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The Riskiest Question You Could Ask In An Interview
 

Ultima-RDK's picture
CD
(Orangutan, 305
 
Points)
 on 4/26/12 at 2:25pm
caution

Link to article: The Riskiest Question You Could Ever Ask In A Job Interview - But It Always Worked For Me.

I’d look at the interviewer square on and let the moment hang in the air, to the point where his eyes would dart nervously or he would start to slowly close the notebook in his hands, assuming I had no questions. Then I’d ask, in a measured tone with just the right mix of seriousness and lightness, “If you didn’t offer me this job, what would the reason be?”

The author then goes on to say that she, during her twenties, packed in dozens of interviews. Reflecting on this time period, she says:

"As I’ve only now discovered to both my surprise and chagrin, this question is one of the riskiest and quite possibly one of the most disconcerting to ask an interviewer. Yet every single time I asked it at the end of the interview, I ended up with a job offer."

Later on in the article, the author admits that she posed the question to three senior finance (investment banker, hedge fund executive, and head recruiter at a global financial services firm) executives, with the former two concluding that the question was more or less inappropriate and shows a lack of judgment. She also concedes that this cheeky tactic might have just been better suited for her particular industry of journalism.

Looking back on my interviewing days, I've used a line pretty similar to the one used above -- usually only when I felt that I wasn't connecting very well with my interviewer. My experience with such a question has been generally positive in that it sort of serves to clear the air between interviewer--interviewee.

Maybe something that you had said earlier in an interview had been misinterpreted and needed to be readdressed in a different manner. That being said, I probably wouldn't bother asking this in an interview if I knew I already bagged it and I just needed to have some generic question at the end to show some degree of interest in the job...

Your thoughts?

Are there any questions you've asked that served to change the dynamic of your interview?

Are there any other industries you think this type of question would be better received? (traders?)

Sometimes lies are more dependable than the truth.
Tags:

Comments

pdoher01's picture

In the past I have asked "Is

CO
 
Points)
 on 4/26/12 at 3:22pm

In the past I have asked "Is there any reason you might think I am not qualified?"

Difference between this and her question is that this allows the interviewer the opportunity to say no.

West Coast rainmaker's picture

You will not get an honest

ER
(Neanderthal, 2,072
 
Points)
 on 4/26/12 at 3:22pm

You will not get an honest response...instead, they'll say something like "we had a very strong applicant pool".

I agree, it does show lack of judgement. The q&a is not meant to answer questions...it lets you work in things not otherwise addressed, and gives the interviewer a chance to show off.

pdoher01's picture

I think if phrased in an

CO
 
Points)
 on 4/26/12 at 3:25pm

I think if phrased in an inquisitive way as opposed to intimidating, it can be a good way to clear up objections the interviewer may have to you. I think it is a great way to turn around an interview that isn't going well. But again, it's all about tone.

manbearpig's picture

I've always used the

CO
(Neanderthal, 3,029
 
Points)
 on 4/26/12 at 3:27pm

I've always used the following variant of this question.

"Do you have any concerns about my ability to succeed in this role?"

At the very least, it gives you an opportunity to defend yourself in advance, and shows you have balls.

-MBP

Slacker23's picture

I haven't asked the question

PE
(Baboon, 132
 
Points)
 on 4/26/12 at 3:28pm

I haven't asked the question exactly like that, but have had success with asking the interviewer what my biggest hurdle would be in being a fit for the position.

Especially in cases where there's an awkward tension... Interviews where you can tell that there's something not being said. Just don't get defensive when they tell you what your biggest issue appears to be. If their concern is something you can genuinely mitigate, then you can address it. If it's a legitimate issue, then you wouldn't have been a good fit anyway

WallStreetOasis.com's picture

manbearpig: I've always used

EN
(Human, 12,073
 
Points)
 on 4/26/12 at 3:57pm
manbearpig:

I've always used the following variant of this question.

"Do you have any concerns about my ability to succeed in this role?"

At the very least, it gives you an opportunity to defend yourself in advance, and shows you have balls.

I've used this many times and I think it works if you deliver it with a respectful tone.

#1 It shows you have balls

#2 It shows that you really want the job. You can even state something direct like this

You don't want to come off as desperate, but if you are direct and respectful, you usually end up winning the interviewer over.

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Human's picture

manbearpig: I've always used

PE
(King Kong, 1,891
 
Points)
 on 4/26/12 at 4:08pm
manbearpig:

I've always used the following variant of this question.

"Do you have any concerns about my ability to succeed in this role?"

At the very least, it gives you an opportunity to defend yourself in advance, and shows you have balls.

Agreed with MBP here. I asked that question at every single interview to clarify interviewer's concerns and defend myself.

"I am the hero of the story. I don't need to be saved."

AndyLouis's picture

"Do you have any concerns

 
Points)
 on 4/26/12 at 4:22pm

"Do you have any concerns about my ability to succeed in this role?" - i like that..

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Poff's picture

Personally, I hate any

(Baboon, 152
 
Points)
 on 4/26/12 at 4:39pm

Personally, I hate any variant of that question. I don't think it shows that someone has balls. To me, it sounds insecure. If you absolutely nailed the interview, that's the worst possible question you can ask at the end.

If you screwed up the interview, I'm most likely 1) not going to tell you why you're not going to get an offer and, 2) it won't matter what you say at the end to try and "defend yourself".

Use the entire interview time to mitigate ANY possible objection which would make me think that you're not qualified. If you do, you won't have to ask a silly question like that at the end.

paulydreamer's picture

manbearpig: I've always used

AM
(Orangutan, 329
 
Points)
 on 4/26/12 at 5:12pm
manbearpig:

I've always used the following variant of this question.

