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30 People Share The Most Inappropriate Question They Were Asked During A Job Interview That Left Them Perplexed
A job interview can be a lot like a first date—your palms are sweaty, you’ve already changed three outfits, and you know the so, tell me about yourself is inevitably coming. Chances are you’ve already thought about the things you might be asked. But some questions can still surprise you.
Today, our list is dedicated to the less romantic of the two. We present to you some of the strangest things people have been asked during a job interview. Ranging from borderline offensive to simply bizarre, these stories have been shared by the ‘Ask Reddit’ community members. Make yourself comfortable and scroll down to find their accounts about such peculiar interviews.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Wasn’t a question, just funny/weird. I was in high school looking for a part time job, so I went to a local Chinese restaurant and asked for an application. They’re response, “what’s that?” I said I would like to work for them. So the person behind the counter told me to hold on for a minute, went into the kitchen to talk to the owner, and came back out to hand me a pen and a sticky note. He told me to write down some information. I write my name and phone number and ask if that enough and he says that it is.
So, I get a call over the weekend asking me to come in Monday after school. I thought, cool, got an interview. I show up and they tell me to pull my car around back. When I do, they come out of the restaurant with a bag of food and a GPS and say, “Here. Go deliver this.” Needless to say I got the job and worked for them for the next 6.5 years.
David H 2 years ago
I live near a lot of chinese immigrants, they are very straight forward and efficient like that. Always great to deal with
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Corvus 2 years ago
I like how straightforward they were. Gave you a chance to do the job, and doing it properly was better than any interview.
Pudgy Panda 2 years ago
That is how you got a job in the past. You went to the employer’s place of business, told them you were looking for work and got hired.
JESUSLOVESYOU 2 years ago
i couldn't reply to James frail because of the down votes there is no point to down vote peoples opionions
Niall Mac Iomera 2 years ago
I had the same thing happen at my local Chinese restaurant. I walked in on a Wednesday to get lunch, asked if they needed any work, they asked if I could drive, I said yes (I had just gotten my license that morning), they said come in Friday at 4pm.
RELATED:
#2
Not me but a friend was applying for a Christmas temp job and the last question was "Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?" Her reply was "No. It's a Christmas classic".
She got the job obviously.
3 Trash Pandas in a Trenchcoat 2 years ago
A guy runs around a tower at night avoiding Alan Rickman. It's obviously a Harry Potter movie.
Michael Largey 2 years ago
People ask Bruce Willis if "Diehard" is a Christmas movie. He always replies "No. It's a Bruce Willis movie."
Niall Mac Iomera 2 years ago
Just because it happens at Christmas doesn't make it a Christmas movie.
#3
The boss’ “Where do I know you from?”. My wife and I had seen her at a swinger club and fooled around with her for a while. I didn’t know how to answer the question, so I just shrugged and moved along. She figured it out later. She was like “clothes threw me off...” and kept walking.
David H 2 years ago
And in the link OP mentioned he got the job as well. Guess it really is about who you know
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Tanja J 2 years ago
I always say this to my swimming colleagues, when I meet them not in the pool: sorry, I didn't recognize you in clothes!
LazyStream 2 years ago
The hair always got me. I knew everyone in swim caps
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#4
“If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?”
I was interviewing for an analyst position so I went for a “decision tree” Got the job
crowspectre (he/they) 2 years ago
Cedar probably cause I'm a very rich shade of red on the inside
Tucker Cahooter 2 years ago
I fail to see how any answer to this idiotic question helps the interviewer decide on the best candidate. What next, Rorschach inkblots?
Colin 2 years ago
My wife does this but using cereal instead of tree. She often has to write internal processes and procedures as things are being rolled out. She likes to see how quickly someone can calculate an answer to an out of the normal question because it is a daily occurrence at her work.
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Na Schi 2 years ago (edited)
Ugh, I would probably failed that with bravo by my spontaneous answer: a fairy tree in an enchanted forest 🫣 Had the theme "magical forest" way back then in kindergarten (edit: at carnival). Most of the lil lads decided to be some kind of Robin Hood and most lil girls decided to go as a fairy or princess... I however wanted to go as a tree! My mother sewed me a beautiful custome (brown trousers, green long-armed shirt, were we attached felt-fabric grass at the bottoms, leaves all around the shirt, a hedgehog and 2 toadstools, glittery butterflies and blossoms) Not to mention the leave cap and green makeup. ...So yeah, I would have mentioned my kindergarten-tree-custome from the 80s.
Jason McGuire 2 years ago
I would be like nope. If you need to understand what kind of tree I am, I don't need to work here.
A Wild Bean 2 years ago
iirc this was one of the questions on that really weird bp list of "funny interview questions" a couple weeks ago
#5
The idiots at the Northwestern State University of Louisiana asked me which church I would attend once I took the job. For those that don't know, that is an illegal question, and you should nope the f**k out if an employer tries to get into your religious business during a job interview.
Heidrance 2 years ago
For those of you who like to sleep in on Sundays: Our Lady of Divine Rest, Church of the Holy Comforter, or Bedside Baptist. Conducted by Father/Reverend/Pastor Pillow, aided by Verger/Elder/Deacon Sheets. Hymns: The Comforter Has Come, Jesus I Am Resting Resting. Sermon text: "Come to me, all ye who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
elmortero 2 years ago
Good thing I live in Europe, nobody gives a *** about your religion. No because it is not allowed -which is indeed the case - but no one cares
Christopher Denney 2 years ago
For those not familiar with the southern states in the US, loads of people take religion for granted, it never would even occur to them that you weren't religious, so asking the question may just be social, getting to know you, type thing. Also precisely why there had to be rules against that sort of thing.
