A tough competency based interview question

In my meeting with Andy Griffin last week we discussed some tough interview techniques.

Andy said that one of his favourite interview questions (particularly for sales people) was –

“If you were a dog, what would you be?”

This is one where the answer does not matter – it’s the way that you answer it.

Andy said that there are lots of people who give you all the right text-book answers (the guarded ones that don’t reveal too much), but when they get to this question they are thrown right off guard and give you a real insight.

You might expect an answer like “I would be a Jack Russell because I like to sink my teeth in and never give up till I get the sale.”

The most surprising answer was “I would be a Spaniel.” When asked to explain, he said that he was well liked, had lots of energy and was able to build rapport with people. A good answer.

So which dog would you be and do you have any other examples of good interview questions? Leave your answers in the Forum