a CPA Manhattan office last fall of 2008. He asked me my age. I politely asked him how that was related to my qualifications and to the job he was trying to fill. His response was that he was "looking for someone mature" - my resume says graduation date of 1995 - so I am clearly in my late 30s, right? Is that mature enough or do I need to be retired to identify with his clientel? Of course the interview went downhill following that age question. I never heard from  him again and I was actually glad. He made me feel extremely uncomfortable - BUT I WENT HOME LAUGHING. BECAUSE HE IS THE ONE WITH THE ISSUES, NOT ME. Someone please tell me, what exactly was the point of asking that question? I went home thinking ,"He's clearly a weirdo." Good riddance. :)

If being in your 30's is not mature, then what is? Why would that question be relevant? I have no idea either. No matter how you rationalize it, it really comes down to the fact that it is just not relevant - EVER!

Verdaria says ...

I was advised on another site to remove my graduation date but I feel it looks even more suspicious as it now prompts them to ask you the question. You are drawing their attention to the "age issue". Here's my viewpoint: some places don't feel comfortable asking about marriage, kids and daycare but the age question is more acceptable to them. You can find out someone's age from their resume, graduation date, and work experience. I'm leading some more here so stay with me: they assume that most women in their 30s (and over) probably have kids, daycare issues, etc. Since they're afraid to ask about that here in Manhattan, New York, they prompt about age. New York City is very litigious - lawyers are a dime a dozen - so some people find ways of poking at sensitive issues "between the lines." And no, I am NOT removing my graduation date. :)

Good for you! You know, I sometimes feel we live in well, a backwards nation. In our society, there are many people who believe that if you do not work constantly, have perfect attendance, and basically put your work before your life. These are the same people who push for family values, however it is not acceptable to put family before work? To put work first, life second? What is the point of working or having a career if you are unavailable to live it or enjoy it! Granted some people love their work or career very much but that should not be your whole life.

Verdaria says ...

The medium and smaller companies are a lot more family-oriented and humanistic.

Not necessarily. The company I mentioned above was a small franchise...Seems to me they weren't as accountable, so they got away with as much as they could without anyone noticing. It's not the size of the company, all depends on the precendent and goals set by the owner and managers. If they want happy, reliable employers, they will treat them with respect, train them well, and appreciate them.

Here is some good advice I found on how to answer/deal with  illegal interview questions:

http://www.jobweb.com/interviews.aspx?id=1343

I found it rather helpful. The important thing is to remain calm and focused, as hard as that may seem.

Sales is typically on commission only or draw plus commission (which is commission against draw). This is one occupation where there is alot of misrepresentation going on regarding income. There really is no "salary" in the traditional "9-5" way. But the fact that nobody is discussing it should be a red flag to you. I would move on to other job opportunities. In this recession, sales is really not doing well right now.

Why should we hire you

What are your strengths

What would you bring to this company

The answer to these questions determine whether you get a positive response or negative response after that interview. What they want to know is how you will add value to the team, company, department or organization. Yes you want and need a job but they need help getting a job done that will help keep the business going. With the number of job seekers available to companies now it is critical that you be able to answer these questions when asked. What is unique about you that would make us want to hire you over the first 20 candidates we have interviewed this week - that is what they are asking. Look at it this way, you know you better than anyone and if you can not tell them why you should be hired why would they know. You can not put everything about your self on a resume and to a trained interviewer your answer to this questions speaks a lot about the type of coworker and employee you will be.

It is crucial that you be able to answer these questions in such a competitive market of employment seekers. There is abook called Marketing Yourself which helps answer this and many other interview questions (I found this very useful). What Color Is Your Parachute is another used by job seekers and even helps you identify jobs you may be most suited for. Titles which may help answer those question but are not specific to employment search and interviews are The Brand Called You (not positive on title) and if you happen to be an Oprah fan and know Stedman he has a title Build Your Own Life Brand.

I have interviewed potential employees after they have been screened by human resource personnel, and I still interview freelancers.

Would it be rude and disrespectful if you answered, "Presently, I do not have the answer.  When the time does come, I will inform you as soon as possible."

How can any woman or man give any answers to the above?  We are sure of the present and we know what we need to do tomorrow, but the future is completely unsure of.  Of course, we have our dreams and our goals.  We also know that it could change, whether for good or bad.

Here's my scenerio:

"Do you have kids?"  No.

"Will you have kids?"  I am sorry that is a private answer.

"Are you married?"  At this time, no.

"Are you in a relationship?"  Yes, I am.

"Is this person a "he" or "she"?"  (Now it is getting too personal.)  Because we as human beings need to respect other individuals' privacy. 

What if you are in a same sex relationship or marriage.  Is it really their business to know your personal and private information where you do not share it with a compete stranger?  What if you are married to someone who does not share the same religion as you...would that be brought up in the interview?

There are some things, okay many things that each of us would need to know...whether to reveal private answers or simply say, "I feel this is validating my rights."  It is no one's business, but your own.

Perhaps I was going off-track, but there are some weird questions and you are in such disbelief that the interviewer has the nerve to bring up such a question.

thank you

Hmm, it is between a tiger and a snake!  No dog or cat...or hamster... I do not want to be on a "wheel" all my life.

Yes that questions is crazy.  I often wonder if they sit in a room and decided which questions will drive applicants nut.  By the time you leave the interview you wonder how you really did.

So many interview questions are pointless -- from my perspective, they often point to laziness on the part of the interviewer. They haven't really given your resume a good look so instead of asking pointed questions about your experience, they ask very general, cliche questions. The trick is to take these silly quesitons and use them as an opportunity to really showcase your experience/strengths. Even if their quesitons are vague, your answers don't have to be!

I wrote this article about how to answer some of the hardest interview questions:

http://excelle.monster.com/benefits/articles/3388-15-toughest-inter...