Rougarou Cher 2 years ago
I'm not saying it's right, but yeah. And thought of as cultural as well.
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savage silence 2 years ago
Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster of course! What a silly question
Steve Robert 2 years ago
I attend the Powerhouse Church Of The Presumptuous Assumption Of The Blinding Light and on Saturdays I attend the Cosmic Tuesday Church On The Messine
#6
I was being interviewed by a young guy and two older ladies. The guy just kind of stared at me the entire interview while the women asked all of the questions. After they were done questioning me one of them asked him if he had any questions for me and before she could finish the statement he blurted out 'are your boobs real? They look really good!' I was in shock.
The woman in charge asked me to please wait outside, and after a minute both ladies met me in the hallway and offered me the position I interviewed for at $2/hour more than what the position tops out at. I'm still here 3 and a half years later, and I've never seen that guy since the interview.
Sergy Yeltsen 2 years ago
It's good to see they got rid of the creep. Most bosses wouldn't. I hope it's been a good place to work.
Michael Largey 2 years ago
They knew that the salary boost would cost them much less than the lawsuit would.
Rostit . 2 years ago
and for $2 extra an hour, they can see some amazing boobs it seems.
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Silviu Leibovici 2 years ago
You got lucky in the worse kind of way ... but nevertheless... lucky 🤫😂
#7
If you were an animal, which would you be and why? I was applying for a cannabis shop, so I said I'd be a bald eagle because they get higher than any other animal on earth 🦅
Tucker Cahooter 2 years ago
So far we have had trees, bricks, fruit, vegetables and animals. If I see a question about what sort of rock you would be, or what sort of single cell organism you would be, then I will be calling "Bingo!" on the batsh*t interview questions bingo card
LH25 2 years ago
Was involved in a round of interviews that asked if pineapple belongs on pizza.
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Nancy Reynolds 2 years ago
I said I would be a unicorn, because, who wouldn't want to be a unicorn?
Nicholas McShane 2 years ago
Same...for a job as a gardener on a local council team. I said 'meerkat', and waffled on about how they share roles etc. (I'd seen them the night before on an Attenborough show. ) Pretty sure they thought, 'they rest of the crew will kill this guy'
#8
"If you were a brick in a wall which one would you be?"
I'm sorry, I didn't know I was interviewing with Pink Floyd.
Edit: Maybe this is a good question after all. I'm learning so much about people.
Dan Padgett 2 years ago
Ugh, having to resort to metaphors is just annoying. "I'm the bottom one because without me, the wall falls down. Strong foundations are important" ugh, super annoying.
RafCo (he/him/ele) 2 years ago
I'm the one being dropped on your car from a New Jersey overpass.
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HelluvaHedgehogAlien 2 years ago
The one which looks like it once belonged to part of a tombstone with ‘Life was good’ on it 😐
Aboredpanda 2 years ago
Top middle one. Get a view and to feel the weather on your bricky bod every day.
Pursuing Peonies 2 years ago
People saying corner stone, like, sure, but not all walls have corners, and it's a bit too on the nose for how they wanna treat people (hopefully hidden, but doing the majority of the work)
Annie Persson 2 years ago
Sixteenth row up, seventh from the left. That brick looks kinda cool
#9
I was being interviewed by a certain cell phone service provider. The interview was going great, the manager was really nice and charismatic but the last question really stuck out to me. “If this company implemented a policy that you thought was morally wrong, would you still follow said policy?”. I answered no and I said that if I thought the policy was wrong on a moral level that I would likely quit the job. That’s when I was dismissed from the interview. Needless to say, I don’t use that provider anymore...
Judes 2 years ago
It's the best response in an interview if you have morals.
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Casey Payne 2 years ago
They had questions of ethics and morals on application while applying for work in a coffee shop. I was at the time discharging from the USAF with a valid security clearance. Slightly put off that after being trusted with the nation's secrets I was not trusted to serve coffee and handle money. I answered the questions honestly knowing perfectly well what answers they were looking for and did not get the job.
Whiskey Tango Delicious 2 years ago
Tik tok asked as much when I applied. "We need you to create safety policies, not enforce them " Come to find out, decisions regarding product safety were being made overseas, for American products! The American team, who is entrenched in ASTM, CPSIA, Prop 65 regulations had no say. Safety decisions were all housed in their office on the other side of the planet. I'm dreadfully fearful of the vast quantities of non.compliant, potentially poisonous products that are going to get in to consumers hands. Please, don't buy off of TikTok, for your own safety.
#10
I was asked "Can you stay a few minutes and help me move some furniture?". It was for an IT job at an engineering firm, years later I was told that he was both trying to figure out whether I was a "No, that's not what I am being hired for" kinda guy or a "Sure, I'll do whatever needs doing" kinda guy. Also, he did have a couple of desks that he needed help moving. I did stay and help, and I did get the job.
Judes 2 years ago
I don't think it's a very good indication of whether or not someone is willing to help others. Someone could be the most helpful person in existence, but decline to help on that particular day because of an injury.
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Rougarou Cher 2 years ago
Good point about liability and stuff. but also they just got free work.
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#11
Completely technical interview. Then at the end of the interview, they asked me if I was a fruit or a vegetable, what would I be and why. I laughed, and asked them to repeat the question. They did, quite earnestly. I said I would be a granny smith apple, since I was a little tart, but once baked into a pie with other apples, I was delicious. It was a group interview over the phone. They murmured that it was a good answer and thanked me for my time. I did not get the job.
