3 Silly Job Interview Questions and Answers

Posted by in Career Advice •




I have several friends who are looking for jobs and sometimes we like to sit back and share our interview horror stories. Let me tell you, some of these people could tell you stories that would curl your hair, but what makes me laugh the most are the silly interview questions. Of course, I do realize that many of the questions that interviewers ask are standard and the company they work for requires them to ask certain questions, even if they personally think it's silly.



That being said, here are 3 of the silliest job interview questions and answers:

 

  • What's your greatest weakness? - I hate this one. Really, what do you say? Some people think that it's best to answer it by giving one of their strengths. For example, they could say "I'm a workaholic". Which isn't a great answer, even if it were true. In fact, if your strongest weakness is truly that you work to hard, you should make up a better answer because no one is going to believe yours. If you don't want to take that route, then you'll have to make up a weakness because if you answer the question honestly, you're not going to get the job. After all, who is going to say "I like to steal office supplies" or "I can't resist stealing my co-worker's lunch from the fridge." There is a time and place for honesty, and a job interview isn't always it.
  • Where do you see yourself in 5 years? - This question has always baffled me. The truth is that, frankly, I have no idea what I will be doing in 5 years. In fact, when I try to picture myself 5 years from now, I just hope that I'm still alive. So, I'm not sure what the interviewer is expecting my answer to be, but I know that "I'll be working somewhere else.", "Working somewhere" and "I'll probably be retired by then." are all not very good answers. The best way to answer this one is to just say that you plan to continue to expand your skills and grow in your career. It's just vague and non-committal enough to really impress and interviewer.
  • Why should I hire you? - It seems that this questions isn't being asked as often anymore, and I, for one, am eternally grateful. I realize that this is the question that every hiring manager has in their mind, but this question is usually asked in an almost hostile tone of voice. The interviewers used to practice being as condescending as possible in order to "see what the applicant was made of". Now, the questions is just a great way to tell if the boss is a jerk or not.

 

