I remember being in a job interview and getting this question: What was your favorite childhood cartoon character?

I had prepared for all the routine questions one typically gets when interviewing for recruiter roles, but this one took me aback.

Why is this person asking it?

Should I tell the truth, or is there a better answer he is looking for?

This seemingly simple question did throw me off balance.

I answered Wilma Flintstone. I think I mentioned she was independent, resourceful, and loved her family.

What is a good answer? I don’t know. In the end, I didn’t end up getting the job.

You may find yourself in the same situation. What should you do if you get a curveball question or even an illegal one? I will provide several strategies so you can feel empowered and not thrown off balance like I was.

Curveball or Inappropriate/Illegal Interview Questions

Depending on the organization’s recruitment practices, the interviews may only need to ask a set group of questions or may have leeway to ask whatever they want. In the latter situation, you may get these odd or illegal questions.

Unrelated Questions: These are questions like what my favorite childhood cartoon character was. They are irrelevant to your experience, knowledge, or skills to do the job. Often, the interviewer asks these questions to see how the interviewee thinks on their feet, is creative, or has problem-solving skills. Or they may just want to break the ice in an interview. Whether these are good questions to ask is up for debate. 

Other questions that would fall into this category:

• If you were a color, what color would you be?

• If your plane crashed on a deserted island, and you could only get three things from the plans, what would they be?

• If you had to eliminate one of your five senses, which one would it be and why?

Illegal Questions: Some questions are illegal in the US and other countries. In the US, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination in any area of employment covered by the act. Those main areas are race, color, national origin, religion, and sex. Additional laws prohibit discrimination based on age and disability, and some states and localities have outlawed discrimination based on sexual orientation or marital status. Job seekers should know the laws for their location.

Prohibited questions include:

• Where were you born?

• Do you observe any religious holidays?

• Do you have children or plan to have children?

Responding to Seemingly Unrelated Questions

You have several options for responding to a question that seems unrelated to the role.

• If the question doesn’t bother you, then answer it. Playing along with the interviewer can show you have a sense of humor and are not rattled by the unexpected. When answering, you should try the following:

• Stay calm and composed. Even if you do not have an immediate answer, don’t let any stress show.

• If you are unsure what to answer, you can think aloud and demonstrate your problem-solving process. For example, if you were asked how many utility covers there are in a city, you could answer this way:

• Estimate the city’s population.

• Estimate the city area.

• Where are utility covers found, and how many are used per square mile?

• Estimate utility density.

• Then, with assumptions, calculate the number.

• Try to answer as authentically as possible. Remember, if the interviewer wants to learn about who you are and how you think to understand fit, you should let them see this.

• If you can, relate the answer to the job.

• Asking for clarification: If the question doesn’t sit well with you, you can always ask for clarification as to its purpose. Maybe there is a reasonable explanation. "I'm not sure how this relates to the role, but perhaps you could tell me more about what you hope to learn?"

• Acknowledge and Redirect: If you want to avoid answering this question, then a strategy, though not without risks, is to say, "I have never been asked that question before. It seems you want to know about my ability to think on the spot. Let me give you an example of that (and then tell a STAR (Situation-Task-Acrion-Result) story on the subject. Some interviews may appreciate your ability to respond differently to the question; others may be taken aback that you would not answer it.

Responding to Illegal Questions

In my experience as a former recruiter, some interviewers know exactly what they are doing when asking these questions, but many ask out of ignorance of the laws. Therefore, consider this as you decide how to answer.

• You may choose to answer it. It is not illegal to answer the question. It is unlawful if the organization uses the information to decide whether to hire you or not. You may decide that the answer you will provide is unlikely to be used against you, so you choose not to make a fuss and answer.

• You can explain that you are uncomfortable answering the question. State your discomfort with the question, such as "I'm uncomfortable discussing my [marital status/childcare situation] in this interview. It is not relevant to whether I can do this job,” and confirm that you do meet the role's requirements. This allows you to pivot to show your value to this interviewer. 

• You can let the interviewer know that the question they asked is illegal by saying, “You may not be aware, but the question you asked is illegal.” You may get an apology for asking it, and the interviewer will move on to the next question. Others may not care that it is illegal and reaffirm that they want you to answer the question. That may lead you to the next option.

• You always have the right to leave the interview if a question is offensive or discriminatory.  "I appreciate you speaking with me, but we should end this interview."

Remember, You're in Control

While you cannot control what questions are asked of you in an interview, you do control how you respond (or don’t). You do not have to answer a question that doesn’t sit right with you. You can refuse to answer it, or you can be like many politicians and give an answer to a different question. You do have a choice. Choose what you feel is right for you.

Conclusion

Interviews should always be a two-way street; the interviewer is learning about you, and you are learning about them. When you are asked a curveball question or an illegal one, it tells a lot about the organization and the interviewer. Use that information to help you decide if this is the right place for you.

Shelley Piedmont is a Career Coach who focuses on understanding your unique skills, interests, and aspirations and provides personalized coaching to guide you toward roles where you can truly thrive. Whether you are stuck as to what your next career move should be or need help with resumes, LinkedIn profiles, or interview preparation, Shelley is here to help you. Please set up an exploratory call to find out how she can help you reach your career goals.