Interview questions that I cant fathom

Any help please

[Essex_boy]

I spent 17 years in a the public in sector in the UK, firms will always over blow any situ that 'might' affect them, which means they are managing the 'problem' kind of proves they are managers in their own minds. Frequently, no massive problems (Govt policy changes) on the horizon has ever come to fruition which may cause a disaster.

Goes with out saying that this has lead to many, many many wasted hours in silly meetings.

A bit like the millenium bug but for us something similar happened every two years or so.

As a result questions in interviews come up over a period of time (every one asks them) and then disappear never to be asked again. Which implies that the 'managers' were clueless and just jumping on the bandwagon.

Sooooo current interview question is this 'Have you ever been in a team?'

Should I ask them to clarify what exactly they mean by 'team' i.e a department or a specific group of people put together to clear up a known problem ? Or do they mean sporting team ? Or both.

[lucy24]

Every time I hear the question “Are you a team player?” (Query: Why even ask the question if you are not prepared for the possibility of a “No” answer?) I want to put on a blank-innocent face and say “No, sorry, I’m not really good at sports.”

[Shepherd]

Are you a team player?

No, feel free to fire them upon my hire...

[Essex_boy]

Lucy24: In my case Im no good at sports ! Blindly obvious if you saw me, i have said I have been in a team (work based department) the next question was 'What did you do in the role and what was your part'

Errrm trying reading my CV its all fully explained..... Id love to say.

[tangor]

Q: Why do you want this job?
A: Obvious reasons, but what I really want is your job.

Just so happened the boss was listening in. I got the job. Actually lasted about 5 years. :)

[lucy24]

In my case Im no good at sports!

I think “team player” is purely a US term. It’s one of that long list of stock expressions that are only meaningful if you already know what they mean--and yet they’re used in situations where you might very likely not know. (Is it intuitively obvious that, between a “hobbyist breeder” and a “backyard breeder”, one is good and the other is bad? Someone just decided which is which.) When you sign on with a new medical practice, there's a stock list of questions. Buried somewhere in the list is a reference to “hurting yourself”. They are not asking if you’re a cutter; they’re asking if you have ever had suicidal thoughts. Seems like that would yield a lot of false negatives, especially among younger people establishing their first medical relationship.

[graeme_p]

I think you should definitely ask them to clarify.

Is it possible the person asking the question is not clear what they mean?

[Essex_boy]

Yes there, but i've had it asked by many firm public firms in the last 2 years, give it another year or so and Ill never be asked it again, they'll move on to something else.

They used to asked have I ever used a 'reporting dashboard' and have I ever been involved in setting up a 'Customer service level agreement', never been asked this since 2012ish....