Looking to spice things up next time you interview? Look no further!
After collecting hundreds of thousands of interview questions shared by candidates over the last year, Glassdoor revealed its annual list of the toughest (and wackiest) questions job seekers could hear from potential employers in 2016.
What’s the purpose of asking these curveball questions? Exactly that: To see how candidates respond to a curveball. How quickly they think on their feet. What bits of their personality shine through when they’re forced to go off script.
While the intent of some of these questions is to test logical thinking and problem solving, others provide a window into motivation, creative thinking, self-perception, sense of humor, etc.
How should you respond to curveball questions? We’ve got you covered! Here’s a previous Nadexa post on the topic.
In the meantime, have fun with these! I do like #3 as a gauge for how well candidates internalize the pressures the senior leadership team faces. As for #2, I’d personally rather fight one horse-sized duck for the same reason I’d rather take on one adult than a room full of preschoolers! How about you? 😉
1. When a hot dog expands, in which direction does it split and why?
Company: SpaceX
Position: Propulsion Structural Analyst (New York, New York)
2. Would you rather fight one horse-sized duck, or 100 duck-sized horses?
Company: Whole Foods Market
Position: Meat Cutter (Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky)
3. If you’re the CEO, what are the first three things you check about the business when you wake up?
Company: Dropbox
Position: Rotation Program (San Francisco, California)
4. What would the name of your debut album be?
Company: Urban Outfitters
Position: Sales Associate (New York, New York)
5. How would you sell hot cocoa in Florida?
Company: J.W. Business Acquisitions
Position: Human Resources Recruiter (Atlanta, Georgia)
6. If I gave you $40,000 to start a business, what would you start?
Company: Hubspot
Position: Account Manager (San Francisco, California)
7. What would you do if you found a penguin in the freezer?
Company: Trader Joe’s
Position: Unspecified (Orange, California)
8. If you were a brand, what would be your motto?
Company: Boston Consulting Group
Position: Consultant (Washington, D.C.)
9. How many basketballs would fit in this room?
Company: Delta Air Lines
Position: Revenue Management Co-op (Cincinnati, Ohio)
10. If you had $2,000, how would you double it in 24 hours?
Company: Uniqlo
Position: Management Trainee (Los Angeles, California)
