Play Book Tag discussion
Archives 2016-2017
>
Question Google Exec asks every job candidate-not totally off topic, promise!
date
newest »
newest »
I didn't find the article in the link, but I googled it and here it is:http://www.businessinsider.com/meg-cr...
An interesting premise, but maybe flawed. My husband is one of the smartest people I know. He is a senior risk manager for a major bank. He is very intellectually curious, but only reads a book a decade on average! He does read a lot online though, mostly business and sport related.
I think it's a great question. When I was interviewing for colleges, several admissions officers asked me that question. I don't think I was ever asked the question for a job interview. I don't think it's necessarily about intelligence but I do think the amount and breadth of what you read is likely highly correlated with intellectual curiosity. I am sure there are some (like Susie's husband) that this question would miss but overall I think it is one of many possible indicators of intellectual curiosity.
Susie wrote: "An interesting premise, but maybe flawed. My husband is one of the smartest people I know. He is a senior risk manager for a major bank. He is very intellectually curious, but only reads a book a d..."Online reading would count too though. I don't think reading a book should be the only standard by which we judge intellectual curiosity. My husband is a journalist and he doesn't read much in his spare time because he spends a majority of this work day reading.
And my husband could, in an interview, discuss the type of reading he does do which would highlight that he is indeed intellectually curious.
I think "smart" is maybe different than she's getting at. I usually have a group of 3-5 interns working for me each semester from an ivy league school, an expensive liberal arts University and a mid-tier University. Sadly the ivy leaguers have been the most difficult to work with. I'm certain they are smart and I'm certain they know it.
I've never asked this to anyone while interviewing them- however I hire for entry level positions so I can't be too picky. That question is one of my favorites though. When I am around little kids I like to ask them what they've read in school. Partly because I don't have kids and song really know how to talk to little kids lol, partly because i genuinely want to to know, and partly because I think it's a great question. I've been out of the house for quite a few years but my mom still asks me "what are you reading" every time I come home to visit. I think it's great.
I'm thinking back to all of the people I've hired, particularly the ones that haven't turned out to be as they seemed in the interview. I think this question may have really helped! Two spring to mind that were disastrous but interviewed fabulously. Had this question been asked I think their true natures may have been more effectively highlighted.
I just interviewed my final candidate this morning! Wish I would have seen this sooner.
My husband is a writer, he writes all his books, speeches and the content for his newsletter as well as all the content for his DVD's and pamphlets that are updated regularly. He doesn't read fiction but he reads all the time - three newspapers a day, research books, online rules and regs, nonfiction about his field of expertise. He also reads an occasional bio or a book about baseball. He is extremely well read - just doesn't really read for 'fun'. He spends so much time reading for work he prefers to watch TV to reading more.
Susie wrote: "An interesting premise, but maybe flawed. My husband is one of the smartest people I know. He is a senior risk manager for a major bank. He is very intellectually curious, but only reads a book a d..."But she is primarily concerned about intellectual curiousity; she counted his sort of reading; she even mentions if they've read an article in the NYT. She also talks about hobbies tying into intellectual curiousity
Karin wrote: "Susie wrote: "An interesting premise, but maybe flawed. My husband is one of the smartest people I know. He is a senior risk manager for a major bank. He is very intellectually curious, but only re..."That will teach me for skim reading the article! ;-)
My husband reads so so little beyond the newspaper and Time magazine - - but pretty much no books. He used to read some, and then he pretty much stopped. He is bright, very hard working and super duper capable at his job . . .but it is not a job that really requires a ton of intellectual curiosity. Both my sons don't read books either (much to my chagrin), but one is incredibly intellectually curious and the other not a bit. The curious one constantly asks questions, talks about what he learns in school, googles all sorts of things, watches educational tv and YouTube videos, etc. But books, no. Personally, I feel as though fiction is primarily entertainment . . .if you are reading lots of non-fiction, that may say more about you. I love readers because I share a bond with them, but not sure I totally agree that as an interview question it is necessarily revealing.
It's funny that almost universally we're married to husbands who don't read novels really. My husband also reads a lot for work, he's a scientist, but doesn't have a lot of extra time for novels. He has been reading graphic novels recently or comics, I can't be sure, this is not my expertise.
My boys, husband and son, aren't big readers either but my husband is always listening to NPR and loves science programming on PBS. My son downloads every Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me program and that's his entertainment while driving. (And they both listen to, watch, and talk baseball!) While not reading, they choose activities that demonstrate intellectual curiosity.
I think you could also spin this question and answer with a TV show and it would still be very impressive. It seems like what they are really looking for is someone who is interested in something that is not just work and can articulate it.I have been asked this question and it is interesting but I am often reading something chick lit. I am always honest though! I usually say (with a self-deprecating chuckle), that I read for a break from work and school and that I like contemporary romance. I then usually throw in some more impressive books I have read lately.
If I asked this question, I think I would be equally impressed by someone who said, "Honestly, I don't read for fun very often. Instead, I really enjoy watching House of Cards. TV has changed so much in recent years and it provides insight to and education about political, social, and current events. I am sure House of Cards had no idea it would be so relevant with the current presidential election and it taught me about brokered conventions this latest season!"
