Word of advice, please avoid wasting your time formulating answers to oddball or senseless interview questions rated by popular publications.   Many large online publications claim hiring or interviewing authorities ask a host of absurd questions during interviews, such as:

  • Does life fascinate you?

  • How would you get an elephant into a refrigerator?

  • How many planes are currently flying over Kansas?

Hiring authorities who ask these types of questions are rare, to say the least.  Either way, you are better off spending your time preparing to convince the hiring authority what assets you can offer the company that nobody else can.

The majority of people do not spend enough time focusing on this kind of question, which would benefit the company and the candidate in understanding and communicating their assets.

Any interviewer or hiring authority that is so egotistical to ask “tricky questions” may not be the kind of person you want to work for.  If they are more interested in tricking you than they are in finding out if you would be a good fit, this should cause concern.

Some time ago, I had a candidate who was asked a “tricky question” during her interview and rather than trying to formulate a witty answer she simply asked the hiring authority, with a smile, “What does that have to do with the job?” The hiring authority took her response well, given she was polite, and thought she demonstrated lots of courage.

Tricky questions, during the interview process can be distracting however do not get hung up, simply focus on your key reasons why you want the position and emphasis your assets that would benefit the company.

Put your best foot forward and let the pieces fall where they may.  But, by no means should you waste your time focusing on how to respond to irrational interview questions.