How to answer weird interview questions

If you were a superhero, what would your power be? It’s one of the weird interview questions an employer might ask its candidates. To assess potential new hires, some employers use unusual job interview questions to see how you react on the spot. You may also come across them in university entrance interviews.

While strange job interview questions are relatively rare (after all, that’s why they’re weird), it’s good to think about what you’d do if one comes up.

To help you face them, we’ll take you through:

• Why do interviewers ask weird interview questions?
• Examples of weird questions
• How to answer them

Sometimes, interviewers want to ask questions that candidates can’t prepare an answer for. Employers know that you’ll rehearse responses for the most common interview questions. It’s less likely that you’ll already have worked out which breed of dog represents your personality.

While it won’t always be obvious why the question is relevant, employers are asking unusual questions to get to know you. They want to know whether you’ll fit in with the existing team and work culture. Perhaps they’re looking for a loyal labrador rather than an active terrier.

Sometimes, though, it isn’t about the answer you give. Occasionally, interviewers ask odd things to test how you react to the unexpected. Unusual interview questions get to the heart of how people think. How easily flustered are you? Can you adapt your way of thinking? Do you use your initiative? The way you respond to the weird and wonderful can tell an employer just as much as your words.

We’ve put together a selection of strange job interview questions that we've heard over the years:

• If you were shrunk to the size of a pencil and put in a blender, how would you get out? (This one is rumoured to be asked at Google interviews!)
• Can you teach creativity?
• Is happiness a basis for morality?
• What is the difference between science and technology?
• What do we mean when we say someone deserves a reward?
• What is your favourite television programme and why?
• Sell me your pen.
• Are big or small companies more successful?
• Summarise economics in one word.
• If you were a superhero, what would your power be?

Flummoxed about how you’d respond to some of the weird interview questions we’ve rounded up? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. The good news is that they’ll get easier once you get more familiar with them.

The first step is to break down the question. What is the interviewer asking you? If an interviewer says, “We’re in a lift. You’ve got ten seconds to sell me your pen”, the ‘lift’ is your clue that they want to hear an elevator pitch (a quick, persuasive summary). While the “pen” is the object, the interviewer isn’t testing your stationery knowledge (unless you’re interviewing for a stationery company, of course). Instead, they want to witness your sales skills. So, you need to display your best sales patter to sell the unusual object.

If you’re asked your opinion on something, explain your reasoning. For example, if you’re asked, “Are big or small companies more successful?”, don’t just say “Big” (if that’s what you think). Back up your answer with examples to support your points. The same goes if you’re asked to name something you like. Don’t just tell the interviewer what your favourite TV show is. Give them more insight by sharing why you love it. Does it make you laugh? Does it have a powerful message? If you can explain the reasons why you like something, it shows employers that you can think logically – a valuable quality in the workplace.

Let’s put our tips into practice by explaining how you’d answer two weird questions.

First, let’s break it down. The interviewer is asking about what your superpower would be as a way of finding out what special qualities you’ve already got. They’re not asking you what your dream power would be (ie. teleportation, invisibility) – that’s a different question. They’re asking you what power best matches your personality and abilities. Think about your skills and pick one that shares similarities with a superpower.

Once you’ve figured that out, share your reason why with the interviewer. They want to know your thought process. Explaining will help them get to know you better.

An example answer could be:

“If I were a superhero, my power would be telepathy. A lot of people tell me that I’m good at putting myself in other people’s shoes and seeing things from different perspectives. I try to understand what other people are thinking to anticipate what customers are going to need. If I were telepathic, I’d be able to know what was going on in everyone’s minds – which would be super useful in customer service!”

Again, let’s break it down and analyse the question and the interviewer’s reasons for asking it. Here, they want to assess your problem-solving skills.

You need to respond by talking through how you’d assess the scenario calmly and take a logical approach. It’s a good idea to ask some questions here, too. How big is the blender, for example? You’ve been told your size but not the blender’s. Maybe the blender is almost as small as you! Do you still have your phone, and can you use it? Can anyone hear or see you? There are lots of things you can ask to show you’re thinking about the problem – no matter how strange it might be.

An example answer could be:

“I’d walk around the blender to assess if there was a safe way to climb out of it. Providing the blades weren’t moving, I’d get on top of them to gain some height and get towards the open lid. As you mentioned the blender had been recently used for a mango smoothie when I asked if it was empty, I’d dip my hands in the fruit residue to make my hands sticky. Having sticky hands would help me grip onto the top of the blender when I jump to reach it. I can then climb over the edge.”

Sometimes an interviewer will ask weird questions. Yes, they’re definitely weird but they’re less scary once you understand why they exist. Just like any type of question, employers ask them because they want to get to know you. And sometimes, how you react to odd questions tells them more than what you say.

While you can’t predict what bizarre questions will come up in your job interview, it’s good to get familiar with some examples. If you practise breaking the questions down, working out what the interviewer wants to know and responding in a way that explains your thinking, you’ll be able to tackle strange questions.

If you’re after more tips for tricky queries, check out our guide on how to answer nasty interview questions. We’ve also got plenty of advice on how to prepare for an interview (including how to avoid common interview mistakes). Take notice of our hints and you’ll be ready to impress your future employer.