The Weirdest Job Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

by Paula Wu

Employers use a creative approach to interviews more and more often, which, unfortunately, is not always understandable and appropriate. Unusual questions assess candidates' intellect and their ability to respond to unexpected circumstances. Here are some examples of such questions from real job interviews.

1. “If you were an animal, what would you be?”

This general question is asked to reveal the job seeker's identity and how right one is for the position. Do not take these questions too seriously. Choose an animal that matches the expected position.

  • One candidate replied that he would be an octopus because he is very organized and always knows what is going on around him.
  • Another candidate would prefer to become a duck because she is good at any job: she can fly, swim, and walk.
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2. “Tell me something I don't know about you.”

To answer a question like this, you need to go beyond your business identity and share something personal (but not too personal). For example, you can talk about how you like a certain literature genre and advise what to read.

3. “What do you think of your parents and siblings?”

This question was asked during an interview for a graduate trainee position at a large financial company.

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Similar questions like "Your parents didn't go to university. What do you think about it?" or "Your brother is a doctor, and you have a Bachelor's degree in Linguistics. How do you feel about this?" are highly inappropriate, and you do not have to answer them. You will learn about the company during the interview, just as the company will learn about you.