Question i have been asked on a job interview...please answer!?!?!?

Question

ok here is the question i have been asked:

"If you had to pick ONE answer which would it be? ....to come to work late or would you steal from the company?"
i answered "come to work late"...but i asked my friend the same question and he said the correct answer would be to choose "neither" and say that both of the answers are bad answers and that i cannot answer the question! but if that is true, wouldnt the employer think that i coudnt make a decesion?

no i didnt get the job....i hate job interviews because i think a lot of people LIE when they answer question on job interviews...its just a bunch of B.S. to me anyways...i hope i become my own boss in the future...i really do belive most people cheat their way through college and have no right having the job they have....and i have a problem with people who think they control everybody just because of the position they are in. (such as judges) they always talk down to people and i just wanna smack them across their face sometimes

Answer 1

LOL - I've never heard this question, but I like it! (I'll see if my HR friends have other insight.)

So - I agree with you, but I'd expand ... (and I can see why "Neither" makes sense too.)

I'd've said "Well, if I couldn't avoid it, I would come to work late. While I plan to give plenty of time for traffic and other considerations, sometimes things happen that can't be controlled. (For example, extreme accidents that shut down the freeway.) I would be sure to call my manager as soon as I knew I wouldn't be on time and offer to take a shorter lunch or stay longer to make up for my time lost."


It seems to me that stealing is always a choice, but in the real world, things happen that will make the most dedicated person late - I don't think that is wrong, but that expanding on the answer would help.

Best of luck!

Answer 2

I don't believe there is a "correct" answer to the question. It depends on the interviewer. The company I'm currently with would have accepted the answer "Come to work late - better than not showing up at all". And if you are going to steal from a company - steal big and leave the country. Some companies believe that being late is the same as stealing.

Best to be yourself on a job interview - because that way - when you do get a job they will know EXACTLY who you are!

Answer 3

If it were me, I would have probably said "Neither is acceptable behavior, and you will find that I would never do either of those things. Accountablity is something I pride myself on. But If I had to pick one, I would say I would rather my coworkers come to work late rather then steal from the company, although they are stealing time from the company when they come to work late."

This way, you assure the interviewer you do not think these things are acceptable. You point out a quality that employers want in employees. Then you answer the question so you are not avoiding the question altogether, but by using your coworkers as the people actually stealing/being late, you are not placing the situation of you doing these things in your potential bosses eye.

Answer 4

If you had to pick ONE answer which would it be?

The key words here is "had to pick".
It must be answered but not necessarily a choice.
Sounds like a trick question,

If one were paid a salary, not on an hourly wage, the correct answer would be, "Neither".
Both are "stealing". One is paid time, the other is/are supplies or inventory.

Answer 5

thats a stupid question asked by a novice interviewer.... kinda like the where do you see yourself in 5 years--the REAL answer is "hmm, i'd like to your boss".. but you cant say that, right?

i think your friend is right coming to a job late and you're on salary is stealing. but as far as the answer state--neither because i'm an honest person! always answer the stupid question to reflect on you in the most positive manner.

Answer 6

The correct answer should have been that you view them as the same thing. Coming to work late is technically stealing time and money from your employer. You should have told them morally you would not allow yourself to do either.

Answer 7

While "neither" sounds like a fair way to avoid answering the question, I suspect if you said, "I'd call in first to say I was going to be late" they would prefer to hear that.

You don't mention whether or not you got the job. I suspect the question was just to see if you get flustered when faced ith tricky situations.

Answer 8

No, making a descison is the key of the question. there is alway another way or solution. The question is to see if you can find other way to do thing.

Answer 9

i was asked a similar question but i said neither. if you think that it will affect you getting hired i say you call the employer and explain why you said what you said. maybe he/she will understand. good luck!

Answer 10

specific, and issues could be extra diverse in a sturdy way, for ex: whilst somebody checklist abuse on somebody without reason could be put in a extensive black checklist the place anybody can see the evil, selfish, jealous human beings.