Sample Interview Question" If you were a piece of fruit in a fruit bowl, which piece of fruit would you be?" Notes and Advice from John:This question, and others like it, are just plain silly, but interviewers will ask these questions nonetheless. It’s therefore important to have a strategy for these questions.I call these questions silly because the answers have little or nothing to do with how you might perform in a culture or on the job. They are silly because the interviewer has some pet psychological theory about what a red apple might represent. Whatever you do, don’t choose the banana! Just kidding… choose the banana if you want. These kinds of questions are excessively silly because they don’t give the interviewer any reliable information on how you might perform on the job. They are unfair and rely completely on a manager’s personal bias, rather than objective information, to make an important hiring decision. As a professional interview skills trainer, I have encountered and confronted several pet theory methods of interviewing, and they are all, in my opinion, useless as a good selection tool. That said, interviewers will still ask these questions. Even though they are unfair and SILLY, you should still know how to handle them. Other Silly Questions:"What is your astrological sign?"The interviewer puts credence in the zodiac and nothing but a Scorpio with Virgo Rising will do. Either that, or he has some notion of how you, a Capricorn, will behave in a given situation. Instead of asking about the situation directly, he relies on a weak pet theory. "If you were a car, what kind of car would you be? Or the related What kind of car do you drive?" The interviewer here thinks that associating, for some reason, with a certain kind of car will tell him something about your job performance. Honda drivers are reliable. Give me a break! This has no real bearing on how you might handle the job responsibility. To judge you based on what kind of car you drive is SILLY. Why not ask directly about your reliability history? "If you could be any animal, which would you be and why?" Same as above… Silly, silly, silly. More silliness reported from a colleague of mine: If you were stranded on a desert island with only one thing to eat, what would you want an endless supply of, and why? Handling the Silly Question:Unfortunately, there is no easy way to get through these questions. Since they've been asked, they must be answered, and you should try to answer with a straight face.Most interviewers who cling to these theories are very entrenched. Some have been asking the same question for years. They take the question very seriously, and so should you. The best approach is to thoughtfully, respectfully, and honestly answer. Don't make fun of the question or laugh. You may insult the interviewer. Many candidates will do exactly that, so if you can be mature and self-controlled in the face of these questions, you will separate yourself from the crowd. It might help to consider the company culture and the individual interviewing you before answering the question. If the culture is conservative and uptight, pick an apple. If the culture is avant-garde, youthful, and progressive, you’re a Kiwi. Additionally, try to use this question as an opportunity to sell yourself once again. See my Sample Answer below for an example of turning this question into an opportunity to showcase something special about you. I’m sorry I can’t offer better advice on this one. You have some minor influence here, but since interpretation of your answer depends upon a personal and (likely) hidden bias in the interviewer, you end up with a bit of a crap-shoot. Sample Answer:"I guess if I had to choose, I would be an orange, because I’m pretty easy to get along with. I have no rough edges, and I have a pretty thick skin."I know. This is utter SILLINESS. But it does give you a chance to highlight some of your more desirable qualities. Try to offer a culturally appropriate choice, and then use the opportunity to sell yourself as best you can. That’s the most you can hope for with these questions. Additional Resources:More sample interview questions than you can imagine are in the Interview Questions and Answers Database . This resource is affordable for almost anyone and is highly recommended.
Vault's Guide to the Case Interview.
Vault's Professional Interview Prep Program.
Personal Interview Coaching from John Gates, Founder of Free-Resume-Help.com: $129 per hour. E-mail me for a requested time slot. My colleagues and I do this on evenings and weekends, typically, since we are full-time Corporate Recruiters.
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