Job interview question

[dsmccain]

Had a job interview today for a teller at the bank. The last question the interviewer asked was, "If you could be the best person on the worst, or the worst person on the best team, who would you be?"
I told them the worst person on the best, and that there is always room for improvement.
How would you all answer that question?

 

[ruaround]

depends on what the team is for... or if you have leadership skills or want to learn them...

 

[tizzo]

Wow that's a stupid question!! They already have their "correct" answer in place, so your already on the defense. There are things wrong with both answers. Your logic though, may save you...
I used to know a guy who, when he interviewed, you were already disqualified if you entered the interview without wearing a watch. Somebody's stupid OCD antics keep a qualified person from employment...

Their logic was, "If you can't keep track of time, or if you don't care to, then your not competent to be trusted with anything else"
Ah well... I think your answer was the best one. Shows your not a controlling type.

 

[al mc]

What an insane question. If your background check is good, you are not on drugs and you have good math skills..who cares what your answer would be.
I am sure someone got paid a bunch to come up with it though.
Weirdest question I ever got for school/employment: What is the most dangerous animal in the world? I 'passed' even though I gave 'the wrong' answer!

 

[ruaround]

Originally Posted by Al Mc
http:///forum/post/3067697
What an insane question. If your background check is good, you are not on drugs and you have good math skills..who cares what your answer would be.
I am sure someone got paid a bunch to come up with it though.
Weirdest question I ever got for school/employment: What is the most dangerous animal in the world? I 'passed' even though I gave 'the wrong' answer!
a human...

 

[al mc]

Originally Posted by ruaround
http:///forum/post/3067703
a human...
That was the 'correct' answer. When the question was asked of me I debated for a second and thought that would make me sound 'paranoid' so I answered a Great White Shark. It was a vet school interview and luckily I was accepted despite my mistake.

 

[flpriest]

I'm pretty sure neither answer would have been "right" or "wrong". Their more concerned with the logic behind the answer you choose. Most all "what if", "if you could" and "if you had the choice" questions are more geared twards the logic behind the choice than the specific answer.
Your choice looked to me like good logic!

 

[jdl]

Originally Posted by flpriest
http:///forum/post/3067721
I'm pretty sure neither answer would have been "right" or "wrong". Their more concerned with the logic behind the answer you choose. Most all "what if", "if you could" and "if you had the choice" questions are more geared twards the logic behind the choice than the specific answer.
Your choice looked to me like good logic!

yes they are looking for your logic. However i feel the logic is 'wrong' as well. For a job, i wouldnt look for someone that isnt the best. If the job was between 2 people, i would hire the person that thought they were the best. This question has many answers depending on the situation and the person asking the question.

 

[flpriest]

Originally Posted by JDL
http:///forum/post/3067739
yes they are looking for your logic. However i feel the logic is 'wrong' as well. For a job, i wouldnt look for someone that isnt the best. If the job was between 2 people, i would hire the person that thought they were the best. This question has many answers depending on the situation and the person asking the question.
That is one way to look at it... Another would be that if you were the best member on the worst team, how good does that make you?..

 

[jdl]

Originally Posted by flpriest
http:///forum/post/3067741
That is one way to look at it... Another would be that if you were the best member on the worst team, how good does that make you?..
or if you were the worst member on the best team, how good does that make you?

it all depends on the person asking the question. Pray they wanted a worst member on best team answer.

 

[flpriest]

Originally Posted by JDL
http:///forum/post/3067756
or if you were the worst member on the best team, how good does that make you?

it all depends on the person asking the question. Pray they wanted a worst member on best team answer.
i guess better than the best member on the worst team...

i guess when your the interveiwee, it's best to answer truthfully and hope your what they'er looking for.

 

[reefraff]

Answering worst person on a good team would give me the impression you were someone looking for a free ride. Answering best person on a bad team would give me the impression you thought you had the talent and work ethic to improve the team but it could also mean you were cocky and over confident. I think they were probably looking for your explanation of why you answered the way you did more than which way you answered.

 

[tangman99]

I would have said the Best person on the worst team and then I would fire everyone else and steal all the people from the best team except for the worst one.

 

[spinylobster]

I would simply answer... " I would never be a part of a team"

 

[ruaround]

Originally Posted by spinylobster
http:///forum/post/3068103
I would simply answer... " I would never be a part of a team"
and thats simply the worst answer ever...

 

[spinylobster]

 

[jackri]

I took an ethics test for a job once... like if you knew your dad was stealing from his workplace would you turn him in?

[hr]
... I answered honestly and said no of course and still got the job but I think they want to know if you're willing to lie for a job. That ethics test for valet parking cars was worse than my background check for my military job -- go figure.

 

[stdreb27]

Originally Posted by Al Mc
http:///forum/post/3067697
What an insane question. If your background check is good, you are not on drugs and you have good math skills..who cares what your answer would be.
I am sure someone got paid a bunch to come up with it though.
Weirdest question I ever got for school/employment: What is the most dangerous animal in the world? I 'passed' even though I gave 'the wrong' answer!
Wow that borders on an illegal question.
Originally Posted by JDL
http:///forum/post/3067739
yes they are looking for your logic. However i feel the logic is 'wrong' as well. For a job, i wouldnt look for someone that isnt the best. If the job was between 2 people, i would hire the person that thought they were the best. This question has many answers depending on the situation and the person asking the question.
I dunno, there is more than one way to look at this, The best person on the worst team may not be better than the worst person on the best team. The best team will have better overall people. Think about the yankees their team is loaded 1 through 9 and there are some teams where their slugger or ace pitcher wouldn't make that team...

 

[dsmccain]

haha, well thanks for the responses, it don't matter what i said. It was an interview for a bank teller job, but I ended up getting hired at a different branch, same company. But I laugh because the branch that asked that question is still dying for help. They just farted around hiring people, so I didn't want to waste time and went to the other branch. Best decision i made.

 

[t316]

There are deeper reasons for these types of questions. Once, during a polygraph test, I was asked..."do you ever look at your feces before flushing?" They were looking for a lie, no matter how big, small, or embarrasing.