Job interviews are stressful for everyone involved. You have to worry about making a good impression, seeing if you click with the person and whether you can really make a reasonable determination in that amount of time. There are many good standard interview questions out there, but throwing a curveball can tell you something about the candidate.
It’s important to remember that as the interviewer, you hold power in the interaction. Candidates will likely go along with questions or try to give an answer that they think you want to hear. Some people may find such frivolous questions off-putting in a setting like a job interview. Just remember that they’re also interviewing you.
Key Takeaways:
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Unconventional interview questions can help you learn more about the candidate you’re interviewing.
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Pay attention to the reaction of the interviewee. It can give you an idea of whether or not they’d be a good fit for your company culture.
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Remember that the candidate will be nervous. If they give a brief answer or get a brain teaser wrong, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they aren’t clever or intelligent – just caught unawares.
Reasons to Ask Offbeat or Funny Interview Questions
While interviews are serious and professional, that doesn’t mean that they have to be entirely dull. There are several different reasons to ask an offbeat or nonstandard interview question to a candidate.
Asking unconventional questions allows you to:
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See how they think on their feet. Most candidates have prepped answers for the standard interview questions. Interviews are a performance, after all, and they likely know what the interviewer wants to hear. However, an unusual question will make them have to stop and think. That means that the answer they give will likely be more genuine.
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Gauge their creativity. Depending on the question you ask, it may require some creative thinking on the candidate’s part. Many jobs require coming up with creative solutions, so if they can think of something on the spot, that’s a good sign.
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Determine if they’ll fit with your company culture. If you have a quirky company culture and your candidate seems irritated by your offbeat questions, then they may not be the right fit for your organization.
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Break the ice. Interviews are nerve-wracking. Making a joke or asking a silly question can help put the candidate at ease, all while letting them open up a bit.
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Get to know them better. You’re hiring a whole person, not just a set of skills, so it’s important to get an idea of who they are. That can help you determine if they’re a good fit for the company as well as get an idea of their priorities and values.
Questions To Ask In A Job Interview To Get To Know Someone
There are myriad different types of questions to ask in an interview. If you want to get the candidate talking, it’s good to ask them about something they’re passionate about. How to do this? Well, here are some possible questions to ask.
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What’s a skill you want to learn?
This question gives you an idea of what captures the candidate’s interest. Getting them to talk about things that interest them is an excellent way to get them to open up, and it also gives you an idea about their weaknesses. And if they give you a humorous answer, that tells you something about their personality as well.
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Who was your role model as a child?
A question of this type gives them a lot of wiggle room. Of course, they may not tell you who their actual role model is – they may try to select someone that relates to the job they’re interviewing for. If that’s the case, it shows creativity on their part. Either way, it gives you an idea of what they value and aspire to.
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When was the last time you solved a puzzle?
While it sounds straightforward, this question is very open-ended. Answers can range from completing a jigsaw puzzle, solving an issue at work to playing the latest Legend of Zelda game. It gives the candidate a lot of room to be creative and to try to pick something relevant to the job they’re interviewing for.
Even if they don’t, though, it can still tell you about them. It can also give insight into their hobbies and interests depending on how they answer.
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What’s your dream job?
The candidate may or may not answer this question seriously. If they do, then you can see how closely the job they’re applying for aligns with their dream career. Or if that career is possible via advancement. If it isn’t a close match, then it’s possible that they may not intend to stay with your company long-term.
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Which would you rather have: more time or more money?
This is another question that highlights their values. Which is more important to them? Time or money? Or do they think outside the box, such as saying that more money gives you more time? As in, you can hire people to do tasks like cleaning your house for you.
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Do you have any weird hobbies?
The definition of a “weird hobby” can vary greatly among different people. This can give you an idea of what they’re interested in and how conventional they are. Sometimes they may not be willing to tell you about their unusual hobby, and you shouldn’t be surprised if they come up with something really peculiar, as you did ask.
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What’s your favorite quote?
This is an icebreaker question. It can lead you into discussing their role models or favorite authors as well. If you’re going to ask this question, it’s a good idea to have a favorite quote of your own so they don’t feel quite so put on the spot.
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Do you have any pets?
Another icebreaker question. In most occupations, whether or not they have a pet won’t be overly relevant to the job. However, if you work in the pet care business, it’s arguably a must. It can also tell you about the person, depending on what sort of pet they have and the critter’s name.
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What’s your favorite pastime?
