The anticipation is what kills me the most before a job interview. I’m generally okay when I arrive at the location, but the build up is almost enough to make me consider self-medicating. No matter how prepared I am, I still fear the unknown.
As it turns out, that fear of mine is sometimes quite justified. Some job interviews end up being strange encounters. Prepared answers to questions about your skills, successes and experiences can be moot when you’re asked some of the bizarre, left-field questions that certain interviewers like to throw at you.
- I once met a ‘one-question interviewer’. He just asked me the same question over and over again: “What would this reference say about you?” for each of my references. I finally answered: “They would clearly say that I’m brilliant and a pleasure to work with, but I’ve listed their contact information so that you could hear it from them directly.”
I may have sounded snappish. I didn’t end up getting that particular job.
- A friend of mine recently interviewed in an office that appeared to be flooding. Pots and bowls were collecting water from the dripping ceiling, computers were covered in plastic tarps, and in the middle of the interview the power went out. They were sitting there in the pitch black. Without skipping a beat the interviewer asked: “So, why did you leave your last job?”
My friend replied, “You really want to keep interviewing me?”
She said, “Sure, this happens all the time.”
So the interview carried on in the dark, and my friend got the job. Sometimes it’s not the answer to a question that the interviewer is really looking for; they are more interested in seeing your thought process. They want to know that you can handle the unexpected, that you can think on your feet.
So, in appreciation of ‘Job Interviews Gone Wild’ we asked our Facebook fans and friends to share the bizarre interview questions that they’ve encountered.
Here are your eight strangest interview questions:
- Someone once asked me what my astrological sign was! – Amy W.
- A recruiter once asked me what my favourite colour was. (I told her that I was offended by her racist question.) – Kaylee
- Someone asked me how I would peel an orange – Brad
- What part of a car would you say that you were? – Peter
- What role would you play in the House of Commons – Debbie
- I was asked what kind of fruit I was – Andy
- If you were an animal, what would you be? – Amy D.
- I was once asked what colour my wife was??? (I’m black by the way.) - Franklin White
What have we learned? Be prepared, be very prepared, but also be candid, be yourself, and learn to roll with the punches. How you react can be at least as important as what specifically you say. And remember an interview is a two-way street. As much as they’re evaluating you for the role, you have to decide if it’s in a place you’d actually like to work.
Best of luck with all of your interviews, and if you come across some strange questions or bizarre encounters, let us know. We’d love to share them with our readers.
Jenna Charlton is a Toronto writer and blogger and a regular Workopolis contributor
I recently had an interviewer ask me what would people say about me at my funeral. He followed up that question with what would my wife say at my funeral!
I think hiring managers should reflect on some of the questions being asked. I understand that he was trying to take the question out of the setting of the job to get me to be really honest. I think in this case the conversation about my death my be a little disturbing to some. Really, what my wife thinks about me at my graveside likely has little to do with how I might perform on the job in the years leading up to my eventual death.
I suppose the most bizarre question I can remember being asked was *Tell me of a time when you Saved The Day at a job.*
I replied with a trace of irony that I had once contacted a concierge I knew who got our managing partner a badge for the Masters Tournament.
A more relevant answer might have been the numerous times I didnt tell agitated clients that the lawyer they were seeking was in Costa Rica with his mistress.
I was once asked “why are you looking for a job”
Questions from the interviewer: What the hell is that, why on earth would you bring someone to wait out for you in an interview I’ve never heard of that before? Do you live with your parents? How old are you? What’s in your purse? Are you recording? Woh hoh! What’s that black case for? Question from me: Is there a chair? Interviewers answer: It’s the therapy couch!(An office with a three/four person couch far from the interviewers desk and his chair) Question from the interviewer: What I don’t understand is, why you don’t show me what’s in your black case! (This was asked at least seven or eight times during the 45-50 minute interview!) Answer from me: It’s a case for resumes, note paper, papers and you can purchase these cases from stores like Staples. That’s all that’s in it.
What’s your favorite cartoon?
I once had an interviewer ask me if I had any children. My reply “No at this time”. Not a huge deal until they followed it up with “Why not?”.
