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How do you answer this interview question? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter JNox3
- Start date
Dentist
***Official FBG Dentist***
I've never been to a job interview myself, but I've interviewed dozens of people over the years. I wouldn't ask that, but you're probably right that they really don't know or wouldn't care what it is you read. Maybe it's to find out if you read?
I mean the last 3 books i've read were all about stocks and money... what does that say? But even that was years ago.
I'd have to admit I honestly read more magazine or web content than books.
I mean the last 3 books i've read were all about stocks and money... what does that say? But even that was years ago.
I'd have to admit I honestly read more magazine or web content than books.
Dan Lambskin
Footballguy
next question
JNox3
Footballguy
This is my second interview with them. Last time I didn't get the job and they asked this question so I'm trying to prepare for it. What I've read on the internet is the best thing is to say stuff about self improvement type books.
Just seemed kind of weak imo so was wondering if any of you hiring/interviewing guys had a good answer for it.
McGarnicle
Footballguy
Treating Pornography Addiction: The Essential Tools for Recovery
Pornography Addiction Breaking the Chains: A Workbook of Essential Tools for Recovery
Breaking the Cycle: Free Yourself from Sex Addiction, Porn Obsession, and Shame
Pornography Addiction Breaking the Chains: A Workbook of Essential Tools for Recovery
Breaking the Cycle: Free Yourself from Sex Addiction, Porn Obsession, and Shame
JNox3
Footballguy
JNox3
Footballguy
RUSF18
Footballguy
What kind of job/company is this? I've interviewed people before. If someone is telling me they're so lacking confidence in their own abilities that they're reading "how to manage millennials effectively" and "time management 101", I'm sending them away.
bigbottom
Footballguy
Do you plan to read the books you provide in your answer? There could be follow up questions. Perhaps the question is designed to determine who will lie about what books they've read.
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JNox3
Footballguy
Agreed. Ok, so my answer will be "The Hobbit", "Lord of the Rings" and "Harry Potter".
Didn't really want to move anyway. 
Chadstroma
Footballguy
For that type of job I would focus on subjects like pedagogy, coaching and leadership type books though I can't say that is the 'right' answer.
I think there is a chance that the person is just interested in what you are interested in. There are the other type who think asking questions that normally aren't asked in interviews will help them glean some deep view of you as an employee. I think these type of people think that they are smarter than they actually are and that their questions are going to show a true insight into you by answering the question and if it is that person- it is all about the luck of giving them the answer that they are looking for.
andyjayhawker
Footballguy
Why wouldn't you just answer the question honestly? If you don't read much, it would be easy to explain how you enjoy spending your free time in other ways. It would probably come off as disingenuous if you tried to list the books you think that you are "supposed" to list
My guess is that the interviewer likes to read, and s/he probably feels like they can get some insight about someone based on the books they read. And then possibly make a connection over a shared interest.
My guess is that the interviewer likes to read, and s/he probably feels like they can get some insight about someone based on the books they read. And then possibly make a connection over a shared interest.
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ChainsawU
Footballguy
I read a book every day. I do it on the treadmill and stationary bike at the gym, so it's at least a half-hour every day. Most recently I've been reading the autobiographies of a lot of comedians. I'm in the middle of Chris Elliott's unauthorized autobiography right now. Anyway, it's become a real conversation starter for me. I would have no problem answering that question. It would just become a discussion of the types of things I liked to read, including some interesting and funny things I've just read within the last couple days.
However, I have started taking about what books I've been reading in social situations and I've detected that people have become tired of hearing me start sentences with, "I'm reading this book right now..." And as a matter of fact, I was with my number one chick the other night, going down on her, and after she came really hard she was out of breath and said, "What, did you read a book on how to do that, too?"
However, I have started taking about what books I've been reading in social situations and I've detected that people have become tired of hearing me start sentences with, "I'm reading this book right now..." And as a matter of fact, I was with my number one chick the other night, going down on her, and after she came really hard she was out of breath and said, "What, did you read a book on how to do that, too?"
Long Ball Larry
Footballguy
really? you see a weakness in the awareness of one's own shortcomings, a desire to learn more, and attempts to improve oneself?
