Written by Vaclav Koranda

If You Could Be a Candy Bar, What Kind Would You Be?

“I once had a panel interview and one of the interviewers asked me: ‘If you could be a candy bar, what kind would you be?’ Then another interviewer said: ‘You don’t have to answer that! What kind of question is that!?!’” I recently read this story on Facebook. The source was cited as ‘from the web,’ so I’m not sure if it’s true. However, I know things like that happen.

Once it happened to me too. I was interviewed for an HR director role in an automotive company. One of the questions I got was in the form of a short poem that could roughly be translated as follows: “I am running, running, I am breathless, yet lying on my back. What is it?” It literally took my breath away, and I didn’t know what to think about them. I mumbled something about a beetle that is lying on its back, kicking its legs, and trying to turn around, and I started to think what would be the best way to let them know I want to withdraw my application. Later it turned out that the interview scenario was prepared by a person that advised the company on other matters but had no experience in recruitment.

From time to time, you will encounter weird situations during job interviews, including the famous example of how Henry Ford selected candidates at a dinner based on how they added salt to their food. The probable cause is that the interviewers are either inexperienced and want to add some “psychological element” to the interview (as in the example above), they want to derail you and see how you react, or they are simply weird.

How should you answer such questions then? First of all, don’t burst into laughter. Don’t repeat the question back slowly with the i-can’t-believe-my-ears look on your face, either. Try to maintain your composure however hard it may be. Then provide an answer that showcases your personal qualities that are favourable for the job. Be careful though—avoid responses that may imply you would engage in unethical or illegal behavior.

Using the example from the beginning, you could perhaps say something like the following: “I would be a muesli bar—rich in vitamins and nutrients, and good for your health.”

Although such questions are less common these days, I recommend preparing answers for some of the more typical ones, like what kind of animal you’d like to be or your favorite color. You’ll find a complete guide with examples of how to answer these questions effectively in my book, Get Your Dream Job.

However, you cannot prepare an answer for every weird question. I have good news for you though: If you get a question you are not prepared for, you can use my technique for answering any interview question successfully. Of course, if the question is too awkward or even unethical, you can always politely refuse to answer it. After all, you should always consider whether you really want to work for weirdos.

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Downloading my Free Job Interview Cheat Sheet can help significantly with your interview preparation. It provides straightforward guidance on how to answer five of the toughest and most common interview questions that many candidates struggle with, along with guidance on how to build your answers, including model answers. It’s designed to help you create genuine responses that reflect your background and personality, tailored to the job you’re applying for. Download it now and simplify your preparation with my practical, easy-to-follow advice.

Good luck!

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