Weird Interview Questions Companies Ask, and How to Respond

Weird Interview Questions Companies Ask, and How to Respond Weird Interview Questions Companies Ask, and How to Respond 4What is your favorite pump up song, and why?” Before demanding to know what the heck these weird  interview questions have to do with anything, take a breath. “Many times, the interviewer is trying to assess the way a candidate handles pressure,” says Vicky Oliver, author of 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions. “Unfortunately, due to the ancient part of our brains that reacts to stress, we have a fight or flight reaction.” Weird  interview questions serve other purposes too. Someone asking, “How many roses do you think were bought in the United States on Valentine’s Day last year?” likely has an interest in seeing you reason logically when presented with a challenge. Likewise, an interviewer who 10 minutes in asks you to close your eyes and describe everything in the room as specifically as possible may be trying to assess your attention to detail. Weird  Interview Questions Companies Ask While you can’t prepare for every curveball that might be thrown, you can practice thinking on your feet and remaining calm. Conduct some mock interviews in which a friend includes a few out-of-the-ordinary questions, such as: If you could be any type of animal, which would it be and why? (The interviewer is trying to gauge creativity and personality.) How would you go about teaching your grandmother to use Facebook? (Are you patient and capable of breaking down information in ways your audience can understand?) Who would win in a fight between Spiderman and Batman? (The person isn’t interested in which hero you prefer; he wants to see if you’ll push for information such as where the battle is taking place.) How would you design a spice rack for someone who is blind? (Can you spot the challenges in a situation and come up with ideas on how to overcome them?) Stumped on a Question? The first thing to do is to think about what the employer is trying to get at. Is the question asking you to think critically, or come up with a reasoned response to something? Is it trying to gauge your personality, or test your skills or personal attributes? Try to figure out what the employer wants to know. In this article, youll find detailed ways to answer odd interview questions with thoughtful answers based on what you think the employer is trying to find out. Oliver notes that its okay to occasionally say, I am not sure how to answer that. I would love to think on it and circle back to you on it. If you still dont know the answer by the end of the interview, give it 24 hours and then write to your interviewer with the answer. (A well-crafted follow-up letter is mandatory anyway.) “The main thing you can never do in a job interview (if you want to be offered the position) is lose your cool,” Oliver says. “As long as you dont do that, you are still in the game.” Looking for more advice on interviews? Check out our job interviewing tips category. Readers, how do you handle weird interview questions? Share your tips below!