Read the article: http://www.hrguru.com/news/950-do-bizarre-interview-questions-serve-a-purpose

I think that it gives insight to a persons personality. Alot of questions asked during interviews are standard and many people have the ability to memorize their answers, or bullet points that they will use to create their answers. This tactic throws them off balance and makes them think on their feet.

I can see where different questions used properly could serve a purpose.  But you can get carried away with anything.  I agree with those that serve a definite purpose, such as finding out if you would do research or knock on the door.  That is a great way to see if you're getting the right type of employee for your particular environment.  It shows creativity, and I agree that we need more of that in the interviewing process.  People do memorize the answers to the standard questions, rendering the current interview style pretty much worthless.

They can be very resourceful in developing your analysis of your candidate.   But think first of all the possible answers you might get and be sure you don't get a preponderence of answers that might deal with protected information as you don't want an "off-the-wall" question to lead to legal problems.

Also, keep in mind that if you are getting memorized or standardized answers, then you are probably asking questions that are too general, less focused and not situationaly or behaviourly oriented.  

Also, before you use a bizarre question, run it by a lot of people like recruiters, psychologists, current employees, etc., and determine what the various types of answers might mean.  Focus groups can be very good for this.  This will help you keep from developing a bizarre question on your own that may have significant cultural or socio-economic biases in it.

Tonight I surveyed 20 of my contacts whom I have recruited in the past and asked them to answer this question honestly had their last interviewer actually asked these questions.   Here are the best possible answers and also the most problematic.   This is not a scientific survey.

1  -   If you were a type of food, what type of food would you be?

• Baby, I bet you know that answer already?  Did you see me walk into this room or not?   Why, you know I'd be the best rump roast you ever had!


• Butter, of course, and that would make Paula Deen very happy?

2  -   If you had only six months left to live, what would you do with the time?

• I'd like to ensure I get to Heaven.  I mean wouldn't you be worried about your eternal life and soul and not this silly job interview?


• My life insurance policy has a clause for terminal illnesses.  I can get 80% of my life insurance now.  I'm going to plan a great vacation with the wife and kids, ensure the kid's college tuition is taken care of, help my wife set up some annuities, and I'm going to buy myself a toy.  I've always wanted a radio controlled airplane. 

3  -   If you could compare yourself with any animal, which would it be and why?

• I'd be an eagle.  I'd soar to great heights and have the best perspective on all the opportunities that lay before me.


• Baby, I bet you know the answer to that question too!   With hips like these you know I'd have to be a hippopatamus.  You got a problem with that?  Say, what you got against full figured women anyhow?   Oh no, no, I'm not liken the way this is going!

4  -  If you could have dinner with a famous historical figure, who would it be?

• Hitler.  It would have to be Hitler.  Why you ask?  So I could stick my knife and fork in the SO%$%$ and get revenge for the family members of mine he exterminated.   And how is this relevant to my qualifications for this job?


• Abraham Lincoln would be my choice.   I like the way he used different forms of communications based upon his evaluation of the personalities of the people he commanded.   I'd like to ask him questions on how he figured people out.

5  -  If you were a car, what type would you be?

• Ferarri!  Bright red to match my dress, my lips, my hair and the red-hot blood pulsing in my veins.  One high-performance machine if you know what I mean!   Vroom !!   Vroom !!


• I'd be a prius!  Why we Americans need to be less selfish and understand we need to the save the planet from the greed and indulgence and wanton, rampant wastefulness that has become the American standard. 

6  -  If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?

• I'd like to be the apostle Paul, he's a real super-hero to me!


• I'd like to be invisible.  Then I could see what everyone is up to and they wouldn't know it.

7  -  See this pen? You have 5 minutes to sell it to me.

• Nobody answered this question, although a few commented that this is about the only question they would accept as being appropriate.

Food for thought?