The traditional interview has been an integral part of employee recruitment for decades. It also seems like traditional interview questions have not changed in that length of time. Tell me about yourself, why do you want to work here, tell me about a time when [], are all great, precise questions that should prompt telling answers.
However, these questions have been around and asked for so long, that they’ve become common knowledge, and interviewees now know exactly how to prepare.
If you are an interviewer looking for more authentic answers, are testing your candidate’s ability to think on his or her feet, want to gauge the candidate’s creativity, or are just bored of traditional interview questions, here are 3 fun options to make things more interesting!
- What would you do in the event of a zombie apocalypse?
This unconventional interview question was suggested in a Huffington Post article by associate editor Harry Bradford, and comes from Ashley Morris, CEO of Capriotti Sandwich Shop. What would you do in [insert crazy situation here], is a great question to gauge your interviewee’s quick-thinking, adaptability, and creativity.
It can also give you an idea of how the interviewee may act in similar but realistic situations. A zombie apocalypse is—to put it mildly—a stressful situation. How one may hypothetically handle the end of the world can provide you with insights about how one may handle stresses at work.
- What’s your spirit animal?
This gem comes from the CEO of Hootsuite, Ryan Holmes, and was presented in an Inc. article by reporter Zoe Henry. A person’s spirit animal is similar to its human counterpart in “spirit,” having the same skills, traits, behaviors, or tendencies.
For example, one might say his spirit animal is the rooster, because he is protective, proud, aggressive, and competitive—the kind of traits often sought-after in, let’s say, a door-to-door salesman. The interviewee can—and should–be as creative as he wants, as long as the proper connection is made to the position he is applying for.
- Tell me a joke.
This killer “question” comes from serial entrepreneur Richard Branson, and was listed in the aforementioned Inc. article by reporter Zoe Henry. If there was ever an interview question to gauge how quickly a candidate can shift gears, this is it.
An interview is often understood to be a very formal and no-nonsense occasion. Interviewees prepared to act “professionally” would certainly be thrown off-guard when asked to entertain the interviewer. According to Richard Branson, this unconventional interview question is also an excellent way to break the ice and encourage your interviewee to be himself.
So next time you find yourself preparing for a full day of interviews, keep these unconventional interview questions in the back of your mind. Chances are, if you use them, you’ll have fun and your interviewee will have fun too!
Written by David Babayev, Mobile Health Marketing Intern. David is a techie who enjoys learning new things and sharing them with others, especially through writing. Mobile Health is an occupational health provider who works with HR professionals across the country to manage employee screening services. Partnered medical centers offer drug testing, physicals, tb testing, and respirator fit testing.
About Rafael Landeiro:
Rafael Landeiro is the Marketing Manager for Mobile Health, which is an occupational health provider specializing in employee screening services. He writes and promotes content to help employers make better-informed decisions when hiring new employees. Mobile Health offers physicals and drug tests nationwide to companies focused on hiring healthcare workers.
