Dear Cindy – If I'm Asked About What Books I've Read …

If, during a job interview, I'm asked about what books I have read, or what was the last book I have read, is there a right answer?

Sincerely,

I Read, But What Should I Say?

It's not so much that there is a right answer as there are wrong answers, problematic answers, and less-than-stellar answers.

For example, a few years ago when we were advertising for a staff writer/junior editor for MedHunters, we asked applicants what they had read recently; we were interested mostly in books, but also magazines, blogs, etc. To our astonishment, one applicant reported that she didn't read. After picking ourselves up off the floor, we asked, "How can you be a writer and an editor if you don't read?" She didn't have an answer to that question. But even outside of the writing/editing field, saying you don't read would not be a good answer.

A problematic, if not exactly wrong answer, would be if your latest book was a controversial or critical book, e.g., about a serving political figure from your country. This could result in an unpleasant discussion, particularly if your interviewer has contrasting opinions (or makes assumptions about your politics), which could damage rapport. Controversy as pertains to your career or healthcare in general would not likely be problematic.

Finally, if your reading activities solely consist of a single type of pulp fiction, such as romance novels, it's advisable in advance of starting interviewing to expand your repertoire into other areas, such as historical, motivational, career-related, fiction or nonfiction New York Times Best Seller list works (or any other major publication's best seller list works), etc.