I just had a talk with my old connection from a social network, who shared about her recent customer interview experience. She had a few difficult moments when she had to answer ‘unusual’ and even ‘odd’ questions, as she put it. So, this post will be about the ‘odd’ interview questions and what the employers expect to hear when asking them. 

First of all, I need to say that finding the ‘right’ person for a certain position in a certain team is not an easy task, and businesses have to revise their hiring policies all the time. Quite often, they experiment by applying new approaches or simply by repeating someone else’s practices that seemed to result in success. This is why, when you go to an interview, you should prepare yourself to hear literally anything.

Sometimes, interviewers come up with questions that seem absurd at first glance, but they are designed to reveal deeper insights into a candidate’s personality, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.

What do you think about the questions I listed below? How would you answer them? Please, share your thoughts, they may help someone overcome their fear of interviews.

Well, here is a question: “How many tennis balls can you fit into a limousine?” In fact, it’s purpose is to test a candidate’s ability to think through a problem methodically, estimate, and reason logically.

Here are a few more:

“Why are manhole covers round?” This classic question assesses the candidate’s problem-solving skills and understanding of practical design and safety considerations.

“If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be and why?” This question explores the candidate’s self-awareness and ability to use metaphors to describe their personality and strengths.

 “How would you sell ice to an Eskimo?”  This tests the candidate’s sales creativity and ability to think outside the box when selling something that seems unnecessary.

 “If you were a pizza delivery man, how would you benefit from scissors?” This quirky question evaluates the candidate’s creativity and ability to think of unconventional uses for common items

“How many windows are there in New York City?”  This question assesses the candidate’s analytical thinking and ability to make reasonable estimations.

“If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?” This question explores the candidate’s self-perception and ability to articulate personal attributes in a creative way.

“How would you describe the color yellow to someone who is blind?” This assesses the candidate’s communication skills and ability to convey abstract concepts to different audiences.

“You’re a new addition to the crayon box. What color would you be and why?” This tests creativity and how the candidate views themselves in a unique context.

 “If you had to be shipwrecked on a deserted island, but all your human needs—such as food and water—were taken care of, what two items would you want to have with you?” This question provides insight into the candidate’s priorities and what they consider important for their well-being and sanity.

“If you could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, who would they be?” This question explores the candidate’s values, interests, and cultural awareness.This reveals the candidate’s self-perception and how they relate their characteristics to those of an animal.

 “If you were a fruit, what kind would you be and why?” This assesses creativity and the ability to describe personal qualities in an abstract manner.

“What would you do if you found a penguin in the freezer?” This assesses the candidate’s creativity, problem-solving skills, and ability to remain calm and think rationally in unexpected situations.

As you can see, while seemingly absurd, these questions are designed to move candidates out of their comfort zones and provide interviewers with a better understanding of their thought processes, problem-solving abilities, and personalities.