1 00:00:00,009 --> 00:00:03,680 Speaker 1: Shortlisted is brought to you by Future Women's Jobs Academy. 2 00:00:04,079 --> 00:00:07,190 Speaker 1: Getting back to work after a career break isn't easy. 3 00:00:07,510 --> 00:00:11,319 Speaker 1: Future Women's Jobs Academy is a free online programme supported 4 00:00:11,319 --> 00:00:15,560 Speaker 1: by the Australian government. It's proven to increase confidence and 5 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:22,850 Speaker 1: connect women with meaningful and flexible jobs. Apply today at jobsacademy.uwomen.com. 6 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:26,229 Speaker 1: We'll support you to find the right job and thrive. 7 00:00:29,170 --> 00:00:31,770 Speaker 1: Nothing makes a person go weak at the knees quite 8 00:00:31,770 --> 00:00:36,449 Speaker 1: like a job interview. Enter shortlisted. A podcast by future 9 00:00:36,450 --> 00:00:40,060 Speaker 1: women where Helen McCabe and I hold your virtual hand, 10 00:00:40,330 --> 00:00:43,279 Speaker 1: walking with you every step of the way, right to 11 00:00:43,279 --> 00:00:46,810 Speaker 1: the interview door and straight onto the shortlist. 12 00:00:47,770 --> 00:00:51,200 Speaker 1: In this episode, we prepare you for the questions you 13 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:56,450 Speaker 1: can't really prepare for. From which kitchen utensil best represents 14 00:00:56,450 --> 00:01:00,130 Speaker 1: your personality to how many tennis balls would fit in 15 00:01:00,130 --> 00:01:06,050 Speaker 1: a Boeing 747, employers love a curveball question. We're going 16 00:01:06,050 --> 00:01:09,768 Speaker 1: to explain how to stay calm, understand what the employer 17 00:01:09,769 --> 00:01:12,919 Speaker 1: is trying to get at, and how to reason through 18 00:01:12,919 --> 00:01:14,050 Speaker 1: a great answer. 19 00:01:14,870 --> 00:01:17,750 Speaker 2: Jamila, what's a curveball question? Oh, so 20 00:01:17,750 --> 00:01:22,220 Speaker 1: a curveball question is one of those totally unexpected or 21 00:01:22,510 --> 00:01:27,989 Speaker 1: really unconventional questions, those questions that are designed to help 22 00:01:27,989 --> 00:01:30,139 Speaker 1: the interviewer understand your personality. 23 00:01:30,650 --> 00:01:35,709 Speaker 1: Understand your intelligence, which in itself is terrifying, to understand 24 00:01:35,709 --> 00:01:39,300 Speaker 1: your approach to critical thinking, and to understand your ability 25 00:01:39,300 --> 00:01:43,988 Speaker 1: to think and respond on the spot to a particularly 26 00:01:43,989 --> 00:01:46,949 Speaker 1: complex set of scenarios. Let me say a few things firstly. 27 00:01:47,190 --> 00:01:50,150 Speaker 1: These are highly unlikely in the public sector or in 28 00:01:50,150 --> 00:01:53,949 Speaker 1: a very formalised recruitment process with strict selection criteria. 29 00:01:54,255 --> 00:01:56,286 Speaker 1: They're just not gonna throw these kind of curveballs in, 30 00:01:56,575 --> 00:01:58,905 Speaker 1: because there's such strict rules about what they can and 31 00:01:58,905 --> 00:02:01,216 Speaker 1: can't ask you, what can and can't be in the 32 00:02:01,216 --> 00:02:04,176 Speaker 1: selection criteria, who gets through to the interview process in 33 00:02:04,176 --> 00:02:06,856 Speaker 1: the first place. It's likely to be very formal and 34 00:02:06,856 --> 00:02:10,216 Speaker 1: follow a series of very expected questions. I would say 35 00:02:10,216 --> 00:02:13,656 Speaker 1: you're most likely to get these wild sort of curveball 36 00:02:13,656 --> 00:02:17,535 Speaker 1: questions if you're going for a job with an organisation. 