Comments on: What is Dignity? My definition.

by: Elisa

Wed, 09 Aug 2006 17:44:23 +0000

I agree that these questions are hazing, and I don’t think they do a thing to improve the quality of the workforce. In fact, I’d bet that they decrease the quality of the workforce as jobs end up being populated by sociopaths who are willing to “pass” the HR test by telling them what they want to hear.

by: Miguel

Wed, 09 Aug 2006 17:28:44 +0000

another question I hate at an interview is have you ever gotten mad at anybody. That question is so insulting. We’ve all gotten mad at somebody at one point or another. The interviewer asking the question has him/herself gotten mad at one point or another. But don’t you dare say yes because if you do your name will be crossed out. I just hate the psychological mind games that are played in interviews. I also remember being asked if I ever stole anything. Another insulting question. This is also an affront to the dignity of those people coming out of prison who want to get back to work and become productive members of society. Wall Street to me resembles frat row in college. You have to go through a hazing ritual so you can become accepted.

by: Elisa

Mon, 07 Aug 2006 17:30:03 +0000

I agree - the “what is your weakness” question only tests how well you finesse the answer. If you object to finessing answers on principle, then the door slams in your face. As I see it, the big problem is that HR consultants are training companies to take this “expert” approach to interviews. The consequences have been to drive people out of the work force and cover it up and cover it up with “full employment” statistics that exclude those who have been unemployed for a long time and thus are “no longer looking” for work.

See this article in the New York Times: http://tinyurl.com/pgmff

I seriously doubt this problem is as “male” as the article suggests, and the hidden assumption is that only men have dignity related to their work identities. If we took the sexism out of it, though, I think the article draws an interesting picture of how people resist the indignities that people with employing-power inflict on everyone else.

by: Miguel

Mon, 07 Aug 2006 15:40:17 +0000

The question I hate most in an interview is WHat do you consider to be your greatest weakness. THat question is designed to wheed out people that the corporate structure considers imperfect should anyone be sincere enough to answer that question honestly. IF you say I get nervous easily or don’t have the best learning curve you’re out. Instead of trying to cultivate your strengths and help you compensate for your weaknesses corporate America wants the perfect employee ready made that they don’t have to train because they don’t want to waste the time money or effort. You have to say things like I work overtime to the point that I neglect my family or I try to hard to please my boss. Nice pleasant sounding things like that.