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Impossible Interviews

James Shaw
Have you ever been faced with an interview question that seemed impossible to answer?


Mine was delivered on the premises of a 'world class' engineering company. "How would you ensure that a project is completed on time?"


My mind raced from the general to the particular - If I knew the answer to that I would be a billionaire! - Strikes, bad weather, supplier failure, poor specifications etc. Probably no words came out as the interviewer started to drop hints, "It begins with a 'P', it ends in 'N', it has four letters." "Plan?" I say. "Exactly!" says he. 'Idiot' thinks I.


In retrospect perhaps it was a test to see if I was suitable to develop for senior management - the 'big picture' people. "We will deliver better value, we will be smarter!" But how? Engineers, small-minded, always bothered about the details!


Needless to say, I didn't get that job. Perhaps just as well.
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    Roy,

    Thank you for your comprehensive summary of the interview process in all its forms. Just picking up on one item out of the many, I certainly recognise the internal interview situation where it can often be a formal cover for 'Buggin's Turn'. The first part of my career was essentially spent 'doing', I was 'the expert'. After gaining another degree I changed employer and became more a commissioner/manager of contracted works. At some point there was an internal vacancy to do a job very much related to what I had done in my 'doing' phase. I must surely be the ideal candidate, proven ability in the manager role and hands-on expertise in the subject! It soon became very clear that the interview was just a paper exercise, my experience was 'out of date' apparently, (good excuse). The interviewer went on to tell me how he was spending millions on a project that was obvious to me from my training and experience couldn't possibly work. I just bit my tongue and decided I wouldn't have fitted in anyway.


    Actually that raises a "I wish I had known that earlier" point. One of our management courses covered 'Stages of Delegation', something that doesn't seem to be common knowledge. The theory is that at Level One the boss does everything, the subordinate watches and learns. Going up the levels the subordinate does more and the boss less, until the deadly Level Five. At this point the subordinate knows more than the boss. "You don't want to be there" said our management guru. He was right.


    No chance of Countdown - I can't stand the jingle and arithmetic is for machines! Reading Simon's comment, I'm very impressed if he can mentally pair out numbers in the one to ten set!
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    Roy,

    Thank you for your comprehensive summary of the interview process in all its forms. Just picking up on one item out of the many, I certainly recognise the internal interview situation where it can often be a formal cover for 'Buggin's Turn'. The first part of my career was essentially spent 'doing', I was 'the expert'. After gaining another degree I changed employer and became more a commissioner/manager of contracted works. At some point there was an internal vacancy to do a job very much related to what I had done in my 'doing' phase. I must surely be the ideal candidate, proven ability in the manager role and hands-on expertise in the subject! It soon became very clear that the interview was just a paper exercise, my experience was 'out of date' apparently, (good excuse). The interviewer went on to tell me how he was spending millions on a project that was obvious to me from my training and experience couldn't possibly work. I just bit my tongue and decided I wouldn't have fitted in anyway.


    Actually that raises a "I wish I had known that earlier" point. One of our management courses covered 'Stages of Delegation', something that doesn't seem to be common knowledge. The theory is that at Level One the boss does everything, the subordinate watches and learns. Going up the levels the subordinate does more and the boss less, until the deadly Level Five. At this point the subordinate knows more than the boss. "You don't want to be there" said our management guru. He was right.


    No chance of Countdown - I can't stand the jingle and arithmetic is for machines! Reading Simon's comment, I'm very impressed if he can mentally pair out numbers in the one to ten set!
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