9 Fun and Interesting Interview Questions

To help break the ice, many interviewers look to include a couple of fun interview questions to help settle the nerves and, ultimately, to find out more about you. However, these are often questions that you have not heard before and do not directly relate to the position you are applying for. Fortunately, we have put together 9 fun interview questions that you can prepare for to help get into the mindset of how to answer these questions. We have also included a list of other interesting questions to which you can apply a similar approach to structuring an answer.  But, first why are these off-kilter questions asked?

Why are Fun Questions Asked?

Questions at interviews generally follow a familiar pattern. The candidate will be asked questions about their strengths, competencies, behaviours and how much they know about the company. But these questions often do not give an interviewer sufficient insight into how a candidate would work in the team or react in a certain situation. So, they may well ask more general, slightly off-the-wall questions. These are looking for soft skills and how the candidate would handle the unexpected. To ensure fairness, companies should have interview questions that are unique to their individuality. While unusual interview questions can assess a candidate’s adaptability and compatibility with a team, it’s important to remember that each question must serve a purpose beyond mere amusement. Before exploring examples of unusual interview questions, it’s crucial to understand why employers use them.

9 Interesting Interview Questions 

As a job seeker, these questions aim to make the interview process more enjoyable and less nerve-wracking. Each question should be included with a clear purpose, such as building rapport or discovering your personal and professional interests. With this in mind, try and relax; there are no right or wrong answers. Answers to these questions are evaluated fairly based on the intended purpose of the questions. Read through our pointers on how to answer these 9 fun questions.

1. What superpower would you choose and why?

The purpose of this question is to judge curiosity and ambition. You don’t have to be a named Superpower from a Marvel comic. Flying would give you speed to react and help out in situations, and invisibility would give you the power to go places and hear things mere mortals cannot. Try and think of a positive superpower, rather than a destructive one. Fire throwers might raise eyebrows. Remember much of the interview is about how you would work with a team within an organisation, so do endeavour to link your answer back to this skillset.

2. Roughly how many pound coins would fill this room?

Bear in mind that it is very unlikely that anyone knows the correct answer to this one; so, the interviewer is not expecting you to know either. Instead, they are looking at your approach to answering the question. For example, do you know the difference between a 4-metre-wide room and a 6-metre-wide room, and can you remember how to measure volume? The interviewer will be looking for logical thinking rather than a specific number. You should get points for ‘showing your working’.

3. What is the next form of technology that will become obsolete?

There is no right or wrong answer, but a well-thought-out response will show that you are aware of the tools that we all use, and how they develop and change.

4. What is something I would be surprised to learn about you?

There’s no need to be too personal here after a level of professionalism should be maintained. However, it is a good idea to answer with something positive and/or interesting that is non-work related. Your answer would demonstrate self-awareness as much as a passion for a strange hobby. Again, this helps the interviewer have a better understanding of who you are as a person.

5. Walk me through something simple, like making a cheese salad sandwich.

This would primarily demonstrate how you communicate clearly, without forgetting the details such as slicing the bread or opening the packets.

6. Travel back in time to the 1950s and explain the internet.

This could become very long-winded if you feel you have to explain every small detail. Think about the 1950s, they had telephones, radios, televisions, record players etc, not to mention sophisticated military technology. So, they would understand the concept, if not how it was done. 

7. If you could be any animal, what would you choose to be?

Again, there is no right or wrong answer here, but it is worth giving it some careful thought. An elderly cat might not give the impression of energy required for the role, but a sheepdog puppy might be a bit too much. Although the question is asking you to reveal something of yourself, it is understood that you will probably have thought it through beforehand and will be giving a thought-out answer, so give your reasons.

8. If you could have two desert island luxuries, what would they be?

Think about some explanations for your choice – would it be a shovel or a photograph of your family? Both are perfectly good answers, one is of practical use and one would motivate you. So always be prepared to say why you would choose something.

9. Sell me this …(glass of water, pen, app)

Discuss “lack of”. How would a glass of water, pen, or app fill a gap, and give comfort? Also, think about the intrinsic value of a pen or a glass, and discuss how it would feel to be left out if everyone else had one. Think about small beginnings for organisations or items that are now must-haves or go-to, e.g., The Seattle Coffee Company, now better known as Starbucks.

Additional Fun Interview Questions

After reading our example, have a go at preparing some answers for these additional fun and interesting questions.

1. If you had to choose between being Batman or Robin, which one would you prefer to be?
2. Which football team do you root for, and what is the reason behind your support for them?
3. What brought you here today, and why are you here now?
4. What was the most traumatic event that you have experienced in your personal life?
5. Can you think of a song that best represents your personality?
6. If you had to explain what a database is to your eight-year-old nephew, how would you do it in three sentences?
7. If aliens landed in front of you and offered you any position on their planet in exchange for anything you desire, what would you choose?
8. If a movie was made about your life, which actor would you like to play your character?
9. If I gathered three of your previous supervisors in a room and asked them about you, what would they say about you that you disagree with?
10. What has been the most unusual experience of your life so far?
11. Why are manhole covers typically round?
12. What would be your chosen epitaph for your gravestone?
13. What is the most interesting vacation you have ever taken?
14. How would you describe your work-life balance in terms of a ratio, such as 50/50 or 70/30?
15. If you were given the numbers 1 to 1,000 and told whether each guess was too high or too low, what is the minimum number of guesses needed to find a specific number?
16. On a scale of 1 to 10, how unusual or unconventional would you rate yourself?
17. If you were shrunk to the size of a pencil and put in a blender, how would you escape?

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FAQ

What are examples of interview questions that are out of the ordinary? Some unique interview questions include:

• What piece of advice proved to be the best you have ever received?
• What was the last book you read?
• If you could have dinner with any historical figures, who would it be and why?
• Tell me something that is not on your CV?
• If you could, who would you switch places with for a day and why?
• What is your favourite mantra or quote?
• Tell us about your biggest adventure or most adventurous thing you’ve done?
• What would you take out of your daily routine if you could and why?
• What would be the most important lesson you’ve gained from your career so far?
• What motivates you to do your best work?

What are 10 effective questions to ask during an interview? Here are 10 typical questions to bare in mind during your preparation:

• What interests you about this job?
• What are your greatest strengths?
• What are your biggest weaknesses?
• Can you tell me about a time when you overcame a challenge at work?
• How do you handle stress and pressure?
• How do you work in a team environment?
• What are your long-term career goals?
• What do you know about and why do you want to work for our company?
• What are your salary expectations?
• Do you have any questions for me?

What are some thought-provoking questions that could impress an interviewer? When the floor is opened up allowing you to ask questions, here are some impressive questions to ask:

• Can you tell me about a successful project you completed recently?
• What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the company right now?
• How would you describe the company culture?
• How do you measure success in this role?
• What opportunities for growth and development are available within the company?
• How does this company foster diversity and inclusion?
• What kind of training or resources are available for employees to improve their skills?
• Who is the ideal candidate for this job role, can you describe them?
• What happens next steps in this interview process?
• What about your job here do you enjoy most?