The advice about being prepared with concrete, progressive goals is right on though.

Exactly. Having a decision tree-like, if this...then that, strategy is really useful.

I have to admit, I've never been upset over a non-bfoq question. When faced with them, I've generally asked something like, "Is that an important part of the organizational culture?" Or "That's a interesting point. I wonder how that effects people here." If it is a major issue (like the fundamentalist tendencies of an org I once interviewed with), the interviewer has done me the favor of hipping me to something that could be a real problem down the road. Rather know now, then later.

eta:

Our instructor pointed out that aside from HR reps, many interviewers don't know what the rules actually are, hence the need to be prepared for wacko and possibly illegal questions.

This is more often the case as not, I think.

Be ready to discuss your goals for each major area of your life: career, personal development and learning, family, physical (health), community service and (if your interviewer is clearly a religious person) you could very briefly and generally allude to your spiritual goals (showing you are a well-balanced individual with your values in the right order).

That gives me hives.

Our instructor pointed out that aside from HR reps, many interviewers don't know what the rules actually are, hence the need to be prepared for wacko and possibly illegal questions.

Oh, agreed -- but be prepared as in, "sidestep gracefully without getting so flustered as to blow the interview" rather than as in "go ahead and answer anyway."

Any good sports bra suggestions? Starting mixed martial arts program next week and would prefer not to, you know, bounce...

Anything that hooks in the front? That would be glorious, I hate wiggling out of those things.

I always hate the goal question. Usually I'm in such a position that the answer which leaps immediately to mind is: "Get a paycheck, Dork-o. I'll think past that when rent's paid."

I've never had anyone ask me about family planning, religion or anything besides the "goals" and "how do you think you could be an asset" questions, really.

As to my gut answer to the "assets" question, is is usually: "I'll show up."

Oh, agreed -- but be prepared as in, "sidestep gracefully without getting so flustered as to blow the interview" rather than as in "go ahead and answer anyway."

Yes, totally. But "sidestep gracefully" can be hard! And while I tend to go with "go ahead and answer", it's not the best plan either. And trying to desperately make up my mind what I can/will say tends to come out sounding stuttering and insane.

I suppose on a flat-out illegal question you'd be safe lying and telling them precisely what they want to hear...

"But you SAID you weren't going to have a baby..."

I suppose on a flat-out illegal question you'd be safe lying and telling them precisely what they want to hear...

But see, that's where, if you're interviewing with anyone vaguely normal, you start sounding insane..."I have no goals but to help my company succeed. My life is centered around work, and I shun things such as boyfriends or pets, that distract me from putting 100% effort in!"

That said, the recruiters I've worked with often ask, in a gently-couched sort of way, what my circumstances are (since I"m looking for a job with relocation)--do I rent or own, do I have someone else who would also need to be relocated, etc etc. Conveniently I've been able to answer that I am footloose and fancy free, but I"m not sure what I'd say otherwise!

What's sad is that how you answer questions can be a lousy indicator of how you actually do the job. Nice way to have a glib set of incompetents end up managing your company. :: she typed, not at all bitter ::

I hate goal questions - partly because I am not terribly ambitious , partly because I need to know the co. culture to know what I can do .

so in the most concrete fashion I try to say some thing along the lines of " I want to keep learning new stuff , more responsibility is better, I am very flexible, an I am willing to wait for the right opportunity". That works really well in the library world. in something like a customer service position it sounds something like " I am really good at customer service and I look forward to learning more about the products. As I know more I'd like to help improve the customers experience , by either planning scripts, testing, or planning for the future. Which way I go really depends on what the company needs and where my talents can be best used "