| I was sitting in on an interview with one of my clients | | | | 4. What book has impacted how you manage or lead |
| recently, when out of nowhere came a question that | | | | the most? |
| not only made the candidate take pause, but also | | | | 5. If you could only refer one book to someone |
| probably eliminated him for the job. It wasn’t a trick | | | | coming up the ladder what would it be? |
| question or illegal question. It wasn’t a question that | | | | 6. What do you do regularly to improve yourself? |
| the candidate couldn’t answer. In fact, it was so | | | | 7. In your annual reviews, what has your boss |
| simple the candidate should have been able to answer | | | | recommended you need to work on or improve on? |
| it easily. Instead, he sat there like a deer in the | | | | After they answer, the follow-up is, What have you |
| headlights thinking, because he didn’t have an | | | | done to work on those issues? |
| answer. The mere fact that he had to think on such a | | | | 8. How many books have you read in the last year? |
| simple question was a problem to begin with. | | | | 9. What periodicals do you read daily or weekly? |
| So what was this simple question, “What is the | | | | 10. What is your favorite business book of all time? |
| most recent book you have read that will help you be | | | | I have heard all of these asked in one form or another |
| a better employee?” This could be any business | | | | in my 30 years as a recruiter. In fact, I even ask them |
| related book on, leadership, management, social | | | | when I know a client will ask them. |
| networking, staffing, biographical, functional, | | | | The fact that these questions may not directly link to |
| organizational, self-improvement, etc in the last 6 | | | | one’s ability to perform in the job, they do reveal a |
| months. The person has been unemployed for 3 | | | | lot about the person and their understanding to |
| months so it isn’t unreasonable to assume they | | | | constantly improve themselves. A CEO that wants to |
| read, or is it? | | | | constantly improve the company wonders how a |
| So what would you have replied? Please leave your | | | | candidate can do this, if they don’t even work to |
| answer in the comments section. | | | | improve themselves. |
| I find it amazing how many professional people | | | | I hope this helps you better prepare not only yourself, |
| don’t read on a continuing basis. If for no other | | | | but for an interview. |
| reason than to stay up to date on trends, changes and | | | | If this article was helpful to you it will be helpful to your |
| advancements in their field. So many candidates stop | | | | friends. Please help others looking for a job by passing |
| reading non-fiction after college. We find that the very | | | | along to your network, posting on your Facebook, |
| best candidates we work with are continually | | | | adding it to Linkedin status, Twitter the link. We all need |
| improving themselves by reading. Not just periodicals | | | | to help out. |
| like the WSJ, trade magazines, or blogs, but books. | | | | Join our Linkedin Job Search Networking Group. 3400 |
| I started thinking back about other similar questions | | | | others have joined in on the discussions and articles. |
| I’ve heard asked, usually by CEO’s, during an | | | | CLICK HERE to join. |
| interview that most can’t answer. I’ve listed | | | | Download our FREE sample cover letter. This is a |
| them below to help you out, so you don’t end up | | | | proven cover letter that gets your resume noticed. |
| looking like a deer caught in the headlights. | | | | CLICK HERE to download. |
| 1. What do you do to stay current and up to date in | | | | Have you browsed our FREE audio library? All of |
| your profession? | | | | the recordings from our talk radio show are there for |
| 2. How many workshops, seminars or training | | | | you to download and listen to for free. CLICK HERE to |
| programs have you attended in the last year? | | | | download. |
| 3. What is your favorite book on leadership? | | | | I welcome your thoughts and comments. |