Weird Job Interview Questions

[BlackBark]

Recently, I was talking to my friend about job interviews and he said that one of the questions he was asked was: "What are your three favourite Disney movies?"

I did wonder why someone would ask a question like this and the only reason I could think of was to try and throw them off balance in the interview, however, my friend got the job and later got the chance to ask the interviewer about that question and he basically said that there were five "correct" answers and that if you failed to have any of those five in your top three, you were out. In fact, the reason my friend got the chance to talk about this is because there were more interviews coming up and that guy was asking for suggestions for more questions he can use.

I'm quite sure my friend wasn't lying about this, but either way this has made me wonder how many other weird and wonderful questions interviewers have asked.

So, have you ever been asked any really weird questions, or have you ever come up with a weird question and given it to someone else in an interview?

Also, do you think this Disney movies question is a legitimate one in any way?

 

[Midnight Crossroads]

Wreck-It Ralph, Mulan, and Beauty and the Beast

Just the normal "Have you ever been a part of a terrorist organization? Have you ever conspired against the US Government?" stuff that goes with joining the military.

I hate when they ask for references. I move so often that I barely ever know anyone long enough for reliable sources. And those I do know tend to be out of country.

 

[GonvilleBromhead]

Also, do you think this Disney movies question is a legitimate one in any way?

It depends on the job somewhat. If it required a good knowledge of Children's movies, or was in some way artistic in its nature (and thus the ability to demonstrate knowledge of a wide range of possible inspiration)...seems fair enough.

The one I've had a few times has been "So looking at you CV....hang on, Air Raid Warden?!"


That former job confuses a few people

 

[Albino Boo]

Also, do you think this Disney movies question is a legitimate one in any way?

It depends on the job somewhat. If it required a good knowledge of Children's movies, or was in some way artistic in its nature (and thus the ability to demonstrate knowledge of a wide range of possible inspiration)...seems fair enough.

The one I've had a few times has been "So looking at you CV....hang on, Air Raid Warden?!"


That former job confuses a few people

Probably not as much as the winning the battle of Rorke's Drift entry.

 

[Jayemsal]

"Are you pre-op or post-op?"

Yep.... Because I'm transgender, people seem to feel free to ask about my genitals at will.

 

[BlackBark]

Wreck-It Ralph, Mulan, and Beauty and the Beast

Just the normal "Have you ever been a part of a terrorist organization? Have you ever conspired against the US Government?" stuff that goes with joining the military.

I hate when they ask for references. I move so often that I barely ever know anyone long enough for reliable sources. And those I do know tend to be out of country.

Well done! You chose Beauty and the Beast, meaning you have a chance of getting the job. I can only remember that and The Lion King to be correct answers.

Also, do you think this Disney movies question is a legitimate one in any way?

It depends on the job somewhat. If it required a good knowledge of Children's movies, or was in some way artistic in its nature (and thus the ability to demonstrate knowledge of a wide range of possible inspiration)...seems fair enough.

The one I've had a few times has been "So looking at you CV....hang on, Air Raid Warden?!"


That former job confuses a few people

Yeah, I guess you are right that it could be a legitimate question in some cases. I forgot to say that this was for a coding job at Philips and didn't have anything to do with children.

Also, the thing that I found most weird is that there were five correct movie choices, from what my friend said, meaning that you could still demonstrate your knowledge of the subject and fail because you didn't choose the right answers.

"Are you pre-op or post-op?"

Yep.... Because I'm transgender, people seem to feel free to ask about my genitals at will.

Wow. I already have a serious dislike of interviews and I think I would feel really awkward if someone asked me such a personal question in one.

 

[an annoyed writer]

"Are you pre-op or post-op?"

Yep.... Because I'm transgender, people seem to feel free to ask about my genitals at will.

Yeah, this is a common one for us, interview or not. As for that Disney movie question, fuck no that's not valid. People have different reasons for liking different things, and making it so some person can lose the job because they don't like the movies you like is beyond retarded.

 

[Psykoma]

Is it a valid question? Yeah I think it is. Interviews aren't just about qualifications, also largely about personality, and the question could shed some light about that.
But actually having a list of "You have to say one of these to get the job", ehh I think that's pretty dumb.

 

[Little Woodsman]

I had an interview in ummm, 2006 where the final question was "If you could be any superhero, who would you be." Really.
That was the wrong thing to ask an ancient comic book geek. (I answered 'Mazin' Man).
The interview was at Whole Foods, and I later found out that it was a baseline personality test. Back then the overwhelming majority of people only knew four superheroes--Batman, Superman, Spider-Man and Iron Man, and answering one of those four theoretically gave a clue to what personality type you had.
The Disney films thing might be valid if it was a similar thing and they were looking for a particular personality type to mesh well with the rest of a group that the person would be working with, but it doesn't really sound like that's what was going on, so I'll say possibly legitimate, but probably not in this case.

