All of the characteristics HR looks for in a job
candidate are the polar opposite of what
enlightened leaders seek in new talent. While
HR is tediously focused on making certain
that candidates "play well in the sandbox,"
strong managers want those who don't
venture near the proverbial box. Which
creates a conundrum and a paradox:to get to
the latter you need to lie to the former. As
well you should. Why be held hostage to a
broken system?
Case in point: the HR person will likely ask
you if you work well with others? Well, many
of the smartest and most innovative people
on the planet simply don't. Not that they are
trouble makers or in any way venal but they
simply prefer to work alone, creating marvels
of software, mathematical formulas or
extraordinary feats of creativity. But can they
tell HR:
"No. I don't really like working with others. I
guess you can say I do my best work by
myself. My professors at MIT used to call me
a 'loner.'"
HR's universal reaction to this honest
response would be "Next." Einstein and
Newton would have failed their test.
For years, my firm worked with a hedge fund
that invests capital based on quantitative
strategies, developed by their team of math
and physics brainiacs. None even pretend to
enjoy the social aspects of the work
environment. For them, it is all about
hibernation, concentration and introspection.
They never stepped into a a sandbox as kids
and they aren't about to start now.
Over the course of an intense year when we
examined and adjusted many of the practices
of the fund, management came to recognize
that the caliber of the candidates coming to
them for second-stage interviews was way
down below the quality hierarchy. On closer
examination, we discovered the HR filter was
turning the best and the brightest away
before they could be seen by senior fund
managers -- all geeks and loners in their
own right. The solution was simple: HR was
limited to managing the fund's employee
benefits and policies and completely
removed from the hiring process.
Another HR question that demands a lie goes
like this:
"So tell me why you want to work for our
company."
In many cases, the honest answer would be:
"I think this is the best place to make a
fortune before I'm 35. I really want a chunk of
those stock options."
But to the HR paint-by-numbers gang, that
would lead to a fast dismissal out the fire
exit. To get to the next-stage interview you
have to lie, waxing poetic about the
company's innovative culture or lionizing it's
irreverent founder (who, by the way, is eager
to have brilliant wealth-seeking hot shots on
the team).
The old adage "Just be yourself," is a fool's
game when it comes to the hiring process.
Instead, at the outset, you need to be what
HR wants you to be. And in most cases, you
need to (and very well should) lie to win a
pass to see the real players in the company.
The ones with a 180 degree different (from
HR) perspective on life/business/success
and how to get what you want in your career.
Look, I don't believe in making lying a way of
life--in fact, I appreciate blunt and honest
people and think of myself in this way. But
when a system is stacked against the truth,
dance around it.

Kai! I just love this @OP.

akugbemike:
All of the characteristics HR looks for in a job
candidate are the polar opposite of what
enlightened leaders seek in new talent. While
HR is tediously focused on making certain
that candidates "play well in the sandbox,"
strong managers want those who don't
venture near the proverbial box. Which
creates a conundrum and a paradox:to get to
the latter you need to lie to the former. As
well you should. Why be held hostage to a
broken system?
Case in point: the HR person will likely ask
you if you work well with others? Well, many
of the smartest and most innovative people
on the planet simply don't. Not that they are
trouble makers or in any way venal but they
simply prefer to work alone, creating marvels
of software, mathematical formulas or
extraordinary feats of creativity. But can they
tell HR:
"No. I don't really like working with others. I
guess you can say I do my best work by
myself. My professors at MIT used to call me
a 'loner.'"
HR's universal reaction to this honest
response would be "Next." Einstein and
Newton would have failed their test.
For years, my firm worked with a hedge fund
that invests capital based on quantitative
strategies, developed by their team of math
and physics brainiacs. None even pretend to
enjoy the social aspects of the work
environment. For them, it is all about
hibernation, concentration and introspection.
They never stepped into a a sandbox as kids
and they aren't about to start now.
Over the course of an intense year when we
examined and adjusted many of the practices
of the fund, management came to recognize
that the caliber of the candidates coming to
them for second-stage interviews was way
down below the quality hierarchy. On closer
examination, we discovered the HR filter was
turning the best and the brightest away
before they could be seen by senior fund
managers -- all geeks and loners in their
own right. The solution was simple: HR was
limited to managing the fund's employee
benefits and policies and completely
removed from the hiring process.
Another HR question that demands a lie goes
like this:
"So tell me why you want to work for our
company."
In many cases, the honest answer would be:
"I think this is the best place to make a
fortune before I'm 35. I really want a chunk of
those stock options."
But to the HR paint-by-numbers gang, that
would lead to a fast dismissal out the fire
exit. To get to the next-stage interview you
have to lie, waxing poetic about the
.

Why can't you acknowledge the original owner of this post? Must you claim it to be yours

This is just wonderful,its crazy how they ask such silly questions when they know the obvious answers and the fact that you can't even answer truthfully

Very on point.
I wonder why organisations are yet to screen out some of those HR screening tools that have always sidelined quality candidates for job positions. And then HR come up with sometimes very silly questions like" what position are you in your family?."

This is true... Many creative people prefer to work alone hence don't enjoy teamwork. . but in an interview, you must claim to be creative and also enjoy teamwork. ..