It’s better though to ask the kinds of dumb questions the people you’re dealing with might ask. I do IT, and that’s usually what interviewers are very interested in, how we deal with our “customers”, as in the employees who want us to implement solutions for them. And they can get pretty fanciful and ask questions that are hard to answer because they are so far away from relevant. But that’s something we’re supposed to do as part of the job. No user or customer is going to ask us what kind of tree we’d be. So I felt pretty comfortable shooting that question down. The other reason I did it is because if I get to thinking out loud I can get a bit too creative and say something really out there. I don’t normally like interviewers to see my zany thought process live. I arrive at the right place in the end when it comes to problem solving and I have nothing but good references, so worrying about the unrelated contents of my odd little mind is something I’d prefer interviewers not do. And if they are that determined to find out, then I’m not the person for the job and they aren’t the company for me. It’s an employee’s market where I am, so I’ll just go elsewhere.
All boils down to circumstances then. See, I’d probably like your zany answer, assuming I asked the tree question which does seem really pretty silly and has no sensible answer. But I like interviews that end up like having a talk over a few drinks. I have had a lot of applicants tell me that I conduct the most comfortable interviews that they have ever done. And a lot of that is because I want to know what you are like and what you have to offer that isn’t just the BS on a resume or CV. Everyone sounds the same at that level, they are all applying for job B because they have worked their way through college A or job A.
And I can hardly be critical of zany thought processes. Someone asked me recently where I come up with some of the stuff I like to think and talk about. I explained it’s all just out there, I live alone, don’t watch TV, read a lot, and what they hear is only a small percentage of what’s going on in my head.
Oh yeah, those are the best interviews, where it’s more like a conversation. But she was new at this and rather than introductions she went right into the weird question, which for me was a clear sign that she was fumbling. I anticipated that she didn’t really care about the question so my answer was appropriate given the circumstances. I’m a very awkward person in social situations but one thing I am good at is reading people. I wouldn’t have done that if it was someone who actually wanted to know the answer. And it wasn’t actually the “tree” question, just something similar which I’ve forgotten since it was like 15 years ago.
Every interview is unique. I’ve had interviews where I was never asked a question. They were more like sales jobs, where the employer was telling me all about the job and the company and the only question was, “Are you interested?” Love those. I keep hearing about these long interview processes with multiple interviews but thankfully I haven’t had to deal with that. Maybe it’s just that abundance of jobs in my field in my area. I’ve interviewed at places where they tipped their hand right away and said I was the only person being considered. It’s not that I’m mega talented or advanced or anything, it’s just that there aren’t many people applying for the jobs I do I guess.
- How many tennis balls are used during the course of Wimbledon?
No idea.
- Estimate the total number of cars in the UK.
50 Million
- How many calories in a grocery store?
Can I answer in BTU?
- How would you sell a fridge to an Eskimo?
Hey Eskimo, Wanna buy a fridge?
- What would you take with you to a lonely island and why?
Yacht, so I could leave when I want to.
- Is Batman a superhero?
Yes
- You have 17 red and 17 blue balls, and you remove two at a time. If the two are the same colour, add in one extra blue ball. If they are different colours, add in one extra red ball. What colour is the final ball removed?
Red
- What cartoon character would you be and why?
Batman, who wouldn’t
- What is the wildest thing that you have ever done?
I think her name was Judy.
- What was your opinion of the film Blair Witch Project?
Never saw it. Thought the concept was stupid.
Honestly I probably wouldn’t attempt to answer any of these questions in an interview. If the interviewer is asking this kind of question it means they have no idea what they are doing and I probably don’t want to work for them.