Interview question?

[fireguy06]

A friend of mine had an interview last week and was asked the question "If you had to kick one person off this panel, who would it be and why?" What is the right answer to this question?? What are they looking for in this question? Most panels are made up of captains, fireman, and battalion chiefs, I don't want to kick any of my potential co-workers or supervisors off!! I have an interview coming up this week and am pretty prepaired for it other than questions like this. Please help!

[CaptBob]

Don't turn yourself inside out trying to figure this one out you probably will never get this question. I call these clinker questions. It was an isolated question few have ever heard.

So, OK if you're somehow by a stange act of god asked this question how would you answer it?

[AKflightmedic]

That;s a brain buster for sure! I have never heard of such a question but if I were presented with it, I would probably go for the kiss *** politically correct answer.

My reply would be "I would remove the most senior, highest ranking member because his input is not needed at this time. My research has shown to me that this department is top notch and complemented by a wide array of talented members from the low ranks straight to the top. With the caliber of officers already present in the room, surely the most senior guy there trusts their decisions without question because they all have proven themselves or they would not be where they are today".

Yeah yeah I can kiss arse when I want to....

Cheesy?? Yes... Will it work?? Possibly

However the key to this answer is you are NOT offending anyone. It was a handful of compliments all the way around!!

[ffbam24]

interesting take...

I would go along the same lines I imagine.
Though possibilities are endless.

Remove the senior member: The fire department it made up of quality people from the ground up. As mature members, we could handle this at the deckplate level and not have to involve the senior member and possibly waste some of their time.

Remove the junior member: If there is some issue that needs to be addressed, deferring to a more senior officer may be appropriate since this may fall more into a management type decision rather than deckplate level.

While the FD is not a democracy, as a junior member, you may be allowed to give your opinion when asked.

Not trying to be vague, but it will take some more thought on your part. Let alone that I hope you are not interviewing for the same department as your friend and having posted your question jeopardized their process.

Hang tough,
bam

[fireman4949]

I would answer; "It is not my place at this time to make that kind of decision, as my knowledge of the qualifications, abilities and experience of each panel member and the reason for their having been chosen to serve on this panel is limited at best.

I would defer the decision to the panel as a whole, as they are most familiar with each individual panel member's qualifications, and allow them to make the best informed, most appropriate choice.

I am here today to present myself to this panel as the best candidate for the position for which I have applied, not to arbitrarily remove any member of this panel."

[CaptBob]

Yeah yeah I can kiss arse when I want to....

Cheesy?? Yes... Will it work?? Possibly

There is a fine line between a BSer and a KA. The panel can usually tell the difference.

[fireguy06]

??

I have asked quiet a few people about this question. Most of them say that they are wanting you to show them that you have the balls to kick someone off, and to stay away from the answer of "I can't make that decision". My buddy's answer was to kick off the guy who asked the least amount of pertinant questions...He hasn't gotten called back yet, but they said he did fine before he left. I'm crossing my fingers that they don't ask me that question, but if they do, I'll come up with something... Thanks for all the input

[CALFFBOU]

I might be wrong on this. But if I was asked that lame question, I would honestly say- "I wouldnt remove anyone of of this oral board based on the fact I personally do not know anyone of you." Thats just me. I am would be neutral.

Now- If there was a person on the board who is an outsider and not with the agency, maybe pick them solely based on that.

But overall, thats a lame question.

[Captnnc]

What I'd want to see you do is...just make a decision and have a reason why, save the crap... That simple.

[FireMedAS]

"Whichever one of you bastards likes the Dallas Cowboys."