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How to Answer Weird Interview Questions

Mighty Mouse

What does Batman, vanilla ice cream, Brad Pitt, and Luke Skywalker have to do with your potential job?

The truth is, nothing (most likely). Yet interviewers can ask job candidates strange, unusual questions that are designed to throw the candidate off-course and force him or her to think on his/her feet. It also lets the interviewer know how that candidate deals with sudden, unexpected outcomes. If you were to become stunned and confused, the interviewer might think that’s how you deal with sudden stress. If, however, you remain calm and give an honest answer, while also employing some humor, you will stand out as someone who is honest and can handle unusual surprises.

Questions that can prompt a stunned response can also provide an insight into what sets you apart as an individual. They might seem like first date questions, or ones that one might see pop up in a celebrity interview. You never want to give a rehearsed, false answer, but it does help to be prepared and to know why some answers are better than others. Remember that no matter how strange the question, they want to see what you are like as a person, and more importantly, how you will be on the job.

“If you were a superhero, who would it be?”

As a woman, your choices are limited, but you can still pick a famous superhero. Make sure you are picking someone who is more of a hero than a rogue, and someone who is famous. The best choices are the top four: Superman, Batman, Spiderman, and Captain America. Superman is a moral character who strives to serve his community, Batman is a real man with no superheroes, but dedicates himself to becoming a symbol of positive change. Spiderman has had great power suddenly arrive in his life, but he chooses to use it to help others and put his own needs second. Captain America is a patriot who makes it his mission to be the embodiment of liberty and freedom. Personalize your answer and put yourself in the heroes shoes: “I admire Batman, because he takes on challenges everyday and doesn’t have powers to fall back on. Instead, he uses his resources to inspire those around him, like Commissioner Gordon, to work toward a common cause, and that’s how I see myself in the workforce – as a positive inspiration and as a hard worker.”

What ice cream flavor would you be?

Don’t necessarily pick your favorite if you can’t use it to describe your positive attributes. Instead, pick something that is popular and versatile; if you pick vanilla, it could be because it can be served with fruit or pie, or topped and paired with any other flavor. This can make you seem like you’re a team player who will enhance any kind of team you’re on. If you say something like “rocky road”, “neapolitan”, or a Ben & Jerry’s flavor with lots of ingredients, mention that you yourself have a lot of positive components that everyone will enjoy and benefit from.
“Who would play you in the movie version of your life?”

Pick an actor or actress that you admire as a person, not just someone who is popular and/or good-looking. For men, it could be Johnny Depp, since he’s picked a variety of interesting roles, has stayed true to himself, and is now a family man. Also, there’s Brad Pitt and George Clooney, who are very involved in charities and volunteer work, as well as consistently picking interesting film roles. Women can pick from actresses who are also involved in charity work, such as Angelina Jolie, or actresses dedicated to a cause, like Cameron Diaz, who is very active in environmentally-friendly technologies and practices. Ashley Judd and Charlize Theron are two other accomplished actresses who are also activists. Make sure you do your homework and don’t make up a charity for your favorite actor, and be sure to pick someone you actually admire. Also, do not bring up someone who is involved in a scandal or is known as a mess; picking Lindsay Lohan or Charlie Sheen won’t send a good message. Drew Barrymore could be a good pick for a candidate for someone who has overcome her own personal problems, but do not make a comment on any actor’s private life. A job interview is not the place to say you are on Team Aniston or think that Drew Barrymore needs to get married before she turns forty.

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“If aliens landed and contacted you, what would you do first?”

This might be an off-the-wall way to see how you deal with customers, or co-workers. Be honest, but remember you’re not auditioning for a science fiction movie, so you don’t want to say anything that includes violence. Instead, respond that you’d introduce yourself, and try to find out what the aliens wanted. If you could find a way to communicate, and the aliens were peaceful, say you’d try to introduce them to the governor and hopefully the President so they could talk to prominent world leaders and a peaceful intergalactic union could be established. If you stress that you’d want communication and peaceful negotiations, you’ll look like someone who’ll be an asset to the company.

“What kind of cereal would you be?”

Your answer should depend on what job you’re interviewing for; if it’s a creative job, you don’t want something simple; possible answers could be chocolate Rice Krispies since after you’re done with the cereal, you have chocolate milk, so it’s like two treats in one. (“Just like I have business and art experience, I’m a combined asset.”) Frosted Mini Wheats are another good answer since they are healthy and sweet. For other positions, something universal such as Special K or Cheerios will be good choices since they’re popular and healthy, just like you are well-respected in your field, and are also beneficial for the companies you work for.

If you were a Star Wars character, who would you be?

