The quirky interviewing approaches of many firms embarking on cross-campus recruitment drives are turning off graduates, new research has revealed.
Interviews are never pleasant at the best of times, but the introduction of misguided questions mid-interview is increasingly proving to be a turn-off for many students hoping to take their first step on the career ladder.
Jo Gidley, graduate recruitment manager at Sainsbury's, which carried out the research, explained: "A question like 'Which planet would you visit and why?' is a seen as remote and ethereal.
"'Which member of the A team would you be?' says a lot about the 80s hangover and lack of realism of the interviewer, and the obsession with pick a 'cake, biscuit or type of food to be...' is worryingly prevalent but frustratingly irrelevant."
Sainsbury's says that this kind of approach can often backfire, with candidates being put off accepting a job with an employer who is too obtuse.
Helen Prince, one of Sainsbury's current graduate ambassadors, commented: "Lateral thinking questions are not a bad thing, and students are happy to be tested, but they see much more sense in questions related to broad thinking around the job they might have to do rather than approaches that seem flippant, standard or forced in their 'creativity'."
Copyright ?? Press Association 2008
