That's a really great question.

This is also a hard position, because I need someone to be able to back me up on the phone, for which you need to be super friendly and resourceful and to do boring repetitive tasks with great attention to detail.

Those seem like a pretty standard combination of low-level tasks, though. Not that everyone is good at all of them, but it's not a crazy thing to ask.

Those seem like a pretty standard combination of low-level tasks, though. Not that everyone is good at all of them, but it's not a crazy thing to ask.

It seems like not very many college students do both well, though. Or I have no idea how to evaluate whether or not they will be good at boring repetitive tasks. I mean, some people really love them!

It seems like not very many college students do both well, though.

Yeah, I'm sure that's true. And why my temp bosses always liked me -- I was really good on the phone and good enough in the database or whatever the boring part was.

Yeah, I'm sure that's true. And why my temp bosses always liked me -- I was really good on the phone and good enough in the database or whatever the boring part was.

I was like that too. I now SUCK at the boring part (although I probably wouldn't if it was my only job), so I really need someone to be able to pick up the slack. Or just do those things

My favorite interview question is whether the candidate, given a project and a deadline, would rather finish on time and hand in something imperfect, or hand it in late but perfect.

The answer is...increase the budget/resources and meet time and quality. Isn't that the project management constraint trifecta?

It's also being purposely evasive, so double win. But if you mention triple constraints, maybe you'll get lingo points.

OMG, I want a Paul Bettany issue. Not Paul Bettany issue, though.

increase the budget/resources and meet time and quality

Not an available option. The candidates try that all the time. Even if they refuse to answer the question, I learn something from how they handle it, and what they will be like to manage.

In my job, I'd say the right answer is always meet the deadline, but seriously, get your shit together so that it is also excellent!

My favorite interview question is whether the candidate, given a project and a deadline, would rather finish on time and hand in something imperfect, or hand it in late but perfect.

What would I rather do, or what I would do? I would rather it be perfect, even if it had to be late, but I would finish it on time, as close to perfect as I could get it.

I know how I'd answer! This is the very situation I'm in at work almost all the time.

I would probably let you know I wasn't going to be finished in time and ask which you'd prefer. For some things, it has to be on time, for others it has to be perfect.

My answer to that would be a slightly more elaborate version of Meara's. I'd *prefer* to manage both, but if we were in a situation where we could not do both, then it would depend on the priorities for the particular task in the particular context in which it was being done. Unless the choice was a very clear one, based on existing policy or well-established priories, I would ask which was more important.