Your Weirdest Interview Question.

[BuckBackHome]

My first real job after college.

"What is the 13th letter of the alphabet?"

After the interview the interviewer explained why she asked the question. It was to see more of how someone reacted than if they knew the answer. Would they know, just guess, take a minute to figure it out, or something else.

I knew it immediately and I think it threw her for a loop. I did get the job.

M

 

[Deety]

The interviewer talked about how Thomas Jefferson wanted his greatest accomplishments listed on his gravestone - writing the Declaration of Independence, authoring the VA Statute of Religious Freedom, founding the University of Virginia, and graduating from The College of William and Mary. (Ok, I added that last one, but it definitely should have been included.) She then asked what I wanted on my tombstone. I said pepperoni.

Ok, not really. I said I wouldn't want to tell people how to remember me... I'd rather die knowing that I'd lived my life well enough that I could rest assured that whatever others chose to write there would please me. That went over pretty well. I still think that's a great question, and I'm still not sure what I'd say if I actually had to make a list.

 

[BIATCHabutuka]

never had anyone ask me really anything odd in an interview. i have asked some odd ones myself though.

i almost always ask what your favorite college football team is. i really don't care what they answer (unless it is michigan then they can get the fuck out of my plant) but i like to notice if they pick up on the obvious buckeye passion of mine from the office. if they do pick up on the buckeyes, i then question them some about specifics to see if they are just telling me what i want to hear or not.

nothing really odd like the thirteenth letter of the alphabet, but definitely not relevant.

 

[BuckBackHome]

never had anyone ask me really anything odd in an interview. i have asked some odd ones myself though.

The odd one I ask every once in a while is for someone to tell a joke. I actually had someone tell an off-color one once. Usually people cannot think of anything.

 

[BIATCHabutuka]

i like the joke question.

 

[rocketman]

never had anyone ask me really anything odd in an interview. i have asked some odd ones myself though.

i almost always ask what your favorite college football team is. i really don't care what they answer (unless it is michigan then they can get the fuck out of my plant) but i like to notice if they pick up on the obvious buckeye passion of mine from the office. if they do pick up on the buckeyes, i then question them some about specifics to see if they are just telling me what i want to hear or not.

nothing really odd like the thirteenth letter of the alphabet, but definitely not relevant.

I am almost positive I got a job just because I went to OSU. The manager asked what school I was going to, I said Ohio State, and his eyes lit up. I then noticed that the picture of him and his wife on his desk was indeed taken at the '03 Fiesta Bowl. Then we started talking about football...

 

[tsteele316]

I am almost positive I got a job just because I went to OSU. The manager asked what school I was going to, I said Ohio State, and his eyes lit up. I then noticed that the picture of him and his wife on his desk was indeed taken at the '03 Fiesta Bowl. Then we started talking about football...

when i got hired for my job 2 years ago, in the interview theynoticed i graduated from osu. they asked me if i was an osu football nut. i said yes, not even bothering to try and downplay it. the next question was "So, were you lighting stuff on fire, or just jumping over it?" Since it came on the heels of the 02 riots.

They then told me they had a conference room called the wolverine room (isnt that sacreligious in columbus?) and they asked me if I found that offensive. I asked if it was the place they take people to tell them they're fired. One of the guys interviewing me who was also a big osu fan quipped up with the immediate response of "That is probably what we should use it for, since nothing embodies failure better than a wolverine."

I was hired shortly thereafter.

 

[scooter1369]

You can never downplay the value of of the alumni network.

 

[sears3820]

I once got asked, "If you were a Simpsons character, who would you be and why?"

 

[ScarletBlood31]

I once got asked, "If you were a Simpsons character, who would you be and why?"

wow, i couldn't imagine how you could answer that and still have yourself be taken seriously.

 

[tibor75]

wow, i couldn't imagine how you could answer that and still have yourself be taken seriously.

Dr. Hibbert would be a fine role model. heh heh heh heh heh.

 

[Thump]

Dr. Hibbert would be a fine role model. heh heh heh heh heh.

I knew that one was coming.

 

[buckeyegrad]

I once got asked, "If you were a Simpsons character, who would you be and why?"

I wonder what the reaction would be if you said Ralph Wiggum because you want to be caterpillar when you grow up?


I have never had any off-the-wall questions. Probably the most interesting one was "With what three people, who are now dead, would you want to have dinner?" They must not have been impressed by my answer (JRRT Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams) because I did not get the job.

 

[Thump]

They must not have been impressed by my answer (JRRT Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams) because I did not get the job.

Maybe they didn't want to hire a science fiction nerd.

I'm surprised you didn't say Darth Vader, Hans Solo, and Yoda.

 

[AKAK]

Here's one I just had last week-- well-- the week before--

"What 5 conditions must be satisfied for you to experience Joy in the workplace"


Ummmm...

How about, 1. Not having to work.... and 2. Not having to work for someone who would ask a fucked up asslicker question like that because they actually have to find out if you'll take the chump change they're going to offer. And, As it turned out 3. to make 15K more a year than you cheap asses offered.... I think 4 & 5 became irrelevant in a hurry.