A Guide to Gracefully Handling Weird Interview Questions

A Guide to Gracefully Handling Weird Interview Questions If you get called in for a job interview at soap company Method, youll likely be asked about how you would keep the company weird if hired. Its not exactly on anyones list of common job interview questions.According to a QA with Method co-founder Eric Ryan in this months Inc., its a question they ask because they want to get a sense of who this person really is. One candidate responded by asking staffers to wait outside while he designed a Method-themed scavenger hunt. Think you could compete with that?Ryan isnt the only interviewer whos fond of unconventional questions. Here are a few other weird (but not completely inappropriate) questions that my clients have faced over the years:If you could have lunch with any historical figure, living or dead, who would you share a turkey club with?If you could be any animal, what animal would you be?Demonstrate your most unusual talent. Right now.Tell me something fascinating about you thats not on your resume.Whats your favorite color and wha t does that say about you?Tell me about a life-changing moment.Whos your role model and why?Are these questions designed as a form of torture? Sometimes, perhaps. But the point is usually to get you to drop your interview pose and show a bit of your true personality. Its a more creative alternative to asking you about your favorite book, movie, or hobby. Many candidates now come prepared with an interview-friendly favorite book and/or favorite hobby.Interviewers have grown bored of hearing about your inoffensive loves of golf, tennis, and spending time with friends, so theyve come up with new approaches.A weird question may also be a way to see how you think on your feet. If you seem just a little too rehearsed, your interviewer may want to shake things up and see if they can make you sweat. This is more common in interviews for sales positions and other roles that require improvisation skills and composure under pressure.How can you prepare yourself to deal with weird interview que stions? Well, you can research the company and learn as much as you can about their job interview process. If youre interviewing at Method , for example, be prepared to talk about what makes you weird. Check out Glassdoor to see if others have reported unusual questions.Otherwise, you really cant prepare for weird interview questions and you probably shouldnt.However, be aware that if you hear a question like the ones above, you are likely dealing with a non-traditional interviewer who is looking for what makes you stand out from the crowd.Dont let it throw you. Follow the interviewers lead and share your fascination with Orson Welles, your resemblance to a sea otter, or your ability to sing Happy Birthday in Greek. Play along just steer clear of controversial topics (politics, religion, information about your personal life, dirty jokes).If theyre asking you this question, theyre probably taking a similar approach with other candidates. Do your best with it, but dont overthink it. Focus your time and energy on preparing great answers for the questions about your strengths, accomplishments, and career goals. These are the topics that really matter when it comes to making a hiring decision.However, your ability to handle weird interview questions with some humor and confidence could help set you apart from another candidate with similarly stellar qualifications.Now we want to hear from you: Whats the weirdest interview question youve been asked and how did you respond? (Post it here at the Big Interview Facebook page)Connect with Pamela Skillings on Google+Related articlesTop 25 oddball job interview questions from 2011 (bizjournals.com)The 9 Oddest Interview Questions Asked at Tech Companies in 2011 (mashable.com)