How to answer really off-the-wall job interview questions?

[Rick Lee]

Reading the glassdoor.com interview reviews of a place where I'll have a second interview next week, it looks like they ask a battery of physics and logic questions that have nothing to do with the sales job for which I'm applying. It looks like they always ask the same questions, so, of course, I Google'd the answers. One of them is something to effect of "Why is the sky blue?" Another is "What can can be said of an object sliding down another object's 45 deg. angle?" Another is "What is your break even point if you roll a die that costs you $1 per roll and pays out whatever you roll?"

I can figure this stuff out with a pencil and paper and a few min. of thinking, if that's the kind of answer they want. I'm not sure if they want to see my thought process, if I just already know the answers or if I came prepared for those questions by doing my homework on glassdoor.com.

How should I answer?

[stomachmonkey]

"Why is the sky blue?"

What are you? 5? You should have paid attention in kindergarden. Next question.

[911SauCy]

Asking a potential sales person questions like this, simple way to test your logic and speed to logical responses.

[Mo_Gearhead]

The sky isn't always blue.

An object sliding down another, at a 45 degree angle, may move only a short distance - or may slide for infinity, depending on the coefficient of friction of the two objects.

Rolling a standard die (with 1 - 6 dots) ALWAYS pays you back even (assuming you get a 1) and any 2 through 6 rolls pays even better!

The questions will probably be verbal and tend to see how quickly you can think on your feet.

[Rick Lee]

I know the answers. My question is how to answer the questions? Immediately reply with a rant on blue having a shorter wavelength, scattering better in sunlight and human retina cones? Or try to reason it out loud and not look like I was waiting for the question and had Google'd it in advance.

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I know the answers. My question is how to answer the questions? Immediately reply with a rant on blue having a shorter wavelength, scattering better in sunlight and human retina cones? Or try to reason it out loud and not look like I was waiting for the question and had Google'd it in advance.

You answer it, how you want, without over thinking.

Which will serve as the personality measure they're looking for. If you answer how they want, you're the right guy. If not, perhaps you're not the right fit?

I've done this myself in interviews by speaking to what I thought people wanted to hear...it does nobody any favors.

Be yourself

[pavulon]

I feel much, much better about a genuine "I don't know" than a bunch of BS. Nobody benefits when BS starts to roll. Let's not encourage it.

[pitargue]

Your very own "Kobayashi Maru". Enjoy!

[GWN7]

At night time it's not blue.

[MRM]

These are called provocative questions. The reasoning is that they don't care so much what answer you give but they are watching how you respond to the question. The key is to appear mostly unflappable and demonstrate the ability to give short, logical responses to seemingly off-the-wall questions. Pause briefly after each question to compose your response and give the impression of gravitas. Then give a high level summary response. Just don't ramble and don't give inappropriate responses. Treat the wacky questions as though they are no different than "Tell me about your best experience obtaining a sale by adding value to the customer" and you'll do fine.

[VincentVega]

That's good advice.

I stumbled on 'what animal would you be?' or something like that. WTF? But MRM is right, treat it as any legit question to get to know you and how you think/respond.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by 911SauCy

...Be yourself...

That does not always work.

I'd been courted by Nokia for a couple of months.

Finally gave in and went to meet with them.

Everything went great right up until they gave me the psych eval.

It was subtle, they tried to work it into the conversation but I picked up on it right away.

One of the questions was something like 'how do you handle stress in the workplace" I answered honestly, "I have a cape in my office, I put it on and do a lap of the building with my arms out while making engine sounds with my mouth" or "I have a very distinctive voice, I pick up a phone somewhere in the building and page myself to my extension then walk around and watch people try to figure it out"

As I was leaving pretty sure the security guy had been told to shadow me and make sure I got off the property.

[wildthing]

I've been on both ends of an interview and have never been asked, and have never asked off-the-wall questions like this. If they are really trying to find out about logical reasoning, good for them. But if they're just trying to be cute, I don't think I'd have time for that sort of company anyway.

I'd stick with "Tell me about the most difficult but successful sale, and talk about the things you did to push it through."

Then again I interview more for tech and sales ops positions, not sales, so off-the-wall questions may be the norm for sales.

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by 911SauCy

Asking a potential sales person questions like this, simple way to test your logic and speed to logical responses.

Counterpoint: Asking stupid questions that a manager found on Google is a way he or she gets their jollies off making job candidates squirm.

If I were asked that type of question, if I didn't already know the answer (because my mind is full of useless trivia), I would respond with, "If you give me a second, I can search google like you did and find the correct answer. However, I would much rather focus on a discussion on subjects that are more directly related to my job description and how I am the best candidate for that position." Of course that snarky response wouldl likely be the end of the interview, but I hate those types of logic questions that have really nothing to do with the actual job.

Ok - maybe my answer would be less confrontational, but I would try to redirect the interview back onto the job requirements and how I would be a perfect fit for the job. It is never bad to say "I don't know that answer," especially if it does not directly pertain to the skills that are required for the job. With those stupid logic questions, it also may be worth the effort to talk out loud and walk through your logic, but unless the interviewer is equipped with the knowledge on how to interpret your answer, it's back to my original premise: they just want to get their jollies off by making you squirm.

That said, the best math/logic problem I heard was this:
Question: "Frank has 10 donuts. He gives 2 donuts to Christine. What does Frank have?
Answer: Diabetes.

-Z-man.

[id10t]

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

How should I answer?

Depends on the company, the connection with the interviewer and you and the general sense of how things are going; then how much I am willing to put up with.

I speak at a lot of conferences, have briefed goofy stuff at high levels: I never go in with a canned patter. I don't imagine you do either. You have done your homework, now it is about the personal vibe during the interview.

Read the room, sense and respond.

BTW, I have hired a few hundred people in my various careers. I always ask them about their parents, then who was their favorite teacher and why. Never fails.

[John Rogers]

I went to a senior database administrator interview years ago after the phone interview where I knew the lady was reading me questions from some sort of list. The fellow who was her boss started reading the same questions from the same list and I caught him at it and stopped him. I asked him to ask me about real troubles they were having (plenty), what would I actually do and we talked for nearly two hours and I got the job.

[asphaltgambler]

My experience with this in panel interview questions; which is a lot over the last 3 years. Questions like the above I ask them qualifiers because it is important to correctly answer their questions. Also it buys you important time to think and find your answer.

Example: Q - Do you consider yourself.....lucky? Me- Depends on what kind of luck we are discussing; Personal or professional ? Further - 1) 'Luck' that you have influenced / controlled 2) Luck where you have no influence or control?

Technical: Q - Tell me the difference between a series circuit and parallel? Me - What voltage type A/C or D/C?


I find that asking the panel to narrow the question, even if my request seems 'obvious' that it really 'throws' the stress back to them. I've had a few interviewers really 'squirm' and go "uh..........well...........................um..... ...hmmm" If there is too much of this within 10-15 seconds I will let them off of the hook and give 2 possible answers based on what I think

[scottmandue]

I would go with...
"Why is the sky mother****ing blue? Are you mother****res serious? Because the mother****er in charge made it that way!"
But I'm a state worker and it may be different for you.

[rwest]

Here's what I would do. On the first couple, I would politely state that I wasn't positive on my answer, but I think it's...., but I'm not 100 percent. On the third question, I would say "oh, I get this, very interesting, you would like to know how I would answer a question from a client or a potentional client when I might not know the answer, well, here's how I handle situations like that..." Then you get to impress them with your sales skills.

Good luck,
Rutager