What other interview questions do you hate? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
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  • Melissa Kennedy
    Melissa Kennedy •
    Annie, I hear ya! I hate it when interviewers ask too many questions about my personal life. It's really none of their business.Teddy - Where do you see yourself in 5 years is really a tough question. Just be careful that your answer doesn't sound as though you are open for whatever comes your way. Hiring managers do want to hear some ambition in your answer.Debra - When it's your turn to ask question, be sure to ask if there is any reason why they would be unwilling to hire you. However, when they ask the question, it might not be a good idea to make them have to come up with an answer. Answering a question might sound intriguing and confident in your head, but to others it can come off as lazy and vague.
  • Annie C
    Annie C •
    Aside from work, what do you do in your spare time?I hate this question I've been asked recently and I'd like to answer "none of your business."  I'm here to discuss work not whatever else I might do (that's personal.) Is this question illegal?
  • Teddy F
    Teddy F •
    Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Imply that job satisfaction is more important than job title.  I have responded to this in the past that I do not want to limit myself to any specific job title, but that it is much more important to me to be in a position that best uses my expertise, skills and talents while allowing me to continue to grow and learn and be challenged.  I want  be in a position that when when asked about my company or what I do for employment, I am excited and proud to be able to talk about my job. Shorter answer and a little less cheesy is that I want to be in a position in which I am successful but also challenged and can learn new skills. That way you can imply that you are dedicated and hard working, and demonstrate ambition to progress without sounding like you are looking at the current job or company as a rung on your ladder. It also doesn't box you in to a certain job title or employment level but talks about job satisfaction as more important than job title.
  • Debra E
    Debra E •
    I think when asked: "Why should I hire you?" I think it should be turned around and ask back "Why wouldn't you hire me?"
  • Gwen T
    Gwen T •
    Where do you see yourself in 5years?   It will depend on the needs of the customers and industry changes - I will be a leader in trend changes.
  • Melissa Kennedy
    Melissa Kennedy •
    Thanks for the great comments! These questions are designed to trip you up - that's why being prepared for them is so important.@Laura, I hate that one too. @Kari, you don't have to answer those questions and they shouldn't be asking them. When they do, just say that you would prefer not to answer and try not to make a big deal out of it. However, this is a huge red flag that you probably won't want to work for that company.@Yolanda, thanks! @Mark, you're right, some employers are using the tight job market as a free pass to mistreat employees. Perhaps it's time for a union job - oh that's right, unions are supposed to be a bad thing. @Marte, since it's almost always the first question, why not write something clever and memorize it. Make sure you can say it under stress. That way, you'll start the interview on a good note and not have that "duh" moment at the beginning. It will give you a confidence boost.@SJJ LOL! @Brenda, most interviewers want you to ask questions. I don't think yours was out of line.@Karen, do some research on the company and use that questions to show that you know something about the job. Come up with where you see yourself with the company. Don't worry, it doesn't have to be correct. The main thing is that you show that you've given it some thought. If it's a job you really want, you've probably already daydreamed about what it would be like to work there, so use that to craft your answer.@Bill, what a great story! Not everyone can get away with that type of answer. But, it shows that you have the charm to be a great attorney.@Diana, that's a great answer. If it helps, I'm not a morning person either.@Linda, once I was asked, "If you were a car, what type of car would you be?"  As a woman who isn't up on cars, I didn't want to say, "A red one?".
  • STELLA
    STELLA •
    When i am asked this question: what is your greatest weakness, i respond, i dont have one. I say : 'i make sure i understand my job compleetly and ask questions if i need  to, i am always on time, focused on my work and stay late if i have to'it is not braging it is the truth, that way you spend your time on your positives
  • Laura P
    Laura P •
    Its hard to answer the question where I see myself in five years. I don't know it depends on where I'm working. Its kind of difficult when you don't have your dream job.I'm in my late forties I don't have the same outlook as a 22 year-old.
  • Kari G
    Kari G •
    My pet peeve? When they ask if you're married. 1) It's illegal, and 2) It's really none of their business.  Oh, my other pet peeve? Where my political affiliations lie. Same answers. Plus a 3rd, one I'll probably voice - my political affiliations will have no bearing on my ability to do this job.Just sayin'.
  • Yolanda M
    Yolanda M •
    Very helpful and humorous which is appreciated during job seeking.
  • Mark R.
    Mark R. •
    These are just questions designed to trip you up and leave you stammering and stuttering. The first two have nothing to do with your qualifications to do most jobs. The last one is a way of asking "what do you think you can do to for ME (or this company)? Only worded to make it intimidating to the job seeker. Maybe they're interested in knowing how much they can get away with abusing you once you are dependent on them for a paycheck! Indeed I have seen employers overall decline in respect for worker's individual rights as Americans. Especially when jobs are in short supply, it seems that most employers take that as they're cue to become more abusive and controlling over their employees. These new practices soon become accepted as normal because most people need a job too badly and won't dare object or make waves. Just one more way in which "Of the people, by the people and for the people" has been transformed into "Of the money, by the money and for the money". Is it going to take another revolutionary war in this country's future by the time enough people wake up and stand up for what America's founding fathers envisioned and built for us?
  • James C
    James C •
    no answers to the questions
  • Marte S
    Marte S •
    Tell me about yourself??? That is often the first question in the interview, and no matter how much I practice, I always have that "duh" moment before I answer. And I have spent 20+ years in the Employment and Training field!
  • David C.
    David C. •
    The approach I use for the "Greatest Weakness Question" is to say that "I think through things very thoroughly, and it may take me longer than others to draw the correct conclusion, but usually it is the right one".  This statement might suggest poor time management skills, but what I try and convey is that I don't make hasty decisions, and this "Perceived Weakness" could possibly be viewed as a strength, so in essence, answer the question by stating your "Perceived Weakness" and turn that into a strength.
  • Deb O
    Deb O •
    One silly questions I had was  Why should we not hire you.I only had a second to answer not think, she said before the question.Answer I live in the opposite end of townAnother one is what have you been doing with yourself since you left your last job.I answered looking for a full time job is which is a full time job without getting paid.
  • S.J. J
    S.J. J •
    Greatest weakness?   Kriptonite.Where do I see myself in 5 years?    (1) Still walking around and breathing.  (2)  Tail gunner on a bread truck.Why should I hire you?   Because you need me.
  • Katherine S
    Katherine S •
    I wasn't impressed with this section
  • Carol W
    Carol W •
    I was asked a tough question at my last interview; what should I remember about you.  I wasn't real confident in my answer.  I think I should have said that you were 45 minutes late and I was very patient waiting for you!
  • Nancy M
    Nancy M •
    Good article
  • Anthony P
    Anthony P •
    I have performed several interviews, and these questions are a way to catch someone up, but I do agree that being too honest isn't the right way to go.  Reading up on the company prior to your interview is your best bet to get an insider's view of what they are looking for.
  • Anthony P
    Anthony P •
    I have performed several interviews, and these questions are a way to catch someone up, but I do agree that being too honest isn't the right way to go.  Reading up on the company prior to your interview is your best bet to get an insider's view of what they are looking for.
  • Brenda E
    Brenda E •
    The question I hate is "So tell me about yourself." Really do they want to know you like to go out and shot a gun at defenseless tree stumps. I can never think of anything to say and then when you do get the "60 second commercial" they don't even ask you. How about those 5 person panel interviews.You are already nervous and then you see all these people looking at you and asking stupid questions.   A question I asked the 5 people on the panel at my last interview after they asked why I wanted to work there was "How long have you worked here and do you like your job? This really shocked them. Unfortunately I didn't get the job. I've been out of work for 4 years and even went back to school and still can't find a job. They always say they hired someone with more experience,OMG hire me and I'll get more experience.   
  • Karen K
    Karen K •
    One of the stupid questions I always get is, how will you fit into our organization--gee if I knew this I would be stating it as part of my, "this what I do, and why I want the job--I always answer try to this when I answer tell me about yourself--another stupid question which should be answered as part of how I will fit into your organization.  
  • carmen f
    carmen f •
    very nice....ok now what do you answer? greatest ,strength...omg i hate these questions....
  • Bill H
    Bill H •
    I was asked at an interview for admission to law school: why do you want to become an attorney?  I had thought that was a logical question I might be asked. I decided in advance to say: Do you want to hear the answer I made up, or do you want to hear the real reason?"  The head of the panel chuckled and asked which was more interesting?  I said that the made up one was routine and what they probably heard from every candidate they interviewed so I will skip thaT and just tell you that I have not got the slightest idea.  I have never met a lawyer before meeting you, but so far I am impressed.   I was admitted, literally on the spot with the comment that I gave the best interview of all the candidates  I retired after thirty seven years in practice.

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