“The Opinion Question”

What do you think about …Abortion…The President…The Death Penalty…(or any other controversial subject)?

TRAPS:  Obviously, these and other “opinion” questions should never be asked.  Sometimes they come up over a combination dinner/interview when the interviewer has had a drink or two, is feeling relaxed, and is spouting off about something that bugged him in today’s news.  If you give your opinion and it’s the opposite of his, you won’t change his opinions, but you could easily lose the job offer.

BEST ANSWER:  In all of these instances, just remember the tale about student and the wise old rabbi.  The scene is a seminary, where an overly serious student is pressing the rabbi to answer the ultimate questions of suffering, life and death.  But no matter how hard he presses, the wise old rabbi will only answer each difficult question with a question of his own.

In exasperation, the seminary student demands, “Why, rabbi, do you always answer a question with another question?”  To which the rabbi responds, “And why not?”

If you are ever uncomfortable with any question, asking a question in return is the greatest escape hatch ever invented.  It throws the onus back on the other person, sidetracks the discussion from going into an area of risk to you, and gives you time to think of your answer or, even better, your next question!

In response to any of the “opinion” questions cited above, merely responding, “Why do you ask?” will usually be enough to dissipate any pressure to give your opinion.  But if your interviewer again presses you for an opinion, you can ask another question.

Or you could assert a generality that almost everyone would agree with.  For example, if your interviewer is complaining about politicians then suddenly turns to you and asks if you’re a Republican or Democrat, you could respond by saying, “Actually, I’m finding it hard to find any politicians I like these days.”

(Of course, your best question of all may be whether you want to work for someone opinionated.)