Aboredpanda 2 years ago
Tomato. A fruit that gets called a vegetable, and can be used for both.
John Dilligaf 2 years ago
in your most sterotypical gay lisp: "Oh I'm a fruit darling, a passionfruit"
Tucker Cahooter 2 years ago
Thankfully I am nearing the end of my working life and don't have to submit to such asinine interview questions.
Dan Padgett 2 years ago
"I would be the battered banana left in a lunch box. Broken but still tastes ok.
zak 2 years ago
I laughed when you said "I was a little tart". Isn't "tart" slang for a prostitute, in England?
Miocha 2 years ago
I don't understand why you get downvoted for merely stated a fact
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Dana Drapkin 2 years ago
I'm a potato...I can grow in the strangest conditions, i have eyes everywhere, i make a meal (work environment) better, and if prepared properly (turned into vodka), i'm a lot of fun
#12
Weird series of questions:
Interviewer (picks up phone): what’s your wife’s number.
Me: um, she’s in the US and it’s 2 am there. Why would you want to call my wife?
Interviewer: is your mother also in the US?
Me: yes. Why?
Interviewer: well, say I would call your wife or mother. What would would they say is your most annoying habit?
#13
*"Can you provide proof that you are not 100 snakes inside of a hollowed out man?"*
#14
Did you have a close relationship with your father? I'm a woman (engineer) and this was a totally out of left field question.
Edit: this was in the late 90's and people would be shocked by the s**t female engineers in very male dominated specialities had to go through.
Dan Padgett 2 years ago
Yeah, that's fúcking bad juju. Hope you got the job but also hope you got a better one after it.
Princess Mar-li Cathryn 2 years ago
Had an interview for a no name online publication where the boss gave me a topic and 3 hours to write about it. After he reads what I wrote he said, this is good which is amazing because I don't believe women can write. That was six years ago, I now run a creative writing program for children, and I still think about that...
Foxinamug 2 years ago
Completely off topic, but I've done training with the lady in the photo (she works/ed at the same company as me). Small world!
Michael Largey 2 years ago
Well, does she have a close relationship with her father?
Load More Replies... LH25 2 years ago
In the 90's I was interviewing for a programming position. One company as I was waiting for the interviewer, I chatted with the receptionist about what I would do in the job. She looked at me and said "And all that comes out of your pretty head?". Okaaayy. Then in the interview, the male boss said something about how all his programmers are guys, and it can get pretty raunchy at times with their joking around. Did I think I could take that? Well, yes I could, but I was not about to. Keep looking.
Diana 2 years ago
Late 70s, as a Purdue engineering student, I applied for a summer land surveying position. Their response was, "But you're a girl!".
Erik Rydbom 2 years ago
New engineer here. Times have changed quite significantly. Not 'perfect' but I remember having many female engineers in my graduating class. We just call them engineers though..
#15
"What's your name?"
Was only weird because I knew the guy already, and we were on a first name basis. I laughed, assuming he was joking. He didn't laugh. Apparently they are supposed to ask the exact same questions to everyone.
Shyla Bouche 2 years ago
I had a hysterectomy while in prison. Two guards took me to the hospital for a presurgical meeting with my surgeon. I was in shackles, and both guards were in the room with me. An interviewer came in to ask me the standard questions. 1) Where do you live? --I gave him the name of the prison.-- Oh, okay. Um, yes. 2) How long have you lived there? --I told him how long I'd been in prison.-- Oh? How nice. Ummm 3) How long do you plan being in the area? --I told him when I was due to be released-- I see. How lovely. 4) Are you sexually active? --Nope-- 5) Are you pregnant? --Nope-- 6)Do you drink alcohol? --Nope-- 7) Do you use illegal drugs? --Nope--. Even the guards couldn't keep a straight face when he asked 8) And do you have insurance? --I've got $90 on my commissary account. After that, you're on your own-- One of the guards told him I was covered. Luckily that was the end of his questionnaire.
I just work here 2 years ago
You did have insurance. You had medicaid and depending on your age possibly medicare.
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Robin Rush 2 years ago (edited)
Sounds like a guy that had a wellness check from his health insurance company because his weight to height ratio was pointing to malnutrition. What the system failed to also recognize was that he was an amputee from the hip down on his right side. 😑. During the nurse’s questions, she asked if he had had any recent surgeries. He said, “yes, I’ve had a couple of knee surgeries!” The nurse, “which knee?” HE ONLY HAS ONE! SHE WAS SITTING IN HIS LIVINGROOM, right across from him!
#16
Not a question but when I tried to get a job that would involve a fair amount of driving, I half jokingly wrote down 'drivers license' under work experience. My interviewer took one look at the application and said "valid drivers license, good. You're already ahead of the other guy".
S Mi 2 years ago
You'd be amazed how often it happens. During one screening for a job that lists a vehicle, driver's license and insurance on the job ad, the hr asked 'do you have a reliable vehicle?' Person said yes. At interview, they tell us they have the vehicle, but don't yet have a license....🙄
Robert Trebor 2 years ago
If they want you to use your private vehicle, they should pay the increase in your insurance rate.
Load More Replies... #17
You obviously have a great resume. Why haven’t you gotten another offer yet? Is something wrong with you?
Alexia 2 years ago
"Why would you assume I haven't got other offers? Perhaps I have, but I was not comfortable with the company, the working conditions, or the salary and benefits. Or maybe I just turned them down because they asked me stupid questions."
