Tips for Handling Curveball Interview Questions

Tips for Handling Curveball Interview QuestionsTips for Handling Curveball Interview Questions4Perhaps youre a pro at answering all the typical bewerbungsbewerbungsinterview questions. You can list your strengths and weaknesses with ease, and you know to never talk down about a previous boss.But youre in an interview thats wrapping up and youre suddenly asked, So, if you were a salad, what kind of dressing would you have? If your internal thought is something like,Um, what?youre probably not alone.Curveballinterview questions are often used by hiring managers to assess how candidates respond when caught off guard and to see a different side of their personality. While theres no right or wrong answer to curveball interview questions, there are ways you can prepare yourself to answer in the best way possible.Tips for Handling Curveball Interview QuestionsStay calm, and reveal your thought process.One of the reasons hiring managers askstrange interviewquestionsis to throw you off your g ame a bitto see how you perform under pressure, and get a better sense of your thought process. So, no matter how nervous the question makes you, or how surprised you are to hear it, try your best to keep your cool.Youll also want to think out loud. This will show the hiring manager your process- and also prove that theres some real thought behind your response.For instance, if they ask, If you were a tree, what type of tree would you be? dont just say, A palm tree Instead, explain how you got to that answer. Well, I consider myself to be fairly tough and flexible- and Im always growing, especially in my career. So, Id say Im most like a palm tree.Dont take them at surface level.Realize that theres always a reason behind asking a curveball interview question on the part of the interviewer.For example, if youre asked, What kind of superhero would you be? they dont actually want to know that information just for fun. Theyre likely trying to assess how well youd fit on the team, and if youre more of a leader or a follower. Assess what information the interviewer is trying to glean from asking you these types of questions and youll keep yourself in the running.Take time to answer.Its OKtotake a moment and think about your answer. Hiring managers know that theyre throwing you a curveball question, and they wont expect you to have the perfect answer off the bat. As mentioned in the previous tip, determine what the interviewer is really trying to get at, and take a few seconds to think over your answer. Saying something like, Thats a fun question Let me think about it for a minute, will buy you some time.Show your personality.What type of kitchen utensil would you be and why?Whats the belastung thing you watched on TV?What advice would you give your boss?If youre thrown a curveballinterview question, its OK to let your personality shine Smile and even make a joke if its appropriate. While interviewers want to see how you answer the question, they also want to see you r personality and how you handle an odd question off the cuff. If youre totally thrown off by a question, itll probably show through, and they might infer that you cant go with the flow or deal with unexpected issues in the workplace. Relax and answerin a way that will show you are an ideal candidate.Ask to answer later.While this probably isnt the most ideal option, if youre truly drawing a blank, ask to come back to the question later. You could say something like I want to think a little more about this onecan we circle back to it later? This can buy you some time to be mentally preparing an answer. To keep you from getting stuck, remember to not think too hard about it. Come up with a positive answer that shines a light on part of your personality or your work ethic.Practice.The best way to answer curveball interview questions with ease is to practice. A quick Internet search will find you plenty ofsample questions. Try answering a few to get you into the right headspace. You ca n even find sample answers if youre stuck on the best way to answer. Practice on your own, or even with a friend to get some feedback. While theres no way to know if youll even be asked any crazy questions at all, practicing willproperly prepare you to answer any questions that come your wayCheck out morejob interviewing tips.