How to avoid dumb HR Questions 1

[AbbyNormal]

I am flying up to my hometown and alma mater to interview 4 grads for an EIT position with me.

I don't have much use for the typical human resource interview questions, I think it will come down to which one demonstrates the most common sense and has a personality that does not grate on mine.

I guess it comes down to first impressions, rather than answers to dumb HR type of questions.

Take the "V" out of HVAC and you are left with a HAC(k) job.

 

[IRstuff]

But, shouldn't that also be coupled with:

> some insight as to whether the candidate is a flight-risk?
> some insight as to whether the candidate can solve his way out of a wet paper bag?

TTFN

Eng-Tips Policies FAQ731-376

 

[PatBethea]

But don't you want to know what kind of a tree the interviewee thinks he/she is? : )

 

[MikeHalloran]

New grads today are _all_ flight risks. Their parents unintentionally showed them what loyalty bought ... er, didn't buy.

Besides, if you've got a turnover problem, hiring a particular kind of candidate is not going to fix it.


Agreed about problem- solving. I usually pose a few simple problems, e.g. bending of a prismatical beam, simply supported. Not "What is the formula?", but "You can look up the formula; what do you need to know about the problem in order to predict the deflection?". I usually pose them in a homespun way, i.e., it's a footbridge across a pond full of alligators, etc.

I probe hard for the depth of _any_ knowledge or experience they might claim.

... and I _never_ tell them what 'the answer' is, or give them a hint why I asked a question or whether they got it 'right' or 'close'. I just go on to the next question... not to be cruel, but to see how they react to the real life pressure of not being told what the 'right' answer is, or if one even exists.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[IRstuff]

I think that those HR questions like "what do you see yourself doing in 15 yrs," etc., can give you some amount of insight into flight risk, e.g., do they have unreasonable expectations about their future?

TTFN

Eng-Tips Policies FAQ731-376

 

[ChrisConley]

The problem with HR questions is that interviewees prepare for them: In 15 years I see myself in a superviory position with your company.

My best interviews have been more along the lines of a conversation without formal questions. Figure out what you actually want to know about the candiate, and ask them in casual conversation. You'll get more honest answers.

One other tip, encourage the interviewee to 'interview' you about the position. By answering their questions candidly you can set the tone for the interview.

Good luck,

P.S. Can't you just show pictures of where their going to work and then ask who will work for the least money?

 

[AbbyNormal]

Well right now I am looking for a one year comittment. You can't stop them from fleeing I guess. This is a first world, tax-free, tropical island, lots of scenary and the Caribbean, beaches and palm trees are not hard on the eyes either.

Its always an easier decision to make to relocate here in Jamuary than June.

Would not bother me if someone hung around long enough to get their hours in to write a PEng/PE exam.

I may have to put them on the spot with some kind of simple problem to look at.



Take the "V" out of HVAC and you are left with a HAC(k) job.

 

[RossABQ]

I look for a couple of things in an RCG (recent college graduate):

1) have they ever had a job of any kind? You'd be amazed at how many haven't EVER had ANY job. These are bad risks IMO; they don't understand that an 8:00 start time means damn it, you're HERE at 8:00, not 8:15, not 8:30! The kind of job is a factor, but I don't expect too much in the way of relevant experience. Working a customer service job is a bonus -- shows they can interact with grownups. If they worked their way thru college, double bonus points.

2) Why are they applying to your company? (and not someone else) Are they doing it because your office is near a ski area? Or the ocean? or because their interests professionally align with the type of work you do. (I had an applicant who really wanted to work in the Northeast because of the amateur hockey opportunities; I pointed out that New Mexico is not the center of the hockey universe. How long would he stick around?!).

3) A tough one is finding out if they have any motivation to do a quality job, to grow professionally, and give the company their undivided attention. No on-the-side jobs, no internet business. Are they a socety member (ASHRAE, ASME, etc) and active? Did they take the Fundamentals?

4) Do they consider their education over? This is one of the hard ones too. A lot of them think they're done. I know how good that feels, after maybe 18 yrs of school, but it's just the beginning! If they don't want to embrace that, they are destined to be losers.

MikeHalloran, your ploy of not telling the answer rings home! I interviewed Dow Chemical in Chicago in '75, and the interviewer asked a "test" question that has been driving me crazy for 30 years! He did it to others in my class, all of us will remember him for a long time!

 

[AbbyNormal]

1) I worked my way through

2)It is an overseas position in the Caribbean, so the location can be appealing, as is the professional work experience they will gain.

3) I taught the one HVAC course at that particular school, when it was decided to give senior professors an early retirement. What I am looking for really is a boot camp rookie. I can teach anyone with common sense what they need to do to work for me. Its difficult to moonlight here, for one they will be on a work permit, and in some ways it makes you an indentured servant. I had many work permits while here, prior to owning the company.I am still on a work permit, but indentured to myself.

4)They will have no misconceptions on this point.




Take the "V" out of HVAC and you are left with a HAC(k) job.

 

[rmw]

Ask them if they participated in any student organizations, especially technical ones like student section of ASHRAE or ASME and if so, did they write any papers or participate in any competitions.

If they worked their way through, even if they only had a "C" average, grab them.

rmw

 

[MikeHalloran]

I have a couple of favorite 'trick' questions, the answers to which are counterintuitive, or at least obtuse. I'd probably drop dead if a any candidate just flat knew the correct answer, and so far it hasn't happened, but I'm more interested in how and whether they deduce something plausible.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[simsd]

I'ld be happy if they just showed up and showed some oomph!

 

[RossABQ]

"I'd be happy if they just showed up and showed some oomph!"

Bonus points if their pants aren't down around their knees with their underwear displayed!
;-)

 

[AbbyNormal]

Baggy pants and underwear.

See that in the local youth here, not sure how hip hop has caught on in the Great White North. Have been away from Canada for a while, but I bet they show up suits.


Take the "V" out of HVAC and you are left with a HAC(k) job.

 

[ChrisConley]

Our last few interviews did show up in suits, two of three showed up unshaven looking like they hadn't had a haircut in a couple years.... but they did have suits.

 

[BronYrAur]

I was once given an IQ test as part of an interview. It wasn't stated as such, but it covered the same kind of material as an IQ test. Seems strange looking back, but it gave them an idea who they were dealing with.

Any recent grad, regardless of GPA, doesn't know much about the "real world". Even so-called work experience may be misleading. I work for a mechanical engineer/contractor, and our interns are quite often just glorified secretaries. Maybe they do some CAD work, pull a cooling load, or takeoff a drawing, but ususally it's more clerical work.

If you have a specific task that they will be doing, focus on that during the interview. Otherwise, just get someone with a good head on their shoulders and a good work ethic. You can mold them from there. of course, how do you determine that in a short interview??? You might exagqerate the responsibilities and working hours a little to see if they flinch.

 

[AbbyNormal]

They were all suits or shirt with tie. All shaved

Got two candidates in mind, based on the first impression and the minor common sense test I gave them. Of the two one was much more eager, and is more advanced in the CAD skills. The job would start as draftsman/grunt, then allowed small layout and designs etc after time.

It is difficult to get people to relocate here, even though it is supposed to be a paradise.



Take the "V" out of HVAC and you are left with a HAC(k) job.