What does this interview question mean?

[jcsbama]

I had an interview a while ago. During the middle of it, she asked me what my favorite kind of pizza was. I said pepperoni, tomatoes and extra cheese. She said that sounds good and then right back to typical interview questions. So how does my favorite kind of pizza tell what kind of person I am?

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

Maybe she was hungry?

 

[salmoneous]

I had an interview a while ago. During the middle of it, she asked me what my favorite kind of pizza was. I said pepperoni, tomatoes and extra cheese. She said that sounds good and then right back to typical interview questions. So how does my favorite kind of pizza tell what kind of person I am?

Most likely, the interviewer was testing to see how you would respond to an unusual and unexpected situation. The key isn't so much what kind of pizza you like, but how calmly and seriously you dealt with the question.

 

[ilovejack02]

Maybe she was hungry?

And maybe she has ADD lol. OR... maybe she is thinking of ordering you a welcome lunch of pizza on the first day of your new job?
Good luck!

 

[mtdevine615]

It doesn't. But I will often change subjects in the middle to see how fast a person can think. Often times it's nothing more than a simple question like you were asked. Sometimes I'll ask a question about there last job or golf or skydiving. The answer to me is not as important as the way it's answered. Or maybe they were just hungry and thinking about pizza.

 

[ducklite]

Most likely, the interviewer was testing to see how you would respond to an unusual and unexpected situation. The key isn't so much what kind of pizza you like, but how calmly and seriously you dealt with the question.

This is EXACTLY what she was doing. Seeing how quickly you think on your feet and if you react with grace under pressure in an unanticipated situation.

Anne

 

[Hercules10]

Were you interviewing with Pizza Hut by chance?

 

[mking624]

Most likely, the interviewer was testing to see how you would respond to an unusual and unexpected situation. The key isn't so much what kind of pizza you like, but how calmly and seriously you dealt with the question.

I agree. At my last job, this was what happened to me. Asked a series of "serious" questions, but then threw in the most random questions to the mix to see how I'd react and respond. When I was the interviewer, I did that as well. It wasn't the response itself that I was looking for, but rather how the person responded.

 

[jcsbama]

The way she asked was kinda wierd. It was like Oh, before I forget...I repeated the question without laughing to make sure I heard her right and then just answered it like no big deal. The whole interview was rushed and then it was abrubtly cut short because the IRS auditor arrived for a meeting. Kinda made me think this wasn't the job for me.

ETA: Thanks for telling me what she was really looking for. I knew it had to be something like that.

 

[golfgal]

I bet there is an ongoing battle over what pizza to order in the department when you work overtime and she didn't want to tip the scale in favor of the kind of pizza SHE doesn't like .

DH asks weird questions in interviews too. He will occasionally get someone who cry when he asks questions like this and it's a sure tip off that they won't get hired.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

Were you interviewing with Pizza Hut by chance?

 

[Squirlz]

Were you interviewing with Pizza Hut by chance?

Sonic pays better I hear.

 

[willis37862]

I bet there is an ongoing battle over what pizza to order in the department when you work overtime and she didn't want to tip the scale in favor of the kind of pizza SHE doesn't like .

Sounds like something Micheal would ask on "The Office". In which case you might want to run as fast as possible in the other direction.

 

[missypie]

I must be far too cynical. I thought that it might be used to get you to divulge information about your religion (e.g. "Well, I like to keep Kosher, so no meat on the pizza") or dietary habits (e.g. "I'm a vegan, so no cheese.")

 

[louie694]

I had an interview a while ago. During the middle of it, she asked me what my favorite kind of pizza was. I said pepperoni, tomatoes and extra cheese. She said that sounds good and then right back to typical interview questions. So how does my favorite kind of pizza tell what kind of person I am?

i think you handled this very well. the interviewer wanted to make sure that you would respond to an usual/unexpected question in a reasonable way. this would mean that you were paying attention and are quick on your feet.

you could well have said something like, i detest pizza. i despise it. when i see pizza delivery people, i shudder and run quickly in the other direction. when i see others eating pizza i quickly turn to ice, then burn hot with a seething rage and resentment that only several quarts of water, multiple cold showers, and repeated listenings to old barry manilow hits can cure.

had you answered with the latter rather than the former, they might have considered that perhaps you have some "issues". but, on the other hand, the interviewer could well have misunderstood, and simply have written, "doesn't like pizza" in her notes which would mean that you would get the offer in either case.

but you did fine.

i hope you get the job... if you want it, that is!

 

[Poohnatic]

She threw you a curve ball, or wants to poll prospective applicants to see if she'll remotely like the pizza order! More likely that she wants to see how you handle the unexpected.

I was asked in the middle of an interview "Tell me about the book you're reading now". My application had hobbies on it (this was a LONG time ago) and reading was there. Yes, I was offered that job, lol.

Suzanne

 

[nuke]

I was interviewing for an accounting job and the HR person asked me why do I think that HR people have to be certified every two years. All that popped into my head was "sucks to be you". Thankfully I got my thoughts together and answered semi-intelligently.

 

[wdw4us]

I was interviewing for an accounting job and the HR person asked me why do I think that HR people have to be certified every two years. All that popped into my head was "sucks to be you". Thankfully I got my thoughts together and answered semi-intelligently.

You know, with my big mouth and carefree attitude, I'd have probably said it out loud.

denise