Nothing throws a wrench in a job interview like a strange question. You could spend hours preparing for the interview, but you might forget to be ready for some of the more unusual questions. Before you're caught off guard, you should familiarize yourself with the types of interview questions that are less common, but still possible.
Hypotheticals
What if you were a blue Martian lost in space? While you probably won't get that question, you are likely to encounter some type of hypothetical question. Most of the more common bizarre questions fall under this category, and they tend to be difficult to answer. Usually the hiring manager asks you to put yourself in a scenario. Typically, the questions are similar to one of the following:
Which president would be your choice of a dinner guest?
Choose one person, dead or alive, to eat dinner with.
What individual from history would you pick to spend a full day with, and what would you discuss?
What would you do if you got into an argument with a coworker?
Why These Questions?
You're probably wondering why someone would ask a hypothetical question during an interview. Generally, these questions make you be creative. If you lack creativity, you may not be able to come up with an answer. At the very best, the answer will lack substance. It takes a creative individual to handle a hypothetical question.
Hypotheticals also test your ability to deal with the unexpected. Although there are some examples of hypothetical questions above, it's impossible to know what a hiring manager will ask you. There are countless scenarios to use. Because hypotheticals are so unpredictable, a hiring manager can be sure the job applicant has no choice to but formulate an answer on-the-spot.
One of the nice things about hypothetical questions is the fact there is no right or wrong answer. Instead of judging the correctness of your answer, they judge your creativity, eloquence, and values. You can use your answer as a way to truly stand out from the other job applicants.
Opinions or Preferences
An alternative to the hypothetical question is the preference. This isn't your typical "would you rather work on a team or by yourself" question. It's a question that asks you to pick an option or state your preference. Much like a hypothetical question, an opinion or preference question showcases your personality. It usually tells a hiring manager whether or not you would fit in with the company.
Opinion and preference questions may include all of these:
Do you like dogs or cats better?
How do you feel about unicorns?
What's your favorite restaurant?
Bananas or apples?
Would you rather live on a mountain or on a beach?
When you answer this type of question, focus on your explanation. A hiring manager doesn't really want to know what you prefer; they want to know about your traits and personality. If you have the right body language and a good explanation, you can use your answer to convince the interviewer that you're the right pick.
Morality
Due to legal protections, there's no way an employer can ask about your religious beliefs. However, they can ask about your personal values. During an interview, a morality test is one way for an employer to determine whether or not the candidate is a good fit for the company. These questions aren't like most other interview questions, as they rarely pertain to work.
If you're wondering what a morality question might look like, here are a few examples:
What's one crime would you commit if you knew you could get away with it? And would you feel any guilt for breaking the law?
What makes you an ethical person?
If you caught someone cheating on a big exam, what would you do about it?
Tell me about an instance when you were facing an ethical dilemma. How did you handle it?
Morality questions serve the purpose of determining your character. As with all the other types of questions, there is no single right answer. The interviewer wants you to give a detailed response and they don't want you to evade the question. If you react poorly to the question or seem to lie, the hiring manager won't be happy. Try to give a polished response.
Travel
You might expect one or two of the questions above, but you probably don't expect any questions about travel. But travel questions are more common than you might think. Usually, these questions focus on where you have been and where you want to go. If you're honest and answer in a way that aligns with the company's values, you'll probably impress the hiring manager.
Here are a few questions you should expect:
What's the most unique place you ever visited?
Name three cities on your wish-list.
If you had all the money in the world, where would you travel to?
If you do your homework and research the company, you should be able to answer travel questions well. Don't spend too much time talking about the destination, as you should focus more on your reasons for wanting to travel.
Are You Ready for the Interview?
If you read this article hoping to find every possible interview question that exists, you may be disappointed. There's no way to fully prepare yourself for potential interview questions. Each company handles interviews uniquely, and some ask questions no one could ever predict.
Don't let the unknown scare you. If you're nervous about the interview, it will show. The best thing you can do is prepare for the common interview questions and expect a few curveballs. Additionally, researching the company can help you prepare for the weirdest questions. You may not know what questions the interviewer will ask, but you can have an understanding of what answers they want to hear. Let your prep work get you on your way to a job offer!