I’ve spent years interviewing candidates for various jobs. I’ve done it so much that I can generally tell within minutes of meeting someone whether or not they are going to fit in. In my profession, you have to be able to “talk the talk,” and if you’re not keeping up with my questions and observations, then you’re likely not right for the role. There’s simply no hiding from it.
Sometimes, when I reach the end of a positive interview, I’ll ask one unique question just to keep things light and to gain a better perspective on the individual’s personality. (If you don’t get this question, I’m definitely not interested in you.)
The question is: Name your three favorite musical artists.
The exercise is interesting because some people try to predict what I might want to hear or what I might consider acceptable, while others try to reply with their honest picks. Sometimes, I can actually see the candidate sizing me up while they try to discern what the gray-haired old man on the other side of the desk would consider a good answer.
Years ago, I had one young man come in who looked fairly buttoned up and serious. However, after we finished talking and I posed the music question, he confidently told me that his favorite band was Insane Clown Posse. At the time, I had never heard of them, so after he left, I looked them up. To this day, I’ve never witnessed a greater mismatch between a person’s outward appearance and personality and musical preferences.
There was one instance where I posed the music question, and the candidate was foolish enough to say he didn’t like music and couldn’t answer me. Sensing that he misunderstood, I added that it didn’t have to be a singer or band but could also be a composer or instrumentalist. His reply, foolishly, was the same. I didn’t say it out loud, but my brain was thinking, “If you can’t find one appealing artist in the entire category of music, I’m pretty sure we can’t work together.”
I also remember a young female candidate who seemed shy and reserved during the interview. Still, once I posed the music question, she rattled off a number of lurid rap artists who seemed wildly dissonant with her demeanor. She must have sensed my confusion because she quickly started apologizing. I began to laugh and assured her that I liked plenty of inappropriate rap music as well.
She was brave enough to ask what my answers were. When I mentioned Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and the Beatles, she looked at me sheepishly and admitted that she had never heard of them. “Never heard of the Beatles?” (Believe it or not, I still hired her.)
I knew I was getting old when several female job seekers included a young country singer named Taylor Swift on their lists. At the time, I barely recognized the name, so I looked her up. I thought she was cute and poppy but unremarkable, concluding that she would likely fade from the public view in a relatively short time. (I nailed that one!)
Of course, the greatest answer of all came from a chubby college graduate who I really liked. His personality was upbeat and positive, but what I remember most was how naturally funny he was. The kid was actually brave enough to do several impersonations for me when I noticed he included them on his resume as “Hidden Talents.”
I was tempted to hire him on the spot, but the music question completely derailed him. Instead of naming his three favorite artists, he went into a long dissertation about his dream of being in a boy band and how he was likely an untapped musical prodigy. In a matter of minutes, this kid went from a quirky 20-year-old schoolboy to a full-fledged nutjob. That, sadly, was the end of that.
While Abba is not one of my top three favorite artists, the Swedish quartet does hold a special place in my heart (since I grew up in the 1970s when they reigned supreme). This week’s feature, “Abba: 50 Years Since Eurovision,” is a conventional new documentary that explores the band’s unique rise to stardom to become one of the most commercially successful musical acts in history.
This film does an excellent job covering the high points of Abba’s career in a relatively short running time. Don’t expect any new material, as the content is mostly based on historical footage. It’s not like the world needed another Abba documentary, but there’s never enough if you’re a true fan.
Check this one out if you’re looking for a reason to reignite your love for Abba. I guarantee you’ll be singing by the end.
Now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, a catchy “B-” for “Abba: 50 Years Since Eurovision.”
Got a question or comment for Dom? You can email him at moviediary@att.net.
