These are not mutually exclusive!
A pet owner asked me the question “tell me about yourself“
No, I’m not going to tell you about myself and give you a personal statement, it’s all in my profile.
But if I say I don’t like that question, goodbye / if I turn the question back on them and ask back “tell me about YOUself“ people would think it’s rude but this is the best way to make them feel how they made me feel.
Another PO asked questions like those in a job interview, such as “Tell me a situation where…..“
Are you ok?
It tells a lot about how they perceive sitters- unpaid staff, and except them to try hard to be validated and win the position. And what do they have to offer, not much, difficult pets and lack of amenities that weren’t disclosed in the listing. “I don’t have this, I don’t have that, but you need to do this and that…”
I totally agree. And it works both ways, right (I’m both a sitter and HO so it’s happened to me from both perspectives)?
I wish I could say I’ve found a way to disengage respectfully but there are so many different personality types and expectations involved so for me it’s:
“Yikes sorry to cut this off but I can see my phone is ringing, I’m going to have to get that as it’s probably a work call.”
I’m sure they know it’s a lie but … whatevers ..
I think it’s, indeed, about different personalities. For example, I would not be offended if someone said “tell me about yourself” In fact, they have probably asked something similar.
Neither do I need an excuse to end a conversation. I don’t usually mind listening and chatting a bit but if I hesitate about something, I usually share my concerns. Telling the truth comes naturally to me. I just can’t lie. I may sometimes be a bit too direct but at least people know where I stand.
Ahhh, the old spirit of hand-rubbing-phone-receiver lives on: “What? Say again? Sorry, you’re breaking up.” 
I suppose I might say something like “what would you like to know beyond what’s in my profile and application?” I mean, like you said, hopefully the relevant information is already in the profile, and I’ll have said in my application why I’m interested in the sit. Turn it around to them, what else specifically do you want to know. Maybe they don’t even have an actual question.
As to the “job interview question”, I think whether that would bother me would depend on the tone with which it was asked. Maybe the HO is used to interviewing job applicants, maybe it’s just their manner, and they all want to make sure they have someone competent and reliable so they’re looking for an example of why you are that. 
But then I’m generally not bothered by the “job interview” idea anyway – that’s just me.
I think this is a nice way to do it if anyone’s uncomfortable outright saying “I don’t think we’re a good match” or “sorry, I don’t do…” in whatever variations.
For the OP/sitters, this could be flipped to “I’ve got another chat scheduled for a sit that would overlap this one; I’ll let you know” and then you could message that you accepted the other sit.
I don’t think you get it, it’s not the question, it’s the attitude
It’s very much about how the video chat is approached and how questions are asked. To me, it should be a friendly conversation. This is an exchange of equals who are both offering something in exchange for something else. If that’s not how the host approaches it, then we are not a good match.
I recently had an interview, and I use the word interview because it was definitely an interview. The host had her list of questions, some of which would be more appropriate for a young, inexperienced sitter with no homeownership experience, not a 59 year-old whose done lots of sits and has owned multiple homes. If someone wants to use a list of questions at least adjust to the experience level of the applicant. She was condescending and just very much talked down to me like I might not understand basic things she was saying. If I was on an actual job interview for a position in my field, no one would ever talk to me like that. She also went on to add tasks such as extensive gardening (probably a couple hours a day) that were not in the listing at all. At the end she said she would be interviewing a few other people over the next couple weeks and would make a decision then. Not sure why I bothered going through the entire call since I knew within a few minutes that it wasn’t a match. I guess I was trying to be polite, but it was a waste of my time. I withdrew my application right after the call.
If I felt like someone was coming across as condescending, rude or such, I doubt I’d care about being polite. I’d probably just say something like, I think we’re done here and end the call right away. Why bother?
It wouldn’t work in the case of a THS call, but if you’re ever ready to end a call, cut it off when you’re talking.
I had one with a very intense bunny owner who made it clear that I had to be on high alert, day and night, for any change in demeanor and be prepared to rush bun-bun to the ER. I think I was just like “oh, ok…” and thankfully she rejected me right after the call.
I may have used this tactic in the past with old fashioned phone calls with someone who was known to talk for hours given the opportunity!
I didn’t realise you had conversed with my hubby 
When I was little I heard of a family member who’d set the phone down and go off to the bathroom while the caller was talking, and they’d still be talking and none the wiser when she returned.
I used to do hours-long phone calls with a friend – it was many years ago and I can’t recall for sure but I may have done the same thing 
A mutual acquaintance once told me he used to fall asleep while she was talking at him on the phone, and when he snapped back awake again, she’d still be talking.
Unfortunately you can’t do either of those on a video call, but, I suppose you could shut the phone off while you are talking; I like @Katie’s idea 
I think idea of dismissing a question because it feels too “jobby” could lead to missing out on some great sits. Homeowners aren’t experts at this! A thought question like: “What would you do if….” could be based on things that have happened in real life and make sense in the context of the sit and tell you a lot about the sit eg: “My Biggles is not an outdoor cat, but he might try to dart out when you open the front door. What would you do to avoid that?”
I just saw the recent video – the one with the poodle in the bathtub on the “free” Samsung channels I get with the TV. It very much makes THS look like a packaged service for sitting. If I feel homeowners have the wrong idea about this, I try to present as clearly as I can as an experienced sitter looking for a fair exchange.
That sounds too much like one of those awful “competency-based” job interviews. “Tell us about a time when you’ve displayed excellent team work..” etc etc. Ugh!
Seems like a reasonable approach. But some folks are touchier than others. Works out if a mismatch in communications surfaces early enough to avoid sits gone wrong.
100%. I don’t work to provoke anyone on a chat, but as a host I’ve gotten eye-rolls when I mention my very flexible 3 feeding a day schedule for my cats, and I don’t bother explaining it or getting defensive about it. I note the reaction and the chat is effectively over.
It’s more a discussion of equals about a potential real situation, and I’m not looking for a right answer as there isn’t one, I’m observant of their manner/approach/empathy. I’m reading any ‘tells’.
If you think if you answer those questions right, they’ll choose you, good luck. Often times they already know they like you or not from the beginning, or maybe you’re their second or third choice, some people ask questions to seek proof that you are NOT the one, kind of self fulfilling prophecy, they may choose you when they have no choice.
None of the sits I have done I have been asked competency related questions.
All our sits have been for people in the same age bracket. This has given some commonality in life experience and cultural norms of our time. I’m sure there would be more opportunities for eye rolling with hosts from my childrens age bracket just like there is from my children. I’m open to all but a similar life view helps you work together easier I think. Being equally respectful and understanding of each other is a great goal and of course that is not age based it’s personality.