Who would play you in a movie? What color crayon would you be? How does the internet work? The strangest interview questions - and how to answer them
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We’ve all been there. The sweaty palms, shaky voice, mind going completely blank.
Interviews are hard enough without being thrown a bizarre question about desert islands, cereal boxes or colored crayons.
But it seems that the hiring process is no longer a question of running through your resume and recounting your strengths and weaknesses.
It seems that the hiring process is no longer a question of running through your resume and recounting your strengths and weaknesses - candidates need to be prepared to answer some seemingly bizarre questions
Top companies from Apple and Yahoo to Goldman Sachs have been known to ask questions strange enough to throw even the most prepared interviewee off track.
A round-up of the 25 top oddball interview questions last year by Glassdoor found that questions such as ‘Are you more of a hunter or a gatherer?’ and ‘Why is a tennis ball fuzzy?’ have been popping up in interviews.
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But while these questions might sound completely irrelevant and pointless, the interviewer is probably pulling them out for a reason.
So, to show you that it can be done – and how it can be done - we’ve got two Strayer experts to tell us how they’d respond if they were faced with some of the trickiest and most bizarre interview questions.
If you were a box of cereal, what would you be and why?
An interviewer will often throw in a question such as this to test how well a candidate thinks on their feet and responds to a challenging situation.
Dr. Laina Molaski says she would pick Ashley Judd if asked who would play her in a movie -since the actress always comes across as genuine
There’s no right or wrong answer – the important thing is to talk the interviewer through your thought process and use the time to illustrate your strengths.
This is a perfect opportunity to showcase your creativity, but make sure your answer is closely aligned with the position you’re applying for.
Dr. Iris Boyd, assistant dean of faculty at Strayer University's College of Business, says:
I would be a box of Frosted Flakes. Tony the Tiger has the ability to roar when needed, as well as providing a nutritious food choice, that appeals to a variety of audiences from children to adults.
The sweetness and the crunch of this cereal, even when becoming soaked with milk, demonstrate the strength of this cereal to adapt but maintain its consistency.
The tiger symbolizes instincts, physical strength, trust in oneself, and unpredictability.
This cereal is reflective of me in the form of consistency, adaptability, strength as a leader to trust my intuition and decisions, and spontaneously dealing with situations.
If there was a movie produced about your life, who would play you and why?
If you’ve done your homework then you should have a clear, precise idea of the skills and attributes needed for the position you are interviewing for.
So have a quick think about the people who embody these characteristics.
If you’re really stuck, then pick an actor or actress that you admire and tie their best characteristics in with the attributes required for the job.
Dr. Laina Molaski, assistant dean of curriculum at Strayer University's College of Business, says:
Ashley Judd. In her movies she comes across as true and sincere. She has played all different types of roles but she seems genuine.
Questions about cereal boxes and colored crayons are among the most bizarre ones asked by interviewers
How does the internet work?
If you have a comprehensive knowledge of routers, servers, domain names and such, then go ahead and pull out all the stops with a flashy technical answer to this question.
But if you simply don’t know where to start, the last thing you want to do is declare that you have no idea and finish at that.
Interviewers will often test how you respond when being put under pressure, so use these sorts of questions to show how well you can handle a stressful situation.
Just take a deep breath, speak slowly and apply the knowledge you do have.
Even if you’re completely out of your comfort zone, you’ll impress the interviewer if you’re able to produce a clear answer drawing on relevant points.
'If you were on an island and could only bring three things, what would you bring?' - just one of the strange questions asked at interview
Dr. Iris Boyd, says:
The internet works based upon the request I submit for its retrieval and presentation for use.
The internet works based upon my efforts. The internet will search, retrieve and report information based upon what I enter into the system.
If I enter inaccurate information, I will get ineffective or incorrect results.
For this reason, being accurate and detail oriented is important to retrieving the results desired.
You are a new addition to the crayon box. What color would you be and why?
Although you might not be able to predict a question such as this, you should have a clear idea of the skills and values you are hoping to portray.
So think how these can be reflected in a color. Would you maybe pick a bold, brave shade? Or maybe something more subtle that reflects another part of your personality?
Dr. Iris Boyd, says:
I would be a primary-mix crayon. Being a primary-mix crayon would allow me to have the flexibility needed to meet the color need at that time.
In addition to flexibility, being this type of crayon allows me to be adaptable enough to address the immediate needs of the end user of my services.
If you were on an island and could only bring three things, what would you bring?
This question is most likely an attempt by the interviewer to learn about your personality, so it’s best to be open.
Whatever you do when you’re faced with a bizarre interview question, don’t duck it or refuse to answer.
Interviewers will often test how you respond when being put under pressure, so use these sorts of questions to show how well you can handle a stressful situation
The chances are that the interviewer is testing your reactions and they’re not going to be impressed if you bail on it.
It’s almost impossible to predict these sorts of questions, but by staying calm, being creative and taking a moment to think, you can usually tackle anything asked of you – no matter how bizarre.
Dr. Laina Molaski says:
I would bring my favorite book because I know I can read it over and over and never tire of it. I would bring a survival manual so I could figure out how to start a fire or forage for my own food.
I assume there isn’t a 5-star resort on this island. I would also bring a blanket. It could be used to shade me from sun or to keep me warm.
REVEALED: The one interview question that can seal the deal
