Weird job interview questions

[Phoenix84]

I've been doing a lot of research over the past week on job interview questions. Some of the ones floating around out there are so off the wall I feel compelled to ask you guys. Though I didn't encounter any of these, how would you answer the following questions in the context of a job interview:

1. If you were an animal on a carousel, what animal would you be?

2. We unplugged the clock on the wall, why did we do that?

3. How do you feel spiritually about divorce?

4. Why shouldn't I hire you?

5. What's your favorite amusement park ride and why?

[Abby Normal]

1. If you were an animal on a carousel, what animal would you be? Unicorn- because all you see are horses anymore, and I want to be a little better. One of a kind.  (not for the interview, but I'd also really like to fart rainbows)

2. We unplugged the clock on the wall, why did we do that? So you could see how many times I check my phone for the time?

3. How do you feel spiritually about divorce?  Unless you're planning on marrying me-  I don't know that how I feel about it is relevant.  Either that or " it's good. Everyone should try it five or six times" 

4. Why shouldn't I hire you? Because if you look for the next 3 years- you might find someone better. You never know

5. What's your favorite amusement park ride and why? Bumper cars-  I like the action, but I want to be in control.


Yes my sarcastic side comes out with stupid questions. 

[sesfw]

#3 would make me want to say .......... why do you want to know something so personal?

The question I always hated was ..... Where do you want to be in 5 years? .......... dang, I'm trying to deal with today.  Need a job before I can plan for tomorrow. ...... No, I'm not going back to school and I don't want to be CEO.

[HoneyBBQ]

I would punch the interviewer in the face for wasting my time and walk out after I pooped on the floor if I got asked any of those questions.

[resolution]

I would probably start scolding the interviewer at question three because it is inappropriate and unprofessional for them to bring up something like that.

[marvholly]

I would probably tell them off in no uncertain terms BUT

A more professional way to handle crazy, off the wall questions is to ask:

"how is this relavent to this job?"

95% probabilty - they have NO clue & will back off.

[resolution]

Aug 9, 2014 5:18:10 GMT -5 marvholly said:

I would probably tell them off in no uncertain terms BUT

A more professional way to handle crazy, off the wall questions is to ask:

"how is this relavent to this job?"

95% probabilty - they have NO clue & will back off.

That is a much more professional response than me asking them what the hell they are thinking.

[Phoenix84]

I don't know, I'm just going by lists of questions I found online. Presumably, someone at some point has asked those questions.

I guess I'll take a crack at my own questions:

1. I haven't looked that closely at a course in some time, but I would probably be a lion.

2. To see how many times I check my watch/phone during the interview.

3. I don't really feel that question is relevant to the job.

4. I can't think of any reason you shouldn't hire me, (and then summarize why they should hire me.)

5. I always like roller coasters and the rush they bring me.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

3. How do you feel spiritually about divorce?  Depends on the day and what DH did to piss me off last night

[Deleted]

Phoenix, I highly recommend "Interviews for Dummies."  The book is funny and right-on for how to deal with people trying to interview you.

Part of the problem is that no one really has much training when it comes to interviewing.  Most managers have no idea what to ask people.

At the charter school we once did an experiment to see which chairs people would sit in during an interview with a large table.....  

[thyme4change]

Aug 9, 2014 11:25:31 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

I don't know, I'm just going by lists of questions I found online. Presumably, someone at some point has asked those questions.

