Navigating job interviews can be a daunting task, and it becomes even more challenging when you’re faced with inappropriate, invasive, or even illegal lines of questioning. We invited you to share the most astonishing interview questions you’ve encountered on Facebook, and your responses were truly eye-opening. In our commitment to assist future job seekers in navigating these treacherous waters, we’ve curated some of the most bewildering interview experiences and sought expert advice on how to handle them.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the readers who generously shared their experiences with us. Your questions generally fell into a few distinct categories.

1. Brain Teasers Although these types of questions are becoming less common in interviews, many of you have encountered them during your job searches. Some of the brain teaser questions you’ve shared include puzzling inquiries such as:

• Why are manhole covers round instead of square?
• How are hotel shower systems designed to provide instant hot water?
• How would you determine the number of cows in Vermont?
• Calculate the number of lamp posts between City A and City B.

As explained by Alison Green, who operates Ask a Manager, brain teasers are often posed to assess your problem-solving skills rather than to determine whether you have the correct answer. Even if you aren’t particularly fond of these types of questions, it’s advisable to walk the interviewers through your thought process and then, ideally, transition to the next topic.

2. Personal Questions These types of questions can be tricky, as interviewers sometimes use them to make assumptions about you as a candidate, which, in certain cases, is illegal. MaryJo Fitzgerald, Economics Communications Manager at Glassdoor, advises you to be aware of your rights as a candidate. It’s illegal for employers to inquire about your age, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, race, religion, or any disabilities. Some of the personal questions shared by readers came uncomfortably close to or crossed that line, including:

• What church do you attend?
• Do you plan to have children?
• Do you have a boyfriend? (A variation of this: Are you married?)
• Who did you vote for?
• What type of car do you drive?

Fitzgerald recommends a couple of strategies to steer the conversation back to your qualifications and away from intrusive questions:

You can employ two helpful phrases: either “The question doesn’t impact my commitment to the position…” or simply state, “I don’t feel comfortable sharing that personal information, but I’m happy to discuss more about other relevant experiences.” Both approaches allow you to regain control of the conversation’s direction and emphasize why you are the right fit for the position.

Of course, if the questions become truly offensive or suggest that the company culture may not align with your values, you have the option to conclude the interview early. While it may be awkward, you can try something like, “I’m realizing that I’m not the right fit for this position. To be respectful of your time, I’d like to conclude the interview now. Thank you very much for the opportunity to meet today.”

3. Seemingly Unrelated to the Job Distinct from brain teasers, there are questions that test a skill not central to the role you’re applying for or appear unrelated to the job. Some examples shared with us include:

• Who is your favourite Beatle?
• Take something out of your bag and tell us a story about it.
• Sell me this pen. (For an administrative job)
• What would you do if a coworker showed up with a gun and started shooting people?

The last question is undoubtedly challenging, and it’s uncertain if there’s a perfect response to it, given its shocking nature. For other seemingly unrelated questions, you’ll need to determine on the spot why the interviewer is asking them. They may want to assess how you react under pressure, your creativity, or your thought processes.

While these may not necessarily constitute excellent interview questions, they can offer insights into how to respond. If you believe you understand the intent behind the question, do your best to showcase that skill. If you’re unsure of its relevance to the job, you can seek clarification by asking, “Can you tell me how that relates to this role?” or “Can you explain a bit what you’re looking for with that question?” If the question seems entirely unexpected, consider using Fitzgerald’s suggestions mentioned earlier to redirect the conversation back to your qualifications.