How to answer brain teasers and quirky questions in job interviews

Not all employers and recruiters stick to the usual questions in a job interview. Here is how to prepare for a brain teaser or secret test from left field.

Do not let an interviewer catch you off guard with a quirky question. Picture: iStock

What are your strengths and weaknesses? Where do you see yourself in five years? They are the obvious interview questions every jobseeker knows are coming.

But even if you have these answers down pat, this is not the time to smug as employers continue to use brain teasers, personality metaphors and even secret experiments to pressure test their top candidates.

Recruitment firm Affix founder and managing director Jarrad Skeen says he does not personally use these tactics but sees many organisations that do.

He says they pop up across all industries and at all levels.

“I have sat in an interview for a CEO where one of the board members asked ‘what kind of car would you be?’,” he says.

“One candidate answered ‘an MX-5 – sporty and snazzy without being over the top’.”

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If you were a car, what would you be? Picture: iStock

For other roles, he has heard “Do you have a clean or messy desk?” and “If you were a shape, what shape would you be?”.

Skeen says jobseekers who feel comfortable answering should have a go, but there is also nothing wrong with asking about the question’s relevance.

“It’s reasonable feedback to the interviewer,” he says.

“The world of recruiting and hiring people is very subjective … so if you are not sure as to the reason behind the question it’s OK to ask for clarification.”

Skeen says brain teasers – such as “How much does that jumbo jet weigh?” or “How many coffees are being drunk in Melbourne today?” – are also used by interviewers, but they are not looking for the correct answer so much as the jobseekers' ability to think on their feet.

Consider weighing an aircraft before your next job interview.

“The theory is that if I surprise someone … I can see how they come to a conclusion and the thinking process,” he says.

“The reason I don’t use that technique is interviews are already an unnatural conversation and people stress out and if your aim is to select the best person for the job, that form of technique won’t get you an answer.

“People feel threatened or anxious about the idea of going to an interview in the first place and some of the anxiety is there because they have heard of other people being asked questions like this.

“If I were the person being interviewed, I’d think twice about working for someone that puts me in that situation.”

Sometimes, the tests are not even explicit.

There may be someone checking the cleanliness of your car or, in the case of software company Xero, taking note of whether you leave your coffee cup in the interview room.

Its Australian managing director recently revealed he refused to hire anyone that did not offer to take their coffee cup back to the kitchen.

One little coffee cup can make all the difference. Picture: iStock

Skeen says although it can show a lack of courtesy, secret tests like this should not be used as a blanket rule.

“It depends on the person,” he says.

“They might be a brilliant coder but might have social difficulties and exhibit those behaviours.

“As a general rule, OK fair enough, but there are times when it might go too far.

“It’s always good to try things but at the end of the day the purpose of the interview is to understand the strengths of the candidate.”

TOP 5 TIPS FOR ANSWERING A QUIRKY QUESTION

THINK IT THROUGH

Consider what they have said and plan in your head how you will structure your answer. Listen carefully then begin with a logical sequence of events, basing your response on assumptions or estimates if required.

BRING PEN AND PAPER

Most interviewers allow this, but always ask if it is OK before the interview begins. If asked a brainteaser, jot down brief notes that may help with your thought pattern and response.

GET CLARIFICATION

If you do not understand the question, ask to have it repeated or a point explained. Whether you ask for clarification may be part of the test.

RELAX

Getting flustered will not solve anything, so try to stay as calm as possible. Becoming stressed or frustrated may be the red flag the interviewer is looking for.

FOCUS ON THE PROCESS

The interviewer cares more about your thought process rather than the final answer so feel free to think out loud. Explain your thoughts and how you are reaching a decision.

*Source: Wikijob.co.uk

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