SG
A hiring manager asked a candidate this question during an interview for a management accountant position in the finance department of a securities and derivatives exchange in Asia.
The question in full
If you had to pick a key on the keyboard to describe yourself, which one would it be and why?
What the hiring manager thinks are the best and worst answers
There are really no right or wrong responses, but the question tests the candidate’s ability to think on his or her feet and react swiftly to the situation. Sometimes it’s not the key they pick that really matters, it’s how they explain their choice. This may reveal some personality trait to help the interviewer assess the candidate’s suitability for the role.
That said, some of the better answers I’ve come across are: “control key” (always seek to be in control of things); “F1″ (be helpful to others); and “enter” (be an executor of business). Obviously anyone who chooses “escape” will find it challenging to explain their answer!
What would you say in answer to this question? Leave your response in the comments box below.
yur kidding right? There is no “escape” key, just ESC
yet another proof point of how useless HR and “hiring” managers are. The only thing these questions test is the ability to listen to stupid useless questions i.e. how good are you at being a slave.
If you really wanted to test how quickly someone thinks on their feet you’d actually give a real life scenario relevant to the job e.g. if its a CEO job, what would you do if you were John Thain and you saw a GFC coming.
but that would actually require the hiring manager to understand what the job actually is…. obviously asking too much.
…$ key… At the end of the day, all human activities in modern time are somewhere related to finance ($).
One should always be mindful of $ value of each activity for our ownself and for people associated with our work and life (such as for our employers, clients, collegues, family, relatives, friends, economy); its the biggest power in present world.
Bringing beauty pageant questions into this arena… before the days of the computer, there was the typewriter… the calculator is still around these days; any other devices you wanna ask the fresh graddies?
Can’t agree further to how useless these questions are….another fad question some years back, “what would like to be written on your own epitaph”. These don’t test actual ability, instead it’s more of a test of verbal and oratorical skills. Personally, I think even asking scenario questions does not truly differentiate good candidates. The best is on the spot real scenario handling. But difficult to have such a recruitment unless the firm has an extensive internship programme and only recruit from interns
Right Arrow Key, because move going on is the truth of any successful job output.
I would choose 1) “Control” : Because I like being in control; 2) “Alternate” : Because I like to have alternatives as options; 3) “Delete” : Because I can choose to change cause of actions and/or to know when to draw the line or to say “No” etc.
With the collaborations of all 1, 2 & 3 above, I get to “reboot” or rejuvenate the CPU or data installed or regenerated i.e. choices. Hence, a better improved version and better capacity of a new “ME”!
i would choose P-as it always reminds you to be positive in approach whatever situation or condition you are in..Think Positive cheers..