Why do employment applications ask the most inane questions?

2007-12-10 18:26:00

#1

Hurricane: Banned; +1,153|7111|Washington, DC

So I've been browsing some employment applications in anticipation of the summer. I realize it's 6 months away, but I've got nothing better to do at 9:29PM on a Monday night.

So first I check out this ice cream shop I like. Tasty stuff. Inane question #1:

"Have you ever been to one of our stores? Describe your experience."

I'm scared that if I just say "the service was great and friendly, and the ice cream was delicious" they won't take me seriously, yet at the same time I doubt they'll take much stock in me saying "My experience at your store was not unlike that of a muslim's first pilgrimage to Mecca."

But then... THIS one takes the cake.

"What do you like about ice cream?"

What. The. Fuck. I hope it's just like a trick question or something; I'll go insane if real-world jobs like store / company management ask you the same shit. Yeah, ice cream is tasty... that's what I like about it. I cannot believe that they would actually gauge someone's eligibility for employment (for working the damn register and scooping ice cream at that) with a question like that.

Same with Starbucks. "What do you like about coffee?" It doesn't taste like shit and it keeps me awake.

Does anyone have advice on what to do when you come across stupid questions like these?

2007-12-10 18:27:08

#2

Acrnstlkr: Member; +11|6477|Iowa, USA

same reason the cops ask if u got hand grenades or nukes in your pockets...lol

2007-12-10 18:27:26

#3

aimless: Member; +166|6605|Texas

At my interview, Best Buy spent a good 10 minutes on about 25 different questions about Loss-Prevention. Have I ever stolen anything, will I, have you ever witnessed stealing, would you report them, etc...

2007-12-10 18:27:47

#4

elite.mafia: Banned; +122|6934|USA

It's not the question. It's how you answer it. It's a question that opens your mind.

2007-12-10 18:29:58

#5

Bert10099: []D [] []\/[] []D; +177|7221|United States

Just to see how you answer. Test your personality.

Don't leave it blank.

2007-12-10 18:30:05

#6

Hurricane: Banned; +1,153|7111|Washington, DC

elite.mafia wrote:
It's not the question. It's how you answer it. It's a question that opens your mind.

The only thing in my mind that's opened with "What do you like about ice cream?" is the desire for some ice cream.

edit: Aimless, that's a lot better than some open-ended question that looks like what you'd find on a MySpace "personality test"

Last edited by Hurricane (2007-12-10 18:30:50)

2007-12-10 18:31:03

#7

Flaming_Maniac: prince of insufficient light; +2,490|7187|67.222.138.85

Hurricane wrote:
elite.mafia wrote:
It's not the question. It's how you answer it. It's a question that opens your mind.
The only thing in my mind that's opened with "What do you like about ice cream?" is the desire for some ice cream.

They just want to increase revenue with their applications.

2007-12-10 18:33:21

#8

Bert10099: []D [] []\/[] []D; +177|7221|United States

Acrnstlkr wrote:
same reason the cops ask if u got hand grenades or nukes in your pockets...lol

But that's really to see if you have a guilty conscience. If you at least smile, you're ok, if you don't do anything, you've got something on your mind.

2007-12-10 18:34:27

#9

Bert10099: []D [] []\/[] []D; +177|7221|United States

Flaming_Maniac wrote:
Hurricane wrote:
elite.mafia wrote:
It's not the question. It's how you answer it. It's a question that opens your mind.
The only thing in my mind that's opened with "What do you like about ice cream?" is the desire for some ice cream.
They just want to increase revenue with their applications.

Or want to test whether you'll be stealing ice-cream or not.

2007-12-10 18:35:22

#10

Flaming_Maniac: prince of insufficient light; +2,490|7187|67.222.138.85

Bert10099 wrote:
Flaming_Maniac wrote:
Hurricane wrote:

The only thing in my mind that's opened with "What do you like about ice cream?" is the desire for some ice cream.
They just want to increase revenue with their applications.
Or want to test whether you'll be stealing ice-cream or not.

I suggest saying you absolutely abhor ice cream, but it's your life's goal to get other people fat on ice cream.

2007-12-10 18:42:36

#11

Bert10099: []D [] []\/[] []D; +177|7221|United States

Or tell them that "It's funny you should ask that question. I invented ice-cream."

2007-12-10 18:43:15

#12

cowami: OY, BITCHTITS!; +1,106|6770|Noo Yawk, Noo Yawk

Cue san4 saying "Dude, learn to spell. It's 'insane'."

2007-12-10 18:48:38

#13

san4: The Mas; +311|7169|NYC, a place to live

cowami wrote:
Cue san4 saying "Dude, learn to spell. It's 'insane'."

Dude, learn to spell. It's cute san4 saying "Dude, learn to spell. It's 'insane'."

2007-12-10 19:17:46

#14

Skorpy-chan: Member; +127|6825|Twyford, UK

Well, what WOULD you ask in an application form?

It's a test of answering awkward questions anyway. They suck.

2007-12-10 19:18:26

#15

Hurricane: Banned; +1,153|7111|Washington, DC

Skorpy-chan wrote:
Well, what WOULD you ask in an application form?

It's a test of answering awkward questions anyway. They suck.

"Why do you think you should be an employee of ours?"

Then you list qualities like hard work discipline, etc. Not... what you fucking like about ice cream.

2007-12-10 19:57:06

#16

aimless: Member; +166|6605|Texas

I remember hearing that Microsoft interviews had some pretty interesting questions, like: Why are manhole covers round instead of square? and How do they get mm's perfectly smooth (or how do they print the "mm", i forget)?

2007-12-10 20:00:36

#17

Flaming_Maniac: prince of insufficient light; +2,490|7187|67.222.138.85

aimless wrote:
I remember hearing that Microsoft interviews had some pretty interesting questions, like: Why are manhole covers round instead of square? and How do they get mm's perfectly smooth (or how do they print the "mm", i forget)?

Well no damn wonder Windows has so many bugs, they hired all the sewage engineers and chocolatiers instead of programmers.

2007-12-10 20:01:14

#18

Darkhelmet: cereal killer; +233|7231|the middle of nowhere

They probably have some reason for doing it...

2007-12-10 20:05:43

#19

stryyker: bad touch; +1,682|7200|California

The Fire service has some pretty inane ones tbh, heres an example from my seasonal application

"If a Fire is approaching rapidly from the South, but your Officer gives the order to hold the line at all costs, what is your response?"

I was like, i dunno,lol

2007-12-10 20:08:51

#20

aimless: Member; +166|6605|Texas

Flaming_Maniac wrote:
aimless wrote:
I remember hearing that Microsoft interviews had some pretty interesting questions, like: Why are manhole covers round instead of square? and How do they get mm's perfectly smooth (or how do they print the "mm", i forget)?
Well no damn wonder Windows has so many bugs, they hired all the sewage engineers and chocolatiers instead of programmers.

Haha you are probably right!

BF2S Forums Why do employment applications ask the most inane questions?

elite.mafia wrote:

Hurricane wrote:

elite.mafia wrote:

Acrnstlkr wrote:

Flaming_Maniac wrote:

Hurricane wrote:

elite.mafia wrote:

Bert10099 wrote:

Flaming_Maniac wrote:

Hurricane wrote:

cowami wrote:

Skorpy-chan wrote:

aimless wrote:

Flaming_Maniac wrote:

aimless wrote:

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