Workplace

What’s the latest trend on the job hunt front? Off-the-wall interview questions, like, “If you were a brick in a wall, which brick would you be and why?” Or “How many hair salons are there in Japan?” According to ABC News, interviewers don’t ask strange questions like that to humiliate you. They’re asking so-called “case interview questions” – which are designed to show how well you think on your feet. In fact, they’re not really interested in your answer. What they want is to hear how you reach whatever answer you give. They also want you to answer period – so they can see how you react to stress. So, don’t go silent.  Just come up with anything that sounds logical.

For example, for the hair salon question, you could say, “Well, we’d need to know the population of Japan. Cut out 10% for people who are bald. Then divide that by 40 days – about how often the average person would go.” Then pick a number, and do the math – on paper, if you have to. Here are a few other quirky questions you might get asked in a job interview – and a few imaginative answers. These come from the book How Would You Move Mount Fuji? Microsoft’s Cult of the Puzzle:

First: “Why are manhole covers round?”An appropriate answer would be: So the 100 pound cover can be rolled instead of carried. How about this question: “If a taxi and a limo cost the same, which would you choose?” You could say something like, “Taxis often have terrible shock absorbers, and the drivers take too many chances, and limos are cushy and high-profile. I think I’d feel cut off from the world. So, I’d pick the taxi.” So, how would you answer the “which brick would you be?” question? How about: “I’d want to be a foundation brick because I’m a solid person. You can build on my experience. I’d always be there to hold things up. And I’d never let you down.” If you’d like to go further, the book is: How Would You Move Mount Fuji? Microsoft’s Cult of the Puzzle.