We spend a lot of time talking about finding the right fit – both for candidates landing that first great job and for employers building their teams. And part of finding that right fit is, of course, the interview process.
Now, interviews can be nerve-wracking enough on their own, filled with expected questions about your skills, experience, and career goals. But then there are those questions. The ones that make you scratch your head, wonder if you heard correctly, or frankly, question the interviewer's sanity. We're talking about the "crazy," the "illegal," the "waste of time," and the downright idiotic questions that some folks unfortunately encounter.
Our friend, Stephen O’Donnell, the Chief Growth Officer of TAtech and founder of the United Kingdom’s National Online Recruitment Awards (NORAs), knows a thing or two about the hiring world, and he recently put together a brilliant piece. It's a parody, mind you, of some of the seemingly inane questions that some employers ask. The supposed reason behind these questions is to gain more insight into a candidate's character, but often, they just fall flat.
And let me tell you, Stephen is hilarious, and so are his questions! He compiled 65 questions that are so off-the-wall, they highlight just how silly things can get when interviewers aren't focused on what truly matters for the job. He wrote this article specifically as a parody of these types of questions.
We're talking about questions like, "Would you rather have a hand made out of toast or a finger that dispenses jam?" or the truly existential "What is the meaning of life?". Some are just bizarrely personal, like "As you lay dying, which celebrity would you want to stroke your hair?". Others feel like they belong in a casual chat amongst friends, not a professional evaluation, such as
"Which animals have you been bitten by?" or "What crimes have you got away with?". Stephen's list even delves into hypothetical superpowers, pop culture preferences like favorite Muppets or members of Girls Aloud, whether you've ever seen a ghost, or what you believe about conspiracy theories.
The intention behind some strange interview questions is often said to be gaining "more insight to the character of a candidate". But frankly, asking if you can play an instrument, juggle, or ride a unicycle is probably not the most effective way to figure out if someone can do the job you need them to do. Similarly, knowing your favorite childhood chocolate bar or your regular order at Nando’s tells an employer absolutely nothing about your problem-solving skills or your ability to collaborate.
While Stephen’s list is meant for laughs, it serves a purpose. It’s a reminder: not all interviews are created equal. Some veer far from assessing capability. The best interviews focus on behavior, scenarios, and relevant experience—not whether you believe the world revolves around you or what you'd do if a serial killer kills another serial killer.
For College Recruiter users, this list is a heads-up. Strange questions happen. Know what’s inappropriate or illegal—many of Stephen’s examples cross that line.
For employers, this parody is a warning. Are your questions helping you hire, or just making things awkward—or worse, litigious? Rethink what you’re asking.
Stephen O’Donnell’s list is satire with teeth. It’s funny, yes. But it also shows how ineffective or inappropriate interview questions derail the hiring process. Let’s do better.
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