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People Spill The Tea About 30 Of The Dumbest Questions They Were Asked During Interviews
Once, at the end of the last decade, I was interviewed at a rather big and promising company and faced the classic question from the interviewer: "How do you see yourself in 5 years?" I wonder if I knew in advance what would happen in the world in the next five years and said all this, would they consider me crazy or not?
In fact, in addition to completely reasonable and logical questions, during job interviews, applicants also have to deal with a huge number of strange, inappropriate, and sometimes completely outrageous questions. And this selection on Bored Panda is dedicated to exactly such insane ones.
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#1
“name a time where you gave back to your community” i was 15 and applying to dairy queen.
Michael Largey 7 months ago
I took some overdue books back to the library so the community could read them.
RELATED:
#2
Interviewer: 'Give me one good reason why I should give you this job'?
I replied 'Give me one good reason why I should accept it'?
I got the job.
Jon Steensen 7 months ago
Well you read my resume, and chose to invite me in for a conversation. Did you do that without seeing even one good reason to hire me?
#3
If you can be one kitchen appliance what would it be and why.
My answer was a knife because I am sharp and I can perform many different tasks.
Real answer, knife so I can stab you for asking such a stupid question.
There is a thread in the AskReddit community, which topic starter, the user u/Correct_Spray5890, asked netizens: "What is the dumbest question you’ve been asked during an interview?" As of today, the thread has over 840 upvotes and around 1.1K various comments, literally reflecting all facets of human stupidity, which from time to time is embodied in job interviewers...
#4
Are you sure you want to start at the top of the salary band? That won't give you much room for growth.
Glen Ellyn 7 months ago
I won't succumb to your pressure to work for less than I'm worth. No room for growth? Bye.
#5
If you were a Star Wars Character would you be Luke, Leia, Hans, R2, or C3PO?
I didn't get it probably because I said Wedge Antilles and went on for quite some time of the strength of being a competent background character that didn't feel the need to be a main character of every story. The interviewers had no idea who Wedge was.
Glen Ellyn 7 months ago
I wouldn't have an answer because I've never watched any of the Star Wars movies. I know, I know, but they're just not my cuppa. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
#6
Manager: Would you be willing to work for $X.XX per hour?
Me: That is below the legal minimum wage.
Michael Largey 7 months ago (edited)
"Have much are you willing to bribe me not to report this to the labor authorities?"
Some of these questions simply show the blatant incompetence of the interviewers. Some are inappropriate in any work environment and, in fact, represent one solid red flag for a potential job applicant.
However, such questions still take place - for example, regarding the employer's attempts to lowball the probable employee, even below the legally established level. By the way, we have more than one or two examples of such stories as well.
#7
"If someone tried robbing us, how would you protect the cash register?"
They didn't like my reply "I wouldn't protect it". I thought this was some test but it wasn't they actually wanted their employees to put their life on the line for whatever money would be in the cash register at the time. This was a minimum paying job btw.
Glen Ellyn 7 months ago
Never mind. I refuse to work for someone who puts the cash register ahead of my safety.
Michael Largey 7 months ago
"I would help the thief load it into his trunk so it doesn't get dropped and break."
John Dilligaf 7 months ago (edited)
go the other direction - get this weird grin on your face and say something like "Oh if only, it's been soooo long since I've had legal justification to [unalive] someone. The voices are starting to come back ..." And when they don't hire you can threaten to sue because they discriminated against you for a medical condition. ---- It's a win-win
Bill Swallow 7 months ago
Publicize that $#!t far and wide. Make it so they get as close to Zero job applicants as humanly possible. And on the way out the door, tell them "I would protect the cash register by putting your [butt] in front of the robber's gun."
#8
"What's the most dangerous animal you'd be willing to fight" and when I told them *people* that was apparently the wrong answer.
DragonofMordor 7 months ago
Depends on what the fight iss for. Protecting my cat? I'd fight anything.
#9
If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?
At wallmart. I s**t you not.
Glen Ellyn 7 months ago
Who comes up with these questions?? If you even get answer, what is that supposed to do for the interviewer?
Fire Singer 7 months ago
I used to do mock interviews for students and it's a stupid "tactic" to make them think on their toes, and to kind of throw them off. Sometimes it can lead to laughs and decreasing anxiety/formality, but most the time it just makes the interviewee uncomfortable and stumble and makes it hard to recover.
