“What are your greatest strengths?”
“Where do you envision yourself in five years?”
“What areas do you consider as weaknesses?”
These are the common questions we often pose during interviews. While candidates are familiar with them, the challenge is understanding them and preparing perfect responses.
It’s time for a change.
A recruiter and HR professional’s goal is to understand candidates better. So, asking questions that trigger spontaneous thinking and reveal deeper insights is crucial. Major companies like Amazon, Meta, and Yahoo incorporate them into their interview processes for a reason. Let’s explore 7 unexpected interview questions that will assist you in making informed hiring decisions.
Unpredictable Interview Questions Recommended by Yahoo, Meta, and Amazon Experts
Question#1: “What Commonly Accepted Belief Do You Disagree With?”
Nikhyl Singhal, Meta’s VP of Product, adds a new angle into interviews with this thought-provoking question. It’s intriguing because there’s no way to answer it without expressing a genuine opinion. Responding requires sharing a personal perspective and then dissecting why it’s considered inaccurate. This question evaluates the candidate’s ability to articulate opinions confidently and engage in critical discourse.
Question# 2: “What Are Some Misconceptions People Have About You?”
In this question, candidates are asked to clarify how their perceived image has been misunderstood and how they have explained their perceived image. It assesses a candidate’s self-awareness, interpersonal skills, and ability to reflect on their interactions with others.
Question# 3: “What’s Something You Once Believed But No Longer Do?”
This question explores the candidate’s adaptability and capacity for change. It aims to discover their willingness to reassess their beliefs over time. It provides insights into their flexibility, growth mindset, and ability to shift perspective based on new information or experiences.
Question# 4: How Many Windows Are In New York City?”
This brain teaser, introduced by Jonathan Becker, founder and president of Thrive Digital, isn’t about arriving at the correct answer. Instead, it serves as a test of quick thinking, logical reasoning, and adaptability.
After all, windows aren’t limited to buildings alone; they can also be found in vehicles like cars and trucks. This question assesses a candidate’s ability to think independently, apply logical reasoning, and handle unexpected challenges.
Question# 5: “Do You Consider Yourself Lucky?”
This question encourages candidates to reflect on their perspective regarding luck and its impact on their lives. It provides insight into their mindset and attitude towards positive and negative outcomes. Also, it assesses self-awareness and humility and acknowledges external factors in achievements and challenges.
Question# 6: “If Work Were Optional, Why Would You Still Choose To Come To Work?”
Straight from the playbook of Gautam Gupta, CEO and Co-founder of NatureBox, this query explores motivations and aspirations, revealing whether candidates view their work as a calling rather than a mere obligation. It provides insight into whether a candidate is genuinely passionate about the role and possesses intellectual curiosity while assessing alignment with the company’s values.
Question# 7: “If You Were To Be Shipwrecked On A Deserted Island, But All Your Basic Needs—Such As Food And Water—Were Provided, What Two Items Would You Choose To Have With You?”
This question, posed by companies like Yahoo, encourages candidates to showcase creativity and innovation while revealing their priorities, problem-solving skills, and logical thinking.
Where to Find The Best Interview Questions?
If you want to streamline your hiring process and candidate selection, you can download Yulys Android or iOS app. Here, you will find an extensive database of unpredictable interview questions that will help you evaluate the ideal candidates for your team.
Whether you are searching for fresh candidates to invigorate your workforce or expert professionals to bring invaluable experience, Yulys interview questions database will help you make informed hiring decisions.
Conclusion
While traditional interview questions like “What are your greatest strengths?” and “Where do you envision yourself in five years?” are familiar, they may not always give an idea about the candidate’s abilities or character. When it comes to truly understanding a candidate, unconventional questions that prompt genuine responses are necessary. Companies like Amazon, Meta, and Yahoo recognize this and incorporate unexpected questions into their interview processes. Moreover, using Yulys interview questions database will also help you make more informed hiring choices and a better team.
