Whether you are a hopeful candidate, or an employer looking for someone who will live up to your professional expectations, preparing for an interview is not always easy.
There’s always an element of the unknown when it comes to this crucial stage in the recruitment process. Getting ready to talk about qualifications, skills, and experience should be straightforward, but you can never fully anticipate what the other person is going to say.
Employers tend to have the upper hand because they’re asking the questions. However, if recruiters want to avoid making mistakes, they should remember that the most talented and in-demand candidates could be put off a job by interview questions that reflect badly on the interviewer.
The recruitment experts at Resume.io surveyed 2000 Americans to find out about the questions that interviewers should probably avoid asking. They also put together an accessible infographic of tips for interviewees, on how to respond positively to the 10 worst questions.
The research shows that people particularly hate being asked seemingly impossible ‘brainteaser’ style questions that aren’t really relevant to the job. 16% of people in the study thought ‘How many gas stations are there in the US?’ was the worst question.
Following that, 13% said they particularly disliked being put on the spot with task-based questions like ‘Persuade me to buy this pen,’ and 12% felt uneasy imagining where they would be in 5 years.
The study also revealed some unconscious bias in the type of questions directed at men and women. Women were asked about their strengths and weaknesses 10% more than men, while men were 12% more likely to be asked a trick maths question, and questioned 10% more about brushes with the law.
If you are preparing to interview a new employee, it’s worth bearing in mind that the questions you ask in an interview can tell someone a lot about how much your company supports and respects your workforce. And if you’re on the receiving end of the questions, it’s useful to have an idea of what curveballs might come your way!
Check out the infographics below to find out more about the worst questions to ask in an interview.