J 2 years ago
“It’s important to me to find the right opportunity because I want a good long term fit where I can both grow and deliver value.”
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Apps 2 years ago (edited)
"Why aren't you married yet?" That happened to me in 1999, right after college graduation.
Michael Largey 2 years ago
"Is my resume so good that it makes your company feel inadequate? Is something wrong with you?"
Max 2 years ago
"You know the maxim 'dress for the job you want'? Doesn't apply when the job you want is Sailor Moon and you're applying for an office job."
Princess Mar-li Cathryn 2 years ago
Become a preschool teacher. I show up to work dressed like a Disney Princess whenever I want and life has never been better.
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Scott Rackley 2 years ago
"I have gotten other offers. I'm here to see if there is something wrong with yours."
Celtic Pirate Queen 2 years ago
I've had several other offers, but the interviewer was kind of creepy, asking all these really intrusive & quite frankly, stupid questions.
Thatkamloopsguy 2 years ago
Yes. I killed my last three bosses for asking stupid questions, word must be getting around.
#18
"Do you believe in aliens?"
Obviously a super serious interview for the arcade I worked at in HS. They also asked me to be on their laser tag team in the tourney that night.
Jon Steensen 2 years ago
Well the odds currently seem to say that they should exist somewhere in the vastness of universe. If we ever get a chance to find them, let alone establish contact with them, is a whole other question, but you did not ask for that.
Benita Valdez 2 years ago
High school; usually grades 9-12 and typically age 15-18 but for those of us with late birthdays, 14-17 😊
Load More Replies... #19
I was being interviewed for a IT Helpdesk job at a bank a number of years ago and was asked "Why are manhole covers round?". I was later told after answering wrong that it was to see if the person would say "I don't know" (Correct answer) or just try and BS their way out of it.
ADJ 2 years ago
You assumed good. Most covers are round with wider lid, just so they do not fall down when putting them in place. Some covers however are square or rectangular, but they are mostly used for shallow telecommunication manholes.
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Phoenix the Frog 2 years ago
It is actually because if you turn a square one a certain way it can fall into itself but a circle one can't.
Christopher DiOrio 2 years ago
Manhole covers are round because manholes are round (smart aleck answer), and so they don’t fall in (smart answer). “I don’t know” should only be considered “correct” if you really don’t know…
Mary Mosher 2 years ago
A number of reasons, mainly to make them easier to move (just roll on the edge), and to keep them from falling through the opening.
Dogcat vet (retired) 2 years ago
Came down to a few things: a round cover won't fall into the hole, its easier to put back in as it doesn't have to be specifically aligned to put it back in
Dogcat vet (retired) 2 years ago
https://untappedcities.com/2021/02/22/why-are-manhole-covers-round-an-official-answer/
#20
“You want a beer?” No lie, just like that. I hesitated because I was not expecting that, but he opened the fridge and it was filled with beer- half Budweiser, half coors light.
I passed on the beer, still have the job.
censorshipsucks 2 years ago
I had a Muslim boss once who did this to test if you respected his religion. Ouch.
AMaureen Dance 2 years ago
Only thing I ever got offered in an interview was a coffee. Apparently, you should accept, even if it goes undrunk. I'm not so sure about the protocol with beer, though
Jon Steensen 2 years ago (edited)
I think that except for a very few instances, e.g. tastetester at a brewery, the standard in this day and age is to politely decline the offer. A job interview, unless it is combined with a business lunch, is not the right time to get drunk (or just lightly intoxicated) so the beer shouldn't be nessesary. So accepting it could be indicative that you have an abnormal relationship with alcohol, which could be problematic.
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ILoveMySon 2 years ago
I met a gentleman in a restaurant/bar. We spoke at length in which case I learned he was in need of executive support for his company. I was already employed full time but did accept a position part time.
#21
I was asked a question regarding my GPA during college.
"You finished with a 3.2, but had failed a bunch of classes your first year and a half, what the f**k was up with that?"
I was poor in the dorms and couldn't afford my books or Pearson™ Online Study Questions Portal Code™. They thought it was a suitable answer.
Got offered the job.
Ginger Ghost 2 years ago
good thing they asked about it and let you tell the true situation that it wasn't you, it was your lack of resources
Kat Min 2 years ago
Not being from the US, this boggles my mind. How can books be so unaffordable that a person can't study for their classes?? Why aren't there any in the library? or illegal copies made??
Roman Spruce 2 years ago
It's not books. It's homework sites that you have to pay over a 100$ for just to be able to actually do your class questions and assignments.
Load More Replies... Dekker451 2 years ago
Yeah, that's the inappropriate part to me. It's a job interview, not a bar.
Load More Replies... #22
I was interviewing a potential employee with my supervisor and the last question he asked her was “How are you with dealing with....stupid people?” It was completely out of left field and informal based on the questions we were previously asking. You could tell the question threw her but she answered. And she ended up getting the job.
Dan Padgett 2 years ago
"I seem to have managed this whole interview, so I would say pretty good".
Tucker Cahooter 2 years ago
Especially if the interviewer was one of those people also wanting to know what particular tree or brick you would be
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Rapunzel With The Loced Hair 2 years ago
I was asked "How do you handle conflict with someone you work with?" It's definitely not a stupid question, but 6 months on the job and I see why they asked me that question. My interviewer kept saying my answers were too good to be true, safe to say, I have lived up to every response I gave and they are yet to be disappointed (humble brag, lol)
Ash Conner 2 years ago
They probably had some employees to trade customers really bad when they were really stupid. The way to handle people who are acting stupid is be polite.
