ADVERTISEMENT

When you put on your best suit and go to a job interview, there’s bound to be a handful of butterflies fluttering somewhere inside your belly. A few of those are most likely anxiety butterflies, but the others are excitement. Wow! You’re gonna shine at that interview! This is gonna be the best job ever! Right..?

Here’s the thing though: how our interview’s gonna go doesn’t just depend on how prepared we are. If you’re unlucky, you’re going to get a horrible interviewer who bats really inappropriate questions your way. Like a bolt from the blue, they’ll knock you off-balance and make you wonder what the ever-loving fudge is going on and if you’re being pranked for a TV show.

When Redditor iiLady_Insanityii asked their fellow users to share the most inappropriate and unexpected things they were asked during job interviews, they got over 5.1k comments. We’ve picked out the best ones for you to see, dear Readers, so be sure to upvote the ones that made your jaw drop the most with how out of place they sound.

#1

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews I was a young female cabinet maker applying for a summer job in a joinery workshop. I answered all of his questions which I could tell confused him. So he gave me some side eye and asked “uhhhh how strong are you?”

A lady in an office behind him shouted out “YOURE NOT ALLOWED TO ASK THAT!!!!”

I got the job. Turns out it was his wife shouting at him!

YourLocalMosquito , pexels Report

#2

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews They asked me if I could stop my dialysis treatments so I can be more available. Yeah Karen, let me just die for less than 15 an hour.

wanderingwiccan , pexels Report

#3

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews Had an interviewer who unexpectedly asked me, what my spirit animal was at the end of the interview.

I didn't know what to say but the first thing that popped out of my head was a bear because the thought of hibernating and being lazy on cold seasons sounds like something I'd do... it's the most stupidest reply I could give.

He ended up being one of the best, if not the nicest and funniest boss I ever had.

Fightingthetears , pexels Report

ADVERTISEMENT

Nobody wants to cause a scene during a job interview. Times are tough, jobs pay the bills, and sometimes you wonder if you’re overreacting to what you're being asked. But that’s just our brains finding excuses for people asking us things that really ought not to be voiced aloud. You need to know how to deal with problematic questions.

#4

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews This is definitely the most bizarre question I have ever seen on a job application.

TheGuiltyGlitter Report

#5

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews Very first job I interviewed for was a movie theater while I was still in highschool.

Manager: are you available Sunday morning?
Me: yes I have open availability.
Manager: So you don't attend church Sunday morning?
Me: No, I'm free.
Manager: Oh, so you're gonna burn in hell?
Me: uh... Sorry, huh?
Manager: Nothing it's fine.

Titaniumtank , pexels Report

#6

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews "The real reason I asked you in today is because your last name sounded like you're white. We've had the worst luck with black guys doing the job right"

IRDragonBorne , pexels Report

Add photo comments
POST
Truth Monster
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

1) if they're rejecting you on race, they're idiots and you don't want to work for them. 2) if they're rejecting you on race and TELLING you that's why they are rejecting you they're not going to be in business long, because the lawsuits are going to eat any profits they make.

Seabeast
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Gosh, I just can't imagine why. Could it be the racism?"

Zophra
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Flipped - I went to a teaching interview in an africian american community. I have a "black" name as I have been told. Africian- American Principal and associates looked at me and actually said, "Oh... you're white." Very, very awkward. Sadly so.

Zophra
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

Load More Replies...
Daria B
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Besides the obvious, what would they expect? I mean, there's talented black celebrities whose surnames are literally White and I've seen Whiteman in the credits too. Especially if this is an English speaking country, your surname doesn't really say anything about your ethnicity unless it contains special characters, such as ć, š, ž etc.

Leo Domitrix
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

USA: POTUS wanted: We've had the worst luck with white guys.... (I'm American. Flame away.)

Miguel Woodley
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had this exact thing happen to me. They wanted someone Mexican. My name is Miguel.

KamiKhan
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The picture perfectly fits this post... What an a**hole though, hope he gets fired.

TrashPandaru
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

WHAT THE F**K? I would have had to seriously restrain myself from punching his lights out

Captain Newt
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Her: "How would you feel about having a woman as your supervisor?" Me: "Huh? My former supervisor was a woman and we are still good friends" Her: "But you Mexicans trend to be... machos. Can you stand having a woman telling you what to do?" Me: ... Her: "Would you even get violent if she interrupts you?" This happened to me in Denmark a few years ago... for a scientific position... amongst scientists...

Bi raccoon
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This has happened with my dad,he wont get an interview cuz his last name sounds Spanish

Serene Trabeek
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

sad :( i personally have no experience even tho im half egyptian half french my dad has a "weird name" its haithem trabeek and has always had high wage jobs (his first job was literally this programing job in ny)

Load More Replies...
Cara Strong
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe that's because you guys are firing them for the littlest things

Max
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean, the black guys would be totally justified in sabotaging this racist's department.

Spork420
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've worked for an aerospace company for over 10 years now. We average about 120 employees. We have tons of Asians, whites, Hispanics working here. People with heavy accents from countries I can barely pronounce. Never once in all these years has there been one black employee here. Is the owner just old fashioned, or has he learned something from experience?

