What is the point of silly/random interview question?

[PhewitsFriday]

I had a teaching interview this week, didn't get the job but the questions really threw me off.
Literally every single question was one of these:

"If you could go on holiday right now, where would you go?"

"Which superhero are you most like?"

"If you could come back as any animal, what animal would you come back as?"

And many more,

Honestly the way I answered these questions will forever be in my memory bank as most awkward interview of my life

"Where would you go on holiday?"

"Ermmmm Hawaii because it's hot and I like the hot weather"

What animal would you come back as?

"Ermmmm (pause) ermmmm a cat? Ermmm because cats are independent. And ermmm I like cats... ermm yeah a cat"

And I am cringing.

Also if you want, add any awkward interview experiences you have had to make me feel better

The superhero one is the worst!!

"I can't think of a superhero. Ermm maybe superman. He is strong. Actually no wonderman because she's a girl"

I want to bang my head on a wall for the way I answered that hahahah

*wonderwoman

They want to see how well you think on your feet and how quickly you can formulate a well-reasoned answer/solution.

I was asked what kind of biscuit I’d be. I SHOULD have said a hobnob because they don’t dissolve or crumble when in hot water but I ACTUALLY said ‘erm a Jaffa cake? Is that a biscuit? Or a cake? Haha hahah no one really knows do they?

Reader, I did not get the job.

Urgh, I had 'if you were a colour, what colour would you be?'

Me - yellow
Them - hmmm, cowardly...
Me - or like the sun, bright and happy...
Them - and what shape?...
Me - gets coat and leaves

They are stupid but maybe just to see if you can think on your feet and come up with a coherent answer. Or be brave enough to refuse to answer as it is irrelevant to the job in question!

I'd probably answer one stupid question but if they asked more then I'd ask them the same question back.

Interviewer:What colour would you be?

Me: Blue because I finding it calming, why what colour would you be?

Interviewer: Yellow

Me: really? You look more like an orange to me 😂

Then I'd just get my coat

I have genuinely never had a teaching interview like that.

I've read about interview questions like this in business environments, but never come across it in teaching, where they actually just want to watch you teach a class, and ask you sensible questions about how you would deal with different scenarios that you may face.

I've also done quite a lot of teacher interviews where we've been looking for a suitable candidate. I could not give a fuck where the candidate wants to go on holiday or what animal they'd like to be.

I think this is bizarre and would be grateful not to be working there.

To warn you that if you get the job, you will be working for eejits.

In my final exam ( Podiatrist) I was asked what kind of ulcer I would prefer ( the answer "None" was not an option !)

They said they asked the children to think of questions for the interviewees and then wrote down their favourites.
I was not asked about behaviour management or safeguarding or the usual 'how would you deal with' questions,

Unless they were just taking the mick and already knew who they were hiring, who knows

I had an interview once where I was asked what pudding I would be on the pudding trolly.

They were not impressed when I asked what relevance the question had to the role.

Bizarre.

This "interview" was the final part of the process too. I felt my lesson went quite well but knew after that interview I would have a call saying I havent got the job

I interview at work and we NEVER ask any questions that are not related to the job.

So unless thinking of amusing and trivial answers to stupid questions is a key competency for the the job, then it’s stupid and discriminatory. IMHO.

I once had an interview at Mumsnet HQ and they asked what my favourite film was, and then asked me to tell them a joke.

The point is to warn you they're fuckwits and you should run far away even if offered the job.

Ooooo you're all going to hate me but I did this as a second interview round.

Both interviews were during lockdown.
First interview was over an hour long, I asked all the technical questions and I knew I wanted her for the job.

Fucking HR told me as the interview was done remotely I would need to conduct a second interview.

So I pre-warned the candidate that the questions were daft but we would have a giggle getting through them, because I had already asked all the technical stuff. They actually helped me get a good idea of her personality and made me like her even more.

Examples:

• if you could be any animal, what would it be?

• if you could solve one world problem (not the stupid virus) which would it be and how would you tackle it?

• who is the most interesting person you know and why?

Just bollocks along those lines but I did answer them as well!

See it as a positive OP. I would have wanted you to be able to do the job, not make up shitty banter. Why do people want the best bullshitter for jobs? I'd want the most competent and suitable teacher.

I think it's good, as you know with teaching you often have to think on your feet, and deliver quite a boring answer sometimes with enthusiasm and be engaging. It is a bit odd they didn't ask about safeguarding etc, but perhaps they just wrongly assume everyone with a PGCE or QTS is familiar with it.

@Meredithgrey1

I once had an interview at Mumsnet HQ and they asked what my favourite film was, and then asked me to tell them a joke.

Blimey. I only know one joke and it involves an old lady having sex with a Rottweiler. I’m not sure I’d get any job if I regaled that it in interview!

Not a terrible question but a failure to answer well on my part.
It was years ago and the Iraq war was in full swing. The interviewer asked me to discuss a story in the news that wasn't from Europe, USA or Iraq. Absolute mind blank.

I said the word 'Africa'
They asked me to be more specific.
'Robert Magabe'
Tell us more about Robert Magabe'.
'He's a bad man'.

Thank you coming in we'll be in touch.

@Sandybval

I think it's good, as you know with teaching you often have to think on your feet, and deliver quite a boring answer sometimes with enthusiasm and be engaging. It is a bit odd they didn't ask about safeguarding etc, but perhaps they just wrongly assume everyone with a PGCE or QTS is familiar with it.

It's not good. Believe me. And it would be very dangerous to make an assumption that everyone is clear on safeguarding. Any educational setting that fails to ask a safeguarding question is more than 'a bit odd'.

Crikey, I’m with other pp - they’ve given you a good heads up that if you work there you’re going to be working for idiots. I’d be pretty pissed off to have my time wasted, tbh. Well done you for getting through it with patience and dignity!

Blimey. I only know one joke and it involves an old lady having sex with a Rottweiler. I’m not sure I’d get any job if I regaled that it in interview!

I suspect you would if it was for a job at MNHQ.

Schools now like to include the children in the interview process at some level, perhaps the children came up with these questions and were asked to look over the answers.
It has been known for children to actually interview candidates themselves, also some teachers have been asked to teach a class, then the pupils vote on who they think is the best teacher.
The children don’t have the ultimate say but their views are very much taken into account.