Quote:
Originally Posted by
Manton 
Perhaps, but then the interviewer is getting what he deserves for asking a stupid question.
Yes, it's a REALLY stupid question.
Anyone with half a brain can answer it well, so it's hardly particularly discriminating.
You know what's worse, I got asked it at an interview once. It's a dumb question already and then they go and ask it to someone with a background both in psychiatry & in teaching interview skills?
The root cause of these dumb questions is the eternal search for "fairness" and "equality" in interviewing (a flawed concept if I ever heard one). A good interview is by its nature NOT fair. It should explore both the successes and failings of the person in front of the panel, to determine whether they would be a good fit for the organisation. While at the same time allowing the interviewee to determine whether they want to work for the organisation.
Few interviews really do this though. They nearly all play a very silly game of question & answer, with predictability on both sides, and often with a set script of questions for every candidate. This is not appropriately discriminating at all.