37 00:02:17,841 --> 00:02:21,761 Speaker 1: That is a startup, that is in the sort of 38 00:02:21,761 --> 00:02:26,150 Speaker 1: technology type space, that is in the consulting kind of space. 39 00:02:26,361 --> 00:02:26,681 Speaker 1: Something 40 00:02:26,681 --> 00:02:27,552 Speaker 2: highly creative, 41 00:02:27,722 --> 00:02:29,681 Speaker 1: an ad agency, something where you need to be creative 42 00:02:29,681 --> 00:02:33,882 Speaker 1: with words, rather than with art, so to speak. And 43 00:02:33,882 --> 00:02:36,442 Speaker 1: the only times I've been asked these kinds of questions 44 00:02:36,442 --> 00:02:41,162 Speaker 1: has been by organisations that are fast moving. 45 00:02:42,699 --> 00:02:44,899 Speaker 1: Let's break things and try things and see how they 46 00:02:44,899 --> 00:02:46,979 Speaker 1: go and throw stuff at the wall. Like if there's 47 00:02:46,979 --> 00:02:49,380 Speaker 1: beanbags in the office when you walk in, you're gonna 48 00:02:49,380 --> 00:02:50,339 Speaker 1: get a curveball question. 49 00:02:51,399 --> 00:02:58,038 Speaker 2: So, some examples, specific technical questions like definitions or industry concepts. 50 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:00,429 Speaker 2: Describe yourself in three words, I mean, 51 00:03:01,399 --> 00:03:02,479 Speaker 1: yeah, or you go first. 52 00:03:03,300 --> 00:03:04,050 Speaker 1: Collaborative. 53 00:03:05,710 --> 00:03:08,910 Speaker 1: She hates that word, everyone. Empowered. She's also empowered. I 54 00:03:08,910 --> 00:03:13,020 Speaker 2: empowered. What kitchen utensils or animal would you be? 55 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:16,429 Speaker 1: Oh, this is hard because it's the thing is, to 56 00:03:16,429 --> 00:03:19,940 Speaker 1: come up with a cute, funny, clever answer takes time. 57 00:03:20,070 --> 00:03:23,589 Speaker 1: That's why these things are difficult. And I'm really hoping 58 00:03:23,589 --> 00:03:26,050 Speaker 1: this episode isn't making everybody panic, because 59 00:03:26,095 --> 00:03:28,845 Speaker 1: The whole purpose of these questions is for you to 60 00:03:28,845 --> 00:03:33,065 Speaker 1: give a gut quick answer. So there isn't a wrong one. No, 61 00:03:33,205 --> 00:03:35,764 Speaker 2: and I reckon with both of us having poor poker faces, 62 00:03:35,845 --> 00:03:38,195 Speaker 2: we would probably express our distaste to them. Why is 63 00:03:38,195 --> 00:03:41,164 Speaker 2: that relevant? What? I'm not answering that. What's your greatest 64 00:03:41,164 --> 00:03:43,115 Speaker 2: failure or happiest memory? 65 00:03:43,485 --> 00:03:45,044 Speaker 1: Can you give me an example of a time you 66 00:03:45,044 --> 00:03:46,994 Speaker 1: changed your mind about something? 67 00:03:47,229 --> 00:03:50,470 Speaker 1: And then there's the really random one, folks, like, what 68 00:03:50,470 --> 00:03:53,229 Speaker 1: would you do if you won the lottery? How many 69 00:03:53,229 --> 00:03:56,910 Speaker 1: pizzas are ordered every night in Australia? How many tennis 70 00:03:56,910 --> 00:04:01,509 Speaker 1: balls fit into a Boeing 747? They seem completely absurd 71 00:04:01,509 --> 00:04:02,229 Speaker 1: and silly. 72 00:04:02,779 --> 00:04:05,500 Speaker 1: I think as with every question that is asked to 73 00:04:05,500 --> 00:04:08,339 Speaker 1: you in an interview, and we say this again and 74 00:04:08,339 --> 00:04:10,979 Speaker 1: again in this podcast, you have to think about what 75 00:04:10,979 --> 00:04:14,139 Speaker 1: they want from you. And here, they are trying to 76 00:04:14,139 --> 00:04:19,539 Speaker 1: see how you think under pressure, what your personality is like, 77 00:04:19,660 --> 00:04:23,380 Speaker 1: what your intelligence is like. Being quirky, being silly, giving 78 00:04:23,380 --> 00:04:27,250 