Same thing with a podcast that someone really likes. I would love any of those answers even if I asked about reading.
Nicole wrote: "I think you could also spin this question and answer with a TV show and it would still be very impressive. It seems like what they are really looking for is someone who is interested in something t..."I think you missed your calling as a good interview coach!
Anita wrote: "I think you missed your calling as a good interview coach! ..."Actually, part of my job is providing guidance for public speaking, interviewing, etc. ;) I would not say I am a COACH because I don't have that much experience, but I do give helpful tips for both speaking and visual presentation materials!
One of the big things I do is work with fellow early career women on the do's and don't's of being a woman working in male dominated fields (or any field, for that matter).
Appropriate since the male-dominated world of science wasn't challenging enough so I moved to law ;) lol
From now on- anytime someone asks me what TV Show I just watched I'm saying Jeopardy.
Susie wrote: "An interesting premise, but maybe flawed. My husband is one of the smartest people I know. He is a senior risk manager for a major bank. He is very intellectually curious, but only reads a book a d..."My husband is the same way, except that he doesn't read sports. He always reads something to help him learn a new skill. He's very recently started listening to the Ender's Game audio books. I've been married to him for 18 years and it's the first time I've seen him read any type of fiction.
My husband is a reader ... it's how we fell in love. He was reading an epic adventure/romance by Noel Barber (I forget which one), and he started to tell me the story on our first date. To make it easier to keep the characters straight, he cast the two of us in the leading roles (I was the diplomat's daughter; he was the soldier of fortune). Well, I could hardly wait for the next date to find out what happens! (Obviously, the boy gets the girl ... or the girl gets the boy ... )He still reads for pleasure, but seems to read many more magazine articles these days rather than books.
Oh, and we still tell each other the story whenever we are reading something particularly gripping.
BC, that is an ADORABLE story! I love it!
Book Concierge wrote: "My husband is a reader ... it's how we fell in love. He was reading an epic adventure/romance by Noel Barber (I forget which one), and he started to tell me the story on our first date. To make it ..."Love it!!! So romantic. I somehow managed to marry someone who doesn't read and doesn't like pets. I won the latter battle. I feel he fooled me on the former because he read a lot more earlier on.
My husband does not read novels. He is a slow, thoughtful reader of nonfiction, sometimes rereading favourites.My dad, OTOH, used to read novels for years, but now that he's in his 80s he mainly reads nonfiction. It was via my dad that I was introduced to Ken Follett, Jeffrey Archer (not so keen on him) and a variety of other non-literary fiction authors, plus he's always read some nonfiction. My mother mainly reads literary fiction and mainstream fiction.
Just saw this strand… One of the things I worry about is how the phone/technology craze has changed reading. I always have a book with me (duh - so do you guys.) But the last few times I have gone for a Mammogram, (2 hour wait), a doctors appointment, ridden a bus or the T, no one else has a book or paper anymore. They all have their phones solely. No one brings a book to wait for their child in the pick up line…. I worry most for my children, for whom have never picked up a book for pleasure, and why should they? The call to the phone, madden mobile, snap chat, instagram, or the X box is still too great. There is also good teen TV. I worry that reading for pleasure is going out of style, and I have no idea how to teach my active sporty low reading comp boys to enjoy and choose to read. I worry I will never have daughters in law or grandchildren - (who will date them, if I am not there to grab away the phone?) I do think societally this has become a problem. Only we, are the antidote. Its one of the reasons I am loving this Goodreads site so much these days. I don't have a Facebook page, but I am sucked into the dreams of great books to read, and the conversations with you guys around this. I love the interactivity of it, but also knowing that you guys are out there, in love with this way of life. I am the busiest woman I know, but this is a part of my imagination and consciousness. I feel kindred with all of you. Just sharing - on this lazy Saturday morning where there is only three soccer games. A light day….
Amy wrote: "Just saw this strand… One of the things I worry about is how the phone/technology craze has changed reading. I always have a book with me (duh - so do you guys.) But the last few times I have gone ..."I am often staring at my phone at the car pick up line, but I am reading a kindle book on it...so you never know.
I don't think it's a bad question because as people have said, it's not exactly what you say vs how you say it. My husband used to be a big reader of epic fantasy (Wheel of Time, Game of Thrones, etc). However, he hasn't really found anything to peak his interest in recent years. I have gotten him into audio books for his commute but he rarely reads otherwise. So far, I haven't kicked him out for that ;-) He does think my reading is a bit crazy -- especially when I get caught up in challenges, etc.
Amy wrote: "Just saw this strand… One of the things I worry about is how the phone/technology craze has changed reading. ...I worry I will never have daughters in law or grandchildren - (who will date them, if I am not there to grab away the phone?) ..."I am always amazed to see people in restaurants ... each on his/her own phone texting away, rather than talking to one another. Last week I was at a play and the young woman in front of me was playing a game on her phone right up to curtain time! (When she put it down but didn't turn it off, because I could still see that little "glow" ...) Seriously? Just stay home.
I think this group would have a lot to talk about. I initially clicked because I'm interviewing candidates right now and I find it stressful and so challenging.