Bizarre / Weird Questions at the Interview

@thesids (22180)
Bhubaneswar, India
October 8, 2010 5:55am CST
I remember an occasion where I had applied for the job of a Software Sales guy for a major IT organization here. At the interview they asked me nothing about computers and it was more of a sales executive interview. The questions were normal until that lady in the yellow suit asked me - "What are you going to do when a customer says - sleep with me and I buy your package?". I was stunned by the question as it was unexpected. Have you ever faced any such bizarre questions during any interview? And if so how have you replied to those?
2 people like this
12 responses
@akp100 (13640)
• India
8 Oct 10
!!! That was quite weird question. I have faced few interview but i have never faced such questions during them. Well i wonder what have you replied for such question !!!
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
8 Oct 10
After reading the above replies, I feel that the posts were rigged and they already had decided who was the candidate to select. They were just doing normal things to cut out the rest. I had fumbled there while replying as this was something unexpected and quite personal. So it took me a moment to think and then reply. The reply was- It depends on the customer and my need for money at that time but it is too personal to be disclosed.
@akp100 (13640)
• India
9 Oct 10
Yes that can be the reason.. But still i guess they should not go for such questions..
@elmiko (6630)
• United States
8 Oct 10
wow, i've never heard of job interviewers resorting to going this far off the track when it comes to asking such questions. i've had job applications where they asked about my type of personality but it never went this far.
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
9 Oct 10
Hi elmiko, I must say that you have been a lucky person and the people conducting the interview have been kind enough. I believe you have not been to any marketing or sales posts interviews and have been to only the technical ones. My personal experience is that the technical ones are quite sensible and not out of context. Thanks for sharing your views.
@thanks1961 (7035)
• India
8 Oct 10
Hi dear, I remember there were a set of such questions and puzzles got forwarded for me some months back and it was quite surprising in the normal way of thinking it is quite difficult to answered. In fact, they don’t expect any clear yes or no answer from this. Such questions are as you said, just measure our temper and approach towards questions. If we have to face an unexpected position or a problem, how we will handle it. This is the sum of such questions. They will evaluate our psychological condition at that moment, and not even after 10 seconds. Means, we will be tuned with the question after 10 mts. So don’t worry, you can just go ahead, and nothing is going to lose even if a customer is asking a favour from you in such a manner. So, just say yes, and go ahead.... Regads, Thank-s
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
8 Oct 10
Thats very true. I realize that after so many days of this incident. I realized that the people out there are smart enough and need to know how good you are at handling situations at that moment. Yes, I should have said YES to the lady. But at that time, things were different and so was my answer. Thanks for sharing your views.
@kodukodu84 (1569)
• Malaysia
8 Oct 10
I could imagine how you looked like and how panic you were that time How long did it take you to answer the question and what was you answer? I'm really wondering now! I never had such question or anything similar on any of my interview that I've ever attended to. But I believe it is common and normal for some people to ask you such question. It is actually quite an interesting question. If you answered no to the lady means no sale. Yes means there's a sale I hope you did manage to give the best answer to the question. And If I was the one who was asked that question to, then I will just have to honestly answer NO because I can't just sleep with anyone random just for the sake selling one item. Happy mylotting and have a nice day.
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
8 Oct 10
Hi kodukodu, Well it was a shocker to me and that day things didnt just seem to fall in place. Though I was called for the second round but by then I had made up my mind that I was not with them any way. I posted my reply to the question above in a post. Till now there has been no other horrible experience as that one and they havent asked anything like this to me again anywhere. Happy Mylotting
@dollar3235 (2062)
• India
8 Oct 10
Yes, it happened with me also. A lady asked so many ridiculous questions in the last round of job interview. She was HR of a software company, one of the questions that she asked me was, how would you weigh an Aeroplane? However, this question that was asked to you could be because that lady was attracted to you and she might be checking for chances. You should have answered "Yes but with a condition of no protection" :)
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
8 Oct 10
hey dollar I never though of this angle that you have come up with... Now... in that case... OMG thats getting crazy!!! lolzzz. Personally, I believe that the board should ask questions related to the subject and thats all. Why ask such questions to put the candidate in a negative shade or set of mind. Thanks for sharing your views.
• Philippines
8 Oct 10
A few weeks ago, my friend applied for the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF). They had to undergo some sort of physical tests and a series of interviews. During her initial interview, she was dumbfounded by the question thrown at her. "How do you clean your comfort room?" She almost had an argument with the woman. She was fuming mad later on. I really didn't get the connection of the question with the Emergency Rescue Foundation.
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
8 Oct 10
I must admit that was a bizarre question. I too couldn't relate why and what made them think and ask this question. Maybe they were testing the spontaneity or how you would handle things during an emergency. Thanks for sharing. theSids
@SHAMRACK (8576)
• India
8 Oct 10
Dear friend, I feel the interview boards has their own ways to select they can ask or do not wish to ask accordingly. Moreover they might have already selected some one or they want. May be they might have fixed you. Anyhow they have the right for some things that they use.
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
8 Oct 10
Yes, I agree that here and may be around the world "Moreover they might have already selected some one or they want." this might be one of the factors and to get you out of the list they put up such questions. Thanks for sharing your views.
@gunagohan (3414)
• India
8 Oct 10
I have attended many interviews, a few BPO's but more on Software development, i have never faced such questions. I think this is pretty rude!!! I don't know what does meant by software sales, do they sell software ? How does it work?
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
8 Oct 10
That was for an organization (a reputed one and so I should not name it). They were selling Software for Doctors on a Disk using which they can store all information about patients. You make sales by visiting the doctors and convincing them that the product was good enough for use by them. Yes, the question was more embarrassing rather than rude because of my background which was quite shy at that age. Now, it would have been interesting to answer such a question. Maybe the fact that I was in need of such a job was more important.
1 person likes this
@bamrahkirti (1821)
• India
9 Oct 10
Ya that was unexpected. I am an accounting professional and till date i have encountered two interviews but in both of the interviews i was asked questions related to my field only and i am glad that i got the job in both the cases.
@johnpillai (2082)
• Germany
8 Oct 10
It is interesteing to read. I was a teacher. There are no chance to have interview like this. when i was in my teachers' college told one lecturer in a lecture time for the whole class ' a 14 year old boy may see his 50 year old lady teacher in a sexy view. After hearing this I was so careful. I am so careful about my dress. i didn#t want to disturbe a school boy.
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
8 Oct 10
Yes, I think that they do give this approach so that you become aware of such things that a 14 year can fantasize about a 50 year old. The start of adolescence and the thoughts it brings.... But that helps in becoming a better teacher - you learn how to handle the students better. I also was warned of things like this before I took my first class. Actually it was a workshop organized by my Institute for fresh teachers.
@RONDOLAWE (774)
• Indonesia
8 Oct 10
hi.. i think that question just for testing our knowledge for the rigth answering , i never had this question for but if this happen to me i will say " sorry you must buy my package but not my self i,m not for sale to " you know what i mean
@abish1987 (189)
• Philippines
8 Oct 10
Yes Sids, I was applying as a call center agent before and the interviewer raised such question he said," How would you convince a person to buy an Ice cream in the middle of North pole?" That's a real thoughts provoking question but then I was able to answer, " I would tell him that my ice cream is hot!" Eventually I passed on the interview! :)
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
8 Oct 10
They asked me a similar to this one too. I believe that the guys out there have a set of questions and all they do is a random selection from the pre-defined bunch. I was asked to convince a Guy roaming at Sahara to buy a sweater. Man, I prefer the jobs and interviews related to computer programming and web development. Thank God, I never again attended any interview for a sales/marketing job.