Osler's Razor

Props to Prof. Bankruptcy for being on the front page of the Wacotrib along with "unidentified woman."
 

If you were a vegetable? Which one would you be?
Bonus points if they say Terri Schiavo. What? Too soon?

Which do you prefer: the zebra or the giraffe and why?

In all seriousness, would you give up a job if you thought that it was between you and someone else that didn't have much of a chance but you had a chance?
I actually was asked once why I should be hired and I told them I shouldn't. It caught them off guard and they asked why while looking at me in disbelief and I told them I shouldn't be hired because I have other options and some people don't so if that situation was to arise then I shouldn't be hired because I'll be fine regardless.
They called the next day and told me I had the job.

For interviews, I think people should be surprising and employers should look for the unexpected. A friend of mine told me she goes to interviews with the attitude that the employer needs to sell him or herself. If you have other options, you need to be persuaded that one is better than the other. I really like her view on interviews. Work is mutual; the most important things are what the employer can give to the employee that others can't and what the employee can give to the employer that others can't. I think interviews should focus on both instead of just being about what makes the potential employee qualified.
 

Echoing anon, here's the link to the article and pics: http://www.wacotrib.com/search/content/news/stories/2008/08/20/08202008wacweather.html

Poor Bates' hair! It looks so sad and forelorn!
 

I don't know how the Bates story isn't top billing around here today. I mean, one of BU's finest on the front page of the Trib, with pictures and a "no comment"? That has to be front page on the Razor right?

Oh well, here are questions I would ask:

1. If you weren't doing this, what would you want to be doing?

(Boring predictable answers like "I would be an accountant" or "I would be a doctor" should tell you that you're hiring a brown-noser that is probably genuinely boring. Answers like, "I would be training to compete in olympic handball" should at least give you something to talk about).

2. When you go on vacation, do you fly or drive?

(This is a favorite at my firm. Drivers tell you that they are humble, from humble roots probably, and not into extravagance. Plus, allows you to talk about vacations, another interesting discussion topic)

3. Favorite book? Band? Movie?

(I'm always confused that these questions don't make it higher up the list for some interviewers. These are the things you talk about everyday at the firm. These are the things you relate with your coworkers about. If you're interviewing them you can assume that they're in your ballpark grades wise, education wise, etc. So, get to now what they like, and you will get to know what they're like. For instance, if they answered "The Communist Manifesto", "ABBA", and "The Last Temptation of Christ" then maybe they're not for you).

4. Lakes or oceans?

(Lake people are more traditional, ocean people more progressive and more adventurous. I'm a lake person)

5. Beer or wine? Both? Neither?

(Seriously. I think that is an important question.)
 

1) Assuming this is your first choice for a job, what would your second choice be?

2) How do you want to change the world?

3) Who is your hero, and why?
 

I did this before 6 years ago, but I had a colleague. this time its me, solo. 20 candidates, starting at 9 AM, going till 5 PM.

My temptation is to be silly and funny, as I like to think I have a good sense of humor. Usually humor disarms people and puts them more at ease.

But I'm happily employed.. these people are just starting year II of a tough three year slog and are nervous and anxious. So I don't want to come off as flip or uncaring.

-- Someday I'd like to see a post about how RIDICULOUS it is that firms such as mine are interviewing people in August for summer jobs that start in May of the following year that might lead to a full time job in September of the year after....

That's just nuts, but "everyone does it."

(I like the Schiavo joke, but sadly, its not "too soon," its "too late." I'd bet many people had to think "Terry Schiavo.....??? OH, yeah, her.")

I usually scan the resume and try to pick up on the most obscure point possible to see why they listed it... Future Farmers of America? Really? What was that like?
 

too late? well, i personally talked to natalie holloway and she laughed. unfortunately, she isn't back from spring break yet to make a blog about it.


haha get the connection? they're both late jokes! by the way, that isn't an insult to iplawguy, its an insult to the people that don't remember the women i'm mocking.
 

You could only make the Terri joke in the past tense because I don't think anyone likes rotting vegetables...
 

If you look at the slideshow of photos that go along with the Bates story, there are pictures of a shirtless guy in a tube with a snorkel. Classic
 

Why are you interviewing for a plush white collar job when you could be saving the children? It's because you don't care about the children, right?
 

This all smells of the John Edwards type of cover up. Why is the mainstream media (the razor) not reporting on this?!?!?

1) Just who is that woman?!
2) Is there a love child?
3) Why "no comment" Bates?
4) Just who paid for that BMW, was it the taxpayers in some fashion? If so, shouldn't there be an investigation?
5) Isn't it odd that a man that climbs mountains suddenly can't wade through water without the government's help?
6) Why all of these stories about IPObamaGuy to cover all this up?!
7) Is the Trib just reporting tabloid trash?
8) Was this near the Waco Hilton? If so, what time did Bates arrive?

We want answers, and these MSM cover up stories about OCI and Questions to ask just won't cut it.
 

Oh, I get it; you are interviewing for your law firm . . . I thought you were doing law school interviews. In which case, "Why do you want to be a lawyer?" would be the obvious question to ask--because you might actually get an interesting answer out of the 20 you interview.

How about "How many hours are you on the internet per day?" Might tell you if they are reading or just goofing off, and they won't know how to answer it . . . I don't know, that just popped into my head . . . or some variation thereof . . .

Or, you could give them a hypothetical situation (could be from a particularly difficult case you've encountered, but you don't have to tell the person that) and ask how he or she would handle it.
 

rrl said:
4. Lakes or oceans?

(Lake people are more traditional, ocean people more progressive and more adventurous. I'm a lake person)

This is an interesting question. What if you spent the first 20 years of your life by a lake and the next 20 by an ocean? Does that make you really messed up or an independent?

IPLawguy...
With regard to the interview - don't be too casual. I always like to observe the interviewees body language - do they fidget, look you in the eye,or how do they shake your hand. Are the over confident - yeah I know they want to be a lawyer...

I would be offended if the interviewer asked me about last weeks American Idol episode or my thoughts on particular sports teams - although the Olympics might be ok since it's topical. If the interviewee is intuative they know when you are just going through the motions and not really interested.
 

What Kung Fu skills do you have?

Do you have mob connections?

In-ie or out-ie?

What is your death row meal, and why?

Chapstick or breath mints?

What is your stripper name?
Describe at least two ways of determining said name, with all applicable spelling variations.

You have $10.00 and ten minutes to spend in Everything Is $1.00. What do you buy, and why?


Mrs. CL
 

1. How do you feel about utility companies?

2. Have you ever lived with a goat?

3. Where were you on April 19, 2007?

4. No one at this firm wears underwear. Is that going to be a problem for you?

5. What kind of tree would you be?

6. Are you a Level 5 dungeon master?

7. So you say you have not lived with a goat. Would you like to one day? Would you mind sharing an office with a goat? What about other types of farm animals? We have a corner office available with a great view but you'd have to share it with two sheep and a bison.