10 Weird Interview Questions: [With Sample Answers]

Are you worried about facing some weird interview questions?

You’re not alone in that.

Many employers ask strange questions to try and figure out more about you, and how you respond can significantly affect your chances of getting hired.

Fortunately, answering these questions isn’t hard as long as you understand the questions and how to answer them.

Here’s everything you should know about weird interview questions.

10 Common Weird Interview Questions

• What would you want on a deserted island?
• How many pizzas are ordered every night?
• How would you describe a musical to someone who’s deaf?
• Do you think zombies should be fast or slow?
• You have a three-gallon bucket and a five-gallon bucket. How do you measure out four gallons?
• Why are manhole covers round?
• If you had an unlimited budget, what innovation would you pursue in our industry?
• What country do you want to visit most, and why?
• How do I rate myself as an interviewer?
• What is the color of the money?

What Should I Say in a Weird Interview?

Completely weird interviews are rare. More likely, interviewers will sprinkle these into a few early interviews to evaluate you.

The best responses for odd interviews will display your reasoning skill or an admission that you don’t know a fact but know how to find out.

In other words, weird questions are about how you think, not your knowledge.

Questions interviewers ask can vary, but if a question seems like it’s coming from nowhere or doesn’t make any sense, it’s probably a weird interview question.

Finally, remember that a weird interview is not the same thing as a suspicious interview.

If an employer inquires about details they genuinely don’t need to know, that’s a red flag for scams. Weird questions are strange, but not suspicious.

What Skills Are Interviewers Who Ask Weird Questions Looking For in a Candidate?

• Critical Thinking: This is the primary thing that interviewers are looking for when they ask weird questions. They want to find candidates with good reasoning skills and the ability to find solutions when facing strange or unexpected situations. Almost any answer can work if it displays critical thinking skills.
• Self-Awareness: Most applicants haven’t memorized huge amounts of specific trivia questions. Interviewers often use weird interview questions to try and figure out how candidates behave when they don’t know the answer to something and are in a time crunch to respond.
• Flexibility: Many interviewers like to see flexibility and your ability to turn any question into a discussion of your strengths. This trait demonstrates an ability to focus on the topic while dealing with unexpected situations.
• Creativity: Many employers like applicants who are creative and capable of thinking outside the box when necessary. Many weird questions have no correct answer, so how you solve them matters more than what you say.
• Responsiveness: Interviewers usually like candidates who can respond quickly when confronting unexpected situations, rather than people who take too long to figure out an answer.

What Traits Are Interviewers Who Ask Weird Questions Looking to Avoid in a Candidate?

• Selfishness: Interviewers want to weed out candidates who are too selfish or self-absorbed when answering questions. You may not care about the answer to a weird question, but the employer cares.
• Passiveness: It’s okay to not have the answer. It’s less acceptable to have no idea how you’d go about answering. If you only say that you don’t know and leave it at that, an interviewer will probably write you off then and there.
• Weird Answers: The questions may be weird, but the answers shouldn’t be. If the answer makes no sense or sounds like it’s making fun of the interviewer, you’re not going to get very far.

Sample Weird Interview Questions and Answers

Here are some common weird questions to help you prepare for facing them in an interview.

“What would you want on a deserted island?”

Why This Question is Asked

Interviewers use this question as a test of your creativity and priorities.

In many cases, good answers will tie into the company culture somehow.

Companies often have variations on this question, such as specifying that you have all the food and water you need.

What to Focus On When Answering This Question

Focus on using your answer for problem-solving.

An intelligent choice here can demonstrate that you’re thinking about the big picture and focusing on things that will help.

You don’t need to answer with anything too bizarre, so simple is usually better.

What To Avoid When Answering This Question

Avoid answers that are too self-indulgent.

If you sound like you’re focusing entirely on yourself instead of ways to solve problems, that could make an interviewer doubt your priorities.

Example Answer

Assuming my immediate needs of food, water, and shelter are fine, I’d like to have a waterproof satellite phone and a solar charger so I can have someone come pick me up.

A boat would be nice, but I think it’s important to know when to let someone with experience handle things, and an emergency rescue is a time to trust a professional.

“How many pizzas are ordered every night?”

Why This Question is Asked

Most applicants won’t know the answer off the top of their heads.

Interviewers ask this question to figure out how good you are at recognizing the limits of your knowledge and how you solve problems.

The factual answer is irrelevant.

What to Focus On When Answering This Question

Emphasize your problem-solving process and your reasoning.

You can give a step-by-step look at how you’d solve the issue here, adding in any trivia or knowledge you have that’s relevant to the question.

What To Avoid When Answering This Question

Don’t say you have no idea and leave it at that.

