What if someone says "I'm pro choice about everything" in an interview?

What’s wrong with having the freedom to choose? Including whether or not the job conditions you offer are acceptable to them. And if they are not, the freedom to choose to quit.

I would say that is the employee you want.

The problem emerges when one’s freedom to choose requires somebody else, in one form or another, to pay for one’s choice. That changes the game.

In which case, they will be an expensive burden. Don’t hire.

Why would someone say that in an interview? What does that even mean? This seems like an odd premise to me. What is behind your question?

The whole term Pro choice is what’s behind that question. I mean if a smoking addict has to be taken to court by a person who’s inhaling the smoke and who doesn’t want to. ...

One interpretation is that the person is a strict libertarian, and believes that each individual should have complete autonomy over everything he/she wants.

I think that’s a bit extreme—does this person ignore stop signs and red lights? The person has a choice whether or not to stop.

But it’s a reasonable thing to say.

Again that’s not a reasonable question – no one would be likely to make a statement like that at an interview.

It sounds like behind your question, you are trying to say you don’t like the term pro-choice. That term has come to mean something very specific in today’s world; it means that in terms of the abortion issue someone believes that individual women have the right to choose whether to have the baby or terminate the pregnancy.

If you don’t care for the term or the concept, ask a question about that but bringing in a fallacious example of a global statement at a fictitious job interview does not strengthen your argument. No one who wants a job is going to bring up abortion at a job interview.

I would assume that I was a hypothetical person who existed in the imagination of someone who opposes women’s right to choose what happens to their own bodies.

If they open up a dialogue in a job interview with a statement like that, then I would have to wonder about their ability to hold focused and on-topic conversations in the business environment. I would wonder a bit about their sanity, frankly, unless the interview was for a strictly political position, such as an administrative or policy position in the Libertarian Party.

Otherwise, the statement mirrors much of my own political policy, but that doesn’t come out at a job interview. It’s just inappropriate in that setting.

Next, I suppose, the candidate could start to describe favorite sexual positions, or how crazy the Pope is … statements which would be equally “interesting”, perhaps, and at least as inappropriate in that setting.

I would view them as a bit of a loose cannon as anyone that advertises that they will try anything once would not be someone I would trust to be in my employment. I not only have to hire people to do their job but I have to decide who to hire who will not be a risk to other employees as well.

In such a ridiculous hypothetical scenario I’d probably respond with a dismissive “okay” then move on to subjects and questions that are actually relevant to the interview and job.

That sentence says nothing and is completely uncalled for. The person gives off a vibe of an annoying preacher.

Thank him for his honesty and tell him apologetically that he is not a good fit for the job.

I wouldn’t have a high opinion of anyone who makes declarative ,potentially polarizing statements in a job interview.

I would think I was interviewing an idiot and that’s before asking a single question. Not a good start.

Right on the money, @CWOTUS , @Cruiser @Sneki95 @stanleybmanly @MrGrimm888 @flutherother
And no one in their right mind would say that at a job interview, because the term pro choice makes no sense. That’s the point. What if they go to the gym and say that to whoever is handing him/her the form, or to the parents of the fiancé? It would make no sense there either I’m thinking. If you’re choosing to do something will affect other people negatively, you’ll get penalized, so like @Sneki95 wrote “That sentence says nothing…” Nothing good that’s for sure.

It’s clear that the person is not talking about choosing the flavor tea they want to drink at the cafeteria, or skirt and top or pants suit when it comes to the uniform etc. and things like that.

What on earth are you talking about?

Of course the term “pro-choice” makes sense. You’ll not find a single person who doesn’t know what it means.

Your argument is nonsense.

@AnonymousAccount8 The term “pro-choice” was highlighted in this discussion because the interviewee chose to apply that term to that they were “pro choice about “everything”. Most here found that to be cavalier and reckless and IMO rightly so.

I’d ask them what they mean, and maybe why they think they need to tell me that first.

@Zaku How about the answer goes: “I don’t want to wear uniforms, I don’t want to participate in saving the clients lives here in case of fire, I don’t like to wash my hands before food preparation, or after use of toilets. I just want to choose whether I do or don’t follow the guideleines. I just want to choose, I’m pro choice.” I’m guessing most people would say goodbye, before they have a chance to finish saying all that.

@flo Yes, in that case, I think I would too. Though the uniform things would be ok since we don’t have uniforms. Employment tends to involve being able to hold to agreements, even in the most liberal arrangements. The answers you listed also tended to indicate a disregard for the welfare of others, and some potentially dangerous habits. Sounds like someone with a chip on his shoulder who has some reflection to do.