Making a good impression during a job interview requires preparation, practice, and a bit of luck. But sometimes, things take an unexpected turn, regardless of your readiness level.
When Reddit user Dekemyster tried to sell himself to an IT company, one of the recruiters asked the guy what he would do if he couldn’t solve a client’s problem, and immediately after answering, he was hit with a follow-up question about… the Grand Canyon. Little did he know, it was all part of the same test.
Before their interview, candidates should be able to explain why they want the role and why they’re qualified for it
Man upset during job interview, recruiter judging work ethics based on an unusual question about the Grand Canyon.
But as this job hunter’s experience shows, recruiters can be very unpredictable
Man upset recruiter judging work ethics based on a random Grand Canyon question during a job interview.
Text excerpt showing a man upset a recruiter judged his work ethics based on a random Grand Canyon question during interview.
Text excerpt showing a recruiter explaining why she asks a question to judge work ethics for truthfulness.
Man upset recruiter judging his work ethics based on a random question about the Grand Canyon during an interview.
Man upset during job interview, recruiter judging work ethics based on a random question about the Grand Canyon.
Man upset recruiter judged his work ethics after a random interview question about the Grand Canyon.
Man upset with recruiter judging his work ethics based on a random Grand Canyon question during interview.
Such practices aren’t necessarily the norm, but candidates need to be able to adapt to the changing flow of an interview
To get a better understanding of current recruiting trends and how this story fits in them, we got in touch with Jasmine Escalera , career expert at LiveCareer , a platform that provides useful tools and qualified advice for job seekers.
“Trick questions aren’t necessarily common, but as a job seeker, you should be prepared to answer different styles of questions designed to give interviewers an understanding of your experience, how you’ll approach the role, and if you fit within the team and company culture,” Escalera told Bored Panda .
The career expert said that even the questions that seem lighthearted or unusual serve a purpose. “For example, the funniest question I’ve ever been asked in an interview was, ‘Which Star Wars character do you best align with?’ I answered Yoda because I truly enjoy mentoring and coaching team members, helping them identify their strengths, and aligning their work to their goals and growth path. The question was very unexpected, but it gave me the opportunity to highlight a strength that directly aligned with the leadership role I was applying for.”
Whenever you feel lost, you should come back to the core of your application
“No matter how quirky a question may seem, the best approach is to find a way to connect your answer back to your relevant experience and how you’ll bring value to the role,” Escalera said.
However, that doesn’t mean that hiring managers can do whatever they want. The career expert added that all interview questions must remain professional and relevant.
“There are some questions that are considered illegal in many countries and should not be asked. These include, but are not limited to, questions about your age, marital status, religion, or plans to have children,” Escalera explained. “If you’re ever asked a question that feels inappropriate or unrelated to the job, you have the right to politely decline to answer and can direct the conversation back to your skills, experience, and enthusiasm for the position.”
No need to rush. “It’s okay to not have an immediate answer to every question, especially if it catches you off guard. If you get asked a question and need a moment to think, then it’s appropriate to say something like, ‘That’s a great question. Do you mind if I take a few seconds to gather my thoughts?’” Escalera added.
“Taking a moment for a short pause shows you are both being thoughtful and eager to address the question at hand. If you genuinely don’t know the answer, it’s also okay to be honest. You might say something like, ‘I want to give that question the thought it deserves. Would it be okay if I follow up with a more complete response in an email right after we conclude?’ Then, be sure to follow up and address the question as part of your thank-you email,” she said. “It is important for every job seeker to understand that interviewers aren’t looking for perfection. They more so want to understand how you think on your toes and handle moments of a little pressure with grace and professionalism.”
Ultimately, it’s not just the company that’s screening the applicant during an interview. Candidates also use it to get a sense of what sort of environment they’d be working in. If the workplace seems toxic , it might be because it is.
The man engaged with people commenting on his story, revealing more about the interview
Screenshot of a conversation about a man upset with a recruiter judging his work ethics during an interview.
Comment exchange about troubleshooting advice, highlighting frustration with recruiter judging work ethics over Grand Canyon question.
Screenshot of a discussion about recruiter judgments and work ethics based on random Grand Canyon interview questions.
Screenshot of a discussion about a recruiter judging a candidate’s work ethics based on a random Grand Canyon question.
Conversation about a recruiter judging work ethics based on an unrelated Grand Canyon question during an interview.
Screenshot of a forum discussion about a man upset a recruiter judged his work ethics with a random question.
Reddit discussion about a man upset recruiter judged his work ethics based on a random Grand Canyon question during interview.
Screenshot of a forum comment discussing a reaction to being judged on work ethics based on a Grand Canyon question.
Comment discussing a man upset with recruiter judging his work ethics over a random Grand Canyon question.
Comment describing a man upset recruiter judged his work ethics based on a random question during an interview process.
Text comment discussing a recruiter judging work ethics based on a random Grand Canyon question in a job interview.
Many also shared similar experiences of their own
Man upset recruiter judged his work ethics after difficult interview questions about verifying infection removal on server.
Screenshot of a forum comment about a man upset a recruiter judged his work ethics based on a random Grand Canyon question.
Man upset recruiter judged his work ethics during a job interview based on a random question about the Grand Canyon.
Screenshot of a Reddit comment where a man expresses frustration over a recruiter judging work ethics by a random question.
Man upset after recruiter judged his work ethics based on a random interview question about the Grand Canyon.
Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing an upset recruiter judging work ethics based on a random Grand Canyon question.
Man upset recruiter judged his work ethics based on random Grand Canyon interview question discussion.
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