The question asked is not as important as the reason asked:
“Astrological Sign” – may want to know how grounded or superstitious you are.
“Favourite Colour” – indicates mood, but to call it racist; to call the interviewer racist shows a decided lack of understanding and respect.
“How to peal an orange” – that can show analytical as well as mechanical skills.
“Car Part” A leader would relate to the engine, a manager the steering wheel… good question.
“Roll in House of Commons” – fairly common question with good indicators of what vision you have of yourself in an organization.
“Kind of fruit” – one quiz called me a raisin…
“Kind of animal” – probably a little more accurate “Colour of wife” – testing for racial sensitivity?
If asked for the right reasons, if the interviewer understood the indicators, they are all good questions.
I was once asked if I liked boys! He wanted to know if I was going to get pregnant and go on maternity leave.
I was asked how many sick days I took in the past year
I was up for a promotional position and my manager kept asking me the same stupid question about every aspect of job description. “What do you perceive this part of the job?” I was like ask me something else then to give an analysis of the damned job description. After a little while I found out she had no intention of giving me the position, she just handed it to the other person like she had planned even before interviewing her for the position.
I once got asked, “What would you like to be when you grow up?”. I paused for a while and responded with a bit of a hint in my voice “…an adult”. I was 27 yrs old at the time of the interview.
I recently had an interviewer ask me what would people say about me at my funeral. He followed up that question with what would my wife say at my funeral!
I think hiring managers should reflect on some of the questions being asked. I understand that he was trying to take the question out of the setting of the job to get me to be really honest. I think in this case the conversation about my death may be a little disturbing to some. Really, what my wife thinks about me at my graveside likely has little to do with how I might perform on the job in the years leading up to my eventual death.
Good God, Kaylee! Did you go into that interview looking for a fight? There’s NOTHING racist about the question. You clearly have a chip on your shoulder and should look into counseling. I doubt you’ll get any job without finding out your motivations and getting a grip on your outlook.
A friend of mine who is divorced was asked “So what happened, why did the two of you divorced?”… he left the room immediately.
I was once applying for a job at the retail store, and it was one of those group interviews with 10 to 15 people present. They asked us all one question…:
“If you were a kitchen appliance what would it be?” WHAT does THAT have anything to do with ANYTHING??!!
While many of the questions asked by interviewers may be legitimate, if they bluntly cross the line of respect, of human dignity, not to mention basic consideration, the interviewee has no obligation to be subjected to such treatment. If they are interested to know about my analytical skills, they can just say so and provide an example that is worthy and respectful of the interviewee`s intelligence. Why ask how would you peel an orange? They might as well ask: «How do you eat your corn on the cob? or How is the toilet paper in your bathroom – over or under the roll?» The only thing I wish to tell the interviewers: «Talk to me as to a grown up, please. This is what you want to hire for your company, anyways, isn`t it?»
I think this article is missing a key piece. As an Interviewee you have the right to ask more questions to make sure you understand why they ask you a particular question. I am sure it is both best interest to make sure that you are the right candidate or not. Something like “Why are you asking me that? I am just trying to make sure I understand the purpose of your question to respond you accordingly” should be common sense oriented enough.
I remember once I was interviewing someone and when I asked “What can you tell me about yourself?” the candidate answered that she wanted me to know that she was already dating someone… while I was holding myself to not LOL, I clarified why I was asking that and we laughed about it and helped to ease out everything… I got the information I was looking for as interviewer and I found out a great resource… offer her the job, I found a great resource that fulfills the needs of the position and the company and we still laugh about it ;)
Just for the record the weirdest question I have gotten when job hunting was “Are you afraid of writing in French?”
I was told in an interview how awful his son was (not smart, not a leader, etc.). When I told the interviewer I knew his son, he asked if I could start to date his son. The interviewer thought it would help his son greatly. I felt very bad for his son.
Do I have children? No (not at the time). Well that is good, because I feel a woman should stay home with her children. When I was told I had the job, I said no thanks.
If you work for me you will always need to wear a skirt or dress and have extra nylons in your desk just in case. Are you okay with that? I was and said yes.