I think that the reason for this question is not the books themselves, but to hear what you are interested in and why. At an interview, you are selling yourself. If you only read goofy books, you say "I read _______, and I know that doesn't make me sound very intellectual, but I like to have a work-life balance (or something like that) and I find that just being able to clear my mind with guilty pleasures from time-to-time to recharge." If it was Time Management 101, I would say "I've been thinking about time management as a crucial issue facing everyone everywhere today. I wanted to re-focus attention on that and start back with basic information to recalibrate. And actually, one thing stood out to me, which seems so obvious but is often forgotten. I've actually used it in the following ways . . ."
Juxtatarot
Footballguy
I'd just answer the question honestly. This isn't some trick question. It's likely just about getting to know your personality and interests.
Edit: My answer is The Martian and two books about distance running.
Edit: My answer is The Martian and two books about distance running.
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FUBAR
Footballguy
I figure the question serves a few purposes. One, to see if you answer honestly - the last 3 books you read probably are not War and Peace, Ulysses and Lolita. (if they are, maybe they don't want to hire you anyway). Two, it shows your interests and what matters to you. Finally , how well rounded are you? If the last three books you read are comic books, that might be a red flag. The reasons you read might be as important as the books themselves.
My answer?
Age of ambition : chasing fortune, truth, and faith in the new China / Osnos, Evan, (I'm interested in China and trying to learn more the culture)
I am Malala the girl who stood up for education and was shot by the Taliban / Yousafzai, Malala, (After spending some time in Afghanistan this book struck me as interesting, plus she was a good interview on Jon Stewart)
The Connected Child / Karyn B. Purvis, David R. Cross, Wendy Lyons Sunshine. (a requirement to adopt through our agency)
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NutterButter
Footballguy
We just hired a new software developer for my team and that third book might help me out.
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Yankee23Fan
Fair Tax!
Do you have kids? Easy fallback. Because the last three books I've read are The Animals Go to Bed, Five Little Monkeys and If You Give a Moose a Muffin.
Spoiler alert - the animals all make it to bed, the monkeys all bump their head, and feeding a wild moose is a bad idea.
Spoiler alert - the animals all make it to bed, the monkeys all bump their head, and feeding a wild moose is a bad idea.
apalmer
Footballguy
That could be an excellent answer--if you follow up by describing how you're using those books to encourage your children to read rather than become tv/cell phone drones. By reading and discussing the books with them, you're creating family bonding time and improving their minds and habits at the same time.Agreed. Ok, so my answer will be "The Hobbit", "Lord of the Rings" and "Harry Potter".
NutterButter
Footballguy
I stopped reading those types of books to my kids once they became teenagers
apalmer
Footballguy
Wouldn't read them "to" teenagers, or even kids approaching their teens. However, that isn't the same as encouraging teens or preteens to read and discuss them.
kutta
Footballguy
Totally agree with this. They may just want to get you talking about things other than work. Just be honest, or at least pick books that you've read in the last few years that you think would be fun to discuss.
Abraham
Footballguy
I'm in sales. I've asked this question before so I'll explain the answer im looking for:
if you say "good to great", "challenger sale" or anything by Tony Robbins I will know you are full of ####. Those aren't the last three books you read, they are the three books you want me to think you read once upon a time.
If you said "Winnie the pooh, the hobbit, and charlottes web because I have little kids" i would appreciate the authenticity of your answer.
the best answer however is one that indicates a diversity of interests. Something like "well, I read 'between the world and me' because I heard it provided a perspective of living in this country that I'm not famloart with I reread 'salems lot' by Stephen King because I really enjoyed it as a kid. And I read 'founding brothers' because I've always been interested in history."
make it diverse.
if you say "good to great", "challenger sale" or anything by Tony Robbins I will know you are full of ####. Those aren't the last three books you read, they are the three books you want me to think you read once upon a time.
If you said "Winnie the pooh, the hobbit, and charlottes web because I have little kids" i would appreciate the authenticity of your answer.
the best answer however is one that indicates a diversity of interests. Something like "well, I read 'between the world and me' because I heard it provided a perspective of living in this country that I'm not famloart with I reread 'salems lot' by Stephen King because I really enjoyed it as a kid. And I read 'founding brothers' because I've always been interested in history."
make it diverse.
Henry Ford
Footballguy
Jesus, I don't know. Who remembers what they did in high school English class?
IvanKaramazov
Footballguy
This could actually be the start of a pretty awesome shtick answer.
"What's the last book you read?"
"Five Little Monkeys."
"Oh, you have kids?"
"No, why do you ask?"
beer 30
Footballguy
Joe Summer
Footballguy
They just want to know if you read. Doesn't matter what the answer is.
IC FBGCav
Footballguy
I agree with you but when searching for a job your reply is not going to endear you to them.