Load More Replies... 
A separate category is strange and unexpected questions, literally borrowed from books written by unicorn companies' CEOs. But if some strange question, designed to show the unconventional thinking of the jobseeker when hiring, for example, a designer or programmer at Google, seems appropriate, then copying it word for word in a small company that is completely unrelated to creativity is at least weird.
But still, the example of top companies looks incredibly tempting - and employers, unconsciously trying to adopt this success, in fact, adopt only its external side. While the main thing lies, of course, inside. Just believe me, they do not talk about this left and right.
#10
I was asked to name my favorite color and then defend that choice…
I was applying to be the controller of the accounting department .
Tucker Cahooter 7 months ago
Just don't change your mind though (as Sir Galahad did to much regret)
TheForrestGreene (he/they/it) 7 months ago
"green, aka dark green, aka forest green, aka #0a6522. dont bother trying to change my mind. you wont"
#11
“Why did you have a career break for 2 year?”
“….covid”.
g90814 7 months ago (edited)
I had a large break before my current job due to relocation, medical, and covid, nevermind age discrimination. I wasn't even asked about it in the interview for my current job. Now one of the interviewers was my manager for a year, and now is one of my best work buddies after he moved to a different dept.
Kabuki Kitsune 7 months ago
This is a very common question asked by HR employees. For those curious, they do this to gain a better understanding of a candidate's circumstances and assess their potential fit for the role, especially if the break is long or frequent. This helps them determine if the break was due to valid reasons, if it could indicate any potential issues with the candidate's work ethic or stability, and if the candidate has gained any relevant skills during the break.
Kathy Brooke 7 months ago
"Please explain the gap in your resume" "I created it in Word and you're reading it in Google Docs".
#12
Talked about details of a previous job. just some computer stuff. it involved some lasers
interviewer: "so... you do, like... illegal stuff? like mafia?"
yeah, that's me, dr. f****n' evil, walkin in to an interview talking about how i commit crimes
man she was dumb.
TheForrestGreene (he/they/it) 7 months ago
"no, the laser part was to keep the office cats from walking across the keyboard and messing up the code i was typing"
Returning to the "immortal classics" of questions with attempts to look into the future, convince the employer to hire you, or, conversely, make you admit your biggest weakness yourself - now, it seems, no one takes any of this seriously.
"While gauging a candidate’s long-term aspirations is helpful, this question assumes that life unfolds predictably. In reality, career paths twist, turn, and sometimes loop-de-loop unexpectedly," this dedicated article on Ere.net reasonably claims. “And really, how would you assess the response to this question? Is there a ‘right’ answer?”
#13
The silliest question I ever got was whether I wanted to apply for the job.
For context, I was in a beer distributor buying beer, wearing ripped jeans and a t-shirt. Owner mentions he has a job opening and asks if I want to apply. Needing a job at the time I said sure. So he sits me right down for an interview only to tell me “sorry I just don’t like the way you’re dressed.” Bro, then don’t ask me to apply!
#14
“How desperate are you for this job?” F**k off im not going to beg.
#15
"How do you work with difficult coworkers? The department is all women and you know how women can be.".
Michael Largey 7 months ago
Did a man or a woman say this? (And yes, some women are capable of saying this.)
Kabuki Kitsune 7 months ago
This is actually a test. Not in the way you may think, but more a round about way to test if YOU will be a problem. Essentially, the question is phrased like this to seem like it's being friendly and such, when in reality, the interviewer is typically testing to see if the applicant is sexist.
Chewie Baron 7 months ago
I once worked in an office with all women and I LOVED IT! It was great, they were all middle aged and they mothered me! Best office ever!
On the other hand, it all depends entirely on the employer and their status in the professional world. After all, if a huge corporation with a reputation for genius geeks on the verge of insanity asks you weird questions, how should we perceive it? Most likely, we’ll think that this is just another manifestation of ‘dark genius.’
"I’d ask you this… If Google asked any of these 4 questions in an interview, would you be criticizing them for asking dumb questions? Or would it occur to you that it’s just one reason they’re so successful?" Vertical Elevation podcast host Carol Schultz wonders quite sarcastically. So, in any case, every coin has two sides, and every interview question probably has too.
#16
"If you needed to eat an elephant, how would you go about it?"
