Pongo Resume

The job interview is going just great. You came prepared. You and the interviewer have talked about the position, the company, and your would-be coworkers. You did your homework and know the company well enough that you could walk in right away, fully aware of the company’s mission and ready to contribute.

In short, you're feeling really good and very confident. Then, the interviewer throws you a curve ball: one of the weirdest questions you've ever been asked at a job interview. And after you answer it, you think to yourself: "What was that about?"

These weird questions often go something like this:

• What’s your favorite color?
• If you could be a dog, what breed would you be?
• Who's your favorite fictional character?
• If you were to win the lottery today, what would you do with the money?
• How many nuts does a squirrel bury each season and how many nuts does it lose?
• If you were to write an autobiography, what would the title be?

Here's what lies at the root of these questions: Interviewers ask them to understand how you think. Watching you struggle to formulate an answer to a question that doesn’t have a right or wrong answer can reveal a lot about you. The good news is, if they're asking weird questions, they've probably determined that you have the skills to do the job; now they want to see how you think about a problem before you answer.

For instance, if the interviewer were to ask "Which historical figure—dead or alive—would you most like to have a conversation with?", the candidate who answers Napoleon would be viewed differently from the one who answers Mother Teresa. 

What's the point?

Interviewers ask such weird questions because they believe it'll help them select the best candidate. But, of course, hiring the right one is a judgment call. "An interviewer will usually say the candidate will fit or will not fit based on little more than gut feel," says interviewing expert Michael R. Neece. "Asking a weird question or two plays into forming that gut feel.”

What's the weirdest question you've been asked at a job interview? Why do you think it was asked? And, did you get the job? Tell us about your experience by posting a comment below.

RELATED LINKS

What Interview Questions Do You Hate Most?
5 Really Stupid Questions from Interviewers
What Was Your Weirdest Interview Experience?

That was a different one!

I told him, "What a great question. Everyones interviewing style is different, some people focus on soft skills and some people focus on technical. This interview may have been less technical than some but we covered a lot here and my expectations were met. And I would really like to come to work for you."

Not sure if my response worked yet ... but it was a different question.

What does it mean when you go for an interview and have seen, say, 2 out of 3 of the interviewers and they bring you to the waiting room (you're expecting to see the 3rd person) and they say "so-and-so is not available, we'll have to have you come back. Nice meeting you and we'll be in touch". First time this happened to me they never called. It happened to me again during this week and I would have hoped to hear from them today. Not a good sign, is it?

Thanks for any feedback

- How many burgers can you get from a single cow?

- How much water flows through the mouth of the Mississippi River?

@ Paula - Well, either they were being truthful, or Interviewer No. 3 didn't really want to interview you, for some reason. I'd give them another week before calling to check on your status. If they don't give you a direct answer, I'd write them off.

Thanks for the kudos on our site. We aim to please!

Well the 1st interviewer was the HR person, and the 2nd interviewer was the Executive Assistant to the President/COO. The President/COO was the 3rd person I was supposed to meet but was suddenly unavailable. My sense is that the first 2 gals I interviewed with exchanged impressions about me, while I was waiting, and decided I didn't pass muster with them so they certainly weren't going to pass me on up.

Ok I'll take your advice and give it a bit longer before I call. Would really like to get that job.

Keep plugging away!

See the fourth question in the list of five within this blog post: http://www.pongoresume.com/blogPosts/181/5-really-stupid-questions-from-interviewers.cfm

As for your second question: It depends on what "so long" means. It's a relevant question to ask, but if you were out for a personal reason, such as illness or caring for a sick relative, answer briefly, such as "I had a bad illness, but everything is fine now and I'm ready to go back to work." Maintain a positive, forward-looking focus on the job and the qualifications you bring to the job.

Hope this helps! Best of luck!

No matter what I answered the interviewer asked "...and what's another way?"

I admit I got flustered after several answers and stated, "I am not sure how and what you want me to answer".

Purpose accomplished I suppose, even though I was highly qualified, I didn't get the job.

Sometimes, depending on the question asked, the best way to answer it is by asking a question first to gain some clarity from the interviewer. That can demonstrate that you think in more than one way in getting a job done.