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How to answer a quirky question in a job interview
Quirky Interview Questions
Most of us prepare in advance for the usual questions at an interview, which may not be very creative (“Name three of your biggest weaknesses?”). Some crazy questions can take us by surprise, like:
- What flavour of icecream do you see yourself as?
- How many pencils would fit inside this room?
These questions test our presence of mind, creativity, poise and preparedness for the unexpected.
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Key Ideas
Where you see yourself in 5 years
A regular job-interviewing question is where you see yourself in 5 years.
The purpose of this question is to see if you would like to stay at the company for many years. Bringing on new emp...
Too Much Focus on the Future
The "Where do you see yourself in 5 years" question is about the interviewer wanting to see if you can draw a straight line from the future back to the present. A two-part answer works well.
- " I want this particular job..." reinforces your desire for the position.
- In part two, explain your future plans "... because it will help ..."
What Career Path the Company Offers
You should answer the question honestly, but your answer should also reflect the research you put into the company.
Find out what training programs are offered through the firm while holding down your full-time job. Mention your goal to grow your skills, and you'll impress your interviewer with your future-focused desires.
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Key Ideas
What you should not say
- Starting with something personal like family or hobbies, or launching into your life story.
- Sharing the problems with your current job.
- Summarizing your resume, point-by-point....
Craft an elevator pitch
- Spend some time reviewing the job description in the recruitment ad for the position and research the company.
- Prepare a short script that highlights the skills, strengths and expertise you have that make you especially qualified for this particular position.
- Explain the reasons you’re applying for this particular job. Focus on career-related motivations.
Your purpose to the question
Your purpose to the question "tell me about yourself" is to give just enough details of yourself to spark the interest of the interviewer.
Answering this question gives you a great opportunity to spotlight the skills and experience that make you the ideal candidate for the job.
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Key Ideas
“Tell me about yourself”
... is one of the interview questions that most intimidates job seekers and one that most interviewers assume will be easy. It sounds straightforward — but as every job seeker knows, it...
What your interviewer is looking for
"Tell me about yourself" doesn’t mean “give me your complete history from birth until today.” It doesn’t even mean “walk me through your work history.” It means “give me a brief overview of who you are as a professional.”
Interviewers who ask this question are generally looking to get a broad overview of how you see yourself, as a sort of introduction or an icebreaker before starting to dive into the specifics.
"Tell me about yourself" - recommended answer
- Summarize where you are in your career, note anything distinctive about how you approach your work and end with a bit about what you’re looking for next.
- Your answer only needs to be about 1 minute long.
- Don’t drag yourself. This isn’t the time to explain you were fired from your last job or to confess your difficulties finding the right career path.
- Keep your focus professional, not personal.