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Original poster

Unexpected interview questions

24 replies

PurpleRectangle · 30/03/2019 16:13

I've got a job interview next week (my first one for over 11 years....)

I've been researching interview questions (e.g. www.totaljobs.com/insidejob/most-common-interview-questions/), so I've got some idea of what I might be asked.

I was wondering whether anyone has any genuine questions that they were asked during an interview that they weren't expecting or hadn't prepared for?

OP posts:

cannycat20 · 30/03/2019 16:16

Back when I graduated in the 1990s some of the graduate schemes had some truly stupid recruitment methods. Some of the favourites were, how many uses can you find for a brick; how many uses can you find for a paperclip; you're in a balloon, here's the scenario about the people with you, the balloon is losing altitude, which one do you throw out first; that's quite apart from the usual "where do you see yourself in five years' time" and "what's your greatest weakness".

Have a look at responsewebrecruitment.co.uk/online-recruitment-blog/100-most-ridiculous-job-interview-questions-ever/ for some really funny/tragic ones.

WundaWumman · 30/03/2019 16:39

One that caught me out recently (and it really shouldn't have!) was 'what's the most creative solution you've come up with?'. I tend to have a set of answers/ examples which I go over before an interview and can usually adapt to different Qs but the creativity one caught me out. Good luck!

SeventhWave · 30/03/2019 16:45

I once had a variation on the "What's your greatest weakness" question. They asked me what my friends would say were my greatest weaknesses and strengths. Floored me completely

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Petalflowers · 30/03/2019 16:51

Questions I always prepare for are:

name an example of how you made a difference in your current/ last job?
name strength/weakness? For weakness, try and turn it into a positive by saying how you turned it around
research the company/ typeof work, current issues, competitors etc

Good luck with the interview.

Tiptopj · 30/03/2019 16:52

A lot of companies use competency based questions now so things like " tell me about a time you solved a problem" "how have you solved a difficult problem" they like detailed answers of what the issue was, how you resolved in and what you learnt fro it. It's worth a quick Google as there are lots of examples. Good luck

DailyMailSucksWails · 30/03/2019 16:55

"Not sure I have any friends" - Oh darn, they don't want honesty, do they?
That's totally unfair Q coz out of work most ppl are totally different from how we act at work.

Anyway, I think I flubbed a question like "Tell me about a time you completely disagreed with your boss." Coz I told the truth (I ended up quitting 2y later). I think I was supposed to talk management BS about policy and procedures & compromises. What I would answer today would be "The boss is the boss unless they ask you to do something illegal or immoral (shrug)."

misscockerspaniel · 30/03/2019 17:05

I was asked "Use three words to describe yourself", which took me by surprise. I replied "dogs, dogs, dogs" and they looked . And it had been going so well, up to that point .

Original poster

PurpleRectangle · 30/03/2019 17:17

Oooh, I like the "creative solution" question. Will have to think about that one.

I've thought about my weaknesses and have come up with a couple, that can either be turned into positives or have little bearing on the role I'd be doing if I got the job.

Thanks for the advice re: competency based questions.

I'll take a look at those 100 most ridiculous interview questions!

OP posts:

Original poster

PurpleRectangle · 30/03/2019 17:17

@misscockerspaniel .

OP posts:

maddiemookins16mum · 30/03/2019 17:22

Google STAR interview techniques, it really helped me get my last job and I had a fab interview.

Whatififall · 30/03/2019 17:22

I was once threw by the wording of a question. I was told that there would always be an Equality & Diversity question and then there wasn’t one in my interview. When I got my feedback we went over a question regarding the vulnerability of customers.. that was the bloody E&D question. I’d answered well around domestic abuse and customers with addiction but didn’t link to the 9 protected characteristics and client groups within that. I was furious with myself but I just hadn’t made the connection under pressure.

So basically, take a moment to digest the question.

Good luck!

RJnomore1 · 30/03/2019 17:24

At risk of outing myself...

Could I use a piece of art, literature or music to explain how I saw the work of the organisation in relation to the people it worked with.

I hope you don’t get that one...

fia101 · 30/03/2019 17:26

Depends on type of job but I was recently advised to go through the job/person specification and based on that to come up with my own questions and prepare answers to them.

Also - don't forget the common question "tell me about yourself and why you're right for this job".

I was also told to ensure that when using examples about experience etc to ensure that I mentioned the part I played and not to just talk about the scenario.

I was also advised that companies aren't looking for you to always know the answer but to see your thought process.

If you're asked a question you don't know - don't rush in cos the silence is making you nervous but think about the question and take your time.

If it's a problem based question a company will want to know that you're thinking about who'll you need to speak to, who will be best placed to have the info, what extra info will you need, meetings and action plans and instructing consultants etc. So even if you don't know the answer you're collating the info so you have full picture before taking action.

Good luck and don't stress you don't have to be perfect!

JenniferJareau · 30/03/2019 17:27

'Do you see your family a lot?'

I was so broadsided I must have given her a look as my thought process was 'none of your business, I'm here about a job not my private life!'

DeadCertain · 30/03/2019 17:45

If you were to be an animal, what animal would you be and why?

SpaceCadet4000 · 30/03/2019 18:51

It sounds silly but from my experience of interviewing I've seen more candidates trip up over very generic questions like "so, tell us about yourself?" than anything else! The best candidates are very strategic about that question, especially since it often comes first and really sets the stage for assessing fit.

Iputthescrewinthetuna · 30/03/2019 19:47

Ooh this one stumped me!
If you could have one characteristic from your parents what would it be!

This in reflection is probably a trick question. If you chose a good one then that would mean you probably don't already possess that characteristic.

It caught me off guard completely, as I am very honest in interviews my knee jerk reply was 'I love my parents dearly but I try hard to not be them I wouldn't know the answer to your question' I then had a think and said my dad is good at giving advice and thinking outside the box and my mum is very much 'brush yourself down and get over it'
I got the job.

Perty01234 · 30/03/2019 19:52

I’d also go for the STAR way when asked a question..
Situation
Task
Action
Response

It fits most questions!

Lost5stone · 30/03/2019 20:27

If you were a superhero which one would you be and why?. I don't know much about superheroes so that threw me a bit

cauliflowersqueeze · 30/03/2019 20:30

What book are you reading at the moment?

EggysMom · 30/03/2019 20:44

What I have found recently (interviewing for experienced admin positions) is whilst people have practised for competence questions using the STAR technique, they haven't thought at all about the basic motivational questions, such as:

Why do you want to work for us?
Why do you want to work in this particular role?
What experience do you bring to the role?
How does this fit into your career aspirations?

Very few seem to concentrate on the specific role - they're great at why they want to work for the organisation (and to be honest, who wouldn't!) but seem to want to take any job at all, with no thought as to the specifics of this role or their career.

Iputthescrewinthetuna · 30/03/2019 20:50

I had this one too, same interview with the parrnt question... What book are you reading at the moment?

That was after I had said I enjoy reading. I was reading Martina Cole. She asked why I liked her books. I said I enjoy crime books and programmes and about the psychology of people who commit crime. She looked at me, smiled and said interesting!

VashtaNerada · 30/03/2019 20:52

I was once asked to draw a picture of myself on flipchart paper

IWouldPreferNotTo · 30/03/2019 20:55

I've been asked some bloody stupid ones.

If you were a tree what sort of tree would you be?

If you could save anything in a house fire what would it be.

Then there were the tedious ones someone saw in a management book they skimmed at the airport.

How many bus stops are there in Birmingham?

The most interesting was

What's the most interesting problem you've solved?

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