I guess this question could assess problem-solving skills or your approach to seemingly insurmountable tasks, but I could think of better questions for that.
I ended up quoting that one Shel Silverstein poem about the girl who wanted to eat a whale, and how she ate it one bite at a time. They seemed to like that answer.
Michael Largey 7 months ago
I'd go to the Dr. Seuss section of the local library, check out "Horton Hears a Who", and begin my research.
John Dilligaf 7 months ago
well first I have to find 4 really big buns, so I can make elephant ear sandwiches. I always eat those first.
#17
"What's your superpower?"
This was one of only two questions in the interview.
Glen Ellyn 7 months ago
"Walking away from people who ask stupid questions. I hereby invoke my super power."
#18
Cut me off mid-ask about my education to ask if I knew how to use one of “these”.
*proceeds to slide a tape measure across the desk*.
Robert Benson 7 months ago
I don't have any idea of how to use one of those to write software, no. At least no efficiently.
Bret Sander 7 months ago
You'd be surprised at how many don't know how to use it properly. Especially men on "dating" sites.
TheForrestGreene (he/they/it) 7 months ago
"i know how to use these things as a yoyo, and i also know how to cut myself while using it as a yoyo"
Be that as it may, I sincerely believe that you will find it rather interesting to read the stories from this collection. And perhaps in one of them, you could remember an incident that once happened to you during an interview somewhere. So please feel free to read the list to the very end - and maybe share your own interview tales in the comments below.
#19
Where I live, if I had a boyfriend and what my father does for a living.
Glen Ellyn 7 months ago
"I live right here in town. No, and no girlfriend, either. Not much - he's dead." 🤦🏻♀️
TheForrestGreene (he/they/it) 7 months ago
"i live in the next town over to the east, not yet, dunno go ask the prison he's being held at"
#20
I was applying to BK and was asked to draw a picture.
I didn't get the job because my picture wasn't colorful enough and didnt fill the entire page.
TheForrestGreene (he/they/it) 7 months ago
"but at BK, aren't we supposed to have it our way?"
#21
What my high school gpa was. I was in my late 30s at the time. I honestly didn't remember.
John Dilligaf 7 months ago
Your HS GPA is whatever you say it was. It's not like they can check or anything.
Lady Eowyn 7 months ago
I don't remember the number, but I still have the little pin they gave me for academic honors, so I guess it was OK.
#22
By the interviewee: Are you the kind of boss who’s gonna want me to kiss your a*s?
Peter Bear 7 months ago
This is an entirely fair question. I had a boss once (already had the job, she came in out of nowhere to manage our department) who legit chose to introduce herself by saying 'So first of all, I'm a b*tch, I don't apologize for that'. All I can say is... she wasn't a liar.
#23
"If I asked your friend what you were like in highschool, what would they say?"
I ended the interview right after that.
Michael Largey 7 months ago (edited)
"If I had had any friends in high school, one of them would have already found me a better job than this."
#24
"What is your biggest accomplishment?"
I was applying to work the floor at a Nike outlet store, and I was a junior in high school.
Michael Largey 7 months ago
An accomplishment doesn't have to be work-related, and I've had high school students who accomplished great things for their age. Some for any age.
roepi 7 months ago
It's an absolutely stupid thing to ask a 14y old for a minimum wage part time job.
Load More Replies...
#25
"If you were a brick, what brick would you be?"
I've also been asked "if you were a tree, what tree would you be?"
I've been told it's a tactic just to see how you react, not a question needing a correct answer. Imo that does nothing to show if a candidate will be able to perform a job well, its just a stupid power trip thing for dumb people who dont want to actually interview well.
Apatheist Account2 7 months ago
For the tree, I'd just say "Yew", and see whether they take it as a personal compliment.
Mario Clouâtre 7 months ago
Given the reaction they didn't get the ob. That's the point of these questions.
#26
How do you see yourself in 5 years
Hands down the most childish question that RRHH does.
Scott Rackley 7 months ago (edited)
I actually answered "sitting in your seat" and got the job. Turns out, 5 years later, I was the supervisor of the person now sitting in his seat.
DragonofMordor 7 months ago
Living with 2 cats, 2 dogs, and some fish. Oh, you mean work-wise. No idea.
#27
“Do you feel your appearance is suitable for public-facing work?”