Jose Antonio 2 years ago
If you can keep your composure while dealing with a seemingly endless onslaught of stupid people....you my friend, are a saint...
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#23
"So, I see that you're married. do you f**k around?"
I was interviewing for a supervisors position. The job was open because they had just fired a supervisor for having sex with a woman that worked under him and they were sued.
BlackestDawn 2 years ago
While they could have worded it better it's not so strange given the context, and a fully understandable one.
Michael Largey 2 years ago
A detailed explanation of company fraternization policy would have done the job.
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Richienotsorich 2 years ago
Sorry - sued for having a sexual relationship with a colleague?! I guess it only takes one to tango in that country! Unless it was forced, did she not know what she was doing?! 🙄
#24
"If you could be any of the original 150 Pokemon, which one would you choose?"
I said Ditto, because I could be any of them, but that was a lie. If I could be any Pokemon, I would be Pidgeot.
Edit: Thanks for the... silver?
Michael Largey 2 years ago
I don't know anything about Pokemon except the phrase "Pokemon Go". And that's exactly what I'm doing right now.
#25
The job entailed a lot of filing of papers, so I got asked "How do you best file things in folders alphabetically?"
I was like "Uh... with a folder for each letter, and then put the folders in alphabetical order..."
She said "Good... good..." and jotted down some notes.
J 2 years ago
The potential employer hopelessly misfiled their application because nobody knew the alphabet. The end.
Load More Replies... Ginger Ghost 2 years ago
I'm guessing she asked that to see if she would do it the way they currently do it or if she would have to be shown how to file it correctly
Immortal Jellyfish 2 years ago
She was taking notes so they could start a filing system because no one else knew how one worked.
Jon Steensen 2 years ago
well you start by putting all the words beginning with an alpha on top of those starting with a beta, and whatever you do, don't perform a bubble-sort. The question may not be as stupid as it looks at first glance. There are many different ways to sort things, and not all of them is equally effective. E.g. books are sometimes sorted based on their title, but more often based on the name of the auther, which again raises the question, should you go by first or last name etc. Archiving things in such a way that they can be found again is an artform, which I, unfortunately, do not master.
#26
You've got a broad set of shoulders on you, you ever do any modeling or wrestling?
"Hey, thanks for your time. I don't think this would be a good fit for me."
Dan Padgett 2 years ago
Maybe a tad personal but this wouldn't offend me at all. Each to their own I suppose.
YourSecretSanta 2 years ago
Even if it does not offend you, it is still innappropriate
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#27
¿How old do you think I am?
Hmm.. I don't know... 40?
You have the job. I'm 60.
Wow...
Dan Padgett 2 years ago
Men, all over the world know how to respectfully lowball this without it seeming ridiculous. It's a learned survival skill.
General Anaesthesia 2 years ago
How about, "do these jeans make me look fat?"
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censorshipsucks 2 years ago
And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson Jesus loves you more than you will know Whoa, whoa, whoa God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson Heaven holds a place for those who pray
Load More Replies... Michael Largey 2 years ago
So, you're looking for people who are good at lying on their feet. Must be a job in sales or public relations.
#28
I was once asked in an interview, "Do you look at your s**t after you wipe?" Which they asked me to see if I would lie or not. Apparently it is a natural instinct that nearly EVERYONE does, which, back in our caveman days, used to be a way to see if you were getting sick or not via the color of your steaming dung. I laughed and said yes.
#29
My friend had an interview at Panera which ended up being three separate interviews and she said they made them sit in a circle and talk about the texture of bread and how it made them feel....
XenoMurph 2 years ago
Is it for a bakery? Good question if it's for a job at a bakery. (On the "world wide web", not everyone knows every brand in every nation)
The Other Guest 2 years ago
Panera is an overpriced bakery/café. They sell whole loaves of bread & pastries, in addition to soup, salads, and sandwiches.
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R Dennis 2 years ago
I hired A LOT of people for Panera (60+). You do two separate interviews and no group interviews - even when hiring for new opens, you do individual interviews. We asked a lot about personal expectations, experiences, and ideas on customers service and what they consider makes something a quality product.
#30
This was during a "mock interview" while I was in college. The professor had her husband come in and we had to go in, one by one, and do an interview. Just like in real life.
Well, everyone is going in and coming out smiling. Not taking too long so I thought it would be a cake walk.
My turn is next. I go in and everything is going smoothly. He takes a look at my resume and sees that I was in the military. He asks "Tell me about your time in the military". So I tell him what I did, that I worked with a variety of different people from different backgrounds, with different views on life and opinions, and that I supervised people, etc.
He says "Ok, good", and continues with the interview. Asks a few more questions, then says "Tell me about your time in the military". I figured maybe he didn't realize he already asked me that, or maybe it was a test, so I repeated what I said.
He starts turning slowly in his chair, looking at the ceiling and says again:
Tell me about your time in the military
I just looked at him. He stopped spinning in his chair and looked at me. After about 20 seconds, he says "Ok, we're done here."
I got a B.
jade s 2 years ago
I wonder whether he was checking temperament. Repeat the question 3 times to see how you react. Do you call him out on it? Are you rude, helpful or patient in your approach? Do you elaborate or simplify the answer each time you're asked? The obscure questions can normally tell you a lot about personality.
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El Dee 2 years ago
They do this BS at assessment centres to see if you'll correct or complain or simply comply. Spooky BS..
RU Mymudder 2 years ago
So what is the correct way to respond? Politely correct?
