I just found this article and thought it was interesting. The idea that a degree, even an advanced degree, is no longer the magic bullet was a bit startling. According to the article in INC Magazine, resourcefullness is the attribute companies are looking for. What do you think?
https://www.inc.com/jt-odonnell/want-to-raise-kids-everyone-wants-to-hire-train-them-to-master-this-1-skill.html
How do companies determine that an applicant has “resourcefulness”?
http://www.burning-glass.com/wp-content/uploads/BGTReportLiberalArts.pdf?platform=hootsuitehttp://www.burning-glass.com/wp-content/uploads/BGTReportLiberalArts.pdf?platform=hootsuite, personality styles and skill sets help to get hired
They ask. I typically ask applicants to tell me about a problem they solved in an interesting or unique way.
It’s an open-ended question that either gets an immediate canned response or a panicked deer-in-the-headlights jaw drop. I’m actually hoping for the latter (I’m hiring engineers). I want to see the candidate work their way out of the panic of the unexpected and demonstrate that they can draw on their experiences. Naturally this goes along with vetting their technical skills.
This is literally every generation ever. We have always praised “right” answers while punishing wrong answers. That’s how we raise successive generations. It’s why culture is relatively similar from one generation to the next.
The millenial generation has somehow figured out how to survive with massive student debt that didn’t plague previous generations while juggling multiple jobs without benefits.
One day, I hope we can drop the helpless millenial narrative. Yes, raise your kids to be resourceful- but let’s not pretend there’s something uniquely helpless about my generation.
But many people who are resourceful can’t think on their feet quickly. I consider them 2 different skill sets.
Totally agree. Otterma would never have hired me (thank God, I’m sure), even though I consider myself a problem solver and resourceful.
Exactly @sylvan8798 . Here’s the thing. The prospective employee that’s knew the answer was the resourceful one. Perhaps they don’t think quickly on their feet and know it. They know the types of unforgiving questions that can be asked, so, they do the resourceful thing. They research, they look up questions, they think about themselves, write out answers. It may take some time. They are as prepared as they can be. They used the resources at their disposal and came to you ready.
I think the “gotcha” questions are also borderline cruel, unless the job requirement is someone who needs to think on their feet, needs to be a fast talker. Marketing, sales, perhaps those.
I think you miss out on good, qualified employees by those questions.
Pausing while you collect your thoughts is fine…no one is looking for a rapid, rehearsed answer. They are looking for a thoughtful response from both the gregarious and the more timid.
Want to raise kids everyone wants to hire?
Hell no, there are a lot of jobs out there I wouldn’t want my kids to do. I want to raise kids who can find their way to work that makes them happy and makes a difference in the world.
But see, I am the person who can’t think clearly when put on the spot with of the wall questions. My thoughts become jumbled and I just can’t think fast enough. It’s not that I don’t have answers, or scenarios…I just need to think without someone looking at me and waiting. You’ll get some stupid answer that has nothing to do with my quality as an employee and resourcefulness.
If they are looking for quick thinkers, and some careers need those types, then by all means ask away. But I think for most of us, talking about what we actually did and performed in our last jobs, etc. are better… a good lead on. We Perhaps phrasing a question like “tell me about your responsibilities at your last job, and any particular issues that came up you handled well”. That way, the person can begin speaking at something they know…what they did. If they are able, then they can think of the other and add it.
Buy how humiliating to be put on the spot and not think of anything because you CAN’T at that moment.
Seriously, though. If employers want to hire people who are resourceful, they then have to reward their employees for being resourceful. Too often they say that’s what they want, but then when the person is hired, they want them to “get with the program” “follow the rules” “be a team player” . In other words, do what they are told. It reminds me of our kids’ preschool directer who always said " We look for kindergarten readiness by looking for large motor skills, verbal ability, and independence. Then the kids get to school and we tell them to sit down, shut up and do wha they are told."
I’m the same way, which is one of the reasons why I never cold call on students in my classes. I hated that kind of thing as a student. If I felt like I had an answer, I raised my hand.
People should want to hire my kids. They show up on time, they clean up after themselves (and after everyone else too), they don’t call in sick when they aren’t sick. One gets along with everyone and the other tolerates those she doesn’t like (and knows to avoid them).
They are good workers.
This is why co-ops and internships are so valuable these days. The kids benefit by on the job training and learning how to be resourceful and a good team worker, and the companies are rewarded by finding the candidates that mesh well with their organization.
Interesting. I never thought that asking an engineer to tell me how he solved an interesting problem would be a “gotcha” question. Especially since the candidate chooses what problem they want to tell me about. There is literally no wrong answer.
Being asked to talk about and explain your problem solving process is core to any engineering job. I know it can be difficult for non-technical people to understand but most of the people I interview love to talk about problem solving. It’s a much safer question for them than the generic “tell me about yourself”.
I have a BS in Civil Engineering, 7 years as a Structural Engineer, an MA in Mathematics, and a PhD in Physics. Not exactly a non-technical person.
@Otterma …that is what I mean by is it important to a profession. Perhaps a certain job comes with a lot of problems to solve. In that case the question is understandable, and to be honest, shouldn’t be unexpected, correct? But if you are getting a lot of “deer in the headlight” looks, then maybe not.
Isn’t “tell me about a problem and how you solved it” a pretty typical interview question? That along with “tell me about a weakness” are pretty useless questions imo but still common and you should be prepared with answers.
Eta: when I interviewed to work with constituents at a senator’s office, the first interview question was: “pirates or ninjas and why?” I later learned it was because constituents would throw absolutely ridiculous things at you and they needed to know if we could think quickly.
Oh, and they did throw things at us that made ninjas or pirates a perfectly normal question.
Nope, article is overly simplistic. Want to create a kid someone wants to hire? Give them the gift of excellent manners. Beneath it lies respect for others, consideration, patience and kindness. All that and the gift of humbleness ( present in the well mannered) and you are good to go. Well mannered people listen better, learn better and work harder.