Noemie Houtekie-N'Da
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm not some racist piece of crap, but I see where this person is coming from. My mom owns a bakery and usually the people who send some bull crap saying something untrue and asking for money back were African Americans. It was a distinct majority. I think they still should have given this poor man a chance though.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

There are a few ways how you can diplomatically try to avoid the question in question without sounding rude, like a skilled kung-fu master. One way to counter an inappropriate question is to steer the conversation elsewhere like a real redirection pro.

#7

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews Interviewer :- Do you know how to swim?

Me :- Umm, no?

Interviewer :- Get out.

(software engineer job)

CRYTEK_T-REX , pexels Report

Add photo comments
POST
Sum Guy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate that some people are just looking to fill up their department with people who can win at after work games against other departments

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#8

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews "Can you make your breasts smaller? They might be a distraction for some of our patients here." This was at a hospital. And I wasn't wearing anything provocative, I just have big boobs. I didn't get the job, they told me it was because I was too inexperienced.

reddit.com , pexels Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#9

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews Interviewer: If you were a tree, what kind of a tree would you be?

Me: A tree with a job.

All kinds of hippy dippy sh*t like this back in the 70s.

2016TrumpMAGA , pexels Report

ADVERTISEMENT

If the redirection method fails, you can always keep your answers very short, broad, and general. This way, you won’t appear rude, but the interviewer might get the hint that this isn’t something that you want to talk about.

#10

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews Lovers (an adult toy/accessories shop in the US) hands you an elephant sized, wiggly ass dildo and asks you to describe it.

You giggle you lose.

I lost.

batterymassacre , pexels Report

#11

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews This was quite a while ago, and I was interviewing for a janitorial position at a private middle school.

The interview was going well. The interviewer was asking me why I wanted to work there, what my previous job experience was, etc. The bog standard interview questions.

Out of absolutely nowhere, he asks " You're not attracted to underage girls, are you?". I was taken aback for a moment, and just sort of stared at him waiting for clarification.

I think it only occurred to him after having said it how weird the question was, and he quickly started to give some context. Turns out the previous janitor had attempted some sexual advances on some underage students

I was just there to sweep the floors for some cash. Not commit a felony.

Sambasscles , Unsplash Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#12

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews I had an adversarial interview once. Passed the skills interview and was sent on to the guy who would be my manager if I got the job. He made a big show of throwing my resume in the trash and told me the next best use would be to "wipe his ass with it" since he went to Yale and I didn't, and why did I think I deserved the job?

I didn't say anything, just got up and walked out. (This was at AIG, remember them? Lol)

reddit.com , pexels Report

Does the interviewer still not get the hint that they’re asking something that shouldn’t be asked? You could always politely but firmly ask them why the question is relevant to your job at all. In other words, turn the tables on them and have them think about what it is they’re actually asking you. If they’re a decent person, they’ll realize what’s up; if not, then is this really the type of place you’d like to work at?

#13

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews First question of an interview at a shipping place. "Do you think a manager needs to understand the job of the people he's managing?"

I replied with "absolutely. How can he manage people if he doesn't understand how their job works?"

I was immediately thanked for my time and was told I could leave.

In retrospect I am very glad i never worked for that company.

joleme , pexels Report

Add photo comments
POST
K.Kobayashi
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Of course managers needs to *understand* the job of the people they are managing. But they don't need to be able to do it themselves. I suspect the question was actually a bit more nuanced than reported here.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#14

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews “Which teacher did you hate the most and why”

I answered that I had disagreed with a teacher over a book (I didn’t like it and it was her favorite) and she knocked points off all my future tests.

Interviewer said it was unprofessional to not like a teacher and I “clearly had no interview experience”. So yeah, didn’t get that internship.

dumb-funsies , Unsplash Report

#15

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews For an IT security position:

"If your employer asked you to do something illegal, would you do it?"

...now, before anyone hollers that this isn't inappropriate, I found out later the the job had been vacated by a friend of mine, who they fired after he refused to do something illegal for them.

Dagmar_dSurreal , pexels Report

Add photo comments
POST
Tamsin Far
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would not really mind the question, but I think it's a problem for the employer. If, in the end, the candidate does not get the job, it will look like they were planning to have him do illegal stuff. Well, in this case it would have been right, but usually you don't tell everyone?

View more commentsArrow down menu

Some questions aren’t just inappropriate—they’re illegal. Asking questions that are discriminatory and don’t relate to the job requirements is illegal in some countries. E.g. job interviewers shouldn’t ask about race, color, sex, religion, national origin, birthplace, age, disability, and family status.

ADVERTISEMENT
#16

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews What are the chances of you leaving your spouse if we relocate you? You mean... for a period of time until we figure out our living situation? No, I mean would you divorce him if you had to move to, say Europe, for the job?

Wow.

Also, this was a local advertising agency. They didn’t even have that many national clients.

But also, the interviewer then continuously called and messaged me for days after I declined their offer. So I don’t know.

galedriel , Unsplash Report

#17

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews First question of an interview: "Wait, aren't you the guy who owes me that thousand dollars?"