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Michael Largey 2 years ago
I will, but first tell me about your time in the military.
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BBlue 2 years ago
When I was preparing for medical school interviews, in addition to the typical ones, to prepare for odd ones that started making the rounds and throwing people off. For example, what type of cookie would you be and why, if you could choose a super power what would it be and why. So annoying.
Nightshade1972 2 years ago
Sounds like Interviewer was hoping that OP would give him juicy details about how he tortured ppl at Gitmo. Absolutely couldn't/wouldn't believe it when OP honestly answered the question, because "everybody knows" that ppl only go into the military because they like beating other ppl up for no reason. Which, yes, may be true for *some* military recruits, but not all of them.
#31
Not me, but my husband was asked who he voted for and his personal feelings on his daughter's ability to, one day (she was only like... 7 months old at the time), get birth control without his permission. He told the guy that his personal opinions on such things didn't seem relevant to an accounting position. He didn't get offered the job.
#32
It was for a tech job at a small company when I was young, Google had just become trendy and cool not long before...
It was something like, "How many windows are in New York?"
I asked if they were serious, and they said yes it was an exercise to see how I'd work out the problem and they wanted me to answer.
So I went with it, cause I wanted to the job, spoke through my reasoning.
Then the guy smiles like a jackass and says, "Yeah, really, the answer is 'if I needed to know I'd just google it'".
It was such a d**k move and I was such a cocky little s**t that I just walked out.
Tucker Cahooter 2 years ago
And if you Google it you will get umpteen different answers, from people calculating it different ways with different assumptions, so which one would you like Mr Interviewer?
LH25 2 years ago
Yep. Google itself doesn't supply any information. It just organizes all the links.
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#33
One interview in particular stands out in my mind. I hadn't even applied for the job, they found me on LinkedIn and since I was looking I figured, what the hell?
The guy interviewing me came with a list of questions, which is pretty normal. But the questions he asked were pretty weird. One was "If you could have any super power, what would it be and why?" My answer was to fly because it would be fun and super easy to travel. He liked that answer.
Then he asked me to rate things on a scale of 1-10. One was "How much do you value honesty?" So I said 9 since I'm an honest person and value honesty in others. He liked that answer.
A few questions later he said: "How much do you value getting things done on time?" I said 7, because you can't always anticipate how long things can take to be resolved and sometimes there are complications. He asked me "So you don't value getting things done on time then?" And I said "No, it's not that, but I told you earlier that I value honesty more." He really liked that answer.
Anyway, they ended up offering me the job and I turned them down. So they called me back with a better offer and I still said no. At this point the nice HR lady asked me why I was turning them down so I told her: "I never even applied for this job! You called me to setup the interview. And the interview I had with your company was one of the weirdest I've ever had, so I don't think it would be a good fit."
Jason 2 years ago
Why would you agree to go to an interview for a company you don't want to apply for? Other than maybe interview practice but it doesn't seem like the case
Ginger Ghost 2 years ago
Teleport definitely, but why are those questions weird?? also isn't going on the interview technically applying, cus if not you are wasting everyone's time.
CrunChewy McSandybutt 2 years ago
I like interviews with weird questions (as long as they are appropriate and don't break laws). It gives me an idea of the office culture and personalities.
#34
This one was sort-of my fault, but I was being interviewed and the interviewer asked how I would handle termination, and I said "I would want o know why..."
She cut me off an apologized and said she meant how would I approach terminating an employee. I asked for the context and she said
"Imagine you had to fire me, how would that go?"
I was confused because I wasn't applying for a position superior to her, so I asked what she was being fired for and she (I believe) innocently said "I don't know. I did something really inappropriate to you ... with you ... I mean, just something inappropriate"
It was really weird because neither of us seemed to know how to handle the interview at this point, though I did get the job.
#35
Not me, but wife was asked if she knew how to bake... This was for an accounting job.
Apparently the office is pretty big on 'treat days', so they wanted to know if she'd bring stuff
Helen Bennett 2 years ago
At least one red flag, possibly 2. 1: implicit request to do something that's time-consuming and can be costly outside of your official responsibility. 2: would they have asked a man the same question?
Michael Largey 2 years ago
An accountant has to know how to bake if she's going to cook the books.
#36
"Do you have a girlfriend? Why did you broke up with your old girlfriend? " In a technical interview with a few senior employees of the company, when I replied " I don't see how this is related to the job I'm applying for" they all got defensive and were like " For example, we are all married, we're asking if you have any social problems" I was seriously confused and still unemployed afterwards.
XenoMurph 2 years ago
Don't offend the interviewer, it shows bad judgement. How you deal with legitimately awkward situations MIGHT be a good thing to know in public facing roles. So they might have thrown that in to let them see how you react. Inappropriate subject matter in my opinion, but the idea is valid.
Judes 2 years ago
It's a dumb question and should not be asked. This person is better off not working for idiots who don't understand boundaries.
Load More Replies... Michael Largey 2 years ago
Most people with social problems are married. That's their social problem.
#37
Interviewer: “I see you graduated from [school] in 2013. Did you know a Ms. Jane Doe?” Me: “Oh yeah, I know her! She was in my first year classes.” Interviewer: “Ms. Doe interviewed yesterday. Why should we hire you over her?” I basically responded with “You should hire us both, ideally.” Then I said why I’d be good for the job overall. Neither of us got the job.
#38
"Tell me some things you noticed about the building as you were coming in." Naturally, I was focused on the upcoming interview, and couldn't think of a single goddamn thing I'd noticed about the building. The rest of the interview seemed to go well, I'm a good interviewer. But that question threw me so bad, I didn't even have a graceful non-answer. I just kind of stammered for a minute.
