Aquinas wrote:
As a kid, I had an long job interview where I was answering a lot of (what I thought) pointless questions. Finally my frustrated interviewer asked me bluntly "Do you often misunderstand questions?" I actually thought it was a serious interview question and answered "Why no, not often" then waited for the next question.
I never did hear back.
Well, you wouldn't have heard back anyway the instant you got that frustrated question - no possible response can "bring you back" - you either insult the interviewer by telling them they're not clear (but the last X candidates understood his/her questions), you deny it as you did (which looks phony), or you openly admit that you often do, so that tosses you out of the running.
I suppose you could say "well, it depends on how the question is phrased - sometimes it leaves more room for interpretation" - but if you're interviewing for retail or food service or one of those other "kid" jobs, you're going to look pedantically pathetic.