The interviewer is almost entirely certain you don’t know, and they’re not expecting you to tell them something they’re already aware of.

Example Answer

I think that depends on the night because I know that pizza sales are highest on Friday and above average on Saturday as well.

If I needed to know the exact number, I’d check a few resources online, starting with industry sales reports that I can trust to be more accurate.

“How would you describe a musical to someone who’s deaf?”

Why This Question is Asked

This is a question about creativity and how you deal with difficult situations.

It’s also a marketing question because it’s essentially asking how you would promote something to someone with no previous interest or experience in it.

The goal is to make the musical value to the other person.

What to Focus On When Answering This Question

Focus on the promotional aspects and help someone understand something they know nothing about.

The better you can sell the idea, the happier the interviewer will be.

Alternatively, you can focus on a sales process and how you’d reach the answer.

What To Avoid When Answering This Question

Don’t give a response that shows no awareness of the deaf person’s situation or preferences.

If you don’t take into account the needs of your target audience, then interviewers will think you’re not a good fit for a role where awareness of others is paramount.

Example Answer

Well, first, I’d like to determine how deaf they are.

There’s a big difference between someone who can’t hear at all and someone who has hearing loss, and that affects my approach.

If they’re not, I’d ask them to try tasting something while pinching their nose shut, then letting go of their nose.

The smell is an essential aspect of flavor, and you can try it yourself with that donut.

With this experience, I’d explain to them that music is a fundamental aspect of the musical that harmonizes with the visuals of watching, and one without the other just isn’t the same.

“Do you think zombies should be fast or slow?”

Why This Question is Asked

This question is about your priorities and what you focus on.

There isn’t usually a correct answer here unless you’re applying to work for a filmmaker that’s highly opinionated on the subject.

Instead, the interviewer wants to know why you’re picking that answer and what it says about you.

What to Focus On When Answering This Question

Try to tie your answer to the company’s stated values.

Almost any explanation will work as long as you can give an answer that sounds convincing and relates to the company’s needs.

What To Avoid When Answering This Question

Try to avoid being too selfish or focusing on your survival.

The interviewer is trying to see how well you can fit in with the company culture, and if you don’t seem like you care about the company, then you’re not going to impress them much.

Example Answer

I think fast zombies are better.

Slow zombies can make people more complacent about dealing with them, but fast zombies can galvanize people to action.

Zombies are a problem we’d need to deal with either way, but if we go all-in on it, we can probably minimize the damage and come out of it better.

“You have a three-gallon bucket and a five-gallon bucket. How do you measure out four gallons?”

Why This Question is Asked

This question is mainly about your reasoning and how you solve problems with limited resources.

Most companies won’t provide everything you wish they would, so knowing how to use what you have to get an answer is important.

What to Focus On When Answering This Question

Explain your reasoning process. The interviewer wants to know how you use tools, and a clear explanation goes over best here.

What To Avoid When Answering This Question

Don’t bring in tools or answers from outside the context of the question unless you know the company likes that.

They’re asking what you can do with the tools you have, not how you can get things elsewhere.

Example Answer

Fill the smaller bucket to the top, then pour that into the larger bucket.

Refill the small bucket, then use that to fill the large bucket to the top. There’s one gallon left in the small bucket.

Empty the large bucket, add that one gallon to the large one, then refill the small bucket with three more gallons and pour it into the large one

That’s four gallons.

“Why are manhole covers round?”

Why This Question is Asked

Interviewers use this question to figure out how much attention you pay to why things are the way they are

Even if you don’t understand the reason for something, it’s good to know that companies usually have a reason for their processes, and not caring about that reason can lead to problems.

What to Focus On When Answering This Question

The factual answer is best if you know it, but the key thing to focus on is the reasoning behind the decision

As long as you can demonstrate an awareness of that reasoning and an ability to look behind the obvious answer, your answer will be good.

What To Avoid When Answering This Question

Avoid any indication that you don’t care about the answer. You don’t have to care about something to understand that it has a reason to exist.

Example Answer

Manhole covers are round because a round shape prevents the cover from accidentally falling through the hole it is meant to cover

A square or rectangular cover could be turned diagonally and fall through the opening, whereas a round cover can rotate in place and stay put.

“If you had an unlimited budget, what innovation would you pursue in our industry?”

Why This Question is Asked

Interviewers often want to know what you prioritize and how you prefer to allocate resources

This is an open-ended question, but the best responses will always tie into the company’s specific goals and preferences.

What to Focus On When Answering This Question

Try to match the company’s public goals and efforts

Alternatively, you can suggest a solution for a known problem in the industry≥ It doesn’t have to be the biggest or most obvious problem if you provide a good reason for your answer.

