Be Excellent To Each Other

How do you typically answer these?

Tell me about a time when herp de derp de dum.



Here's the one I'm currently pondering, which seems to be the new way of asking 'What are your weaknesses?':

If someone was to give a negative reference about you, what three adjectives would they use?

How do you spin someone else talking you down into hidden positives?

"What are your weaknesses?"
"Brevity."

For that question I usually tell them that "I'm not really a 'yes' man - if you want someone who'll agree with you and unquestioningly follow instructions then I'm not your guy."

Never been asked the "negative reference" one.

Yeah it's more cunning because you have to frame it as someone that's criticising you, yet still spin what they say as a positive.

"He fucked my wife really well"

"My manager would call me argumentative but he's a fucking twatface".

'Nearby', 'armed', and 'angry-looking'.

"He doesn't know what an adjective is", "running", "green" and "innumerate".

Just answer everything with another question, "that's an interesting question, what do you hope to learn from my answer?'

Or just make any old shit up to show how creative you are.

'I'm a perfectionist and pay too much attention to detail. And I detest being late for deadlines.'

It's all bullshit anyway, they make up their mind whether you're in our out within the first 10 seconds or so, apparently, so look confident, say nowt, and smile while shaking hands firmly with all and sundry.

"rugose" "vermiform" and "squamous"

That's not necessarily true, not to me anyway. Sure, first impressions do count for a lot but it isn't everything. I recently had to interview some candidates for a position and there was one guy that started brightly but as the interview progressed he was less and less impressive (he also turned up for the interview with his elderly mum which was a little unusual). The successful candidate didn't start so well, but answered the 'soft' parts really well.

A firm, positive handshake is quite important to me though as a first impression, that's true. I can't stand a limp, uncommitted handshake ( ). A poor handshake wouldn't rule someone out though, that wouldn't be fair.

I hate limp handshakes. *shudder*

A load of wrestlers use limp handshakes to show how they won't hurt you in the ring.

It's weird seeing these massive blokes offer real limp handshakes.

Someone who weighs 20 stone with wrists like most people's bicep doesn't need to crush your hand in a handshake.

But it is fun

I find the whole handshake thing a bit odd. I'd say mine comes out differently every time, a bit like my signature. I wouldn't say it contains any significant information about me as a potential employee. It's one of the many things that make me glad I'm self-employed and work mostly on the PC.

I can't help but think weak handshake = weak person. There's nothing worse than clasping a limp hand and you immediately assume the guy is a bit guff.

Only one thing worse than a limp handshake: a limp, sweaty handshake. Ugh.

I'm a great believer in the "break their fingers then pull hand up to full 'biker handshake', then follow with manly back slapping to knock the wind out of em" approach. Goes down a storm in client meetings, especially with female clients.

I get the feeling I might have accidentally stumbled into a comedy thread by mistake, because I'm not even sure I've experienced a truly limp handshake in all my years. I have a vague memory of something close from a priest, or whatever his position was in the church, when my dad died years ago. If there was anything unusual about it, it was that it seemed to go on for ages, as if he didn't want to let me have my hand back.

The hairy biker break-your-bones approach, on the other hand, I definitely have experienced occasionally, which I just assumed was classic Alpha Male behaviour, but after talking to the guy afterwards, it seemed roughly 50/50 whether he was going to turn out to be a massive wanker or a good laugh and decent bloke.

Could it be (again, assuming this isn't a comedy thread where I missed the joke) that people read a bit too much into this sort of thing?

As for the sweaty ones, the shaker probably doesn't have much choice in the matter, except maybe carrying a towel around all day.

I've never really noticed different types of handshake.

I mostly only notice how dry and rough most people's hands feel.

Yes, it was indeed a lame attempt at comedy MrC. I don't really break women's hands and do biker handshakes in meetings.

However, you're probably onto something with that 50% rule...

As long as it wasn't a limp (or, heaven forbid, a limp AND sweaty) attempt at comedy...see, I can do this lame comedy shit as well

And, to be fair, while I can easily imagine you doing the biker handshake now and then, I'd put my money on you more likely being in the 50%. Just not going to tell you which 50% (just kidding!).

And of course I might be onto something with my 50% rule - I have hidden depths. Unfortunately they tend to only surface once a year or so