What do you do in an interview, when the hiring manager or interviewer throws an ‘Odd Ball’ question at you?
- How many fire hydrants are there in Los Angeles county?
- If you were an animal, what animal would you be?
- Estimate how many employees in the next building.
Do you panic? Tell the interviewer you would be an animal that likes taking the lead but also works well as part of a team? PANIC? Guess? Well, worry no more!
This article gives a good insight into what the interviewer is actually looking for and how to answer these questions. There is also a link to a shortlist of the most “Unbelievably Tough Interview Questions” found by Glassdoor. So have a read. It might make you the most prepared candidate to answer an “Odd Ball” question out there!
The important thing to remember, don’t panic, take your time, think honestly and logically and be yourself.
So...if you were a Muppet, which character would you be?
McDonald says it’s important to remember that there’s no single correct answer to off-the-wall interview questions, but hiring managers are asking them more frequently. “They want to understand what makes the candidates tick,” he notes, “how they think, and how they respond to the unexpected.” Hiring managers use them to gauge non-verbal cues that make you look flustered, upset, or nervous, like refusing to answer or using upspeak (i.e., ending the sentence as if you’re asking a question rather than responding). That’s why McDonald advises expecting the unexpected in the interview. “Be flexible, positive, and proactive in your response,” he says. And don’t forget that “it’s fine to ask for a moment to collect your thoughts.”
Read the original article here