Jan Rosier 2 years ago
'it has a front door, a lobby with a desk and a receptionist, and there are elevators'
Michael Largey 2 years ago
This was a question I was asked on an entrance exam to a private high school. It looked like a badly aged sewage treatment plant, and I wrote one of my better essays making the comparison. I was not admitted.
#39
"What are you?" This came after them dancing around the issue for quite awhile by asking different variations of more PC-versions. I'm mixed and this happens a lot (said in the exact same way, as if I'm some type of dog breed rather than human) but it took me by surprise in the interview even though I knew they were leading up to it. Needless to say, I turned down the offer.
#40
In an interview for a tech support position at a software company, they asked me "Okay, imagine that you're a quality assurance person for a toaster company, how would you test the toaster out to see if you could make it fail?" and I went through every iteration I could think of that would "break" the toaster (stick non-bread/food items into it, operate it upside-down/stuff like that) there was clearly a specific "correct answer" they were looking for and after like 10 minutes we just had to move on. I did not get the job, and I will never know what specific thing it was they were looking for with that question.
PotatoNinja5000 2 years ago
All valid methods, but it sounds like they were looking for the simplest answer: don't plug it in.
François Bouzigues 2 years ago
Operate for the longest time with bread inside and see if it set the bread on fire ?
#41
I had an interview a few years ago at a video rental chain called "Family Video". They mainly questioned me about my family and upbringing. My parents are divorced, I was raised by a single mother and I don't have a relationship with my dad. This was really awkward to explain to the manager who clearly wasn't happy with my broken family and upbringing. I didn't get the job.
Joshua David 2 years ago
I worked for Family Video and it was an odd place to be. I was right out of high-school and you had to be 18 because you couldn't abuse minors. They were open 10 to midnight every day of the year so you were going to be working. Met some fun people though.
#42
They joked about whether or not they would ask me a question throughout the interview. They didn't for most of it, but by the end, I just had to know what the question was. I had to defend not liking Ready Player One. As part of checking that I'm not a psycho on social media, they came across my Goodreads review summing up why I didn't like the book. One of the interviewers loved it. I'm pretty sure I ended up not getting the job because I got a little too focused on the discussion about the book with that interviewer and the other interviewer wasn't interested.
Katarzyna Drozd 2 years ago
I guess what they were really testing was how you handle the situation when someone have different opinion than yours
#43
"What's you astrological sign?" I should have left right there - but the interviewer guessed, and guessed correctly. So it'd have to be some kind of awkward 'you got it right but I still don't believe you' conversation, or straight up accusing her of using the birth date on my CV. It did kill the mood for the rest of the conversation, and I won't ever work with the recruiter in question again.
Miocha 2 years ago
If someone ever asked what my astrological sign is, I don't want them in my circle
Michael Largey 2 years ago
Since your date of birth is right there in your application, guessing your sign ain't psychic.
Yoga Kitty 2 years ago
My first thought as well - the birth date is on the resumé, no asking required. I think they just wanted to see a reaction like "not interested in that nonsense" or "I am a virgo, therefore, I am especially good at finances!" or something like that.
Load More Replies... Ash Conner 2 years ago
I don't do all of that because I is against my religion. That is an inappropriate question. Why do people always try to push this down everyone s throat. If you do it cool but don't bring it my way.
steven mayes 2 years ago
I worked at Foster Associates in the UK probably the best architectural practice in the UK. My boss was moaning about all the CV he had to read. I pointed at one of our colleagues and asked him "what made you interview him after reading his CV"? Apparently having put his star sign on what was a sparse CV "they had to see what this guy was like". The rest was history, so please don't knock the star sign.
Michael Largey 2 years ago
Me too. Like "Trump Won!", "Make America Great Again", or "God Hates F**s"
Load More Replies... #44
I was interviewing for a teaching position at a high school in a tiny town. Both the superintendent and principal were asking me questions when the principal asked me “You’re very pretty, are you going to be able to not sleep with the students?” Apparently, the school needed an English teacher because the last one slept with a student....
CrunChewy McSandybutt 2 years ago
There must be a better way to ask this. Like, "are you knowledgeable in laws and ethics of personal relations with students and subordinates?"
#45
Are you a virgin?
Yoga Kitty 2 years ago
Where you applying as sacrifiçe in a ritual? Did they perhaps want to feed you to the company's dragon in the dungeon?
#46
If your friends were here, what would they say about you? I didn’t get that job. Maybe a little less honesty required
JESUSLOVESYOU 2 years ago
wait i want to know what she said does any one else want to know this or is it just me
#47
“You’re from Russia?... you’re not a spy are you?” This was for an associate attorney position. It wasn’t for me.
Michael Largey 2 years ago
"Of course not. If I was, I would already have a job with one of Trump's law firms, wouldn't I?"
Dana Drapkin 2 years ago
i've gotten that question too, my response is "do you think i'd tell you if i were? Part of being a good employee is knowing when to keep your mouth shut"
#48
Why did you say good morning when you know perfectly well it's afternoon
Dan Padgett 2 years ago
Bit of a cúnty question. I can see they are checking to see if you sleep in and wake up late.
#49
"What's the last book you've read?" Probably not as strange as some of the others are/will be in this thread but just strange enough to throw me off. I'm not much of a book reader, and certainly don't read many books in my off-time that relate to my career. It was like "I know what answer you're looking for, but I can't truthfully give it to you".
