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

@AMCoffeePMWine what does warm legs and cold ears mean hahah?

I'm probably derailing now but I worked in a famous supermarket when I was 18-21 putting stock out. One of my male 30 year old coworker said "i bet you'd love to stick that cucumber up you". I made a complaint that was not taken seriously. My manager spoke to him and he came up to me and just said "it was obvious I was joking"

Is Supertato a superhero? If so I’d choose him.

@PhewitsFriday.

I think he was suggesting his head between my legs

Blegh

I walked out of an interview a couple of years ago that was just full of these ridiculous questions. One of them I remember was what does your favourite crisp flavour say about you? Total waste of time.

Dangermouse is the best superhero. It says so in the song.

Well... he's the best secret agent, suddenly I doubt myself on his superheroness!

@Homemadeandfromscratch

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.

Well, if you do react like that when I ask you a silly question, it shows me exactly what kind of temper you have and give me an idea of the way you'd behave at work. So in your case, they work and absolutely have a point 🤷

Well since I am the one setting the interview questions when I recruit staff for my own company, I get to decide. Sorry if that makes you jealous.

And I said nothing about how I react, I talked about MY OPINION. You seem to have problems with reading comprehension.

Sounds like a bizarre interview! One or two questions like that can show if someone can think on their feet and respond reasonably well to a question they couldn’t have prepared for, but having loads of them is really odd. You’ve probably had a lucky escape!

Years ago my son's friend went for an interview at Oxford University. As he walked into the study, the lecturer was sitting behind a desk with a newspaper held in front of his face, and said "Surprise me." He stuttered something silly and the interview then went on. But he heard later that another student had walked into the same interview, and on hearing "Surprise me" he whipped out his lighter and set fire to the newspaper!

The answer to most of them is, "If I thought XXX I would have to be on drugs, and I never have."

SarahMcDonald
Well since I am the one setting the interview questions when I recruit staff for my own company, I get to decide. Sorry if that makes you jealous.

Jealous of what? Not of the people you employ
Employing people is part of my job, so I am good, but thanks for your concern

@AMCoffeePMWine eugh that’s just grim! Looking back, I’m actually shocked at some of the things men said and got away with in the workplace over the years...I started work in 1982 and it was rife. And women (the very vast majority) back then did very little to try to stop it...and the few that did try had their cards marked as trouble makers 😱🤬

Years ago my son's friend went for an interview at Oxford University

This one has been doing the rounds for years and years and years. Urban myth.

If you need a superhero in an emergency, say Superted!

I would absolutely love to answer questions like this at an interview, I am more of a lateral thinker and I am suddenly aware of how David Brent I sound right now.