I have been also asked in an interview to give specifics on how I would complete a form (listed by form number only) and how I would handle a …..(listed by specific company lingo not used by anyone but them) while being stared down by 5 interviewers on one side of the table and you back in a chair facing them like the judge and jury. YIKES!
An interviewer called my references and asked them to answer questions for over a half hour. The questions were about emergency situations that could happen at the new job and how I would handle them (the job was very different from what I was doing before).
I was interviewed for the same company five times. I finally said although I really wanted the job, I had to take time off from my current job and travel an hour to each interview. I told them this would be my final interview. It turned out two departments were interviewing my and none of us were aware. I got both jobs and an agreement was made.
The most dreaded question I get is: tell me something negative about yourself or what is the worst thing you do in your line of work. Although I get why they ask, I still dread it.
What if they ask you: what have you done since your last experience (knowing that you had tough time (nearly 7months) trying to find a job with no success)?!
Although it largely depends on where you live, most personal questions, eg: do you have any children, or do you like boys or colour of your spouse are prohibited on grounds of discrimination according to the Ontario Human Rights Code. Next time the recruiter or manager asks you something that is clearly none of their business, make sure you mention it and watch their reaction.
After waiting in the lobby for over half an hour waiting for an interview, someone finally came out with a very frustrated look on her face and commented that she was never told there was an interview scheduled for that time and began to give me a tour of the office. I don’t believe she even told me her name or shook my hand. During the tour, she went through what the different dept. were and was describing how I could get fired. Such as, “if you come in here without authorization, you will be fired” and “If you take any breaks outside of scheduled break times, you’ll be fired” and there were so many more. Finally, after the tour, we went into an office for the interview. Her first question was “Do you picture yourself working in this position?” I have to admit, after hearing the words “you’ll be fired” about 10 times I was left with a negative feeling about this employer. I simply stated “I’m sorry, but I really can’t. Thank-you for taking the time to meet with me.!
” She escorted me directly outside.
I have to disagree with Clayton. They are not all good questions. But he is right that more important than the actual question is the motivation behind it.
So for example, the best answer (in my opinion) that Franklin could have given to the completely inappropriate question “What color is your wife?” is a calm “I’m not sure…” which would be sure to generate a puzzlement on the part of the interviewer, perhaps followed by another question seeking clarification or else the interviewer perhaps realizing they just asked a completely inappropriate question and then moving on into the rest of the interview.
If the interviewer chose to continue that line of questioning a follow up clarification might be “I’m not sure because I’m color-blind”. Then the decision to either get up and walk out because you are being interviewed by a racist, or to continue the interview if you feel they were just suffering from a brief moment of idiocy from which they hopefully just recovered.
Interesting experiences and reactions……guess we are all meant to click with some, and with others……well, I know how that goes.
While many of the questions asked by the interviewers may be legitimate and logical from their end, if these transcend the line of basic respect, decency and human dignity, the interviewee MUST not allow such treatment and let the interviwer know it.
If they want to know about my analytical skills, they can just ask it of me straight out and give an example of an analytical dilemma that they would want me to solve, but not resort to such seemingly demeaning questions as «How do you peel an orange?». They might as well ask me «How do you eat your corn on the cob?» or «In your bathroom, is the toilet paper over or under your roll and why?»
If I were asked any of the above-mentioned unreasonable questions by the interveiwer, I would tell them: «Why don`t you talk to me like to a grown up, this IS what you want to hire eventually for your company anyways, isn`t it?». These questions are not only covert, sneaky, dishonest (in my view), but are also an insult to interviewee`s intelligence.
What color is your wife? That’s an easy one! Obviously, Franklin White’s wife is a “White” as well!!!
Never forget the time where the interviewer chucked question after question after question at me in very quick succession. Never a moment to breathe when the next question was upon me. Not to worry, I answered them all calmly and to the point. Then he said “do you think you talk too much”? hmmm Hard to please some folks.