Louise 2 years ago (edited)
I once got asked what my favourite book was. The interviewer seemed really surprised that I had an answer! (It's The Day of the Triffids, btw). I'm pretty sure it got me the job, since I also answered "No, I'm rubbish at it" in response to whether I was any good at Excel, which we used all the time.
Michael Largey 2 years ago (edited)
It's a great book, but I cannot recommend "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying" as an answer in this context.
#50
It's a tie, at two different interviews: 1. If you were a shoe, what would you be and why? 2. If you were a food, what would you be and why? The first interview was for a job at my college and the second was for a catering job at a different college.
#51
"What is your opinion on wealthy people?" I was 22, fresh out of college, and my first interview was working at a private, small bank. I wasn't expecting that question.
Michael Largey 2 years ago
"If you pay me enough to become one, I'll be able to find more about them."
#52
If I have a child or not. I am female and was only interested in freelance position for one month. They also asked me how many jobs have I applied and have I heard from them and If is it hard to find this kind of job in this city.
JESUSLOVESYOU 2 years ago (edited)
what is freelance ???????????????????????????????????????? i feel the need to ask even if no one answers but someone plz answer
M O'Connell 2 years ago
The term refers to people who are self-employed, and can work for more than one compant at a time. For instance, an actor, writer, or graphic designer may be a freelancer because they can work on contracts for multiple employers concurrently. The term originally applied to mercenaries who were 'free' as opposed to sworn to a particular lord.
Load More Replies... #53
That if I was interested in the job. "Hey Jim you lil piece of s**t, listen carefully, I wouldn't be here in the first place if I wasn't interested."
#54
This isn't the position you are interviewing for. What is it you'd rather be doing?" Didn't see that one coming.
#55
"How do you think you did?"
Tucker Cahooter 2 years ago
Not good. I couldn't make up my mind what sort of tree, brick, fruit, vegetable, animal, shoe, or food I would be
Adam Zad 2 years ago
I had an interview way back when I was young, in which the interviewer (who had my resume on the desk in front of him) kept asking if I could do certain things in software that was NOT on said resume. Finally, I figured I wasn't going to get the job, so I outright challenged him: "No, but you give me two minutes on that keyboard and I'll figure it out." He turned the monitor around and pushed the keyboard to me. I ran the program, called up the help files, and gave him the answer. He looked at the stopwatch he had running, said "46 seconds," and hired me on the spot. F[iretr]ucker just wanted to know if I could find answers on my own.
CrunChewy McSandybutt 2 years ago
this is an excellent opportunity to explain what you would like to do differently. Like, if there was a question for which you thought of a better answer. This shows an employer that you are willing to analyze yourself and adjust.
What do you think ?
Carol Emory 2 years ago
Safeway district office told me that the previous woman in this position left because she had a baby. Then they asked if I was planning on getting pregnant anytime soon. I got up and collected my things. She said "I guess that's a yes." I said "Nope...this is me not wanting to work for a company that doesn't understand that it's illegal to ask such questions in an interview for a job. It's called discrimination and violating privacy." And I left.
censorshipsucks 2 years ago
Fortunately in my country it's illegal to ask questions relating to family planning, sexual orientation, religion, or political affilliation. You can report them if they do. Of course, small companies might do this, but not any serious or big company.
Squirrelly Panda 2 years ago
Illegal in the U.S. as well (assuming your country is not U.S.) but it doesn't stop many interviewers and how do you prove they did it?
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Littlemiss 2 years ago
So, tell me, what would you current manager say about you if I was to ask? Closely followed by we're a family here, and we don't tslk about wages... The boss asked, I was so desperate to leave my job that I didn't see this massive reg flag. I went from the frying pan into the fire.
Colin 2 years ago
Back in Northern Ireland I went for an interview and the guy asked "Are you a jaffa?". Jaffa = Orange = Protestant. So I said I was baptised a prod but was not in the Orange Lodge. He just looked at me and said "we're not an orchard, we don't take jaffas" and I was shown the door.
censorshipsucks 2 years ago
In my country, religion questions are illegal and hiring/not hiring on religious grounds too.
Load More Replies... Carol Emory 2 years ago
Safeway district office told me that the previous woman in this position left because she had a baby. Then they asked if I was planning on getting pregnant anytime soon. I got up and collected my things. She said "I guess that's a yes." I said "Nope...this is me not wanting to work for a company that doesn't understand that it's illegal to ask such questions in an interview for a job. It's called discrimination and violating privacy." And I left.
censorshipsucks 2 years ago
Fortunately in my country it's illegal to ask questions relating to family planning, sexual orientation, religion, or political affilliation. You can report them if they do. Of course, small companies might do this, but not any serious or big company.
Squirrelly Panda 2 years ago
Illegal in the U.S. as well (assuming your country is not U.S.) but it doesn't stop many interviewers and how do you prove they did it?
Load More Replies... Littlemiss 2 years ago
So, tell me, what would you current manager say about you if I was to ask? Closely followed by we're a family here, and we don't tslk about wages... The boss asked, I was so desperate to leave my job that I didn't see this massive reg flag. I went from the frying pan into the fire.
Colin 2 years ago
Back in Northern Ireland I went for an interview and the guy asked "Are you a jaffa?". Jaffa = Orange = Protestant. So I said I was baptised a prod but was not in the Orange Lodge. He just looked at me and said "we're not an orchard, we don't take jaffas" and I was shown the door.
censorshipsucks 2 years ago
In my country, religion questions are illegal and hiring/not hiring on religious grounds too.
Load More Replies...
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