Let’s get right to it. The WORST interview question is:
“When you pass away, what do you want people to remember about you? In other words, what would you like written on your tombstone?”
Okay, let me make some modifications. First, this is the worst interview question that I, personally, have ever heard. I’m sure that there are many other interview questions that are worse than the one I referenced, that I simply have not heard before. Second, this question really isn’t that awful – the intent behind the question is good, but the actual delivery of the question counteracts the intent behind the question.
The intent behind the question is simple – the interviewer is attempting to understand what drives the interviewee, and what type of impact the interviewee wants to make on the world. This intent is good, meaningful, and value-adding in understanding the interviewee’s purpose, passions, and motivations.
However, the key to communication is not the intent of a message, but rather, the delivery of the message. If any noise prevents effective delivery of a message’s intent, then the message succumbs to misinterpretation and overall ineffectiveness. In this particular case, the “noise” is how the question itself is structured. If the question were restructured, its initial intent would remain intact upon delivery.
The structure of the question places an emphasis on how others will perceive and react to the interviewee’s ambitions and actions. More often than not, “others” will not fully understand an individual’s purpose or holistic impact. And although we are humans, we sometimes mimic crabs. Are you familiar with the “crabs-in-a-bucket” analogy? When one crab tries to escape the bucket, other crabs reach up, trap the ascending crab, and drag the crab down. Not one crab escapes the bucket. Just like crabs, humans sometimes subject themselves to the perceptions and viewpoints of others, which limit personal ambition, potential, and purpose fulfillment.
One’s sphere of control, although very limited, must be leveraged to achieve one’s purpose. The perceptions and reactions of others, in response to our own passions and pursuits, are entirely outside one’s sphere of control. Therefore, a question that emphasizes something that is outside the interviewee’s sphere of control signals that the interviewing company may be another crab. Another thorn. The delivery of the question itself compels the interviewee to place more importance on how others view him, as opposed to how he views himself and the fruition of his mission in life.
I am less concerned about how I am remembered, and what some people say about me, and more concerned about my character and fulfilling my mission. Many extraordinary people are misunderstood by others, primarily because “others” are ordinary people who cannot wrap their heads around the immediate and future impact that extraordinary people create.
Don’t be ordinary. And don’t settle for a job, a life partner, or a situation where you limit yourself to mediocrity. And never, ever allow others to limit your mission, passions, and pursuits.
When I’m gone, I don’t care what others will think of me. I don’t care what’s written on my tombstone. I have no control over either of those things. Rather, throughout my life, in which I have control over my mission and mission fulfillment, I will strive to magnify that mission and execute it every single day. These two things are certainly within my control, and they will add value to others, even if others don’t appreciate it when I’m gone.
I recommend the interview question be changed to, “What is your purpose, and what type of impact do you strive to make on the world?” This question allows the interviewee to share his purpose, as well as describe how he’s executing his purpose. Effectively, this version of the interview question is aligned with the initial intent – the interviewer is attempting to understand what drives the interviewee, and what type of impact the interviewee wants to make on the world. The interviewer can now interpret what is in the interviewee’s sphere of control, and how the interviewee plans to add value to the actions within his control.
Our intentions matter. How we frame our intentions matters just as much, if not more, than our intentions themselves. Be deliberate in what you communicate, and strategic in how you communicate.
What interview questions leave a sour taste in your mouth? Feel free to leave a comment below!
