Tue, 17 Mar 2015
Singaporean jobseekers have trouble explaining their career ambitions, according to a study by Singaporean job board JobStreet.com.

The study of 120 candidates found 29% felt most uncomfortable in a job interview when asked about career aspirations.

The next most common question to generate such a feeling was why they wanted to work at that specific company, cited by 25% of respondents.

According to JobStreet, the candidates thought the challenge to come up with a convincing answer was made worse by a lack of knowledge in the company’s culture and available career paths.

The survey also asked candidates to share the “most outrageous” questions asked during a job interview:

• Assuming three birds were perched on a line linking two lamp posts. If one was shot, how many birds are left?
• The US has round manholes but Singapore usually has square manholes. Which do you think is a better shape and why?
• If you have an urgent request from the company to fulfil a job function within four hours but you are in the middle of celebrating your dad’s birthday, what do you do?
• Do you think a doctor can trade stocks better than you and why?
• Have you ever stolen a pen from work?