Some of the best job interview questions I've been asked during a job interview

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Over the years, I’ve had to hold and attend various job interviews. Some have gone better than others, and even fewer have been successful in landing me the job. 

Most of the time, I encounter many of the same questions: Tell me about yourself, What your process is, How do you manage multiple projects, etc. They can all blend or are usually straightforward.

Then, I might receive a curveball.

Most interviewers want to come to the same conclusion about a candidate: Is this person right for the job? It might not seem like a lot to answer, but when you factor in personality, work ethic, independence, it can be tricky to find a precise answer.

I enjoy the curveball questions. I usually don’t expect them, yet I can think of why they want to know a particular answer and what the interviewer wants to know. Most interviewers don’t want to know what type of office furniture you associate with, just that you can be creative, think on your feet, and how you process the information and tasks given to you.

Regardless, there are a few questions that have stuck out and with me for years—some more recently than others—but most are genius ways to interpret new information.

The best job interview questions

How do you define professionalism?

I think this question addresses many aspects of appealing yourself to the interviewer(s). It’s not the standard, ‘What is your ideal work environment?’ or something of a similar nature, but more of how you act in our environment.

This question might not apply to every job interview, but it’s an interesting interpretation for the interviewers to ask regardless. Not only does it tell how vital professionalism is to the candidate, but it lets them know if this candidate can represent the company they’re applying for adequately. 

What is your favorite project to (have) work(ed) on?

I imagine everyone has a favorite project or type of project to work on in their job. I still refer to a project that I finished throughout my college career in an information graphics class. I’ve referenced this project and information graphics as some of my favorite projects.

I enjoy answering this question because it shows the interviewer what you are passionate about and how they can expect you to work on projects in the future. I can potentially portray that I prefer intricate projects with a lot of data to work through and a potential style that I might emulate in my designs. For others, it might show how creative they can be or where they could be the happiest.

Who was your favorite boss/supervisor, and why?

This question isn’t to trap you into saying your current boss. When an interviewer asks this job interview question, I tend to think about the culture my boss wanted to show to the group or me at the time. You can say things that aren’t very flattering about this boss as well, but mainly the point is to determine how you will work with authority and collaborate with others.

Focus more on how this relationship might have helped or what you wanted to repeat in your next role(s) when answering this job interview question. I would suggest thinking about the rule of three and offering three reasons why this boss was so important or influential for your career.

Why do you want to work (fill in the blank)?

When I was asked this job interview question or heard it asked, the interviewer referred to the university setting I was entering. If you’re entering into a new industry, such as education or a specific niche, it’s essential to know why you want to continue your career in a particular direction. Not only does it answer more of why you want to work at that specific job, but it also helps them know where you want to go with your career.

I enjoy answering this question because it shows you had more forethought in applying for the position rather than just applying for another job for a paycheck. You have to consider more aspects and skillsets when replying, so you’re usually talking about goals and aspirations this job can give you in the future. 

What’s the most recent book you’ve read?

For me, this is a fair job interview question to answer since I love reading. For others who don’t enjoy reading, you can volunteer your last podcast or audiobook.

I consider this job interview question as more of a piece of proof that you can focus on something or what your interests are besides work. For me, my interests usually revolve around business, finance, and self-help books, but if your interests don’t, try to keep this answer light and show what you are learning from reading (or listening) to something new. 

While I usually get standard, professional questions, sometimes it gets strange. Note that these questions don’t show their reasons after the fact, but it’s a bit disconcerting at the moment.

Regardless, I loved these questions. I wish more interviewers would ask them in this format, even if it’s just to break the ‘formal’ ice.  

Some of the more unique job interview questions

If you were a piece of furniture, what would you be and why?

When I was applying for a position with a collegiate student organization, a panelist asked me this. I knew an odd question would come up, as the panel mainly consisted of some of my friends, but I wasn’t sure how it would take shape.

I think I chuckled a bit before answering this question and had to pause while thinking about my answer. I remember answering ‘a bookshelf’ because of my love of reading, learning, being introverted, and wanting to do various things in my life and career. 

If asked something like this, I encourage you to imagine your dream house/room/environment and illustrate what you would associate the most. Remember to keep your answer professional and concise.

If you were a mythical/magical creature, what would you be and why?

When I conducted a job interview, an interviewee asked this question, and it cemented itself into my brain. They asked the job interview question at the end to a panel of me and my colleagues, and it left the interview ending on an uplifting note.

I can’t remember my answer, but everyone relaxed and tried to think of various responses to give to the candidate. 

This interview question was a great question to ask, instead of the typical, “What is it like working with the department?” Not only was it creative, but it was also helpful for the candidate to see how we responded to her question in a less formal atmosphere. 

What fictional character do you identify with and why?

This question was for an essay response to one of my college entry essays. I include it here because I feel like it’s a great way to learn more about your candidate’s or employer’s interests and personality. 

When I wrote the essay, it was about Fanny Price from Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park. I was an avid Jane Austen fan during high school and knew her works would work well with what I was doing. They also helped me when writing during the AP test for English Lit.

I would think of a few staples beforehand in this case. Learn about characters, household items, art, technology, etc., that you might associate yourself with, and think of why. This way, you can convey a persona to your interviewer(s) and seem more collected when answering.

There you have it! I’d love to hear more about any odd or different interview questions you’ve had when being interviewed or interviewing a new candidate in the comments below!