I was so nonplussed that all I could say was “I’ve never had any complaints.”
And then I got the job.
#28
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I was being interviewed by the owner of the company. I told him sitting on the beach in Mexico drinking a beer.
#29
I had this one in an interview for a job I didn't get, which I felt once I heard it, I wasn't getting the job.
"What would be a good reason NOT to hire you for this position?" My reply was "A pre-approved or better candidate "
In my mind, I had a ton of snarky replies but opted for the neutral reply.
Robert Benson 7 months ago
The answer (assuming you want the position): If you don't actually want the BEST candidate to fill the position, then you shouldn't hire me.
#30
"You're at a business lunch. You ordered your steak rare, but it comes out well done. What do you do?"
I said send it back because a rare steak won't take that long. Did not get the job.
Michael Largey 7 months ago
At first I wondered what "rare" and "well done" might have to do with gauging an employee. Then I remembered how rare it was for "well done" to appear in my job evaluations.
What do you think ?
Apatheist Account2 7 months ago
Spill the BEANS! Not the tea. Please, take it from me, I'm English. The phrase that means to reveal something secret is spill the beans, not the tea.
megabeth 7 months ago
It's an American thing as far as I know. We have been known to do disparaging things to tea.
Load More Replies...
Bill Swallow 7 months ago
To be honest, I'm getting a kick out of these, because I've been unemployed for just a bit longer than nine months now (I'm a Windows Server Administrator), and things have been starting to look just a bit dire. *Today*, I had an online interview for a decent job in my field, less money than I had been making, but it looked like a good fit, it was a shorter commute than my last position, and it would certainly keep the wolf from the door. Interview was 12:30 to 1:00. No bizarre questions, just things like working solo vs. part of a team (I've done both), how I would convince someone that I was right and they were wrong (I said, 'Have to read the room and pick an approach that will work with that person. Sometimes hit them with provable facts, sometimes with 'what are the consequences if I'm right vs. if I'm wrong'). Stuff like that. Around 5:30 pm today the recruiter called and told me they were sending me an offer letter.
Karl der Große 7 months ago
Interviews give you a chance to sell yourself, and they might be a good predictor of job success if you are going into sales. Otherwise, they are not very useful. I have conducted a lot of interviews and always feel a little sleazy afterwards.
Karl der Große 7 months ago
PS - Here is an article about interviews that I liked: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/insight-therapy/202009/poor-predictors-job-interviews-are-useless-and-unfair?msockid=1bf6d026a35260e81233c48ea2a36129
Load More Replies...
Forrest Grump 7 months ago
You just had this same kind of post on here two days ago. Wow Bored Panda, you are getting really desperate for content.
Apatheist Account2 7 months ago
Spill the BEANS! Not the tea. Please, take it from me, I'm English. The phrase that means to reveal something secret is spill the beans, not the tea.
megabeth 7 months ago
It's an American thing as far as I know. We have been known to do disparaging things to tea.
Load More Replies... Bill Swallow 7 months ago
To be honest, I'm getting a kick out of these, because I've been unemployed for just a bit longer than nine months now (I'm a Windows Server Administrator), and things have been starting to look just a bit dire. *Today*, I had an online interview for a decent job in my field, less money than I had been making, but it looked like a good fit, it was a shorter commute than my last position, and it would certainly keep the wolf from the door. Interview was 12:30 to 1:00. No bizarre questions, just things like working solo vs. part of a team (I've done both), how I would convince someone that I was right and they were wrong (I said, 'Have to read the room and pick an approach that will work with that person. Sometimes hit them with provable facts, sometimes with 'what are the consequences if I'm right vs. if I'm wrong'). Stuff like that. Around 5:30 pm today the recruiter called and told me they were sending me an offer letter.
Karl der Große 7 months ago
Interviews give you a chance to sell yourself, and they might be a good predictor of job success if you are going into sales. Otherwise, they are not very useful. I have conducted a lot of interviews and always feel a little sleazy afterwards.
Karl der Große 7 months ago
PS - Here is an article about interviews that I liked: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/insight-therapy/202009/poor-predictors-job-interviews-are-useless-and-unfair?msockid=1bf6d026a35260e81233c48ea2a36129
Load More Replies... Forrest Grump 7 months ago
You just had this same kind of post on here two days ago. Wow Bored Panda, you are getting really desperate for content.
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