Contrary to popular belief all interviewers are not the same. They work for different organizations with unique corporate cultures and the candidates they seek need to be the right fit. They have their own interview style and method of screening and/or testing job seekers. And they have their own favorite interview questions.
Also, a candidate who may appear to be a wrong fit for one company, may just as likely be the perfect for another. There are just so many aspects of a job seeker’s background, experience and skill sets to consider when conducting job interviews. And for these reasons sometimes the people who conduct the interviews will ask off-the-wall interview questions.
Purpose of Using Unique, Strange or Stupid Interview Questions
Job interviews should be a truly give-and-take process. The purpose of asking interview questions should be for organizations and job seekers to get to know each other through an exchange of information. It’s like a scene from the movie Sleepless in Seattle when the character Sam (Tom Hanks) says, “That's what single people do, they try each other on and see if they fit.” Employers and job seekers need to ask questions in order to do the same thing.
Sometimes, in an effort to do this, the interviewer will ask questions outside the realm of what most would consider normal interview questions. Often times these interview questions are designed to get a sense of how candidates respond in unusual, even uncomfortable, situations or to test their ability to be creative on the spot.
OfficeTeam, a national temporary service company, conducted a survey and found that unique interview questions ranged from the not so strange – “what was the last book you read?” – to the truly questionable – “what would I find in your refrigerator?”
Dealing with Unusual Interview Questions
While it’s difficult to predict exactly what unique interview question an employer might throw their way, there are definite steps that job seekers can take to prepare themselves just in case.
First, and always foremost, practicing how to answer interview questions is always helpful. Whether that means that jobs seekers conduct a mock interview with a close friend or family member, or choose to use another method for practice, becoming comfortable with the interview process is an important first step.
Next, job seekers need to thoroughly educate themselves on their own background, work experience and skill sets. As strange as this might sound, it is often surprising how many people get stuck with no answer to an interview question because they simply can’t recall information about their own past. Instead of leaving it to chance, it is better if job seekers refresh their memories beforehand.
Finally, keep in mind that the interview process is not about who can provide the fastest response to an interview question. Job seekers have every right to take their time, think each question through, catch their breath, ask clarifying questions or even request a moment to think about their answer before responding. They should be sure to use all the tools available at their fingertips.
Interviewing candidates for job openings is very much about the interviewer’s personal style. That style can say volumes about what type of employees an employer hires. So while it is important that job seekers prepare themselves for whatever interview questions – stupid or otherwise – interviewers may ask, consider what it tells the job seeker about the potential new employer.