AmorePacific in controversy over ‘inappropriate job interview question’

[justkyhdding.livejournal.com]

South Korean cosmetics giant AmorePacific Group has been embroiled in a controversy over political questions asked during job interviews.

An anonymous interviewee, who recently failed the final interview for the firm’s internship with guaranteed employment, wrote online that he was asked to talk about his opinion on the government’s attempts to reintroduce state-authored history textbooks.

The history textbook issue has become a particularly sensitive one in Korea with the progressives and conservatives taking highly contrasting positions.

“I would like to hear directly from AmorePacific whether my answer to the question affected the interview result or whether I simply did not meet the firm’s qualifications,” he wrote on his Facebook account on Sunday.

As his accusations went viral online, AmorePacfic vice president Bae Dong-hyun released a public statement on the firm’s website that “the question was aimed at evaluating interviewees’ interest in social affairs and logic.”

“Our recruitment system eliminates questions concerned to religion, school ties and regionalism in order to maintain fairness and transparency,” he wrote.

“Multiple interviewers take part in the interview process, and thus a single question from one particular interviewer cannot affect the result,” Bae added.

The writer of the Facebook post in question also wrote that the interviewer pushed him for a yes or no answer when he said “(reinstating state-authored history textbooks) was an undesirable decision.”

The writer also said he had received favorable comments for being an “eloquent speaker,” and that he would like to ask what his answer to the question meant regarding the job he applied for.

Korea Herald

Omona, what's the weirdest/most inappropriate question you've been asked in an interview?

Comments

[burnbook31.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if its weird, but i remembered getting asked, as a final question in my interview, "What do you think of comic sans?"

I thought it was pretty laughable but it sort of made sense? I just answered that I think i'd treat Comic Sans to an awesome dinner because he sure had enough of all the hate he's getting. Dude needs a break even once.

I dunno if i made a good impression, but I didnt took that job bc it was too far for me.

[misspoirot.livejournal.com]

Oh are you for real?! Does the company have anything to do with printing or writing?

[donutism.livejournal.com]

i know someone who got asked about how she is going to manage kids and her career in 5 years.

she was 22

[crystalheng.livejournal.com]

Wtf

[mad-nux.livejournal.com]

i was asked before if i had an eating disorder so i didnt answer their callback

[unicornios.livejournal.com]

so fucking rude

[921227.livejournal.com]

I live in the US and have always worked for large companies so all my interviews were really strict by the books kind of affairs.

[tsubaki874.livejournal.com]

I applied to work in a restaurant and I didn't realize the owners were by-the-book Christian... They asked me how many times I masturbated in a week, I'm not kidding it was ridiculous. They ended up getting closed down anyways for their prejudice towards other races/religions.

[waves-of-light.livejournal.com]

What the fucking fuck???

[smilla-sini.livejournal.com]

My friend was also asked about this issue. And her interview was on Tuesday morning that week when it all started, while it all went to media on Monday evening, if I recall it right. Funny thing: her father told her right before the interview that they might ask, and she was like "lol why would they". They did. She also didn't pass.

[nana-the-dwarf.livejournal.com]

I've never had a job interview so far. They sound like fun...then again, I'm a whacko.

Ok...reading some of the replies above they don't sound as fun anymore..

[infadel-x.livejournal.com]

I have a job interview tomorrow I'll report back

[justkyhdding.livejournal.com]

good luck!

[juhli.livejournal.com]

my interviews were all pretty uneventful, even though once i had an interview for a normal internship that went for 45 minutes...kind of overkill imo.

[crystalheng.livejournal.com]

Most job interviews, even internships, are 45 minutes to an hour though?

[in-noctem.livejournal.com]

I've literally been to only 2 interviews in my life and got offered the job for the second one which I took. The interviewer pissed me off lol we were told to watch a bunch of company produced videos and discuss it but I was not asked a single question about it. I could answer most of her questions but drew a blank to one. I eventually remembered what she was talking about and answered her but she cut me off and she gave me a look and was like "You didn't do much research did you?" BITCH I was told about the interview 2 days before.

But I've never been asked anything weird I guess. I just feel bummed that they were skeptical about hiring me because of my built.

[baekpedaling.livejournal.com]

Is that queation really considered inappropriate?

I've haven't had too many interviews and I feel like I always do terrible. Idk how tl talk about myself. I hate the strengths and weaknesses questions.

