I’ve written before about the role of preparation in having a successful interview. For the most part, if you carefully review the position you are interviewing for and gather basic information, you can anticipate the kinds of questions that you’re going to be asked. You can expect to be asked questions about your academic background and work experience, what you’re looking for in an organization, and why you are interested in this particular organization.
But at some point, you may be asked questions that you might think are irrelevant – questions that don’t seem related to the job.
Here are some examples:
- What movies have you seen lately?
- What kind of books do you like to read?
- What kind of food do you like?
- Where have you traveled?
You might feel confused because you think these questions are not about the position or the company. You might feel at a disadvantage because you weren’t expecting these questions.
How to Respond
It’s important to remember what the interviewer might be looking for. They may be interested in how you respond to a question that you haven’t prepared to answer. They could be assessing how well you think on your feet. They could also be assessing how well-rounded you are as an individual. Remember, not only are they filling an open position, but they are also bringing a new person into their group. They may want to know how you might fit into the group beyond your work skills. So, there is a reasonable rationale for them to ask you questions that aren’t specifically about the position.
In this situation, it’s always good to take a short pause, remember the preparation you have done, and keep in mind the key points you want the interviewer to take away from the discussion. Think of this as a different kind of opportunity to let them know more about you.
Craft your answer so that your response enhances the message that you’d like to leave with the interviewer. if you’re asked about movies, you can certainly share appropriate movies you like, but be sure you explain why you like them. If it makes sense, relate this to some aspect of your professional interests and possibly the organization’s goals.
If you are asked about something you haven’t experienced, take advantage of the opportunity to share the types of experiences you’d like to have and why. For example, if you are asked, “What countries have you visited outside of the US?” and you haven’t done any international travel, rather than just responding that you haven’t been outside of the US, you could respond: “I haven’t yet had the opportunity to travel outside of the US, but when I do I would like to visit ‘country x” because I like ‘y.’ Also, you could add other experiences that you have had: “While I haven’t traveled outside the US, I have traveled extensively throughout the southern states,” or “I have traveled to 10 states as part of my basketball league.”
Keep It Professional
Remember that even though you’re being asked about “extracurricular” activities, this is not the time to relax into a more ‘casual’ mode. Maintain your professional demeanor. The interviewer wants to get to know you, but they must do this in the context of the role you are interviewing for. Keep your focus on communicating your value to your interviewer using all the opportunities they give you.
At Command the Interview, we help our clients work through these challenges. Our objective is to have our clients prepared to maintain focus throughout the interview and not be stumped by unexpected questions. If you or someone you know could use help with this, contact us at kerrie@commandtheinterview.com.