What To Avoid When Answering This Question

Avoid sounding like you’re being frivolous or unrealistic

Things like ending world hunger are nice, but they’re not innovations within the industry. Keep your focus on the question as they present it.

Example Answer

I’d like to create a return and recycling program

I know that some of the things the company puts into its products are relatively rare and valuable, and creating a circular economy for them means we can have more consistent access to them.

“What country do you want to visit most, and why?”

Why This Question is Asked

Companies can ask this for several reasons

Some businesses have employees who travel for work a lot, so they want to know if you’re interested in the places they need people to go

Other interviewers want to know what types of experiences matter to you, and they’ll use destination choices as a way to evaluate that.

What to Focus On When Answering This Question

Keep your answer focused on things that benefit your employer. Responses focusing on work imply that you prioritize your job, and they like hearing that.

What To Avoid When Answering This Question

Don’t focus entirely on yourself unless you’re confident the interviewer is trying to learn more about you.

Example Answer

I’d like to travel to South Korea sometime

They have a lot of electronics manufacturing there, and I know the company has been relying more on that later

We may go on many business trips there, and I think it’s good to have a little experience in another country before going there to work.

“How do I rate as an interviewer?”

Why This Question is Asked

Interviewers use this question to evaluate how much of a suck-up you are. It’s a sneaky application of interviewing techniques but keep your cool.

What to Focus On When Answering This Question

Try to figure out what type of answer they’re looking for, but also consider your respective positions and experience

A recent graduate applying for their first job should answer differently than a CEO.

What To Avoid When Answering This Question

Try to avoid being a suck-up to the interviewer unless they’re looking for that

Being honest and offering a good balance of positivity and constructive criticism usually works out better.

Example Answer

I think you picked some great questions. I tried to predict everything you’d ask about, but you caught me off-guard with some of your questions

That said, I think you could improve your process a little if you spaced out the unusual questions more. They’re most effective when people don’t see them coming, and you’ll probably get better answers that way.

“What is the color of money?”

Why This Question is Asked

Interviewers use this question to see if you have a focus on the big picture.

What to Focus On When Answering This Question

The goal here is to demonstrate that you can see beyond the things that affect your life

If you have a broader awareness, you’re probably a better fit for a forward-thinking company.

What To Avoid When Answering This Question

Do not say green.

Example Answer

That depends on the country. Money designs differ around the world, and with the advent of digital transactions, I’m not even sure we can say it has a color anymore.

Other Questions You Could Be Asked

Here are some other common questions that interviewers may ask to try and understand you better.

• What Do You Like to Do For Fun?: Interviewers use this to evaluate the cost and focus you give to things outside of work, with a preference for having some fun but not in a way that disrupts your job.
• What Are Your Hobbies?: This is similar to the previous question, but with an added opportunity to tie your hobbies to work and self-improvement.
• If You Were an Animal What Would You Be?: Most interviewers don’t care about the answer, but do want to hear your reasoning because that will tell them which traits you value most.
• What is Your Pet Peeves?: This is usually a cultural question that interviewers use to help figure out if you’re likely to fit in at the company.
• Critical Thinking Interview Questions: Interviewers have a wide range of critical thinking questions, and while knowing the answer helps, understanding the reasoning behind them is how you get a good answer.

Additional Tips for Weird Interviews

Here are some quick tips to help you prepare for a weird interview.

How Do You Prepare for a Weird Interview?

You don’t need to do anything special to prepare for a weird interview. Most employers just work these questions into their regular interviews.

That said, you should be familiar with these types of questions so you know how to answer them.

What Should You Wear to a Weird Interview?

A regular interview outfit is best

Most of the time, employers don’t mention that an interview will have a lot of weird questions, so dressing unusually will only make them question your judgment.

How Should You Introduce Yourself In a Weird Interview?

Introduce yourself normally. Trying to be quirky isn’t a good idea for most employers.

What Questions Should You Ask at the End of a Weird Interview?

Here are some questions you can ask the company after an interview with a lot of weird questions.

“Since you brought up zombies earlier, does the company have a zombie contingency plan?”

This question is actually about whether the company has the plan to deal with unexpected situations.

How an interviewer responds can give you some insight into how safely they operate.

“What skills do you think are most important for this job?”

Asking about relevant skills keeps the focus squarely on your role and gets them thinking about whether you’ve demonstrated those skills.

“What’s the best answer you’ve heard to that deserted island question?”

Asking about the interviewer’s favorite answers gives you some insight into what they value.

You can use this as an opportunity to compare and contrast your reasoning.

If they say it was yours, ask about their favorite from somebody else.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some other questions people have about weird interviews.

Wrapping Up

Weird interview questions may seem like curveballs, but they usually have a purpose in the interview.

Now that you know the types of weird questions interviewers ask, you’re in a much better position to answer them.