There’s a social media video circulating on some of the platforms where a content creator asks, “Tell us something that feels illegal to know.” I figure that this would make for an interesting blog premise. As a former District Manager of a world-wide company, I am now at complete liberty to divulge information to potential job candidates which will improve their chances of landing the job they’re after.
For starters, part of my job as a District Manager was to assist our Human Resources Department in hiring personnel in filling vacant positions. Oftentimes, if I had an opportunity to interview a candidate, and then initiate their hiring, my department got priority in filling our vacant spots with that very candidate. I got first dibs, sort of speaking. It was the only way I knew to secure someone for positions I needed to desperately fill.
The more familiar I became with the interview process, the better I became at weeding out any applicants who simply did not fit the profile of the type of person who would succeed in our operations. As I became familiar with the hiring process, I
also became acutely aware that the interview questions I was provided with by Human Resources, were designed to immediately identify those prospects who represented too high a risk to bring onboard.
Answering the following questions correctly, will give applicants the best opportunity to ace an interview with any potential employer:
1. Have You Ever Felt the Need to Break a Rule to Get a Job Done?
Tricky in it’s structure, employers want to know that job candidates are proficient in their work, but are proficient only to the extent that they adhere to company policies and procedures. Any answer other than “No” to this question, is an immediate disqualifier, so be prepared to always give an answer which will appeal to the employer’s desire to do things “by the book”.
2. What Aspect of Your Current or Previous Position did You Like the Least?
Read that question again and notice something you may not have noticed at first glance; the question is NOT asking what you hate or hated about your current or past job. It is asking what you LIKED least about it. This question is designed to gauge your propensity to bad mouth your employer. Rather than spill the beans on something you particularly hated about your job, answer this question with as much positivity as possible. For example:
“Prior to the 2019 pandemic shut-down, I enjoyed the daily interaction with customers. As we began to reduce our one-on-one interactions with the public, I found that I truly missed the special business relationships I was able to cultivate with some of our regular clientele. I am really looking forward to a day when we may all resume that way of conducting business.”
3. If You Saw a Manager Breaking a Safety Regulation, What Would You Do?
Nobody wants to be labeled a snitch. The asking of this question is not posed to determine your loyalty to upper management. It is asked to see if you are ready to take action should you observe something that should not be taking place. Employers lose millions every year to safety infractions. They spend even more money towards properly training staff on safety procedures and the use of safety equipment. The correct answer to this question is simply,
“I would mention what I observed directly to the manager. Perhaps the manger failed to notice that they were not in compliance and just needed a friendly reminder? In either case, I would speak up and err on the side of safety. If I’m ignored or the manager proceeds to violate the safety policy, I would follow what I am certain is a pre-determined chain of command.”
There may be other questions like these, but as long as you remember to always answer them in such a way that helps you put your best foot forward, you will breeze your way through any interview.
-Omar Tarango is a Freelance Blogger and Social Media Manager-