Speaker 1: an answer that is not mathematically correct, is totally fine. 79 00:04:27,959 --> 00:04:30,779 Speaker 2: That's right. And you can throw the question back at them, too, 80 00:04:30,859 --> 00:04:33,019 Speaker 2: and have a laugh and not actually give an answer, 81 00:04:33,079 --> 00:04:36,290 Speaker 2: cause I don't think anyone really expects a proper answer. So, 82 00:04:36,299 --> 00:04:38,940 Speaker 2: what do you do? Be yourself. While you wanna to 83 00:04:38,940 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 2: be professional and strategic, there's often no way around these 84 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:46,619 Speaker 2: questions without simply being yourself and answering authentically. 85 00:04:47,119 --> 00:04:48,880 Speaker 2: I used to do it on the Today Show when 86 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:51,920 Speaker 2: Karl Stefanovic used to ask me the most absurd questions 87 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:54,428 Speaker 2: live on television. I hope this makes someone feel better 88 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:57,558 Speaker 2: about getting an awkward question, because that was tough. Take 89 00:04:57,559 --> 00:05:01,678 Speaker 2: your time. Stay calm. It's OK to ask, to think 90 00:05:01,678 --> 00:05:03,869 Speaker 2: about it, and circle back at the end of the interview. 91 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:06,369 Speaker 2: They know this isn't a question you could have prepared for. 92 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:09,010 Speaker 2: So they fully expect you to kind of go, Oh, 93 00:05:09,238 --> 00:05:09,678 Speaker 2: I don't know. 94 00:05:09,795 --> 00:05:11,785 Speaker 2: Can I answer that in, you know, in a couple 95 00:05:11,785 --> 00:05:13,545 Speaker 2: of minutes, or can I come back to that? That's 96 00:05:13,545 --> 00:05:14,864 Speaker 2: a reasonable thing to say. I 97 00:05:14,863 --> 00:05:18,274 Speaker 1: also think that's a good character trait of an employee, right? 98 00:05:18,385 --> 00:05:21,734 Speaker 1: If you're given a very difficult question that throws you off, 99 00:05:21,863 --> 00:05:24,544 Speaker 1: that you don't give a gut reaction, that you take 100 00:05:24,545 --> 00:05:27,065 Speaker 1: a moment to have a think and go through a 101 00:05:27,065 --> 00:05:29,304 Speaker 1: process and come back with an answer, I think that 102 00:05:29,303 --> 00:05:31,984 Speaker 1: probably would show a potential employer a little bit about 103 00:05:31,984 --> 00:05:32,505 Speaker 1: how you work. 104 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:37,099 Speaker 2: Yeah, so explain your thought process. Talk it through with them. Go, Oh, OK. So, 105 00:05:37,390 --> 00:05:43,190 Speaker 2: tennis balls in a Boeing 747. So, tennis balls, how 106 00:05:43,190 --> 00:05:46,109 Speaker 2: big's a tennis ball? Like, just, just kind of start 107 00:05:46,109 --> 00:05:49,229 Speaker 2: to kind of go through the thinking that might be 108 00:05:49,230 --> 00:05:52,119 Speaker 2: required to answer that question seriously and see if you can. 109 00:05:52,769 --> 00:05:53,690 Speaker 2: Just get away with it. 110 00:05:53,769 --> 00:05:56,459 Speaker 1: It's like your maths test in your final exams, right? 111 00:05:56,570 --> 00:05:58,928 Speaker 1: If you just write the correct answer, you don't get 112 00:05:58,928 --> 00:06:01,170 Speaker 1: all the points. They wanna see you're working. They wanna 113 00:06:01,170 --> 00:06:05,010 Speaker 1: see how your brain works. Again, no right or wrong 114 00:06:05,010 --> 00:06:08,409 Speaker 1: answers here. One of the best questions I've ever been 115 00:06:08,410 --> 00:06:11,109 Speaker 1: asked in an interview, which has stayed with me ever 116 00:06:11,109 --> 00:06:13,769 Speaker 1: since was, tell me about your oldest friend. 