Shark Tales

IT director pilot fish is working for a staffing company, interviewing candidates for a Web developer position.

"During the interview, I ask many general questions trying to see how knowledgeable or how well an interviewee can carry on a conversation," says fish. "I typically will ask for three strengths and three weaknesses."

And when this job candidate's interview gets to that point, fish asks for three weaknesses. But the candidate says he can only come up with one.

Do you read? fish asks. "No," says candidate, "I watch a lot of TV."

Fish comments that he, personally, reads lots of books -- mostly biographies of people who have changed the course of history, such as Newton, Kepler, Churchill and Oppenheimer. One trait that all these people had is that they were introspective, he says. Now what about your salary requirements?

That's when fish notices the candidate is giving him a blank stare.

Is something wrong? fish asks.

"Yes," says candidate, "I don't know what 'introspective' means."

Groans fish, "No wonder he could only come up with one weakness. He was not offered the job."