HR/Interviewing Questions

[jwright]

We are a small firm (think four people total) looking for an intern; no one has HR or hiring experience and limited experience even giving interviews. The college students we are hiring have limited interview experience as well. We really have no idea what we are doing.

We are having a disagreement. What do you think of this scenario?

Interviewer: What type of firm are you looking for? Big, small...?

Candidate: I haven't decided yet.

Interviewer: Well, what other firms have you interviewed with?

Candidate: Gives three specific firms locally where we happen to know the partners and know a good deal about them.

Later...

Interviewer: What kind of pay are you looking for?

Candidate: I don't know.

Interviewer: Well, what were your offers from the other firm?

Candidate: Gives exact dollar amount per hour. (Although she did not divulge which firms offered which amount).

I don't think it is appropriate to ask for specific information about her other job opportunities. Interviewer feels like it was a natural follow up question when the candidate wouldn't give any details. An added bonus is that we know some of our competition is hiring and about what they are paying.

Do you think this is wrong/immoral/unethical/illegal to ask that kind of thing? We have finally stopped asking about family planning but this might be over the line as well.

[Deleted]

There is nothing "wrong/immoral/unethical/illegal" about asking these questions.

Family planning? Absolutely off-limits. WTF is wrong with your company?

[jwright]

Nov 28, 2012 14:10:45 GMT -5 @misoangry said:

Family planning? Absolutely off-limits. WTF is wrong with your company?

That was mostly tongue in cheek. We don't offer healthcare, so she was asking if they would need to be on a group plan.

[y4m]

FINALLY stopped asking about Family Planning? WTF?

[Deleted]

Nov 28, 2012 14:12:37 GMT -5 jwright said:

Nov 28, 2012 14:10:45 GMT -5 @misoangry said:

Family planning? Absolutely off-limits. WTF is wrong with your company?

That was mostly tongue in cheek. We don't offer healthcare, so she was asking if they would need to be on a group plan.

You don't joke about shit like this.

[jwright]

Nov 28, 2012 14:13:33 GMT -5 @misoangry said:

Nov 28, 2012 14:12:37 GMT -5 jwright said:

That was mostly tongue in cheek. We don't offer healthcare, so she was asking if they would need to be on a group plan.

You don't joke about shit like this.

OK

[genet313]

Nov 28, 2012 14:10:45 GMT -5 @misoangry said:

There is nothing "wrong/immoral/unethical/illegal" about asking these questions.

Family planning? Absolutely off-limits. WTF is wrong with your company?

Agreed. Although maybe asking specific dollar amounts from other firms may be better for a salary discussion once you've already decided to hire the person.

[Deleted]

Nov 28, 2012 14:13:33 GMT -5 @misoangry said:

Nov 28, 2012 14:12:37 GMT -5 jwright said:

That was mostly tongue in cheek. We don't offer healthcare, so she was asking if they would need to be on a group plan.

You don't joke about shit like this.

Ditto. The appropriate way to address this with a candidate is:

"At this time our firm/office/company is unable to provide medical/dental/vision insurance. Would this hinder you from accepting a job offer from us?"

[rosetyler]

Eek on the family planning.

Conversations about other offers seem fine to me. We usually word it a little more delicately. "Do you have any other offers or interviews we should be considerate of?" I think it's smart to know this before going into next steps.

[Deleted]

Nov 28, 2012 14:14:55 GMT -5 genet313 said:

Nov 28, 2012 14:10:45 GMT -5 @misoangry said:

There is nothing "wrong/immoral/unethical/illegal" about asking these questions.

Family planning? Absolutely off-limits. WTF is wrong with your company?

Agreed. Although maybe asking specific dollar amounts from other firms may be better for a salary discussion once you've already decided to hire the person.

Ditto, again this is best covered by "Are you currently interviewing or in the offer process with any other firms at this time"

If no then move on.

If candidate answers yes then:

"What dollar amount would we have to match or beat for you to consider our offer"

or

"Based on the fact that we are unable to provide health/medical/dental insurance, what dollar amount would we have to match or beat for you to consider our offer?"

[Deleted]

The questions about other interviews and job offer amounts probably would have caused me to write your firm off, unless there's something spectacular about what you do that really sets you apart from everyone else.

[Deleted]

Correct. Wording was inelegant.

But not at all "wrong/immoral/unethical/illegal."

[Deleted]

Oh and lastly. I don't like that candidate. She/he didn't know what type of firm they wanted to work for or what they wanted to make? Even if they didn't know the answer b/c they are a recent grad they should be able to formulate some other answer besides "I dunno"