An Interview Where Being Honest Burned Me

by Scott
(Delaware, OH, USA)

I arrived for the interview 10 minutes early. I was ushered into a closet like room, where there was only enough space for two chairs and a card table. They apologized for the odd interview room, stating they were new to the building and all of their furniture had not arrived. I sat and waited for a few minutes and a woman walked in. She smiled and we made our normal introductions. Her only question was "What is it about Management that makes you angry?"

Needless to say, I was very taken aback. I had never been asked a question like that in an interview. As uncomfortable as it made me, I answered honestly (which is how I have always handled all of my job interviews). I told her that when managers spend all their time delegating their work to others and basically do nothing it angers me. She asked me to state another thing that angers me in management. I told her it is irritating when your manager does not know how to do all the jobs she/he is managing. I told her I felt that if you are a manager, you should know how to do every job that you supervise. She nodded and excused herself.

In a few minutes, after I had been left to ponder what on earth was going on, a man entered the little room. He sat down and told me that he did not think I would work well in the office because it was obvious that I had management issues and did not like to take orders from other people. I was in shock and just sat there a minute. I instantly decided this place was crazy, nodded, and excused myself from the interview.

I learned that sometimes honesty is NOT what employers are looking for. Sometimes, I think they just want you to fill their minds with useless sunshine. I would say, if the question seems like a trick or really out there, answer with a question. I should have said, "Why do you ask?" It was just the weirdest interview ever for me.