 

[Vault101]

snip?

hold on a second

why were some disney mvoies "correct" and others arent? (do you know which ones they were?)

like how am I wrong if I say I like Hunchback of notredame and not Aladin?...its almost COMPLETLY subjective, it sound slike they are pulling some bullshit where they think they can somhow gauge your personality/other factors on what disney films you like the best

 

[Tanis]

You ever had to do one of those retardedly LONG 'personality profiles'?

Everything from 'if you could be any animal, which would you be from the list below?'
To 'if someone came into the building with a gun would you a) ask the person to leave b) hide c) call the police d) run e) act with a weapon or f) *insert something REALLY strange here*

Some of those quizzes/profiles can be rather...personal, and confusing.

 

[wulf3n]

snip?

hold on a second

why were some disney mvoies "correct" and others arent? (do you know which ones they were?)

like how am I wrong if I say I like Hunchback of notredame and not Aladin?...its almost COMPLETLY subjective, it sound slike they are pulling some bullshit where they think they can somhow gauge your personality/other factors on what disney films you like the best

These are usually trick questions. The actual movie choices are irrelevant, the Interviewer is expecting you to follow up with arguments as to why you like said movies, to see if you can break down and assess a situation.

 

[an annoyed writer]

You ever had to do one of those retardedly LONG 'personality profiles'?

Everything from 'if you could be any animal, which would you be from the list below?'
To 'if someone came into the building with a gun would you a) ask the person to leave b) hide c) call the police d) run e) act with a weapon or f) *insert something REALLY strange here*

Some of those quizzes/profiles can be rather...personal, and confusing.

Fucking WalMart and Target do that shit in their applications. It's ridiculous. I wouldn't have been surprised if they questioned my sexual orientation at some point. Needless to say, after two years of that shit, my only response to going back there is NEVER. AGAIN.

 

[Jopoho]

On an application, and not an interview I suppose, I was asked to choose between flight and invisibility. I chose flight and am waiting on the status of my application.

 

[Vault101]

These are usually trick questions. The actual movie choices are irrelevant, the Interviewer is expecting you to follow up with arguments as to why you like said movies, to see if you can break down and assess a situation.

that I get...but the OP did say that aparently they had movie choices which were "right and wrong" which as you can imagine is utterly fucking stupid regardless of what information they think that tells them

I could explain in great detail why hunchback in my favorite disney movie...but if its not beuty and the beat/lion king (and another one the OP didnt know) then I'm aparently wrong whatever I say

I just dont understand the logic....unless they are judging the intellgegence/charachter of somone based on the fact that they choose the "best" disney movies...its just too subjective to call

mabye the OP just misunderstood the situation...because no one employer would judge you for not liking the right disney movies

 

[Jordi]

I think questions like these are fairly common. I've also heard even weirder ones like "If you were a fruit, what kind of fruit would you be?" (instead of simply asking your favorite fruit). These questions can provide talking points to get to know you and find out more about your personality outside of the work field. Also, depending on the question, it can test how you think on your feet or how creative and humorous you are. There are also the "Google style" questions that ask you stuff you couldn't possibly know, just to see how you cope with the adverse situation, whether you ask good questions and what your process is for trying to tackle it anyway.

Howver, I'm fairly sure that either the OP's friend was messing with the OP, or the interviewer was messing with the friend, because I cannot imagine making hiring decisions based on favorite Disney movies / color / food / etc. If this is really true, then I'm sure HR would like a word with that interviewer because Philips would certainly not condone that.

"Are you pre-op or post-op?"

Yep.... Because I'm transgender, people seem to feel free to ask about my genitals at will.

I would be extremely surprised if it wasn't illegal to ask that in the Netherlands (which is probably completely irrelevant to you). I just looked it up on some website, and apparently you cannot ask about relationship status, political affiliation, religion, financial situation, criminal past (this one really surprised me) and diseases. I'm also sure that they can't ask about sexual orientation and whether you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant soon. I'm fairly confident that asking about the applicant's genitals is prohibited under the same privacy protection laws.

 

[Amethyst Wind]

Best 3 Disney movies?

Aristocats, Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Toy Story 2. That last one's still Disney and not just Pixar right?


As for weird interview questions, I was once asked who I would let die in a multi-plane emergency. Not who I would save but who I would let die.

 

[Happiness Assassin]

Disney movie?

Hunchback of Notre Dame, Up, and Toy Story 3.

As for weirdest interview question, without a doubt it is "What pokemon do you say you are most like?"

I went with Blastoise, of course.

 

[Vault101]

Disney movie?
.....Up, and Toy Story 3.
.

are PIXAR films

 

[Happiness Assassin]

Disney movie?
.....Up, and Toy Story 3.
.

are PIXAR films

...produced by Disney. I don't see any distinction, as Pixar has been owned by Disney since 2006. Its not like I put down The Avengers or something like that. But now that I think about it...