Asking about someone’s hobbies is a great way to get them to open up. The things that people do for fun are what they’re passionate about. It’s a bonus if they can link the skills learned from their hobbies to the skills required for the position they’re interviewing for.
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Do you like to read?
While this is a yes or no question, it can lead to a discussion. If they do like to read, you can inquire about their favorite authors and genres. If they don’t, you can find out what sort of media they do like and go in that direction instead.
Reading is generally considered a virtue, and if the job in question is heavily creative or reading intensive, it can be a plus if they’re a reader.
Brain Teasers and Logic Questions to Ask in an Interview
While not everyone is a fan of being put on the spot for a brain teaser, you can learn how they think by asking them one. This will also be a matter of the job that they’re interviewing for. Are mathematical and logic skills important? Or are these more just a fun way to make the interviewee think?
Depending on what you ask, it can also be important to stress that there’s no right or wrong answer. That can take the pressure off of the person being interviewed, especially if it’s a question where there isn’t a clear right answer.
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How many lightbulbs are there in this building?
This is a test in estimation and logical thinking. See what sort of questions they ask. For instance, do they ask about the number of floors the building has? How many people work there? Or do they inquire as to what counts as a light bulb? Or, conversely, do they just toss out a number?
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Why are manhole covers round?
This is a question that the interviewee may actually be prepared for, as it was popularized by Microsoft asking it in their hiring process. There are a couple of possible answers: It’s easy to move them by rolling them; a square cover would be able to fall through the hole if not put on correctly; they don’t require being properly aligned.
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Why is a tennis ball fuzzy?
Another semi-popular offbeat question would be this one. The answer has to do with aerodynamics and how the ball bounces. However, you don’t need to limit yourself to tennis balls. You can ask why common items are the way they are and see what answer the candidate comes up with.
It’s a good idea to know the answer yourself, however, as you’ll likely be asked.
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How would you find a needle in a haystack?
A question like this tests their ability to work logically through a problem. It’s likely that most people will come up with the solution of a magnet fairly quickly, but you can decide if you want to come up with a more detailed plan than that.
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What’s the fastest way out of this building?
This also tests their observational skills. Did they notice other exits or pathways on their way to the interview room? Did they take note of any emergency maps or stairways they might have gone by? This will somewhat depend on how much of the building they were able to see before the interview.
For some jobs, their ability to do this would be quite a boon. For instance, if you’re interviewing to be a firefighter or police officer, it’s very good to be able to assess where the exits are quickly – and how to get to one in an emergency.
Funny Questions to Ask in an Interview
There are also just questions to ask that are entertaining. These typically work as icebreakers, but they can also tell you more about the person. Sometimes they can lead to a further discussion or shift into what a person is interested in or think is important. It can also be a way to ascertain if they’ll fit in well with the other employees.
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Who would win a fight, Superman or Batman?
A question like this can either show that someone is a comic book fan or showcase a bit of critical thinking. If they are partial to comics, it can also open up an avenue to talk about interests and get to know them better.
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Besides food and water, what three items would you take with you to a deserted island?
While this question is silly, it does also ask the interviewee to use critical thinking. They may ask for clarification, such as what type of island it is or the climate. They may also give a joking answer, such as a teleportation machine.
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If you were to sell your soul to the Devil, what would you exchange it for?
This can give you an idea of what the person is more interested in or values most. Be prepared for a range of responses to this question, from something silly to something serious.
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Who do you think is the best Disney princess?
While talking about Disney princesses is a great way to start off on a neutral topic, it can also tell you about the person. Why is a particular princess their favorite? What qualities of hers do they highlight? Does it relate to a personal connection to the princess or external factors?
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What’s the funniest joke you know?
This can be another way to get a bit of insight into the person being interviewed. For one thing, they should know enough to tell a joke that’s work appropriate. Beyond that, you can see what they find clever and if they highlight any stereotypes or other behaviors that could be problematic.
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What’s the ridiculous fact you know?
Another way to find out what someone finds interesting is to probe what they’re knowledgeable about. The answers to this question could vary wildly, and it could just be a random factoid they picked up somewhere. But chances are it’s related to an area they’re interested in.
Author
Di Doherty
Di has been a writer for more than half her life. Most of her writing so far has been fiction, and she’s gotten short stories published in online magazines Kzine and Silver Blade, as well as a flash fiction piece in the Bookends review. Di graduated from Mary Baldwin College (now University) with a degree in Psychology and Sociology.
