Fun Interview Questions: Why Ask Them and Sample Answers

Imagine walking into a job interview, palms sweaty, heart racing, only to be hit with a curveball like "If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?" Believe it or not, many top companies are now asking fun interview questions to catch a glimpse of a candidate's personality, creativity, and ability to think on their feet.

Not only do fun interview questions provide valuable insight, but they also serve to lighten the mood in what can be a tense and nerve-wracking situation. A well-placed funny question can break the ice, put a candidate at ease, allow their authentic personality to shine through, and show how they handle unexpected situations. 

Conventional questions about skills and past work experiences are still very important, but the benefits of fun questions and of being prepared for them can make the difference for you to find either the perfect employee or the perfect job. So, whether you are hiring or looking for work, this article is for you. 

I'll share 25 of the most hilarious real-life examples of funny interview questions that have been asked by actual employers, along with tips on how to answer them with wit and poise. So get ready to chuckle and learn as we dive into the world of fun interview questions!

Why Interviewers Ask Fun Interview Questions

So why do interviewers choose to include fun interview questions amid the standard fare? It's not just for their own amusement (although that's certainly a perk). Asking offbeat, funny interview questions serves several strategic purposes for hiring managers. Here are the main reasons:

• Fun questions allow interviewers to assess a candidate's creativity and ability to think outside the box. The interviewee has to think on their feet and come up with an original, thoughtful response, which gives insight into their problem-solving skills and how they handle curveballs.
• Funny interview questions also provide a glimpse into a candidate's personality and potential fit with the company culture. The way they answer a lighthearted question can reveal a lot about their sense of humor, emotional intelligence, and people skills. Are they able to laugh at themselves? Can they think of a clever response that showcases their wit? Do they seem like someone who would fit in well with the existing team? A well-crafted fun question can help answer all of these.
• Off-the-wall questions give candidates a chance to let their guard down a bit and show a different side of themselves. In a high-pressure interview setting, a bit of lightheartedness can help put them at ease and allow their authentic personality to come through. And for the interviewer, it's a chance to see how the potential hire handles a less formal interaction - which can be very telling.

25 Real Fun Interview Questions To Ask (Used by Major Companies)

With no further ado, here are some fun real-life interview questions that have been asked by major companies. These following brain teasers are designed to test your creativity, quick thinking, and sense of humor. So let's dive in and see if you can come up with some clever answers!

1. If you were a brand, what would be your motto? (Asked by Google)
2. What would you do if you found a penguin in the freezer? (Asked by Trader Joe's)
3. How many basketballs would fit in this room? (Asked by Google)
4. Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck? (Asked by Whole Foods Market)
5. If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why? (A common question asked by many companies)
6. How would you sell hot cocoa in Florida? (Asked by J.W. Business Acquisitions)
7. If you were a Microsoft Office program, which one would you be? (Asked by Summit Racing Equipment)
8. What do you think of garden gnomes? (Asked by Trader Joe's)
9. If you had $2,000, how would you double it in 24 hours? (ICICI Bank)
10. If you were on an island and could only bring three things, what would you bring? (A common cultural fit question)
11. If you were a pizza delivery man, how would you benefit from scissors? (Asked by Apple)
12. If you could sing one song on American Idol, what would it be? (Asked by Red Frog Events)
13. Are you more of a hunter or a gatherer? (Asked by Dell)
14. If you were a box of cereal, what would you be and why? (Asked by Bed Bath & Beyond)
15. Do you believe in Bigfoot? (Asked by Norwegian Cruise Line)
16. Why is a tennis ball fuzzy? (A common thought process question)
17. What's your favorite 90s jam? (Asked by Squarespace)
18. If you had a choice between two superpowers, being invisible or flying, which would you choose? (Asked by Microsoft)
19. What was the last gift you gave someone? (Asked by Gallup)
20. You're a new addition to the crayon box. What color would you be and why? (Asked by Urban Outfitters)
21. Describe the color yellow to somebody who's blind. (Asked by Spirit Airlines)
22. If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be? (Asked by Cisco)
23. If you were a car, what type would you be? (Asked by Volkswagen)
24. If you had a time machine, would you go back in time or into the future? (Asked by Salesforce)
25. If you could have any job in the world, what would it be? (A common interview question)

Answering Fun Interview Questions: 5 Tips

There are many tips and tricks to improve your chances of success in a job interview. When faced with a quirky or unexpected question during a job interview, it's essential to keep your cool and approach the question strategically. Here are five tips to help you navigate fun interview questions with confidence and poise.

1. Take a deep breath and don't panic. If an interviewer throws a curveball question your way, the first thing to do is take a deep breath and remain calm. Remember that there's often no single "right answer" to these types of questions.The interviewer is more interested in seeing how you react and think on your feet.

2. Show your thought process. When answering a fun interview question, it's a good idea to walk the interviewer through your thought process. This helps them understand how you approach problems and think critically. More than arriving at a "perfect" answer, demonstrate your problem-solving skills.

3. Connect your answer back to the job when possible. While fun interview questions may seem unrelated to the job at hand, try to find ways to connect your answer back to the role or the company. For example, if you're asked about your favorite hobby, you could discuss how it has taught you skills that would be valuable in the position you're interviewing for.

4. Don't be afraid to be creative and think outside the box. Fun interview questions are an opportunity to showcase your creativity and ability to think outside the box. Embrace the chance to provide unique, memorable answers that highlight your personality and problem-solving skills. Just make sure to keep your responses professional and appropriate.

