Here's how you can navigate curveball questions during a job interview.

No matter how nervous the question makes you or how surprised you are to hear it, try your best to keep your cool. It’s ok to take a moment and think about your answer. Recruiters know that they’re throwing you a curveball question, you can take a few seconds to think over your response.

Do not act rashly and take a break to gather your thoughts. Stress and elaborate the question if necessary. While answering the question, use the STAR format where the S stands for Situation, T stands for Task, A stands for Action, and R stands for Result. This is your chance to be real, be real and prove that you are good problem-solver and can adjust to any situation.

In my experience working with leaders who employ curveball questions during interviews, the intent is often to assess how candidates manage stress and unexpected situations. They seek to evaluate your honesty when you encounter a question you do not know the answer to, as well as your overall demeanor and ability to stay composed under pressure. Remaining calm and collected while thoughtfully addressing challenging questions is crucial in demonstrating your problem-solving abilities and emotional resilience.

Use the same tactics I once taught my ESL students: - Stay calm. (This is a chance to illustrate how you handle pressure and think on your feet.) - Buy time. (You can always say, "That's a great question. Let me think about that," or use other nonverbal cues like facial expressions and gestures to show you're thinking.) - Be okay with silence. (It's okay to take a minute or two to answer, as this shows you're being thoughtful. However, use some of the above cues to show you are still engaged.) - Work through it live. (If you're really struggling to answer, explore the question in real time with your interviewer. This may help spark a useful example or anecdote.)

To really understand the intent of an interviewer's questions, you need to do your research and come prepared. Know the company that you're applying for. Know the overarching mission and how the role you're meant to fill fits into that scheme as much as possible when entering the interview. Generic answers will be uninspiring and forgettable, but specific knowledge delivered confidently - even in small doses - can leave an impression.

When an interviewer asks a curveball question, they aren’t necessarily interested in your answer. What they’re really interested in is seeing how your thought process works, how you respond to pressure, and if your answer aligns with the company’s culture. Give a thoughtful answer that’s authentic to who you are as an employee, and you’ll keep yourself in the running.

In my experience, curveball questions aren't intended to be malicious. In an effort to remain authentic and honest as you're building credibility, it's more than okay to say "Wow! What a great question - would you mind if I take a moment to consider a thoughtful response". Taking that extra second to ensure you understand the question asked, and then providing a thoughtful response will differentiate you from others, even if the question isn't one that you feel you answered well. Additionally, showing that you can pivot and quickly resolve "problems" may be a positive attribute they're looking for in a teammate!

The best way to answer curveball interview questions with ease is to practice. Practice on your own, or even with a friend to get some feedback. While there’s no way to know if you’ll even be asked any crazy questions at all, practicing will properly prepare you to answer any questions that come your way!

Take a minute to ponder the question and ask at least one question about their curveball. This not only helps you get clarity but also gives you another moment to think. Your response can be as simple as smiling and saying, “Wow, I like this question and I am thinking about my response. I’m curious about how you came up with it.”

Curveball questions are designed to assess your thinking skills, creativity, and ability to handle unexpected challenges. - Stay calm and composed - Clarify the question if needed - Take a moment to think before responding - Be honest and transparent - Think creatively and connect your answer to the job or company - Show your thought process and problem-solving skills - Keep your answer concise and to the point - Use humor if appropriate - Learn from the experience and prepare for future interviews