10 Outrageous Interview Questions

Some recruiters may ask strange interview questions to see how you would react and respond to them. Here are some of the most outrageous interview questions we've heard, and why you might be asked one in a future interview.

1. Can you sing a song that describes your personality?

This is a recruiter’s 2-way personality test. First, the company aims to see how extroverted you are, and the second is for them to know how you perceive yourself in terms of self-image and confidence. Be cautious about which lines to sing to communicate your character.

2. How many tennis balls would fit in a 10-wheeler truck?

Your interviewer isn’t necessarily expecting you to have a definite (or even correct) number. Instead, this question is designed to see the logical steps you take in order to come up with an answer. You may estimate the density of the truck, but remember that the real goal here is to get into the heart of the problem with purpose.

3. All manhole covers are round-shaped. Why?

This question has been proven effective by the recruitment officers from Microsoft. You could generate a number of plausible answers, but what’s being tested here is your deductive reasoning skills, explaining and showing why the manhole was shaped that way. Although employers don’t expect accurate answers, you must show that you’re knowledgeable in terms of body language and verbal skills.     

4. Given the chance to be a superhero, who would you choose?

Think of a superhero who exemplifies the personality and strengths of the company. If you’re applying as a technician in a telecommunications company, for instance, you might pick Iron Man. Why? Apart from the machinery aspects, he’s also a good public relations officer of his own brand.

5. How would you cut a cake into eight equal parts using only three slices?

This question is designed to measure your problem-solving expertise. Here, you must think outside of the box: use two slices to cut the cake into quarters. Then, stack the quarter pieces on top of each other and use your last slice to cut those in half for your eight equal pieces of cake.

6. Which punctuation mark reflects your personality?

This question allows employers to learn more about your personality and your reasoning skills. Think about how each punctuation mark might equate to a certain trait you possess that would be desirable for the company. An exclamation mark might denote that you’re outgoing, or a question mark could suggest that you’re curious. Make sure to support your answer with your reasoning as well as examples from your work experience that demonstrate that particular personality trait.

7. How much should you charge to wash all the windows in the area?

Google has been known to fire this question at potential employees. Again, you don’t have to provide a "correct" answer here. Instead, you must show them firsthand how quickly you can arrive at a conclusion. The main goal behind asking this question is to help the interviewer gauge how well you can keep your cool when faced with a problem. You don't actually have to do any math here: simply estimate a fair price per window.

8. How would you sum up the Internet to a five-year-old child?

What’s being tested with this question is the ability to communicate complicated ideas and theories into layman’s terms. When you answer a question like this, start with answering what, how, and why. What is the Internet? How does it work? Why does it exist? You might say that the Internet is a series of tubes that connect computers to each other that has become an important tool to share information around the world.

9. Take yourself back to the “Mars Attacks” film. Who would you recruit to join your fighting team?

This question may be asked if you're interviewing for a position in human resources position. You’ll be evaluated based on how you make logical choices. Include an explanation as to why you chose each recruit, detailing their strengths and potential contributions to the fighting team. Remember that you need a variety of skills to ensure the survival of the team.

10. Is your mother disappointed in your career ambitions?

Remember that the interviewer doesn’t know you, so don’t take this question too personally or as an insult. Take note that hiring companies give points for honesty. If your mother doesn’t support you in this endeavor, say so. Remember to indicate your own reasons, such as passion and interests, for why you chose this career.    

Interview questions—outrageous or otherwise—are not meant to insult or malign you, or to remind you of your shortcomings. Instead, they're challenges to stimulate your creativity, problem solving skills, and your ability to work under pressure.

What’s the oddest question you’ve heard from recruiters?

(Image: "Job Interview Cartoon" by Flickr user Mr. Daniel Ted Feliciano, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)