5 Tricks to Answering Curve ball Interview Questions to Land Your Dream Job

How would you cope if you were asked one of the following questions midway through a job interview?

• How many tabs in your web browser do you typically have open, and what sites are they?
• How would you calculate how many golf balls could fit in an airplane?
• If you found a penguin in the refrigerator, what would you do?
• You're a new addition to the crayon box, what color would you be and why?
• Have you ever stolen a pen from work?
• How would you survive a zombie apocalypse?
• What was your relationship like with your grandparents?
• What is your spirit animal?

These are a few of the strangest curve ball questions candidates have been asked during an interview. Several companies that people most aspire to work for — including Google, Apple, and Facebook — are known for incorporating these sorts of questions throughout the recruitment process. 

When you’re not expecting to be asked something quite so obscure, it’s easy to be caught off guard, flounder, and wind up gabbling out a rushed response. To prevent that from happening, here are a few pointers for managing the weirdest questions an interviewer throws at you.

1. Don’t Try to Prepare

When it comes to answering typical interview questions, you should certainly take time to prepare. Ensure you are ready to talk about your strengths and weaknesses, some of the biggest challenges you’ve overcome, and how you can add value to the hiring organization.

However, the very nature of a curve ball question is that they are so random and unpredictable you aren’t supposed to be able to prepare. So, it’s best not to waste your time trying. 

2. Stay Calm and Take Your Time

One of the main reasons that companies include curve ball questions is to analyze how a candidate responds when they are knocked completely off guard. It’s an insight into how you will cope in a stressful or difficult environment. As such, the worst thing you can do is show signs of panic.

Keep calm, maintain eye contact with the interviewer, take a deep breath, and allow yourself some time to consider your answer.

Don’t be afraid to acknowledge the ridiculousness of the question by laughing or commenting on its eccentricity. This will also help buy you some time to think a little more.

3. Don’t Agonize Over What You Think the Interviewer Wants You to Say

Curve ball questions help an interviewer get to know you and how your mind works, which means it’s very rare they are looking for a right or wrong answer. They’ll be far more interested to see if you can think on your feet and stay calm, as well as assessing if your values and characteristics align well with the company culture.

Try to think creatively, and respond with the same level of energy and enthusiasm you’ve held throughout the interview up until this point. These sorts of questions might even allow you to showcase your great sense of humor or thoughtful ideas. Embrace the opportunity to showcase the best side of you.

4. Be Logical

Another reason companies ask curve ball questions is to test the candidate’s critical thinking and analytics skills. “How many golf balls could fit in an airplane?” is an example of this kind of question.

Once again, the interviewer isn’t expecting an accurate or even an exact answer. Rather, they’ll be interested to know how you would approach this challenge. The most important thing to remember when answering a question of this kind is to do all of your thinking and calculations out loud, explaining how you would reach a solution.

Don’t be afraid to ask probing questions to your interviewer that showcase your reasoned thinking. For example, in the golf ball challenge, you might question the size of the plane or whether there would be passengers on board alongside the golf balls.

5. Try to Relate Your Answer to the Job You’re Applying for

This won’t always be possible but, in many cases, you’ll be able to find a link between the curve ball question and the job you’re applying for — particularly surrounding your skill set.

For example, if you’re asked how you would survive a zombie apocalypse you could reference your excellent teamwork and leadership skills, as well as your determination to succeed.

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