[crystalheng.livejournal.com]

1. Sometimes people just don't prepare themselves at all. Or they need a refresher of who they're interviewing and what position they're interviewing for because they've received other applications or they may have multiple openings. If you encounter this again, maybe you could bring their attention to certain parts of your resume that you want to highlight?
2. You could've asked them for their names. Sometimes people forget to introduce themselves.
3. Aka "Why you among the million candidates we have?" "Why should we hire you?" I personally find this one of the most annoying questions.
4. I think they're just curious about how you're related to the person who referred you. Like are you family, school mates, friends, why did they recommend you, etc.
5. It's probably just the individuals themselves but if you're not even an employee and they talk to you that way, can you imagine how they treat their own employees? :/

[xxhna.livejournal.com]

The most offhand question I was asked was if I dating/married. It was one of the very last questions. Tbh I don't know if it was just casual conversation or part of the interview. I was caught off guard. I answered no I wasn't married but dating. I got hired though.

[kazu-kumaguro.livejournal.com]

sometimes they ask that question to estimate if you're going to get married soon after hiring or not, and how busy your private life would be.

[rennehollic.livejournal.com]

I had an interview for a clothing store where the woman asked me if I was willing to show off my legs so I could make men buy more or if I was willing to wear something revealing.

I left

[rennehollic.livejournal.com]

I had an interview for a clothing store where the woman asked me if I was willing to show off my legs so I could make men buy more or if I was willing to wear something revealing.

I left

[belintuchiha.livejournal.com]

lol omgggggg
I would look at that lady with so much disdain haha

[adlyeith.livejournal.com]

I went to an interview for a teller position at a bank and the interview lasted 2.5 hours. I didn't even get a call or email saying I was rejected, just nothing.

[kazu-kumaguro.livejournal.com]

last time I sent an email asking if my process is done (rejected) and got nothing, whatever.

[belintuchiha.livejournal.com]

In Paraguay, to all women, they mostly ask about marriage, kids, etc.
Like they would ask "what do you think of marriage? what are your plans for life? do you plan on having kids?"
cause it's obvious they won't hire those who have children or are thinking of having them.

A new law is regulating now about new mothers to have a leave for around 4 months, which makes it even worse, 'cause now companies will hire even less women.

[kazu-kumaguro.livejournal.com]

lol fun fact, last time my place was discussing about policy, my supervisor actually thought that mandatory paid leave after miscarriage is only 1-2 days. I understand where he's coming from but still lol.

[kaninasan.livejournal.com]

I've never been asked any weird questions in job interviews tbh, just things related to my resume and the job I'm applying for. I've fortunately also never been asked about my personal plans (having children etc), those questions are illegal but still some people (mostly crusty older men) ask women about them.

But I've also only ever interviewed directly with the company, my friend went through an agency process which involved several rounds of interviews, personality tests and all kinds of things, idk if I could handle that.

[belintuchiha.livejournal.com]

those personality tests are pretty common here for any interview lol
last time I was like around 4 hours for an interview + tests- and now I'm working with them lol

[tsuyoi-hikari.livejournal.com]

Dont worry. Usually companies dont ask weird questions. Just go to the interview with high confidence. Confidence usually is the one trait that people looked most in potential employee. People can see in the way you talking your level of confidence & etc....

[atopworld.livejournal.com]

I usually think all interview questions are stupid..lol.

"Why do you wanna work here?" I need a fucking job?

"How did you help a friend reach their goals." What the fuck? I'M the one interviewing.

Lol.

[yakuniku-8.livejournal.com]

I think you can be asked this kind of question when you pass the exam to be a state agent, just to see your reaction, but not for a private firm.

[unicornios.livejournal.com]

lol my job interviews have been super chill but my jobs so far have been nothing formal, I guess.
I'm aiming for big corporations later on so I guess I should get ready for asshole-ish questions lol

[bomsnose.livejournal.com]

the things is they ask for photos in the cv in eastern europe, so that i hate already... during interviews they would also ask about relationship status, to figure out if/when i want to have kids (you can take off 3 years per child for 3 children, i have friends who have been out of work and getting paid for 7-8 years already)... i just brush off those questions saying my career has higher priority now. rest is none of their business.

edit: nb i don't plan on staying out of work for long

[steelsigns.livejournal.com]

being able to take paid leave for 3 years per child, whoa

I kinda don't blame the employers for wanting to know. But then I come from a completely-fend-for-yourself non-nanny state

[aneeleniffum.livejournal.com]

I'm seconded to a Korean company so i didn't have to go thru interviews but what I heard from direct hires is that my Korean bosses asked them whether they drink or not. It was v mindblowing for me since that's not a normal question for us living in a country with 60% of us are Muslims.

[sub-divided.livejournal.com]

Not exactly inappropriate, but I did four rounds of interviews, including providing (for free) a sample of my work, over the course of about six months, for a job that turned out to be bullshit.

Like, was asked to start less than half the industry-standard starting salary, interviewed for a job in NYC but was asked to start in Bridgewater NJ, "this place is a cult" vibes levels of bullshit. Anyway, I didn't take the job.

"How do you feel about working for free" is sadly a very common interview question, also.