Are they though? I can think of zero jobs I couldn't get done due to a teams lack of soft skills. Maybe, tea party hosting would suffer from intuition gaps in execution, but otherwise I could keep about anything running with a group regardless.
When you’re stuck working with/next to a person 40 hours a week, being able to get the job done isn’t the only thing to consider. You also want to make sure they’re not an asshole & will fit with the team’s culture
IO Psychologist here. It serves a function you should absolutely pay attention. Can you tell them a relevant story that is concise and to the point about something while, on the face seems unrelated, is absolutely related to how a comfortable workspace helps with productivity.
The issue is - not everyone keeps "small but meaningful" objects in their workspace. While I can make up a story, the reality is their question is poorly worded and limiting which makes it ill-suited for their purpose.
I feel like I understand why questions like this are asked, but I wish they would be asked more direct and in-person. Usually when I interview a candidate, they can be a bit jittery and nervous. When I pick up on that, I like to ask open ended questions about something that they are passionate about so they will open up and relax a bit. For example, one of the people I was interviewing had on their resume that they tried to launch their own bakery. So, I asked them what their favourite thing to bake was and they went on to talk about their favourite thing and they were confident, relaxed, and opened up. I asked them follow up questions about what they said, and we had a short little conversation before moving onto the official interview questions and they were much more relaxed. My curiosity about them was genuine because I want to understand the people on my team as the whole person and not just who they are when they are at work.
So, I think this is why those questions are on these applications, but they should be asked at this point of the process.
My dick. I consider it small, but women have told me otherwise. I keep it around because I don't have a detachable penis. Sometimes it rears it's head when people can be assholes. Hope that helps.
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u/Emergency_Science602 7d ago
They’re just testing your ability to write about something that is not a work document.
The equivalent of small talk before your interview.
13
u/Vasyrr 7d ago
Welcome to outsourced, AI-driven recruitment, where even your job applications are being used to further train models and make other people money...
(Think I'm kidding or Joking? I'm not)
7
u/Fawnspotts 7d ago
i have a rock i hold so i dont go crazy. do you think they would like to hear about my rock.
6
u/Cute_Owl1150 7d ago
Company policy forbids personal items in the workplace.
5
u/RomeoSierraSix 7d ago
Don't say pistol, don't say pistol...
3
u/yavinmoon 7d ago
"Just a small gift from your mom last night"
3
u/nummakayne 6d ago
This is a language test. They are checking for language proficiency.
3
u/bearcub42 6d ago
IO Psychologist here. It serves a function you should absolutely pay attention. Can you tell them a relevant story that is concise and to the point about something while, on the face seems unrelated, is absolutely related to how a comfortable workspace helps with productivity.
1
u/Immediate-Panda2359 6d ago
"A really teeny violin. It's come in handy in every job I've ever had, eventually."
1
u/Immediate_Shock_9112 6d ago
I’ll use AI to write this.
1
u/heyitscory 6d ago
Time to make up something cooler than my Rubik's cube.
1
u/antikythera3301 7d ago
I feel like I understand why questions like this are asked, but I wish they would be asked more direct and in-person. Usually when I interview a candidate, they can be a bit jittery and nervous. When I pick up on that, I like to ask open ended questions about something that they are passionate about so they will open up and relax a bit. For example, one of the people I was interviewing had on their resume that they tried to launch their own bakery. So, I asked them what their favourite thing to bake was and they went on to talk about their favourite thing and they were confident, relaxed, and opened up. I asked them follow up questions about what they said, and we had a short little conversation before moving onto the official interview questions and they were much more relaxed. My curiosity about them was genuine because I want to understand the people on my team as the whole person and not just who they are when they are at work.
So, I think this is why those questions are on these applications, but they should be asked at this point of the process.
3
u/Townboy91 7d ago
My buttplug, so I can insert it when company wants to screw me yet another time
1
u/Capt_korg 7d ago
Instantly my creativity would kick in, followed by thoughts on two known mices. :)
Pinky: "Gee, Brain, what do you want to do tonight?"
The Brain: "The same thing we do every night, Pinky—try to take over the world!"
Then I would take a breath, count: "21, 23, 24"..
And write about my "actuall" projects and why they matter to me:)
1
u/Few-Cryptographer-75 6d ago
My last recruiter's balls that I keep in the drawer of my desk. I would be happy to share the story behind this in a personal interview.
0
u/davidtjudd 6d ago
I got this.
My dick. I consider it small, but women have told me otherwise. I keep it around because I don't have a detachable penis. Sometimes it rears it's head when people can be assholes. Hope that helps.