I guess I'll take a crack at my own questions:

1. I haven't looked that closely at a course in some time, but I would probably be a lion.

2. To see how many times I check my watch/phone during the interview.

3. I don't really feel that question is relevant to the job.

4. I can't think of any reason you shouldn't hire me, (and then summarize why they should hire me.)

5. I always like roller coasters and the rush they bring me.

Here is the thing with interviews.  There are all these hard and fast rules that everyone quotes as gospel truths.  In reality, Every person who interviews you is an individual person.  Those individual people bring their own personalities and biases to the interview.  Even in large companies with strict processes, it is still a very subjective process.  Just because SOMEONE thought up these questions doesn't mean that very many people are using this level of crazy to evaluate people.  I would be surprised if you got anything this bizarre.  You will probably get the standards.  Be prepared to talk about the technical skills you have, and do so in a super-intelligent way.  Usually all of these crazy questions are advertised as a way to see how people think on their feet - so, you should just  take a deep breath, relax and answer as a professional.   They don't really care about your answer as much as your reaction.  If you snap out "How does this apply to the job?!" then you have showed that you have no problems questioning people, or that you aren't willing to play along.  Who knows - only the person who asked the question gets to decide what your answer means.

I did one interview that was situational.  It was one of those where they say "Tell me about a time..." This interview was exclusively those types of questions.  I have also seem hybrid situations, where they ask you "normal" questions and throw in one or two situational ones.  So, be prepared for "Tell me about a time you were on an unreasonable deadline" and "Tell me about a time you worked with a really difficult person."  The good news is that you now know something about the job - that you have to deal with an asshole who demands everything right away.  Anyway, I did that interview, and got the job.  Later I was talking to one of the guys who interviewed me and he said I got the job because after each question I stopped and thought about the answer and when I did speak I was very composed and didn't seem flustered and gave a single example that stayed on point.  I remember during the interview I felt like the silence while I was thinking was too long and obnoxiously painful.   So, great example of how two people in the same room see the same situation very differently.  

[truthbound]

Aug 8, 2014 17:03:52 GMT -5 @missmargarita said:

Aug 8, 2014 16:56:34 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

I've been doing a lot of research over the past week on job interview questions. Some of the ones floating around out there are so off the wall I feel compelled to ask you guys. Though I didn't encounter any of these, how would you answer the following questions in the context of a job interview:

1. If you were an animal on a carousel, what animal would you be?

2. We unplugged the clock on the wall, why did we do that?

3. How do you feel spiritually about divorce?

4. Why shouldn't I hire you?

5. What's your favorite amusement park ride and why?

Those are really weird and random questions... and it would probably signifity to me that it was a place I really didn't want to work anyways... :S

That.

[morrisr2d2]

I'd have fun with the questions.

1. A human

2. What, you don't know why you unlpugged it? Maybe you should know before you do that.

3. Divorce seems like a legal concept, not a spiritual one

4. If you feel my qualifications don't fit the job description, then don't hire me.

5. Any ride that's for adults and doesn't spin me round and round.

[NoNamePerson]

Aug 8, 2014 21:05:45 GMT -5 sesfw said:

#3 would make me want to say .......... why do you want to know something so personal?

The question I always hated was ..... Where do you want to be in 5 years? .......... dang, I'm trying to deal with today.  Need a job before I can plan for tomorrow. ...... No, I'm not going back to school and I don't want to be CEO.

Years ago I had someone ask me this question. I told them I planned on replacing Lars as the drummer for Metallica. I didn't get the job but that was a good thing in the long run. 

[ArchietheDragon]

The answer to any of these types of questions is irrelevant.  The interviewer doesn't care one bit about the answer.  They just want to see how you react to a curve ball. Say something funny and confident.  

[jkapp]

1. If you were an animal on a carousel, what animal would you be?  A cock.




2. We unplugged the clock on the wall, why did we do that? Because you realized you own the only wall clock that plugs into the wall - all other wall clocks run on batteries!




3. How do you feel spiritually about divorce? I feel ghosts shouldn't marry...




4. Why shouldn't I hire you?  Because I like to beat up anyone who asks stupid questions!!


5. What's your favorite amusement park ride and why?  The Tunnel of Love because that's where I like to bang your wife.


Why won't anyone hire me?

[garion2003]

I'd love to reply "I agree with Jesus on that one"

and then let them figure out what I meant

And yeah, definitely not an appropriate question  for a job interview.