I was at an interview only a week ago at a very large company known round the world. From where I was sitting I could see through a glass wall out to the very modern and up to the minute reception area. Half way through the interview I saw a mouse run across the reception area and into a dark area by the receptionist desk. I said “oh, a mouse just ran by” and pointed to the area I’d seen it. The response from the interviewer was “oh yes we have a problem with them”. I said “should we tell the receptionist?” and his response was “no, this happens all the time”. The interview continued as if nothing happened. Although I’m not into working with critters scampering around me, I’d still have liked to get that job. I didn’t.
Thank you everyone for all your comments. Its been interesting and fun to read about your experiences. Some have seriously made me laugh, and others seriously cringe – yikes. Some great points of advice as well.
Thanks for sharing.
Jenna
Indeed, I believe many inquiries are designed to trigger a particular response…a subtle psycho-analytical test of sorts. A rhetorical response isn’t always expected but can gauge one’s grasp of the essence of the question issued upon them. Folks often believe that the interviewer always seeks an immediate and linear answer to a given question and hence miss the big picture. As it is said, not everything is as it seems.
I think your lazy. My sales manager asked this question to the interviewer after asking him a bunch of questions beforehand. He wanted to see how this person reacted. I find if you are in your first 5 years of employment you will get asked these types of questions. Now if I was being interviewed now and I had some clown ask me any of these dumb questions I would get quickly to the point with them about not wasting my time.
A question I was asked at an interview: If you could be reincarnated what would you come back as in your next life?
My answer: A Dog!
Interviewer: Why a dog?
My answer: So I can raise my leg to all those who done me wrong in my previous life, including interviewers who ask silly questions.
Final Note: I got the job and started 10 minutes after he stopped laughing.
I went for a job interview once for a receptionist position in a hair salon. I was asked four questions. One of those questions was “Who is the Prime Minister of Canada”? I thought WHAT does that have to do with being a receptionist?
Another time I went for a job interview and I was asked “If I had a shortlist of 3 people and you were on it, who do you think I should hire”? Now I knew from the way that she was treating me that she didn’t like me because I was a little overweight (you can just tell with some people), so without breaking stride I said back to her well me of course. I didn’t get that job, not that I expected to.
These are really interesting and fun questions! Depending on the level of creativity and how important spontaneity is to the job, I think these are some good questions to guage a candidate’s personality.
If you’re offended, you’re clearly not right for the job! But don’t take it personally and diss the company. The intereviewer asks these questions to determine fit for the position, not to degrade or measure the self-worth of the candidate as a human being. Some people here should just calm down!
Kaylee’s question on color: You’re way off base to link color with racism.
I was once interviewed by two people for a contract position. While one interviewer asked questions, the other held a foam cup in his mouth, tilted his chair back and spun around around. I just carried on answering the questions and got the job.
COMMENT:
an interview I was not in was between a past employer and colleague. No matter who the employer interviewed, he asked multiple questions about the candidate’s high school experience. In some cases this would be helpful information. When the person being interviewed has not been in high school in 40-50 years, it may not be as helpful.
One interviewer asked “and how did that make you feel?” as a conclusion to every question.
In one interview we got into a conversation on what we get out of the questions being asked. He had asked me what I thought about their website and followed it up with “and why do you think I asked that question”.
For entry level jobs, where I was the interviewer, the people I found most successful were the ones I didn’t ask the majority of my prepared questions to. Many told me they left the building thinking there was no way they would get the job because all we did was sit and talk for 20 minutes.
How do you peel an orange?
I used to peel an orange using my fingers but after living in Japan I now peel it with a knife by cutting in the peel in quarters.
This shows I have lived abroad and adapted to the local culture by using a tool to keep my fingers clean from food.
How do I peel an orange? I don’t. I cut it into wedges – baseball & basketball moms do that What kind of fruit…? How about tough nut.
What animal…? How about an eagle – I like to see the big picture.
But honestly, I just went through a job interview where I gave a brief example for every “skills and experience” question they asked. Basically, I knew how to do everything they required.
Then they told me I was overqualified for the job.
