What is the dumbest question you have ever been asked for a job?

Question

I was once asked, as part of a police officer interview by Olathe Kansas police, "In a no-holds barred fight, could you hold your own?"

WTF?!?!

I am 6'1" 250lbs and a kickboxer. I could have taken both the cops interviewing me

Answer 1

me not so far

Answer 2

Actually, that question is quite relevant to the job you were applying for. Sometimes, it does come down to "no holds barred" fighting. As long as all other feasible options have been exhausted, the use of extreme force is quite acceptable.

The dumbest question I've been asked was "Have you ever had sexual contact with an animal?" for an interview as a corrections officer (No, by the way).
And that wasn't really dumb. Just...strange.

Answer 3

I always loved the questions when you are interviewing for a fast food job as a teenager, "where do you see yourself with the company in the future?" What do you say to that? "Well, I will be an extremely dedicated employee, and as such, never see myself leaving. In fact, someday, I wish to be Ronald McDonald himself!" I'm gonna work at this dump until I find something better in life like college or a higher paying job, what do you think?

Or, "Why do you want this job?" Well, it's here and I need the money. These are extremely good questions when intervening for higher positions, but for fast food???

Answer 4

I was interviewing for a job as an administrative assistant at a distribution company. The interviewer asked me how I would create a spreadsheet that could show the customer the price we were charging them, and not the actual product cost (we wouldn't want them to know we were profiting off them now would we). I kept throwing out suggestion after suggestion, including taking time to explore the options the spreadsheet program provides. After about 10 minutes of me fumbling around and him telling me that my ideas wouldn't work, he told me the correct answer - "You should come to me and I will show you how to do it". I know teamwork is important and all, but I thought that employers look for motivated workers who are intelligent enough to find the answers for themselves. I guess I was wrong.

Answer 5

I personally dont see how that was a dumb question...unless it was blatantly obvious you could (ex: You stand 9'3, weigh 350 lbs and bench press trucks).

When a cop gets into a fight with a suspect it is a no holds barred fight where he very well may be trying to kill you. What happens if you have no back up for a few minutes? Can you hold your own?

Answer 6

When I applied for a IT job I was asked the following:

"If you could be any animal, what would you be?"

I almost rolled my eyes but I went along with it and I said I'd be a cheetah. Then they asked "Why" and I almost rolled my eyes again, and said "Because they are quick and accurate hunters, such as I am quick and accurate on the computer."

I took their stupid question and gave them a smart answer.

I got the job. Nonetheless it was a retarded question, what do job interviewers think they are psychologists now and can read people by what animal they would want to be? Retarded lol. :D

Answer 7

It wasn't so much a question I was asked but a comment an interviewer made to me. He initially asked what I was earning at my last position. After I told him, he asked me to produce pay statements. I was surprised as no ever requested that. He then told that I should come to an interview with pay statements to prove it. I was speechless! I found it totally forward and inappropriate to expect someone to have to do that! I didn't bother to followup on that interview.

Answer 8

As part of the interview for a sales position the person interviewing me handed me a glass paperweight from her desk and told me to sell it to her. She said because I didnt have any knowledge of the paperweight she thought I would not be a good salesman and declined to hire me. I went to work for the competition and am running my own store and directly challenging her now in the marlet place.

Answer 9

I think that's a pretty valid question. They want to know how tough you are. I was once asked in a job interview for a bakery if I knew how to count. Not so valid, very insulting.

Answer 10

When I worked at a restaurant in my interview they asked me if I enjoyed the company of elderly people.

Answer 11

Sorry I can't top that one but I always hate the "what are your weaknesses?" and who can't forget "what do you hope to bring to the company". It was a Walmart for heavens sakes, I'm sure what I couldn't bring to the company, the 16 year old would make up for it.