It's crazey to ask someone who is going for a cleaning job to ask "give me an example of when you have given excellent customer service". "when have you had to deal with a stressful situation" and more questions like that all that have nothing to do with the job applied for.
The reason for the ridiculas questions that are completelty unrelated to the job is to select people on the bases of subservience (willingness to obey others unquestioningly) and a desire to avoid people with experiance.
Here is an example that was asked by a TOC.
A railway company advertised for 6 train drivers externally and internally (why externally when there are already over 100 guards that are trained over the route and have the knowledge already and a proven track record of being able to carry out safty critical duties).
At the drivers interview both internal and external applicants where asked the following question.
" You are a train driver travelling passenger to London to pick up a working out of London"
"The catering manager comes to you and ask's can you come into the kitchen and wash up some pots because we are really busy"
"What would your response be?"
Now that seems quite a fair question does it not?
But it isn't, because all the internall applicants (mostly guards) know that you don't wash pot's up because you can cut yourself and scaled your self, put glasses in a sink then someone puts plates on top and the glasses break leaving shards of glass in the sink, put a sharp knife into a sink which cannot be seen under the water causing injury to anyone reaching into the sink. then when you have cut or scalded yourself another driver has to be found to work the train out of London (this is called experience gained by doing the job and knowning what you should do and not do).
And we all know what the externall applicants that have no experience and very little knowledge about the railway, other than the 50k + a year drivers sallary are going to say.
"of course I would get out of my seat and help wash up the pot's,stick a broom up my arse as well if you want" (keeping the overtime rate on 50k+ year in mind)
And the correct answer straight from the mouth of the HR manager "yes I would get up and wash the pot's"
Ladies and Gentleman we regret to announce that the 18.00 service from London has been delayed due to no driver (he is getting the stitches put in at the Hospital).The reality being the train is delayed due to some utter idiot in HR.
That is just one example of how HR have a determined policy of promotion based on subservience.
If the S.T.A.R system where being used properly the question to the cleaner who started this thread (and I suggest you go back and read it before posting) would be " can you give my an example of how you have cleaned a particularly dirty location and if you have not already done so discribe to me how you would do so in the future" That is a fair and sensible question.
"Give me an example of when you have given excellent customer sirvece" What rubbish!
I have spelt some things wrong in this post so those who realise they are loosing the argument can pick up on them.