5. Have fun with it! Interviewers want to see your personality.  Remember, the goal of fun interview questions is often to get a sense of your personality and how you might fit into the company culture. So don't be afraid to let your sense of humor and unique perspective shine through. Interviewers are looking for candidates who can bring a positive, engaging presence to the team.

Sample Answers to 5 Common Fun Interview Questions

In this section of the article, I’ll provide some suggestions and example answers, of how you could answer some of these out-of-the-box interview questions, so that if you encounter something similar in your next interview, you’ll be able to think on your feet and knock it out of the park.

"If you could choose between the ability to fly or being invisible, which would you pick?"

Sample answer: "I would choose the ability to fly. Being able to soar through the sky and get to places quickly would be incredibly efficient and exhilarating. Plus, I think it would inspire a sense of freedom and confidence that could translate into my work."

What it reveals: This question is a way to test your creativity, but also assess some preliminary things about your personality. Your answer can indicate whether you prefer being in the spotlight (flying) or working behind the scenes (invisibility).

"How would you sell hot chocolate in Florida?"

Sample answer: "I would market it as a unique, gourmet treat that can be enjoyed year-round. I'd focus on the quality ingredients, rich flavor, and the cozy, nostalgic feeling it evokes. I might also suggest fun, cold variations like frozen hot chocolate or hot chocolate ice cream to appeal to the Florida climate."

What it reveals: This question assesses your problem-solving skills and ability to think creatively. It's an opportunity to show how you can adapt a product to fit a specific market or challenge.

"If you were shrunk to the size of a pencil and put in a blender, how would you get out?"

Sample answer: "I would try to use my tiny size to my advantage. I'd look for any small gaps or crevices in the blender where I could wedge myself and avoid the blades. If possible, I'd try to climb up the sides of the blender and escape through the top. If all else fails, I'd yell as loudly as I could in hopes that someone would notice a pencil-sized human in a near death situation!"

What it reveals: This quirky question is designed to catch you off guard and see how you react under pressure. It's a chance to demonstrate your critical thinking skills and ability to come up with creative solutions to unexpected problems, and allows you to show your sense of humor.

"Estimate how many windows are in New York"

Sample answer: "To estimate this, I'd start by considering the population of New York City, which is around 8.5 million. If we assume an average of 2 people per household, that's about 4.25 million households. If each household has an average of 8 windows, that would be around 34 million windows. However, we also need to account for office buildings, schools, and other structures, which likely have far more windows. So I'd estimate the total number of windows in New York City to be around 100 million."

What it reveals: This brain teaser question tests your analytical thinking and ability to break down a complex problem into smaller, manageable parts. The interviewer wants to see how you approach something that seems impossible to answer at first glance.

"If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be and why?"

Sample answer: "I would be a maple tree. Maple trees are known for their strength, adaptability, and resilience. They can thrive in various environments and weather conditions. Additionally, maple trees provide valuable resources like syrup and beautiful wood. I feel these qualities align well with my own strengths and the value I aim to bring to a company."

What it reveals: This question allows you to showcase your creativity and self-awareness. It's a chance to highlight your positive qualities and explain how they would benefit you in the role you're interviewing for.

Remember, with all of these funny interview questions, there's rarely a single "right" answer. The goal is to demonstrate your ability to think critically, communicate effectively, and stay composed under pressure. These sample answers can be a layout, but you can tailor your answer to match the specificities of the job you are applying to, and if you are an interviewer, look out for that cleverness of the candidate. 

Funny Interview Questions vs Illegal Interview Questions

While funny interview questions can be a great way to assess a candidate's creativity and problem-solving skills, it's crucial for interviewers to understand the difference between offbeat-but-legal questions and inappropriate or illegal ones.

Funny, quirky questions like "If you could choose between being invisible or flying, which would you pick?" or "How many square feet of pizza are eaten in the U.S. each year?" are generally fair game. These types of questions are designed to get a feel on how candidates think on their feet and approach challenging situations.

However, interviewers must avoid any questions that could be seen as discriminatory or touch on protected characteristics like age, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, or disability. For example, asking a candidate "What’s your sexual orientation?" or "Which church do you attend?" would be illegal.

It's also important to steer clear of questions that are overly personal or not relevant to the job at hand. While you might be curious about a candidate's favorite hobby or what they like to do on weekends, these questions don't necessarily give insight into their qualifications or fit for the role.

As a general rule, if a question makes you pause and wonder "Is this appropriate to ask?", it's probably best to skip it. Stick to fun, creative questions that showcase a candidate's problem-solving abilities and give you a feel for their personality and people skills. This related article can help identify common inappropriate questions and gives suggestions on how to handle them. 

Interesting Interview Questions: Final Thoughts

In conclusion, fun interview questions can be a powerful tool for getting to know candidates on a deeper level. While traditional questions about skills and experience are important, mixing in a few lighthearted queries can reveal a lot about a candidate's personality, creativity, and ability to think on their feet.

For interviewers, incorporating funny interview questions into your repertoire can help you identify great candidates who not only have the necessary qualifications but also the right cultural fit for your team.

As a job seeker, if you find yourself faced with a quirky question like "If you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?", remember that there's no one "right" answer. Instead, view it as an opportunity to let your unique personality and perspective shine through, showcasing your wit, creativity, and ability to think outside the box.

So whether you're an interviewer looking to spice up your hiring process or a job seeker preparing for your next big interview, don't underestimate the power of a well-placed fun question. Embrace the opportunity to establish a genuine connection with the person on the other side of the table. Who knows - your ability to think creatively under pressure just might be the thing that sets you apart from the competition!