Batman or Robin? The surprising new interview strategy

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“Are You Batman or Robin?” Why quirky interview questions might be your secret weapon 🦇

Forget the “Where do you see yourself in five years?” script. Hiring managers are finally admitting what we all know: most interview questions are too boring to be useful.

Now, more HR leaders are leaning into weird, offbeat questions – like “What’s your billboard slogan?” or “Explain your job to a five-year-old” – to actually get beneath the surface.

Why it works: Unrehearsed answers reveal how candidates think, not just how they prep. You get insight into their ability to handle ambiguity, think on their feet, and adapt in real-time – without all the corporate-speak.

Even playful questions like “Batman or Robin?” offer clues into how someone sees themselves on a team: leader, supporter, lone wolf?

The takeaway: If you’re over the polished, cookie-cutter responses, shake up your interviews. Ask something unexpected – and see what it reveals.

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Bill Gates says a 2-day workweek is coming—and it’s not as far off as you think

The 5-day weekend might not be a fantasy after all.

Bill Gates is doubling down on a bold prediction: within a decade, most people could be working just two days a week – thanks to AI.

“If you zoom out, the purpose of life is not just to do jobs,” Gates told Jimmy Fallon, echoing his earlier conversation with Trevor Noah in 2023.

Why it matters: Gates sees AI replacing humans “for most things.” That shift could radically transform not just the workweek, but how we structure society – from burnout to birth rates. (Japan is already testing a 4-day week to help with that.)

What’s changing first? Gates points to professions like teachers and doctors – jobs AI could support by offering smarter, more affordable advice and tutoring. Farming, manufacturing, and other labor-heavy fields could follow.

The bottom line: The 40-hour week won’t vanish overnight. But if Gates is right, by 2035 AI will handle the grind – while we get more time to live.

Why some companies are quietly rebranding their DEI bonus policies

Linking DEI to pay used to be a corporate flex. In 2023, over 75% of S&P 500 companies tied executive compensation to DEI goals.

Now? It’s getting a quiet rebrand.

With the Trump administration signaling a tougher stance on workplace diversity initiatives, companies are treading carefully. They're not ditching DEI – but they are rewording it.

What’s changing: Phrases like “aspirational representation goals” are being swapped for safer terms like “employee engagement” or “inclusive culture metrics.” The strategy? Keep the spirit, reduce the legal risk.

Why it matters: This isn’t about abandoning DEI – it’s about derisking it. As lawsuits become a real fear, companies are moving toward broader, less controversial framing.

Still, nearly half of S&P 500 firms continue to link DEI or ESG progress to CEO pay.

The bottom line: DEI isn’t disappearing—but in 2025, it might be wearing a more neutral label.

What we’re reading

HR Dive – Stressed HR teams say they can’t take action on employee feedback.

Deloitte – 2025 Global Human Capital Trends.