117 00:06:14,570 --> 00:06:16,100 Speaker 1: And at the end of the interview, I went back 118 00:06:16,100 --> 00:06:18,820 Speaker 1: and said, Can you tell me why you, why you 119 00:06:18,820 --> 00:06:21,380 Speaker 1: asked that? Like, why was that relevant? And the interviewer 120 00:06:21,380 --> 00:06:26,368 Speaker 1: said to me that, firstly, they liked to understand how 121 00:06:26,369 --> 00:06:29,079 Speaker 1: people related to their friends, what they valued in a friend, 122 00:06:29,140 --> 00:06:31,539 Speaker 1: and that question often got there. And if a person 123 00:06:31,540 --> 00:06:34,619 Speaker 1: didn't have many old friends, if their oldest friend was 124 00:06:34,619 --> 00:06:36,859 Speaker 1: quite recent, there was usually a reason for that, and 125 00:06:36,859 --> 00:06:38,289 Speaker 1: it was interesting to understand. We 126 00:06:38,339 --> 00:06:40,369 Speaker 1: you were a kid that moved around a lot? And 127 00:06:40,369 --> 00:06:42,839 Speaker 1: how did that shape your personality? Were you the kind 128 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:45,609 Speaker 1: of kid that struggled to fit in in school and 129 00:06:45,609 --> 00:06:47,940 Speaker 1: after school and didn't find your types until you hit 130 00:06:47,940 --> 00:06:50,690 Speaker 1: the workforce, or similar, that it started a conversation about 131 00:06:50,690 --> 00:06:53,649 Speaker 1: who the person was in terms of their character rather 132 00:06:53,649 --> 00:06:54,559 Speaker 1: than anything else? 133 00:06:54,928 --> 00:06:58,809 Speaker 2: Are these questions in that example, often masking some kind 134 00:06:58,809 --> 00:06:59,500 Speaker 2: of bias? 135 00:06:59,809 --> 00:07:02,700 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think so. I think these questions are hugely, 136 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:06,399 Speaker 1: hugely biassed. I don't think there would be many organisations 137 00:07:06,399 --> 00:07:08,469 Speaker 1: who make a final decision on a question like this 138 00:07:08,470 --> 00:07:11,390 Speaker 1: and this alone. If they are, I think that's pretty perverse. 139 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:14,790 Speaker 1: But I do think they tend to be asked by 140 00:07:14,790 --> 00:07:17,359 Speaker 1: organisations who have a type, that they have a type 141 00:07:17,359 --> 00:07:20,309 Speaker 1: of person, type of personality who they like to work 142 00:07:20,309 --> 00:07:23,079 Speaker 1: with and who they want to work with. And it 143 00:07:23,079 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 1: can mean they've got a pretty homogeneous culture. I reckon 144 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:28,170 Speaker 1: I'm being a bit judgmental there, but 145 00:07:28,730 --> 00:07:30,929 Speaker 2: Look, I, and I think it's worth noting that. So 146 00:07:30,929 --> 00:07:32,690 Speaker 2: if you get one of those questions about who's your 147 00:07:32,690 --> 00:07:36,049 Speaker 2: oldest friend, is the bias that you wanna see, whether 148 00:07:36,049 --> 00:07:39,489 Speaker 2: that future employee has long-term friendships and you're gonna judge 149 00:07:39,489 --> 00:07:42,140 Speaker 2: them accordingly. And as you say, Jan, there might be very, 150 00:07:42,149 --> 00:07:45,890 Speaker 2: very good reasons for why you don't. What if you 151 00:07:45,890 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 2: draw a blank? 