Realized after three of the longest seconds in my life that he was joking, but boy that caught me off guard.

maleorderbride , pexels Report

#18

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews I had a guy end my interview by asking me what my favorite ABBA song was. I was so caught off guard and honestly kind of creeped out, because I couldn't figure out how he knew that I loved ABBA.

I found out later that when he spoke to my references, he asked them to tell him something about me that wasn't on my resume, and my old boss told him that I was a huge ABBA fan.

mabbbbs , pexels Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda

Not everyone is aware of these restrictions and might slip up because they don’t know the law. However, not knowing the law isn’t an excuse. If you feel that you’ve been discriminated against, consider filing a claim with an institution like the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in the United States.

#19

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews "Ive noticed you haven't tugged at your clothes at all. Means youre comfortable with your body. Are you prepared to wear more revealing clothing?"

I was interviewing for a waitress job.

I didn't finish the interview.

operachick209 , pexels Report

#20

"Where do you see yourself in five years, after we got rid of you in two to three years?"

No kidding. They really asked it that way. My answer was "I don't know. Maybe in front of your grave."

Immediate stop to the interview.

reddit.com Report

#21

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews Does lie detector during the hiring process count? I was asked if I'd ever had sex with animals. That question certainly caught me off guard

Wide_Open_Colon , pexels Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda

Which of these stories shocked you the most, dear Pandas? Has anything similar ever happened to you? What’s the most inappropriate and unexpected question that you’ve ever heard while being interviewed for a job? How did you respond? Share your experiences in the comment section below.

#22

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews "What would you do if a teenager (female) asked you for information about abortion?" I answered that I would help her find the information she needed.

This was for a librarian job in a small, conservative town. I didn't get the job.

RetardedJoy , pexels Report

Add photo comments
POST
Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You would think that helping someone get information about a specific subject is exactly the right answer in an interview for a librarian job. Then again, assholes will be assholes.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#23

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews I was asked if I play video games in my down time once.

I said I did, and was instantly turned down for the position.

The excuse? "We don't hire overgrown children. Get out."

Place went under two years after that.

Swivel-Hips-Smith , pexels Report

#24

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews My future boss asked to duel me in mortal combat. I was confused and concerned until he showed me that they had a Mortal Kombat 2 arcade machine. He kicked my ass solidly. Honestly it seemed a little unfair considering they had a machine in their break room and I hadn’t played the damn thing since high school.

FrankieTheAlchemist Report

Add photo comments
POST
Sum Guy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one doesn't say if they got the job or not... but since you started with future boss instead of would be future boss, I'll take that as getting the job

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#25

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews My interviewer asked if I was retarded. I said yes. I thought the interview was over at that point but then they offered me the job. I said no.

CS1SOlO , unsplash Report

Add photo comments
POST
Linus Nilsson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really need context to this one. Maybe the person gave off some vibes that could be a sign of dishonesty, but if there were other explanations for that they probably found OP to be a good match. Terrible choice of wording though.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews A while back I got out of the Navy. That old saying is true "swear like a sailor". I applied for a program called helmets to hard hats that finds jobs in skilled labor trades for veterans. My father is good friends with a guy who is in charge of the local branch of an elevator company.

So I applied to the international union of elevator constructors and was granted an interview. Union interviews, as I am told, usually consist of several prominent members of the union. I'm this case it included my father's friend.

So I show up to the interview and sit down with 5 high ranking union members. My name is Richard. My Dad's friend says " So Richard what do you like to go by Rick, Ricky, Richard... D*CK? Before I could stop myself I sarcastically replied "it's c*ck actually"

I pretended like everything was normal and the interview continued after an awkward pause. I did get the job and was admitted as an apprentice. Everyone still calls me C*ck.

TLDR: Guy asked me, Richard, if I go by D*ck. I sarcastically replied C*ck, and now everyone calls me C*ck.

iceagehero , pexels Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#27

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews One interview I was asked two weird questions for an interview as least.

1. Favorite super hero and why.

2. Do you believe in aliens, why or why not- 30 second elevator pitch.

thorpeedo22 , pexels Report

#28

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews "Are you pregnant?"

And after I said no

"Are you planning to get pregnant?"

__checkmate , pexels Report

#29

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews "What kind of p*rn do you like?" I was in the process of getting a government job that required a high security clearance, I was being interviewed by an agent. Most of the questions were pretty basic but this one caught me out of left field.

GorillaonWheels , pexels Report

#30

30 People Share The Weirdest And Most Inappropriate Questions They Got Asked During Job Interviews I was asked to describe my personality with a line. I stared at him for a hard ten seconds and asked what he meant.

He said "do you have a lot of highs and lows or are you more steady."

I said "Oh, you mean like a sine wave, not a line?"

Yes, it was for a lab job and yes I am autistic.

Thoreau80 , pexels Report

Add photo comments
POST
pusheen buttercup
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't understand :) (I'm autistic as well btw) did they know you are autistic...?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Note: this post originally had 92 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda