These 5 unexpected interview questions are a good way to assess talent

September 24, 2024 5:30 AM

Job interview, women shaking hand, smiling

"If you were a superhero, what powers would you have and why?"

Hiring managers are using unexpected questions like this to seek out soft skills such as reasoning, communication and quick decision making among their applicants. But why the creative twist?

"Hiring managers are looking for questions to find out who the candidates really are and to understand their soft skills — their core skills — and see who matches with the company," says Guy Thornton, founder of talent assessment platform Practice Aptitude Tests. "It's very easy for a candidate to read a job spec and see five or six traits the company wants, and then just to repeat those five or six traits in their answers. [Interviewers] put a bit more value in actually seeing skill[s] in action."

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According to a recent poll by Resume Genius, 65% of hiring managers would consider hiring someone based on skills rather than education or experience. By asking questions that avoid routine, rehearsed answers, interviewers can assess whether the skills they're looking for are truly present and get a glimpse of an applicant's personality, too. This benefits both the company and the candidate, as it increases the chances of a better job fit: Well-matched employees are 2.5 times more likely to be productive, according to personal development platform DiSC Learning Solutions.

Even if a hiring manager or recruiter doesn't ask questions that allow a showcasing of soft skills, applicants should still look at what skills are part of a job posting and have examples ready of how they have demonstrated these in the past, says Thornton. And if potential employers do ask these types of questions or use other job-success indicators such as talent assessments, don't stress, Thornton urges. Hiring decision makers are looking for a candidate's thought process, not perfection. To be confident that they are ready for all parts of the hiring process, applicants should use the job posting to prepare, he says.

"The job spec highlights not only the sort of the education and the qualifications, it highlights skills that they're looking for, the personality traits they're looking for, and probably on top of that, the culture and the kind of people they're looking to fit into the culture," Thornton says. "And if they do go into the quirky questions, [candidates] need to make sure their answers are actually fitting into who they are as humans, but also with, again, the job spec, because the company's told you what we want."

Here are five out-of-the-box questions being asked by interviewers, and Thornton's breakdown of what they're being used to identify in potential hires.

If you were a superhero, what powers would you have and why?

"To gain a better understanding of personal and professional strengths, the interviewer might inquire about 'superpowers,'" Thornton says. "Rather than focusing on who your favorite superhero is, recognize that this question is a creative way of asking you about your strongest qualities. Some examples of superpowers you might be able to relate to the job role are super speed, which gives you the strength and endurance to face challenges; shapeshifting, which shows your flexibility and adaptability; or X-ray vision, as this highlights your eye for detail."

What animal best represents you as a person?

"The purpose of this question in a job interview is to assess your core personal values, as people often associate animals with certain personality traits," says Thornton. "To prepare for this question, consider what traits align with your work style and values — such as leadership, resilience, teamwork or creativity. Explain how the animal you choose reflects your qualities and how these characteristics can add value to the company. For example, you may use a lion to highlight your leadership skills or a dolphin to demonstrate your adaptability and communication skills."

How would you explain social media to someone from the 1800s?

"Ultimately, the purpose [of this question] is to test your ability to simplify complex concepts, which is a good indicator of how you communicate and teach new skills to others," Thornton says. "To answer this question effectively, use concepts familiar to that era to bridge the gap in understanding. Then, simplify the core ideas of social media by breaking it down into its most basic functions: communication, information sharing and building communities. Then, highlight its impact and how it influences daily life, similar to how other inventions from that period would have done."

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How would you survive a zombie apocalypse?

"An interviewer may ask this question to explore your problem-solving and strategic thinking skills under pressure," says Thornton. "Relating this question to a zombie apocalypse helps recruiters gauge your ability to remain calm yet resourceful in extreme and stressful situations, which reflects your crisis management skills. Highlight your ability to think strategically by explaining a clear survival plan, emphasizing skills like adaptability, teamwork, leadership and resourcefulness. Connect your survival strategy to the job role and how these qualities are valuable within the workplace."

What would you do if you won the lottery tomorrow?

"If this question arises, avoid the temptation to list the cars, mansions and yachts you'd buy with your hypothetical lottery winnings — the real purpose of this question is to analyze your long-term goals, values and motivations," Thornton says. "The goal is to highlight that you're responsible for and motivated by more than just money, while also giving insight into your personal goals."