Updated: January 2021

Job interviews will naturally include lots of questions from the interviewer. But were you aware that some of those questions are trick questions? With the job market being as competitive as it is, you don’t want to leave anything to chance. In this blog post we will explain the 5 types of trick interview questions that are designed to make you fail. We will also share what the interviewer is looking for and strategies for answering trick interview questions.

Why Employers Ask Trick Interview Questions

For most people, interviewing is the most stressful aspect of their job search. There are a number of ways to make sure you’re prepared for your interview but what happens when you encounter trick interview questions or tactics designed to make you fail? In an effort to see just how well you perform under pressure, many employers utilize tactics intended to turn your stress levels up to an 11. While these techniques can be daunting, surprising, and intimidating, by recognizing them for what they are and preparing appropriately you can show how you’re able to not just survive, but also thrive under pressure.

1. Unanswerable Questions

This is a common standby for many interviewers. A typical example is, “How many ping pong balls fit inside a 747?” among others. The first rule of answering unanswerable questions is: DON’T PANIC! In the vast majority of instances, the interviewer doesn’t care if you can really answer the question and probably wouldn’t know a right answer from a wrong one.

What the Interviewer Is Looking For

What they are looking for is your thought process and problem-solving abilities. Walk the interviewer through how you would theoretically go about solving the problem. You can substitute in approximated or fake numbers, as long as your logic is sound. In the case of this interview question, it’s showing your work and thought process that matters most.

2. Leading Questions

Leading questions, also referred to by some people as “trick questions,” are designed to lead you into saying something negative. They often come as follow-up questions, in which interviewers will typically try to bring your guard down by empathizing with the situation. One example might sound like this: “I’ve had supervisors like that before. How were you ever able to work with such a tough boss?”

What the Interviewer Is Looking For

The key to answering these questions is putting a positive spin on everything. You didn’t have a jerk of a boss – Your demanding boss helped you learn and grow into a better employee. You didn’t have personal conflicts at work – your interactions helped develop your customer service and conflict resolution skills.

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3. Stress Interviewing

Stress interviewing tactics can take many forms, from the cruel to the downright strange. Some stress interviewers will badger you, demean you, and sometimes even ignore you. These types of interviews are used to determine how you will handle unexpected or stressful situations and see if you can keep calm under pressure.

What the Interviewer Is Looking For

The key to answering stress interview questions is recognizing the tactic and knowing how to play your role. The ideal response is to try to ignore the tactics and focus on the substance of the questions. If you can maintain your calm and answer the questions you’re doing better than most.

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4. “Not Understanding” Your Answer

This is a technique that could be considered a style of stress interviewing but slightly less aggressive. By pretending not to understand your answer the interviewer is trying to make you second-guess yourself. It will take the form of a follow-up question and sound exactly like it’s called: “I’m not sure I understand. Explain.”

What the Interviewer Is Looking For

Follow your instincts, and stick to your prepared responses and you will be able to ace the interview. The worst thing you can do in this case is second-guess or contradict yourself. Be calm. Take a deep breath. Answer with confidence.

5. The Mock Pitch or Presentation Interview

Whether it is teaching a mock lesson, giving a presentation, or a sales pitch, this type of requirement can really ratchet up the stress levels during an interview. One of the most difficult aspects of this type of interview is dealing with unknowns.

What the Interviewer Is Looking For

The key is to use the information provided by the interviewer and fill in the gaps yourself. If giving a mock sales pitch, you may assume previous conversations with the prospective client as long as you are sure to mention it during the pitch.

The Bottom Line

Regardless of the trick questions or tactics that come your way during a job interview, remember that you landed the interview because you impressed them. Do your research, prepare your presentation, practice, and you will be ready to wow them.

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