Common Sense Isn’t Common!

I was interviewing a young girl today for trainee Java developer’s position and to open the discussion asked her to tell me briefly about herself.  Before responding to my query, she asked me if she can speak in Telugu (her mother tongue). I said OK but asked her to try to speak in English as much as possible throughout the discussion. I also explained her that inability to speak in English would not negatively affect her present job prospects as long as she is willing to learn English.

Very soon I found that she wasn’t very good at expressing anything in any language – English or Telugu. She had passed B Tech in electronics over a year ago and has been trying “Groups” (Government officers jobs, as I could correctly guess) since then and had “wasted” the time and therefore couldn’t find any suitable job. Presently, she was willing to work in IT industry as software developer.

The questions I asked her and could not get ANY response included:

• What is required to be a successful IT professional?
• What is required to be a successful “Group-2” officer?
• What is required to be a successful homemaker?
• What are your strengths?
• Why do you want to work in IT industry?
• What is the relation among your 1. Engineering in electronics, 2. Your interest in Government jobs and 3. Your present willingness to work as software developer?

I wonder, what may be the reason of a qualified engineer’s inability to possess and express opinions about something so obvious and personal. The questions weren’t about rocket science; they were just common sense and opinion based.  

They truly say, Common sense isn’t common!