Job interviews are nerve-wracking enough without worrying about your competition. However, with today’s job market, qualified applicants are often placed head to head to battle for the same positions. How can you assure you’re not blending in with the rest of the cookie cutter interviews? I mean, sure! You’ve got the experience, you know your way around Excel and Word – But what about the other four candidates with experience? What about the guy whose last job was as an Microsoft Office EXPERT? Are you really ready for your next job interview?
Glassdoor has conveniently compiled the Top 25 Oddball Interview Questions of 2013 and let’s just say, there are some interesting ones in there! Oftentimes employers will ask these types of questions to get their applicants to think outside the box. This can help distinguish one candidate above the others, but it can also lead a perfectly qualified applicant to panic. What would you do if you were asked some of these questions? Y.E.S. is here to help you combat anything your interviewer may throw at you.
We’ve listed a few of our oddball favorites below, but be sure to check out Glassdoor for more!
- “A penguin walks through that door right now wearing a sombrero. What does he say and why is he here?” (Asked at Clark Construction Group)
- “If we came to your house for dinner, what would you prepare for us?” (Asked at Trader Joe’s)
- “Estimate how many windows are in New York.” (Asked by Bain & Company)
- “Pick two celebrities to be your parents.” (Asked at Urban Outfitters)
- “What’s your favorite song? Perform it for us now.” (Asked at LivingSocial)
So, in your next job interview, stay on your toes and anticipate crazy questions! Don’t panic when they occur, but realize the employer wants to see how you handle a curveball question. There aren’t any right or wrong answers, so take a deep breath, think for a moment, and be creative. Your potential employer will thank you.
Have you ever had an experience with a wacky curveball interview question? Let us know by commenting below!
