Job Interview Blues

In the past week, I've had 3 job interviews, 2 of which were for the same company.

To be honest, I am not actively searching for a job.  In fact, I had no intentions of going back to the rat race again this year, but somehow I found myself updating my resume, wearing those blazers I haven't worn in ages, and making my way to the Human Resource department.   I guess I am just grabbing opportunity as it presents itself.   Maybe it is serendipity?   

In one of my interviews last week (this is for an non-life insurance firm), I was made to wait for 2 hours before the HR head got to talk to me.  While waiting, the HR assistant wanted me to take a qualifying exam, which I refused to take.  Yes, I was being a little difficult there.   

I told the girl, "NO, I am here ONLY for an interview and I will NOT take that test".   

This raised a few eyebrows from the other applicants in the room, and frankly, for managerial positions up, I do not think an exam is necessary.   Moreover, the last 2 jobs that I held didn't require an examination, so I was pretty confident I was not being unreasonable nor arrogant.   

After about 2 hours of waiting, I was finally called by the HR head.  And the first thing she said was, "Tell me something about yourself".

OMG!

  

That was what I had to wait for?   That was not the first time I have ever been asked that question in an interview, and yet I still think that is a lame question, a question posed by someone who has not done his/her homework of reading your resume in advance. What did she expect me to answer? Things that are already in my resume?   

I seriously wanted to answer, "Can I start by telling you that I HATE that question and I don't think highly of people who actually pose that question?"  

Of course, prudence got the better of me and I was able to restrain myself, forced a smile and summarized my professional credentials in 2 minutes or less.

I don't know if that is a standard HR interview question and if at all it has psychological basis.   Just how do you answer a question like that?  Do you steer off track and mention things not in your CV? Do you intimate interesting personal details that will reveal your character?  Or do you take the safe route and just state your qualifications in a nutshell?  Can somebody please tell me?

I am reminded of my first job panel interview about 12 years ago.   I was being interviewed for a management trainee position for BPI.   

I remember a lady in the panel asked me, "What appeals to you more, a writing job or a marketing job?"  

I answered, "Marketing job" in all confidence.  

Then a fellow from the panel asked, "Do you have a boyfriend?"

I didn't know how that question was relevant, but I still replied and said, "No".  

Then the lady remarked, "It seems to me you want a marketing job but you can't even market yourself".    

I was dumbfounded.  

You see, I was just 20 years old then.  I was young, intimidated and inexperienced.   How could I have a have a witty retort?   But boy, do I regret not being able to answer them back. 

I should have said "It is a seller's market, there are a lot of buyers wanting a piece of me, so I take my time to make price move up".

But I was caught off guard. My brain temporarily shut down at that critical moment.

Oh, the plight of people looking for jobs!  I wish I were more successful in business so I wouldn't have to put up with silly questions like these in job interviews.