How To Prepare Yourself For The Offbeat Interview Question

Doing well in an interview is the result of many things, ranging from the first impressions you make with your physical appearance (body language) to how well you communicate and respond to the interview questions.

How To Prepare Yourself For The Offbeat Interview Question

Get daily updates directly to your inbox

Doing well in an interview is the result of many things, ranging from the first impressions you make with your physical appearance (body language) to how well you communicate and respond to the interview questions.

Watch: How To Handle Tough Interview Questions

There are the predictable questions, such as “What are your greatest strengths/weaknesses?” and then there are the offbeat questions that may make your nerves rattle and leave you dazed as to how to respond diplomatically and professionally.

The fact is, there isn’t going to be a correct answer to offbeat questions, only a correct response. Such questions are usually asked to help the employer understand how well you handle tough situations and how you think through solutions. Are you one to get rattled and break down in communication when stumped with an odd question, or do you stay calm, cool and collected, maintaining confidence and a positive attitude?

There’s no real way to prepare for the oddball questions because they are “offbeat,” but what you can do is ensure your communication and responses to such questions leave a positive message that helps the employer develop the best possible impression of you.

Here are a few tips to help you maintain positive communication and composure during job interviews regardless of what questions are asked:

Think Positive And Keep Your Tone And Responses Positive

Your mission is to make yourself desirable to the employer based on your experience, talent and skills. If you focus on what you have to offer and express confidence and a positive tone, the employer will develop a much better impression in your favor than if you touch on negative points that may make you less favorable of a candidate.

Even when questions are asked about your weaknesses, your mission is to address the question directly and immediately turn it to a more positive note such as how you would work through the problem and address it.

Don’t Restate The Negative

Just because an employer positions a question a specific way that may connote the negative, do not follow that lead in your response. For instance, avoid stating “My greatest weakness is… ” Instead, respond by jumping right into what you have done to address the issue and how it has helped you succeed. This approach helps you avoid jumping around the question but puts the focus of the key message on an area that is an advantage for you.

Turn To Your Creative Side And Humor

Not all questions in an interview require a serious response. Offbeat questions are often times asked by employers to test your creativity and humor.  Demonstrate your ability to think on your feet. Also, find ways in which you can relate it back to the job. The important thing is to not let these types of questions stump you, and the best way to do that is to take in the question with a bit of humor and respond in the same manner.

Never Say, “I Don’t Know.”

Such a response implies to an employer that you are unprepared and give up easily to challenges, which isn’t the ideal impression you want to make. Take a moment to process the question and analyze how you can respond back in a way to further express your character while possibly tying it back to your capabilities for the job.

In such situations, it may also help to think out loud. Such an approach helps you walk the employer through your thinking process rather than have dead silence in the air for too long.

The key to doing well in a job interview as it relates to communication and your response to questions is to remain poised and self-assured. While the question may appear to be an approach by the employer to knock you off of your feet, remain positive and calm in your response.

Also, always give a response that ties back to how you are the most fit for the job.

Want to work with the #1 Rated Resume Writing Service in 2013 & 2014?

If you want to cut your job search time and make sure your resume is noticed, then check out our Resume Writing Service. Get a Free Resume Evaluation or call me at 800.909.0109 for more information.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

 

Rate this blog entry:

Like what you're reading? Subscribe to our top stories.

 

Published from

Report this post

Add blog
 

What do you think ? Comment below

No comments made yet. Be the first to submit a comment

Comments

Pure Jobs Blogger
Already Registered? Login Here
Guest
Saturday, 14 December 2024
How To Stop Work Stress In 5 Ways
5 Steps To Finding Your Work Passion

Popular on Pure Jobs

Most popular

It is commonly thought that first impressions in business are the impressions provided by employe...
Sarah Ellis
06 July 2017
Making a little bit of extra money from home need not be difficult. There are plenty of ways to e...
Sarah Ellis
13 June 2017
How does your resume score?
How does your resume score? See how your resume stacks up. Submit now.

Career news, advice and insights -Purejobs

Poll

How Long Have You Been Job Searching?

Feed

Subscribe To Us And Stay Updated with the latest career advice on pure-jobs.com.

Related post

Follow us:

Advertise with us

Would you like to advertise here? Place your banner or link here.



Subscribe to updates from our blog

PLEASE NOTE! WE USE COOKIES AND SIMILAR TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE BEST USER EXPERIENCES

However, by continuing to use the site without changing settings, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.