Stupidest Interview Questions – How to Frustrate a Potential New Employee

As mentioned on LF lately, an increasing number of small businesses – including some tanning salons – are now in a position to consider hiring much-needed help.

In light of the potential interview you could have coming up, here’s a great post from a beloved business and management blogger, Ask A Manager, about some of the most foolish interview questions out there.

Most of the offending questions (What kind of tree would you be?; What type of animal are you most like?; Name three people, alive or dead, that you would like to have lunch with; Name five things you can do with a paper clip, other than clip papers together) that her readers commented on having been asked are designed to bring forth the interviewee’s creativity and ability to think on the spot. But really they’re just lame, and interviewers themselves should be more creative in coming up with questions that actually pertain to the position.

And some of the questions were just outright wrong – one commenter was asked why he wasn’t married yet (he was 25)!

On the other hand, some of the questions were interesting and thoughtful – one interviewee applying for a server position was asked, “You have just arrived to your shift and are still tying your apron when you see that the hostess has simultaneously seated all four of the tables in your section. One table is a family of five with three small kids; one table is a pair of Swedish models who do not speak English. The third table is a group of four businessmen who appear to be in a rush, and you also have a table seated with an older couple who are your “regulars” – they’ve just returned from vacation and have tons of pictures to show you. What do you do first, second and third, fourth and fifth ... and why?”

Do you have some killer interview questions? Share by leaving a comment below.

–Lauren Vasquez, Associate Editor