So, you’ve prepped for your interview and potential interview questions. You’ve got your answers to “Tell me about yourself” and “What’s your biggest weakness?” locked and loaded. You’re feeling confident. Then the interviewer hits you with:
👉 “If you were a kitchen appliance, which one would you be?”
Wait, what?
Weird interview questions aren’t just designed to throw you off—they’re a sneaky way to test how you think under pressure, how creative you are, and whether you can handle the unexpected. (Which, let’s be real, is most jobs.)
And here’s the thing: If you’re applying to big companies like Google, Amazon, or Microsoft, you’re almost guaranteed to get a curveball question.
So, let’s break down some of the strangest interview questions, what they actually mean, and how to handle them like a pro.
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1. “If you were a kitchen appliance, which one would you be?”
What they’re really asking: Are you self-aware? Can you think on your feet? Also, can you make it interesting?
How to answer: Pick something that relates to your strengths.
- A coffee machine? Reliable, full of energy, and helps people get things done.
- A fridge? Keeps things cool under pressure.
- A toaster? Steady, reliable, and makes something amazing out of the basics.
(Just don’t say dishwasher. Saying “I clean up other people’s messes” makes you sound like a reluctant intern.)
Oh, and if you’re aiming for a role at Apple or Meta, expect even weirder interview questions that test your creativity.
2. “How many tennis balls fit in a school bus?”
What they’re really asking: Can you break down a problem logically, even if you don’t know the exact answer?
How to answer: This is about process, not accuracy. You’re not expected to know the actual number—unless, for some reason, you do, in which case I have follow-up questions.
Walk them through it:
- “Okay, a school bus is about 10m long, 2.5m wide, and 2.5m high. That’s roughly 62 cubic meters.”
- “A tennis ball is about 6.7cm in diameter, so its volume is roughly 300 cubic cm.”
- “Ignoring seats and gaps, you could fit roughly 200,000 tennis balls in there.”
Boom. You didn’t just throw out a random number—you showed structured thinking. And that’s what they actually care about.
(Btw, if you’re looking for software engineering roles, check out Netflix and Tesla. They love logic-based interview questions.)
3. “How would you explain the internet to a caveman?”
What they’re really asking: Can you simplify complex ideas for different audiences?
How to answer: Keep it simple, visual, and relatable.
- “Imagine you had a magical cave where you could paint pictures of everything in the world, and every other cave could instantly see them. That’s kind of like the internet.”
Or, if you’re feeling extra bold:
- “It’s like sending smoke signals, but instantly, to anywhere in the world.”
(Although, now I’m wondering—do cavemen really need to know about the internet? Wouldn’t they be more interested in, like, fire and food? Priorities.)
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4. “If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?”
What they’re really asking: What inspires you? Do you actually care about things outside of work?
How to answer: Pick someone relevant to the role or your interests, but also make it personal.
- “Marie Curie—because she revolutionized science despite insane challenges, and I’d love to know how she kept going.”
- “Alan Turing—because he basically invented modern computing and never got the credit he deserved in his lifetime.”
- “Anthony Bourdain—because we’d eat incredible food and talk about life in the realest way possible.”
(Personally, I’d love to have dinner with Nikola Tesla, but I imagine he’d spend the whole time ranting about Edison and wireless electricity. Could be fun, though.)
5. “If you were the size of a hamster, how would you escape from a shoebox?”
What they’re really asking: Are you a creative problem-solver, or do you panic under pressure?
How to answer:
- First, ask questions. “Is the lid on? Is there a hole in the box? Can I gnaw my way out?” (Buying yourself time.)
- Then, get logical. “If there’s a gap, I’d squeeze through. If not, I’d try to tip it over by running side to side. Or, if there’s tape on the lid, I’d try scratching at the edges.”
The point is, they want to see how you react when thrown into the deep end. Keep your cool, break down the problem, and show them you can handle a curveball.
(Also, why am I a hamster? What happened? I have follow-up questions for them now.)
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Final Thoughts
Weird interview questions aren’t about right or wrong answers. They’re about how you think, how you react under pressure, and whether you can make something out of nothing.
So, when faced with one:
✅ Stay calm
✅ Think out loud
✅ Show logic, creativity, or both
And most importantly—have fun with it. If you can laugh and roll with the punches, chances are you’re exactly the kind of person they want to hire.
If you’re gearing up for an interview at any of the Big 7, here are their official career pages:
Got a weird interview question you’ve faced? Drop it in the comments—let’s decode it together.
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