152 00:07:49,059 --> 00:07:54,049 Speaker 1: Stay calm, stay calm, do not panic, be professional. I 153 00:07:54,049 --> 00:07:55,850 Speaker 1: think you don't want to sit there going, oh my gosh, 154 00:07:55,890 --> 00:07:59,130 Speaker 1: I don't know. Um, oh, I don't know, I don't know. 155 00:07:59,170 --> 00:08:00,730 Speaker 1: You're not on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. You 156 00:08:00,730 --> 00:08:02,690 Speaker 1: know what I mean? Like, don't react like you're having 157 00:08:02,690 --> 00:08:05,209 Speaker 1: a little panic attack, even if that is what is 158 00:08:05,209 --> 00:08:09,329 Speaker 1: going on. Try to stay calm. There's nothing wrong with saying, wow, 159 00:08:09,450 --> 00:08:12,679 Speaker 1: what an unusual question. I didn't see that one coming. 160 00:08:13,929 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 1: Do you buy yourself some buy some time by talking 161 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:17,529 Speaker 1: and say something like, 162 00:08:18,350 --> 00:08:21,549 Speaker 1: Could you clarify for me what you'd like to know 163 00:08:21,549 --> 00:08:25,230 Speaker 1: or understand from me in answering that question? You're allowed 164 00:08:25,230 --> 00:08:28,989 Speaker 1: to ask questions in response to the question, as Helen's 165 00:08:28,989 --> 00:08:31,190 Speaker 1: already mentioned, you're allowed to ask for time. There's nothing 166 00:08:31,190 --> 00:08:31,829 Speaker 1: wrong with saying, 167 00:08:32,599 --> 00:08:34,559 Speaker 1: That is fascinating. Do you mind if I have a 168 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:36,960 Speaker 1: little bit more time, and we continue our conversation and 169 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:40,270 Speaker 1: we loop back to this at the end? Also perfectly reasonable. 170 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:42,869 Speaker 1: And finally, just give it your best shot. I think 171 00:08:42,869 --> 00:08:45,559 Speaker 1: interviewers want to see you rise to the challenge. They 172 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:48,229 Speaker 1: wanna see you give an answer, whatever that answer is, 173 00:08:48,369 --> 00:08:50,950 Speaker 1: and they wanna see that you can explain your thinking 174 00:08:50,950 --> 00:08:54,079 Speaker 1: and your thinking, and the insight that might come through 175 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:56,949 Speaker 1: from your thinking is far more important than the answer itself. 176 00:08:57,409 --> 00:09:00,890 Speaker 2: Yep, absolutely right. And I, I do agree with Jamilla. 177 00:09:00,969 --> 00:09:03,968 Speaker 2: If you're one of those people that does freeze, which 178 00:09:03,969 --> 00:09:08,750 Speaker 2: is completely normal, ask a question back. Just, just go, Oh, 179 00:09:08,929 --> 00:09:12,900 Speaker 2: that's an interesting question. How big is a Boeing 747? 180 00:09:13,049 --> 00:09:16,289 Speaker 2: You know, just, just buy yourself time with a response 181 00:09:16,289 --> 00:09:18,289 Speaker 2: and see if you can, if the, the interview moves 182 00:09:18,289 --> 00:09:20,968 Speaker 2: on and you can kind of scooch around that one. 183 00:09:21,590 --> 00:09:24,429 Speaker 2: Tough one, won't happen very often. We're just trying to 184 00:09:24,429 --> 00:09:27,390 Speaker 2: give you all the answers in case you do find 185 00:09:27,390 --> 00:09:29,699 Speaker 2: yourself in one of those really tricky spots. 186 00:09:31,719 --> 00:09:35,840 Speaker 1: Shortlisted is produced by Future Women's Jobs Academy. To apply 187 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:41,799 Speaker 1: to join, head to jobsacademy.uwomen.com or go to Futurewomen.com to 188 00:09:41,799 --> 00:09:43,750 Speaker 1: become a future women member today.