Most job candidates prepare good, smart answers to the most common interview questions in advance, which means that hiring managers rarely get unrehearsed spontaneous responses to their questions. This is why they might test you, your personality and quick thinking skills with different kinds of techniques during your job interview. We have listed some of the sneaky techniques used by recruiters to get you to show your true colors:

1. The candy wrapper test is one of these sneaky techniques used by recruiters to see if you are someone who takes the bull by its horns or if you only do tasks you consider belonging to you. “To test candidates, [the recruiter] would leave a candy wrapper just outside the interview room before he went to greet the candidate. The purpose of this was to see who would notice it and pick it up and who would simply walk by,” according to CareerBliss. Another example of this kind is to observe how the candidates treat the restaurant staff and other people met during the meeting. If you are extremely polite towards the interviewer but snap at the waiters at a restaurant it might show that you are just pretending to be polite. So, be careful during your interview, everything you do might be part of the decision of whether to hire you or not!

(Picture source: CareerBliss)

2. Making you solve brainteasers is another technique used by recruiters according to CareerBliss. These small puzzles have in fact no correct answers but are used to see how you think, solve problems and how do you react to unexpected situations. So don’t go crazy over trying to figure out the exact right answer, but instead react quickly and show that you are enthusiastic and detail-oriented (or in fact any of the things they are looking for, for this position!).

3. Asking weird, unexpected questions. After asking the basic weaknesses, strengths, achievements and experiences the recruiter might ask something completely bizarre and random just to get you out of your rehearsed comfort zone. The questions might not have a correct answer and are asked to find out if you are a quick thinker, creative, analytical, witty, fit the company culture or have a sense of humor.

Here is a list of some weird random questions you could be asked during your job interview:

1. If you were an animal / drink / fruit / food / super hero, which would you be?

2. Tell me, what would be the worst question I could ask you, and I promise I won’t ask you this question.

3. Why are manhole covers round? (ps. this proved to be a tricky question as one recruiter said that if you don’t know the answer and just come up with something, you cannot be trusted and are out of the game, and another said that here they measure how creative you are by your ability to come up with an answer.. So be careful and analyze which they want in the situation!)

4. Here’s a roll of duct tape. What are ten things you can do with it?

5. Can you tell a joke?

6. Can I look in your purse?

7. How many cars are there in this country?

8. What good books have you read lately?

9. How do I rate as an interviewer?

10. What did you think about the painting in the lobby?

(Questions from: Career Overview, Business etc and About.com human resources)

So, make sure that you prepare for everything and anything and try to be polite to everyone you meet during your interview! And even though there are questions you simply cannot prepare for, be sure to have an answer for the 20 most common job interview questions!