Clever Answer, but I Wouldn't Recommend It

So, I asked one of my favorite interview questions - mainly to hear what an interviewee has to say and how they say it. I'm not so concerned with the answer as I am with the implications behind it.

"Tell me a strength" followed by "Tell me a weakness." I'm not so much interested in the strength questions as I am the weakness question, however, this interviewee answered the strength question with such a straight face I actually started to laugh. Here's how it went down.

Me -"Tell me a strength."

Interviewee - "My intelligence. I'm really smart so it helps me adapt quickly."

Me - ha ha ha giggle ha ha giggle stifle giggle

I almost died laughing in front of this poor kid. He was totally serious and it was all I could do not to sit there with a shit eating grin on my face thinking - did he seriously just give that answer.

It was a very clever answer, I'll give him points for that, but honestly, I don't think blabbing about your intelligence as a strength is the best answer. Obviously you're smart or you wouldn't be sitting in front of me.

Clammy Hands and a Fishy Shake

My apologies for not updating this blog in a few weeks. Yikes!

Anyways...I interviewed a candidate last week that had the absolute worst handshake ever! Not only did he give me a limp fish to shake his hands were soaking wet! Initially I thought he was trying to be gentle with his shake on account of my gender, but he shook my counterpart's hand the same way. I was afraid to shake his hand firmly because I might break his fingers off!

Now, I don't know about you, but I'm usually sweating bullets when I go in for an interview, but no matter how nervous I am, I always remember to wipe my palms off before shaking hands. The only thing worse than a fishy handshake is a clammy fishy handshake!

Moral of the story - always make sure your hands are dry and shake is firm.