"Do you have any concerns about my ability to succeed in this role?"

At the very least, it gives you an opportunity to defend yourself in advance, and shows you have balls.

Manbearpig,
I had an interview 35 mins after I first read your comment . The interview is for a BB's AM arm. I thought that was such a good question to ask an interviewer. So at the very end I asked your question word for word. He told me how he honestly felt about my lack of exp. I countered that with some stuff I learned off the WSO guides . He then leaned backed and said, "great points and your lack of exp isnt that big of a deal". I really feel like I will be writing a success post in the near future. Thanks to all!

Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men.- JFK

Human's picture

paulydreamer: manbearpig: I

PE
(King Kong, 1,891
 
Points)
 on 4/26/12 at 5:17pm
paulydreamer:
manbearpig:

I've always used the following variant of this question.

"Do you have any concerns about my ability to succeed in this role?"

At the very least, it gives you an opportunity to defend yourself in advance, and shows you have balls.

Manbearpig,
I had an interview 35 mins after I first read your comment . The interview is for a BB's AM arm. I thought that was such a good question to ask an interviewer. So at the very end I asked your question word for word. He told me how he honestly felt about my lack of exp. I countered that with some stuff I learned off the WSO guides . He then leaned backed and said, "great points and your lack of exp isnt that big of a deal". I really feel like I will be writing a success post in the near future. Thanks to all!

I am glad that things are going well at your end buddy. Hope to hear good news from you soon.

"I am the hero of the story. I don't need to be saved."

Human's picture

Poff: Personally, I hate any

PE
(King Kong, 1,891
 
Points)
 on 4/26/12 at 5:18pm
Poff:

Personally, I hate any variant of that question. I don't think it shows that someone has balls. To me, it sounds insecure. If you absolutely nailed the interview, that's the worst possible question you can ask at the end.

If you screwed up the interview, I'm most likely 1) not going to tell you why you're not going to get an offer and, 2) it won't matter what you say at the end to try and "defend yourself".

Use the entire interview time to mitigate ANY possible objection which would make me think that you're not qualified. If you do, you won't have to ask a silly question like that at the end.

"Can I have your job?" Is this hardcore enough for you? :P

"I am the hero of the story. I don't need to be saved."

cheese86's picture

I think it is a stupid

HF
(Gorilla, 576
 
Points)
 on 4/26/12 at 5:25pm

I think it is a stupid question...agree with the person who said if you killed the interview it doesn't possibly add anything.

paulydreamer's picture

Human: paulydreamer: manb

AM
(Orangutan, 329
 
Points)
 on 4/26/12 at 5:42pm
Human:
paulydreamer:
manbearpig:

I've always used the following variant of this question.

"Do you have any concerns about my ability to succeed in this role?"

At the very least, it gives you an opportunity to defend yourself in advance, and shows you have balls.

Manbearpig,
I had an interview 35 mins after I first read your comment . The interview is for a BB's AM arm. I thought that was such a good question to ask an interviewer. So at the very end I asked your question word for word. He told me how he honestly felt about my lack of exp. I countered that with some stuff I learned off the WSO guides . He then leaned backed and said, "great points and your lack of exp isnt that big of a deal". I really feel like I will be writing a success post in the near future. Thanks to all!

I am glad that things are going well at your end buddy. Hope to hear good news from you soon.

Thanks buddy! I really hope so. You have really helped me a lot. It is still not ER but as Mercury Morris said, "Don't call me when you' re in my town, call me when you're on my block" I have always been in the town because I worked in a BB but I am now on ER's block so "ring ring".

Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men.- JFK

DrPeterVenkman's picture

AndyLouis: "Do you have any

O
(Gorilla, 707
 
Points)
 on 4/26/12 at 5:49pm
AndyLouis:

"Do you have any concerns about my ability to succeed in this role?" - i like that..

Agreed.

Great blog post.

See my WSO blog

BoxerRebeller's picture

Seeing as we're talking about

(Orangutan, 271
 
Points)
 on 4/26/12 at 6:07pm
Neighbor's picture

paulydreamer: manbearpig: I

IB
(King Kong, 1,236
 
Points)
 on 4/26/12 at 6:19pm

I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.

Ultima-RDK's picture

paulydreamer: manbearpig: I

CD
(Orangutan, 305
 
Points)
 on 4/26/12 at 6:50pm

Sometimes lies are more dependable than the truth.

drnick175's picture

A ballsy question that needs

CO
(Monkey, 33
 
Points)
 on 4/27/12 at 1:40am
manbearpig's picture

paulydreamer: manbearpig: I

CO
(Neanderthal, 3,029
 
Points)
 on 4/27/12 at 8:02am

-MBP

Oreos's picture

paulydreamer: manbearpig: I

HF
(Neanderthal, 2,450
 
Points)
 on 4/27/12 at 11:13am
jeffsmonte's picture

Ive used a simillar line in a

(Baboon, 125
 
Points)
 on 4/27/12 at 11:32am
paulydreamer's picture

Oreos: paulydreamer: manb

AM
(Orangutan, 329
 
Points)
 on 4/27/12 at 1:11pm

Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men.- JFK

Human's picture

Oreos: paulydreamer: manb

PE
(King Kong, 1,891
 
Points)
 on 4/27/12 at 1:16pm

"I am the hero of the story. I don't need to be saved."

drnick175's picture

paulydreamer: This question

CO
(Monkey, 33
 
Points)
 on 4/27/12 at 10:20pm
BoxerRebeller's picture

manbearpig: I've always used

(Orangutan, 271
 
Points)
 on 5/1/12 at 7:30pm

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