People often come across some questions that are considered “standard interview questions.” These are usually familiar questions that everyone or everyone is expected to answer. Questions like ‘tell us about yourself’, ‘where do you see yourself in the next five years’, describe your greatest achievement’ are those kinds of questions that candidates generally feel well equipped to answer. But it becomes difficult for HR professionals to differentiate between candidates as they would hear a wide range of responses from candidates and furthermore it becomes difficult to recruit the best for their organization.

In the past, job applicants used to ask about the main interview questions. Now, to change the routine, the recruiters have introduced some curious questions to their repertoire. These may seem strange, but they are much more stimulating and will also create opportunities for deeper questioning. Below are some of the ‘weird questions recruiters ask.

• How do you miss your memory?
• On a scale of one to ten, do I qualify as an interviewer?
• If you were a Microsoft program, what would you be?
• Room, desk and car. Which one would you clean first?

The questions can sound a bit unusual and unrelated to the candidates and can also catch a candidate completely off guard. These are designed to assess a candidate’s analytical thinking, as well as the way they see the world, with the process of arriving at an answer generally more important than the actual answer itself. This can be approached with a more intense thought than with an immediate response. That is expected to be the first thing a candidate is supposed to do; take your time when an unusual question is asked during the interview. They have been designed by the interviewer to intentionally test candidates and will not expect an immediate answer at their fingertips.

Always make sure you have sufficient knowledge of what the company does and what the role in question is trying to achieve. If an opportunity is found to show technical ability, specialized knowledge, or mathematical ability to answer the given question, this is more than likely what the question is designed for.

These questions, for the most part, are an opportunity to demonstrate the candidate’s powers of lateral thinking. So always be sure to approach the answers creatively. Some of the questions may have several possible answers; not all answers are always right or wrong. Candidates must apply a reasonable rationale and must respond with confidence.