Interviewing is Like a Box of Chocolates

I always coach my clients to expect the unexpected. As Forrest Gump would say, “Interviewing is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.” Will the interviewer be experienced and trained, or straight out of school? Do they know how to conduct an effective and lawful interview? (Many do not!) I’ve heard Hiring Managers ask questions ranging from “Where did you get your curly hair from?” to “Please explain if you’d rather be the Turtle or the Hare in a competitive race.”

While it would be nice to think there is always a point to an off-beat question, keep in mind that there might not be. Regardless, just go with the flow and don’t get flustered. As indicated in this article, Why You’re Getting Weird Questions at Job Interviews by The Street’s Brian O’Connell, off-beat questions may simply be a way to see how you field that “curveball.”