How many recruiters does it take to change a lightbulb?
Hiring managers occasionally like to test a candidate’s problem-solving skills and encourage them to demonstrate examples of logical thinking. These questions might be designed to test how you think on your feet. Or how you handle pressure. Or simply whether you can stay calm when you’re not totally sure what to say yet. We’ve covered how to answer common interview questions, but what happens when you’re asked something more unconventional?
The good news is you’re not being judged on getting everything right. You’re being judged on how you approach it.
Here are a few of our favourite unconventional interview questions, and how to answer them…
Key takeaways from this article
- Reflect on your weaknesses positively. Employers want to see self-awareness, so frame your shortcomings as areas you're actively working to improve.
- Stay professional about past employers. When discussing your last job, focus on your desire for growth rather than complaining about a previous Manager or workplace.
- Use logical estimation for impossible questions. If you're asked how many basketballs fit in a bus, don't panic - just talk the interviewer through your problem-solving process.
- Keep your answers authentic. Don't rely heavily on overcomplicated jargon. Simplifying your answers shows real understanding and confidence.
Questions about your weaknesses
These tough interview questions are really about self-awareness. Not self-criticism.
What is your biggest weakness?
This is one of those questions people overthink. You don’t need a dramatic flaw — just something real, and a sense of how you’re working on it. And, avoid the usual clichés like “I work too hard” or “I’m a perfectionist”. Interviewers hear them constantly.
Example answer:
“I used to find delegating quite difficult because I liked to stay involved in everything. Over time I realised that wasn’t scalable, especially in team environments. I’ve worked on trusting others more and being clearer in how I hand work over, which has made a big difference.”
Can you tell me about a time you failed?
Nobody enjoys this one, but it comes up for a reason — employers want to see how you respond when things go wrong. Pick something real, keep it simple, and spend most of your answer on what changed afterwards.
Example answer:
“I underestimated how long a piece of work would take early in my career and ended up missing a deadline. I took responsibility, communicated it early, and adjusted the plan with my manager. Since then, I’ve improved how I scope work and build in buffer time.”
What would your manager say is your biggest weakness?
This is a slightly different angle on self-awareness — and it’s usually safer to keep it fairly light.
Example answer:
“They’d probably say I can be quite detail-focused, which means I sometimes spend longer than necessary polishing work. I’ve learned to balance that better by prioritising what actually needs refining versus what’s already good to go.”
How to answer: What are your weaknesses?
Questions about your previous jobs
This section is less about what happened — and more about how you talk about it.
Why are you leaving your current role?
Keep this forward-looking, not backwards-looking. Even if you’re frustrated in your current job, this isn’t the place to say it.
Example answer:
“I’ve learned a lot in my current role, but I’m ready for something with more responsibility and clearer progression. This role feels like a good next step in that direction.”
What was the worst part of your last job?
This can feel like a trap question — and in a way, it is. The key is to stay professional and avoid criticising individuals or the company directly.
Example answer:
“Some of the processes were quite slow, which sometimes made it harder to move quickly on projects. It’s helped me become more patient and structured, but I’m now looking for a more fast-paced environment.”
Why were you made redundant?
If redundancy is part of your story, keep it clear and matter-of-fact.
Example answer:
“The company went through a restructure and my role was affected. It was unexpected, but it gave me time to reflect on what I wanted next, and focus on finding the right long-term fit.”
10 good reasons for leaving a job (and how to explain them)
Questions about conflict and pressure
These tricky questions are about how you behave when things aren’t running smoothly.
Tell me about a difficult situation at work
This is where the STAR method usually comes in, but keep it natural — not robotic.
Example answer:
“A client changed their requirements close to a deadline, which meant we had to quickly rework parts of the project. I helped re-prioritise tasks, kept communication clear across the team, and made sure we still delivered on time.”
Tell me about a time you disagreed with a colleague
Pick a real example where you stayed calm under pressure and worked through the problem logically. You don’t need to overcomplicate it — clarity is what matters
Example answer:
“I’ve had situations where a colleague and I had different ideas about how to approach a task. We talked it through, compared both options, and ended up combining elements of each approach. It worked better than either idea on its own.”
How do you handle stress?
Avoid vague answers like “I work well under pressure” — it doesn’t really say anything.
Example answer:
“I stay organised and break work into smaller priorities so things feel more manageable. If things are particularly busy, I focus on communication and making sure expectations are clear.”
How to answer: Tell me about a time you’ve dealt with a difficult person
Questions about motivation and ambition
These are about fit — not just enthusiasm.
Why do you want this job?
This is where generic answers fall flat. Instead, you need to show you’ve done your research on the company and what they do.
Example answer:
“It stood out because it builds on the experience I already have, but also gives me the chance to take on more responsibility. I also like the focus on development and progression here.”