Again, you want to pick a heroic character. Darth Vader is powerful and cool, but if you pick him or the Emperor, you will look like someone who definitely won’t be a team player. Characters like Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, or Princess Leia are seen as leaders who defy odds and become essential players in their quest for balance in the force. For the Star Trek universe, Captian James T. Kirk and Spock are leaders who have gained respect from their peers from meeting challenges head-on, and successfully.

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“What is your favorite movie?”

This is mostly to see what your interests are, but even if it’s not a classic, make sure you explain your choice. Say you love The Godfather for the characters and how the story evolves, not for the supercool shooting scenes, and mention that you admire how George Romero made a low-budget, independent horror film about the concept of revolution, not how you think zombies are cool. In short, highlight the benefits of the film, and don’t mention any controversial aspects of the film.

“If there were a book/movie/newspaper article about you, what would the title be?”

Pick anything that showcases your best traits or accomplishments, something creative, and if possible, something humorous. Something like “I Did It My Way” is not original or interesting; think of interesting biography titles as inspiration. “Cancer Schmancer”, “Wake Up, I’m Fat!”, and “Born Standing Up” immediately tell the potential reader about the authors, and showcase their sense of humor. Try to highlight a turning point in your life, or concentrate on something critical in your career. A chef could have a title like “My Life is a Delicious Casserole”; someone who’s volunteered in the community might have “From the Soup Kitchen to the Boardroom”; and a candidate who’s going for a career change might opt for “Ready to See How the Other Half Lives. Remember these are just suggestions to get your mind flowing.

“What are three good qualities you don’t have?”

Sure, it seems like a trick question, but it’s a good one. Be honest, but remember to try to turn your responses into positive ones. If you’re a bit shy at first, say that you’re not outgoing, but you’re very friendly and are comfortable with people once you get to know them. Keep in mind you’ll mention something positive, then you’ll say how you are not like his trait (so it becomes negative), but make sure that you make it into a positive again. Say how you’re trying to become more like that trait, or how another positive trait that you possess makes up for you lacking the other one.

What would you do if you won a million dollars?”

You might have your eye on a few expensive items, but the employer is looking for views into your character, as well as creativity and even morals. Stating that you’d pay off your mortgage makes you look responsible, and saying that you’d love to send your parents to an all-expenses paid trip to Europe shows that you respect your elders and like to repay people who have helped you. Mention how you’d like to use the money to help others, either by donating to charity or setting up scholarships. Be creative and original, but above all, be honest.

“If you could meet anyone from history, alive or dead, who would it be?”

Any world leader would be a good choice if you decide to go with someone alive, as long as it’s not an enemy of the country like Kim Jong Il. President Obama or Senator McCain could be great choices if you highlight how much you admire their leadership skills, their dedication to helping others, and their senses of humor. If you decide to go with someone in past history, classic choices such as Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, or Gandhi are excellent since they worked hard for their causes, inspired others, and are admired by almost everyone. Try not to pick religious leaders as you don’t know what faith the interviewer has, and most companies don’t want employees discussing religion in the workplace.

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What fictional character reminds you most of yourself?

Even if you could recite Hamlet’s soliliquies and know that it’s one of the most celebrated plays of all time, if you picked the brooding Dane, you won’t look like a favorable candidate for the job, unless it needs someone who sulks and plots against enemies. You want to pick people who are leaders and/or team players, such as Sherlock Holmes or Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz. Harry Potter is someone who is talented and is a leader as well as a team player, plus he’s learned to grow in his field (wizardry). Remember that although most literary characters are memorable, they’re often not memorable for good reasons, so stick with positive characters like Jane Eyre and avoid conflicted ones like the doomed Dr. Jekyll.

“If you were a cartoon character, who would you be?”

It’s best to stick with a classic cartoon character rather than anyone from South Park and Family Guy. Bugs Bunny is a humorous and creative persona, and Mickey Mouse is positive and a proven leader. Other good choices are Linus (from Peanuts), Rocky (from Rocky and Bullwinkle), George Jetson, Underdog, and Mighty Mouse. Make sure you know your character so you can fully explain why you’d pick that cartoon. If optimism is your best trait, then Rocky and Bugs Bunny would be great picks. For leaders, George Jetson, Underdog, and Mighty Mouse would be the top choices.

Keep in mind these are just a few examples of some strange questions you might be asked in a job interview. Make sure you give honest answers that show off your best skills and qualities, and ones that prove that you’re the best person for the job. These sort of questions aren’t meant to make you uncomfortable, but to try to set you apart from other applicants. Remember to be creative, honest, good-natured, and even humorous, and don’t let an odd question rattle you too much. Job interviewers want to see some originality that they don’t usually get with stock interview questions, so think over your answers and be yourself.