The most bizarre question (and also a creative one) I was ever asked in an interview was for an outbound sales job in a call center. I knew they’d want someone who could think on their feet, but I wasn’t expecting to hear: “see this totally ordinary blue ball point pen? Sell it to me. Now. Go. Give me your best sales pitch!” And with absolutely NO time to think of a possible sales gimmick… I did my best, and expounded on the virtues of this amazing pen, and how it was more versatile and longer lasting than all of the other pens in the line before it. I made up a price, I made up all the features, and I described all of the wonderful writing moments people could have with this pen. And then I asked for the sale!
When I was done, I wondered if my interviewer would figure I was nuts. I’d blathered on for a solid 3 minutes without stopping. So, there was nothing else for it — I just locked eyes with her, smiled…. and she burst out laughing, stood up, shook my hand, and told me I was hired.
How do you answer??????? The most dreaded question I get is: tell me something negative about yourself and what do you do to change? or what is the worst thing you do in your line of work. I understand why… to a point, but who says that on a Friday afternoon half an hour before leaving that I only organize my work for the next week? Does someone have something that is not negative???? Open to suggestions!
As an interviewer, I was doing a string of inverviews. I usually ask people to tell me something about themselves. One guy stared at me for a full minute. We sat in complete silence until he said, “I’m a film editor.” There was another minute of silence, and he said, “and I like movies.” The second guy fell asleep in the chair outside the interview room and replied to the same question with, “Well, I’m Brazillian. I like to party. That’s it.” Needless to say, neither applicant were hired.
I was asked if my degree was a four year degree or three year degree. Point is when you do a three year degree it is intense – we do not have long summer breaks inbetween. The Four year degrees always have three months of summer breal which comes to 12 months of no school in the four year period, so effectively the program is done in 3 yrs and not 4 yrs. i think most of those interviwing people are themselves ignorant and do a lot of “hot air” interviewing , wasting people’s times
While being interviewed for a position with an advertising company I was asked ” Why are man hole covers round?”
When interviewing for my last position I came in for a second interview so the employer could get a better sense if I would fit in with their team. It was for a communications role.
It was a four person interview and one of my ex-workers asked me if I “worked out and went to the gym regularly.” I looked at her and said “Why? Are you trying to tell me something?” I was offered the job after that showing I had a sense of humour.
Just for information. It is completely illegal in Canada to ask the new-comers the question: “Do you have a Canadian experiece?” There is no chances to get any job in Canada if you do not have the Canadian experience, which is impossible to have for the new-comers. The question: is it possible to send somethere an official claim about the illegal questions during the interview at the state-owned factories or plants ?
I am a russian nuclear engineer with 15+ years practial work in nuclear&power engineeing. Possess the best nuclear engineering education what could be obtained in USSR, but these illegal questions are the reason why I can not get any engineering/technician position in nuclear indusry of Canada.
As part of final selection, I once was interviewed by someone in their pajamas – OK, it was a high-end silk kafkan pajama…
It was my 3rd interview for a ’senior’ role.
@ Megan
You posted…… While being interviewed for a position with an advertising company I was asked ” Why are man hole covers round?”
That’s a great question. It’s much more difficult, if not impossible, to drop a circular cover down its own hole. A square/rectangular cover does not have that same safety feature/attribute.
That question may demonstrate problem solving skills in a candidate.
I’m a manager for a medium sized recruitment comapny in Canada and I have to say there are some wierd questions being asked out there. As an interviewer I have to be honest with everyone, asking creative questions is becoming more popular because candidates are becoming much better at answering the routine questions. I view every position I recruit for like a finger print. Each one is unique to itself and requires the appropriate screening techniques. A good candidate should be prepared to answer questions they don’t expect. However I do not agree with employers asking questions that violate the privacy of candidates. Interviewers have to be able to navigate thier way through an abundance of candidates these days and be able to make the best informed decision possible. This requires thinking outside of the box.
I was asked once if a have to choose to save my mother or my sister from a car accident, who would I pick?? The other person would die… It was my first job interview and I really didnt know what to say… I still dont know if it was a good question or stupid.
Choosing between two people in a car accident could be a good question if that was part of your job duties. I’d be tempted to ask, “Oh goodness, are there a lot of car accidents around here?”