Grace Under Pressure
Footballguy
I'm too busy working to read books.
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I agree. This is a silly question.
Almost on par with "what were the last three movies you've seen?".
IC FBGCav
Footballguy
Chadstroma
Footballguy
Except for this... the problem in this is about your assumptions. And this is why I was saying the error in these questions are that people will tend to think that are getting some great sneaky insight but it is really more about your own personal bias than anything else.
I have not had a chance to read a book in a while with three little kids but when I was reading regularly it would have been books like "Good to Great" and all three would have been along those lines. I tend to read books on business and leadership. I will sprinkle in books about military history and theology here and there though when I feel like breaking the mold.
The actual last three books that I have read and completed would have been:
Conscious Capitalism: Liberating the Heroic Spirit of Business
Salsa, Soul, and Spirit: Leadership for a Multicultural Age
Credibility: How Leaders Gain and Lose It, Why People Demand It
So, if I told you the truth your assumption would have been that I was full of ####, no?
Henry Ford
Footballguy
The Art of Seduction, The Game, and the phone book for your wife's number.
FreeBaGeL
Footballguy
Statorama
gangster
If you don't read much, pick a movie you've seen that was based on a book. "The Martian", mentioned above, is a good choice. Read the IMDB comment section for the movie, and there will be some dink listing all the things that were different between the book and the movie.
If they press on the other two, just say something general like "...and two books on taking vacations in Hawaii" to spur some conversation that you feel comfortable with (replace "taking vacations in Hawaii" with any interest of yours). Vacations are my fallback example, because everyone I've run into loves to talk about travel. Hawaii and Vegas seem to be the ones that get the biggest hits.
Finally, if you're really stuck, think back to the last actual book you read and say "....you know, it's funny you ask. I just recently re-read Jaws by Peter Benchley. Really holds up, even today. Isn't it interesting that sometimes you just get that feeling where you want to shut out all the electronic noise in your life and just kick back in easy chair with a good book?"
If they press on the other two, just say something general like "...and two books on taking vacations in Hawaii" to spur some conversation that you feel comfortable with (replace "taking vacations in Hawaii" with any interest of yours). Vacations are my fallback example, because everyone I've run into loves to talk about travel. Hawaii and Vegas seem to be the ones that get the biggest hits.
Finally, if you're really stuck, think back to the last actual book you read and say "....you know, it's funny you ask. I just recently re-read Jaws by Peter Benchley. Really holds up, even today. Isn't it interesting that sometimes you just get that feeling where you want to shut out all the electronic noise in your life and just kick back in easy chair with a good book?"
Sweet J
Footballguy
Good god, no. That would be a big demerit if some idiot said that.
Either tell the truth, if it is interesting (i.e., they may be book about topics that interest or excite you; this gives them a picture of who you really are; gives you something interesting to talk about).
I'm in the middle of the new John Feinstein book about Dean Smith, Coach K, and Valvano, called "The Legends Club." Not only is it a great read (and I got it for free at the library), but it is also an interesting conversation piece, and relatively "safe" as interview questions go. Pick up a copy and start reading, and you can honestly list it as your book. Any other nonfiction you might have read and is interesting? List it here.
I also have been re-reading one of the old "Calvin and Hobbes" compendiums that I gave my kids years ago. It's great to read through right as I'm going to bed. And who doesn't LOVE Calvin and Hobbes? It's another safe book to list, and and interesting conversation starter (you can just talk about how awesome the strip was, or whatever). I also gave my kid a Spy vs Spy compendium about 10 years ago, and he LOVED it. I stole it for a little bit and read it at night, and had a lot of fun with it. Any other comics you've enjoyed through the years? If so, maybe buy a compendium and read it; you'll be surprised how much you will love re-reading. And then you could list it here.
Finally, just pick a fiction/mystery/detective book that you've enjoyed in recent years. Robert B. Parker? George R.R. Martin? Tony Hillarman? Elmore Leanard? Dave Barry? Orson Scott Card? All those are great choices, and if you've read one of them, they tell the interviewer a little about you, your interests, sense of humor, etc.
Don't drive yourself too crazy with this question. Have fun with it and be yourself! The only way to "fail" this question, IMO, is if you corn it up with some self-help nonsense (unless, I guess, you actually read one of those books).
Sweet J
Footballguy
In that case, it's even more important to show your humanity. For the love of god, don't lie, and don't pick some bullsht self help book.
