199 out of 200 applicants fail at this question

The joy is great when an invitation to an interview arrives. Could this be your next dream job? Of course, if you don’t want to leave anything to chance, prepare yourself. Committed applicants come up with good answers to questions such as: “Why did you choose us?”, “What motivates you the most in your job?” or “What are your strengths and what are your weaknesses?”.

Well prepared is half done, you might think. And then there is a question that not only surprises, but is not that easy to answer. We are talking about a so-called behavioral question, also known as a brain teaser.

A fairly well-known example goes like this: “A customer scolds you on the phone because he is not satisfied with your concept. How do you react to that?”. Spontaneously asked such questions can be pretty mean. What’s the catch, many job seekers ask themselves.

Applicants are usually asked such behavioral questions about a very specific work situation. Technology is a popular means of putting the way people think and act to the test. The aim is to find out how job seekers react to stressful situations.

Another behavioral question, which has nothing to do with a possible work situation, is a huge challenge for applicants. According to Jim Ballard, 199 out of 200 people answer it incorrectly. In his book “Mind Like Water: Keeping Your Balance in a Chaotic World‘ He answers the question of all questions in more detail. Citation:

“You are driving through a stormy night. You pass a bus stop and see that three people are waiting there:

1. An old lady about to die.
2. An old friend who once saved your life.
3. The perfect man/woman of your dreams.

You know that you can only take one other person in your car. If you choose the old lady, you could save a life. Taking your old friend who once saved your life with you is the perfect opportunity to say thank you. Either way, you’d probably never meet the love of your life again.”

Jim Ballard writes that most people who are confronted with these questions for the first time choose one of the three possible answers. The reason is that the vast majority of applicants would only concentrate on what they are hearing at the moment: “Who can get into my car?”.

Many of those asked ignore the fact that the obvious does not always have to be the right solution. You could also clarify the situation by giving the buddy the car keys to drive the old lady to the hospital. You stay behind with your dream partner, walk a little and use the bus.

In summary, one could also say: If you are confronted with a behavioral question in the job interview and you have the feeling that you can only head for an isolated solution, you should focus your attention on the problem again and ignore what was initially obvious.

If you have the clarity to react smartly to such a question in an exceptional situation such as a job interview, you will definitely surprise the interviewer in a positive way. A good prerequisite for getting the job.