“If you were an animal, what would you be?” usually arrives just after a run of sensible questions, which is partly why it throws people. The answer itself matters much less than how you get there: whether you pause, think, give a reason and connect it to the job. That can be practised.
Below is a five-step method for weird interview questions, followed by worked examples for six of the most common types and a note on when an “unusual” question is actually one you do not have to answer.
Why interviewers ask them at all
It is fair to be sceptical. Research on interviewing generally favours structured, job-related questions. The US Office of Personnel Management reports that more structured interviews, with questions based on competencies identified through job analysis, show higher validity and rater reliability than unstructured ones. Google’s then head of people operations said in 2013 that the company had found brainteasers “a complete waste of time” in hiring, as ABC News reported.
They still turn up, especially in graduate recruitment and creative or customer-facing roles. The University of Reading’s careers service lists examples supplied by a graduate recruitment agency, including what animal you would be, how you would explain Facebook to your grandmother, and whether you would rather fight one horse-sized duck or a hundred duck-sized horses. When they are asked, interviewers are generally looking for how you handle surprise, whether you can reason out loud, and a glimpse of personality.
The five-step method
Step 1: Pause and buy a few seconds
Take a breath. A short, honest holding line helps: “That’s a good one, give me a second.” The University of Brighton’s careers service points out that the interviewer “won’t expect a quick answer to a question you can’t have prepared for,” and suggests forming your answer in your head before speaking.
Step 2: Work out which kind of question it is
Most odd questions fall into a few types, and each tests something slightly different.
| Type | Example | What it usually tests |
|---|---|---|
| Self-description by metaphor | “If you were an animal / a kitchen utensil / a colour…” | Self-awareness, ability to explain a choice |
| Creativity | “Give me five uses for a drawing pin.” | Fluency of ideas, practical imagination |
| Self-presentation | “If a newspaper wrote about you, what would the headline be?” | What you want to be known for |
| Explanation | “Explain Facebook to your grandmother.” | Communication with non-experts |
| Absurd choice | “Horse-sized duck or 100 duck-sized horses?” | Reasoning under silliness, composure |
| Values dilemma | “Would you run a red light to get an injured friend to hospital?” | Judgement, ethics, how you weigh risks |
Estimation puzzles such as “How many golf balls fit in a plane?” are a separate type with their own method, built around stating assumptions and doing rough arithmetic out loud.
Step 3: Pick an answer you can justify
Choose the option you can explain best, not the one you think is cleverest. Brighton’s guidance stresses that there are no absolute right or wrong answers, so your opinion is legitimate. What matters is that the reason is yours and makes sense.
Step 4: Give the reason, out loud
The reasoning is the answer. One or two sentences explaining why turn a random choice into evidence about how you think.
Step 5: Land it on the job
Finish with a light link to the role or your work, without forcing it. Brighton suggests thinking about the company’s work and the role you would take on. One sentence is enough; a heavy-handed sales pitch undoes the natural tone.
Worked examples
All the answers below are illustrative. Use them to see the method, then build your own.
“If you were an animal, what would you be?”
“Probably a border collie. They’re happiest with a clear job to do, they keep track of a lot of moving parts at once, and they work closely with people. That’s honestly how I am in operations work: I like having a defined goal and keeping everything moving towards it.”
Why it works: an unexpected choice, three concrete reasons, and a short link to the candidate’s field. Avoid predators chosen to sound strong unless you can give a reason that is about how you work, not about dominance.
“Give me five uses for a drawing pin.”
“Pinning a notice, obviously. Marking a point on a map. Making a small hole to vent a bottle. Using it as a tiny hook for a key. And as a reset tool for a device with a pinhole button, although a paper clip is safer. If you gave me a minute I could probably find another five.”
Why it works: it starts with the obvious one and moves on quickly, shows range, and includes a practical safety thought. Count them out on your fingers if that helps you keep track.