Why should we hire you over other applicants?
This is your summary moment — so always keep it grounded. ‘I’m just better than them’ probably won’t cut it…
Example answer:
“I bring a strong mix of experience and adaptability, and I’m confident I can contribute quickly. In my last role, I improved customer feedback processes, and I’d bring that same proactive approach here.”
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Keep it realistic. Not overly ambitious, not vague.
Example answer:
“I’d like to have progressed into a more senior role with more responsibility, ideally within a company where I can keep building my skills long term.”
How to answer: Why do you want to work here?
Five character questions, and the answers that will get you hired
Questions about salary and experience
These often feel awkward, but they don’t need to be.
What are your salary expectations?
To answer this question well, ensure you know salary benchmarks for the role you’re interviewing for (and your level of experience) in advance. Our advice? Don’t guess on the spot.
Example answer:
“Based on my experience and market research, I’d be looking at something in the £35,000 to £40,000 range, but I’m open to discussion depending on the overall package.”
Why is there a gap in your employment history?
Keep it simple and don’t over-explain; a clear, straightforward explanation is all you need. Save the life stories for your memoirs (or your diary).
Example answer:
“I took some time out for personal reasons and used the opportunity to upskill and think about my next move. I’m now ready to return to a full-time role.”
Why should we hire you if you don’t have direct experience?
This is about transferability, not apologies. You have the skills, you just need to show how they match up.
Example answer:
“While I don’t have direct experience in this exact role, I do have strong transferable skills in communication, organisation, and problem-solving. I also learn quickly and enjoy adapting to new environments.”
How to ask about salary in an interview
Questions designed to test your logic
These are less about knowledge and more about how you think.
How many basketballs can fit on a bus?
As with a lot of these questions, there isn’t a definitive answer. It’s really all about demonstrating a logical way of working them out
Example answer:
“I’d start by estimating the internal space of a bus, then the size of a basketball, and work out how many would fit based on volume. I’d explain my assumptions as I go.”
Some of our favourite answers from social media…
How many traffic lights are there in London?
Essentially, the answer is a lot. But it’s all about estimation and demonstrating logic in reaching the conclusion.
Example answer:
“I’d break it down by estimating junctions per borough, then scaling that across London, and multiplying by an average number of traffic lights per junction.”
Some of our favourite answers from social media…
How many piano tuners are there in the world?
Questions like this aren’t about the exact answer — and you’re not expected to know it. They’re testing how you break a problem down and make sensible assumptions under pressure.
Start by talking through your logic rather than trying to jump to a number straight away.
Example answer:
“I’d start by estimating how many pianos there are in the world, then consider how often they need tuning each year. From there, I’d estimate how many tunings one piano tuner could realistically do in a week and scale it up to get a rough figure.”
Some of our favourite answers from social media…
A man pulls up to a hotel in a silver car and realises he’s bankrupt. What happened?
Sometimes interviewers throw in riddles like this just to see how you react under pressure.
Don’t overthink it — they’re not testing your general knowledge, they’re testing how quickly you can switch gears.
Example answer:
“He was playing Monopoly.”
Simple as that. And yes, it’s usually meant to catch you off guard rather than see if you can outsmart the question.
Some of our favourite answers from social media…
Explain a database to an eight-year-old
Sometimes candidates rely too heavily on overcomplicated answers and technical jargon. This question relies on your ability to simplify things and being able to describe them in a succinct and concise way.
Example answer:
“A database is like a digital filing cabinet where information is stored neatly so it can be found quickly when you need it.”
Some of our favourite answers from social media…
If you could be any type of biscuit, what would you be?
Custard Cream. Always Custard Cream. But seriously, there is no right answer — just how you handle it.
Example answer:
“Probably a Hobnob — practical, reliable, and works in most situations.”
Some of our favourite answers from social media…
Frequently asked questions about difficult interview questions
Why do employers ask difficult interview questions?
They’re trying to understand how you think under pressure, how you solve problems, and how self-aware you are. It’s less about the answer, more about your approach.
What should I do if I don’t know the answer?
Don’t panic. Take a moment, think out loud, and explain how you would approach it. That’s usually what they’re looking for anyway.
How can I prepare?
Practise common questions, think of real examples from your experience, and get comfortable explaining your thought process out loud.
More interview questions
Of course, there are many different types of interview questions – and not all of them are intended to throw you a curveball.
So whether you’re looking on advice how to answer questions about your career goals, competency questions or character questions – we’ve got you covered.
And if you’re stuck for what to ask at the end of the interview, view our suggested job interview questions now.
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One response to “Difficult interview questions and answers”
The question to answer 4, is:
"A woman pulls up to a hotel in her silver car, and immediately realizes she's bankrupt. What just happened?"