If you were applying at a circus which job would you choose? How much does the Empire State Building weigh? Can you swim faster through water or syrup?
These are just some of the strange interview questions that Google have asked people in interviews. I don’t know about you, but they are certainly different from the usual “what can you bring to the company?” Although they may be different, what can the interviewer actually ascertain from the candidates answers? Or is the idea to see how quickly someone can think on their feet when thrown a very curved ball?
Do they really expect an answer?
Whether they expect someone to actually come up with an answer or not doesn’t seem to matter when they are looking for the brightest and the best to join their company. The answer to the standard “Why are you here today?” question can be rehearsed in your mind until you feel comfortable that you are giving the questioner the answer they want.
Should you tell the truth?
Maybe it depends on why they have gone for the job in the first place, if you were honest you might say “I hate my boss” or “I have a mortgage to pay” but it might be because a company like Google will look good on your cv when you apply for your next job.
What is the strangest question you have ever been asked at a job interview?
* The reason manhole covers are round is because they cannot fall through the circular opening, unlike a square cover. They are also more easily aligned and can be rolled out of the way for access.