“What would the headline be if a newspaper wrote about you?”
“‘Local nurse cuts clinic waiting list by a third.’ That’s not true yet, but it’s the kind of thing I’d want to be known for: practical changes that make a visible difference for patients.”
Why it works: it is aspirational but honest, and it says what the candidate values. Avoid headlines about fame or wealth.
“Explain Facebook to your grandmother.”
“I’d say it’s like a noticeboard in the community centre, but everyone has their own. You pin up photos and news, your friends and family can see your board, and they can leave you a note. And I’d show her on her phone, because showing usually works better than telling.”
Why it works: it uses a familiar comparison, keeps to three ideas and ends with a practical teaching step. This is really a communication question in disguise.
“Would you rather fight one horse-sized duck or a hundred duck-sized horses?”
“The hundred small horses. One horse-sized duck is a single big risk I can’t control. A hundred small horses are lots of small problems, and I’d rather deal with problems I can break down and handle one at a time. That’s roughly how I approach a big backlog at work too.”
Why it works: it treats a silly question with good humour and a real reason, and the link to work is light.
“Would you run a red light to get an injured friend to hospital?”
“I’d call an ambulance first, because they’re trained and can start treatment on the way. If that genuinely wasn’t possible, I’d still not run a red light at speed, because causing a second accident helps nobody. I’d drive carefully and quickly and let the hospital know we were coming.”
Why it works: it questions the premise sensibly, puts safety first and shows a clear order of priorities. With dilemma questions, interviewers usually care more about your reasoning than your verdict.
When an odd question is really an inappropriate one
Some questions sound quirky but touch on personal characteristics that should not influence hiring, such as “Which religious holiday do you most enjoy?” or “What does your family think about you working abroad?”
In the UAE, as of November 2026, Article 4(1) of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, national or social origin or disability that would impair equality of opportunity in employment. Other countries have their own rules. If a question seems aimed at one of these areas, you can answer briefly and steer back to the job (“I’m happy to work the schedule this role needs”), or politely ask how it relates to the role. This is general information, not legal advice; for UAE employment concerns, contact the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation on 600590000.
How to practise
- Write ten odd questions on cards, drawn from the types in the table above.
- Draw one at random, give yourself five seconds, then answer out loud in under a minute.
- Record yourself on your phone and check: did you give a reason? Did you finish cleanly?
- Repeat with a friend asking the questions, so the surprise is real.
Brighton’s advice is simply to practise beforehand if these questions are hard for you; its phrase is “Limber up your mind!” Fifteen minutes of this the evening before an interview makes a noticeable difference to how calmly you respond.
Your more conventional answers still carry the most weight, so make sure your CV supports the stories you plan to tell. The ATS resume score checker can help you check that your CV covers the keywords in the job description, and the student resume builder page is useful if you are applying for graduate roles where these questions are most common.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a right animal to choose?
No. Interviewers are listening to the reason, not the animal. An unusual choice with a clear, job-relevant reason will do better than a “safe” choice such as a lion with a generic explanation about leadership.
Can I ask for a moment to think?
Yes. As Step 1 explains, a short holding line and a few seconds of silence are normal; interviewers know you could not have prepared for the question.
Should I make a joke?
A light touch is fine if it comes naturally, but follow it with a real answer. A joke on its own looks like avoidance.
Do these questions really predict job performance?
There is little evidence that they do. OPM’s summary of the research favours structured questions based on the competencies a job needs, and Google publicly dropped brainteasers in 2013. Many employers still ask odd questions, so it is worth being ready.
Sources
- How to address more ‘unusual’ interview questions (University of Brighton Careers Service)
- Bizarre interview questions (University of Reading Careers)
- Google Skips ‘Waste of Time’ Brainteaser Interview Questions (ABC News)
- Structured Interviews (US Office of Personnel Management)
- Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 Regarding the Regulation of Employment Relationship and its amendments (UAE Government (u.ae) / Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation)