Hire me! - 8 unusual interview questions to find out who you really are

Főoldal Business English

5Perc Angol | 15.May 14.

 

Sometimes the questions that 
tell you the most about 
a candidate are the ones 
that are only loosely related, 
or not related at all, 
to the job advertized. 
Just like the following eight.

1. What is your favorite restaurant?

What does my favorite food have to do with the job? Quite a lot, actually. Food is a very important part of our culture. In addition to having the required expertise and experience, it is also important for the candidate to be able to build good personal relationships with his or her colleagues. Companies tend to hire people who perfectly fit within the local culture.

2. What is your spirit animal?

Some believe the perfect answer to this question is “duck”, because ducks are calm on the surface and hustling like crazy getting things done under the surface. You always want to find a spirit animal, whether a bear, a kitten, or a unicorn, that embodies the most important character traits the job in question requires.

3. Tell me about your story.

At first, this question may sound intimidating, but it is only about showcasing his or her aptitude for the job. It is an invitation to play along and on accepting it the candidate can demonstrate if he or she can come to the right answer by exhibiting creativity, determination, imagination, and other valuable personality traits. The ideal candidate will also slip in colorful details about himself or herself that didn't appear on the resume or cover letter.

4. Tell me a joke.

Many companies believe that it is a basic requirement to have a sense of humor, and the type of joke the candidate can tell reveals a lot of him or her. This method helps break the ice and the candidate can show off his or her real personality.

5. What would you do if you woke up and found an elephant in your garden?

The answer tells a lot about the candidate’s creativity. There are an endless number of answers, it really depends on the candidate’s imagination how skillfully he or she can entice the elephant to leave the garden.

6. Have you ever played a sport? If so, what position?

Companies are not looking for people who want to be goalies. They want people who chase the ball and do their best to get it. Plus, competitive sports players generally have an excellent attitude for work, which is a must for any positions, especially if it is about a startup.

7. If you were to start your own business what type of company would it be and why?

Don’t ever say that you would found a company just like the one you are applying to. This would tell them that you are giving an answer they probably want to hear. Instead, a thought-through and detailed answer is needed. One time a candidate answered that he wanted to open a bar with cats, because those furry pets help people interact. This has proven to be a creative and unique answer that helped the candidate stand out from the rest.

8. I’m sorry, but I don’t think this job is for you.

This is not a question either, but suitable for making the candidate show his or her hand. A company can only succeed if hiring the best people. This is why companies tell applicants that they didn’t get the job, even when they might think they are a perfect fit. Mediocre applicants usually give up at that point, but the best ones will do their best to prove that the job is for them.

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