There are certain moments in life where you find yourself pausing and wondering if you’ve somehow stumbled into an alternate universe.
Like when you see someone wearing socks with sandals. Or when you hear someone unironically say they miss dial-up internet. Or when a job application requires you to submit a 20-page PowerPoint presentation about your favourite type of biscuit.
Yes, pre-interview tasks. Those little hoops employers make you jump through in a desperate attempt to see if you’re “the right fit” for their company.
In theory, they’re meant to demonstrate your skills and give you a chance to shine. In reality, they often resemble a surrealist art project gone terribly wrong. So, let’s dive into some of the strangest pre-interview tasks ever assigned, shall we?
1. The Biscuit Presentation
Imagine opening an email from a potential employer, only to find they want you to create a full-blown presentation about biscuits. What kind? Why? Who knows? You’re left pondering whether this is an elaborate prank or if they genuinely believe your ability to wax poetic about digestive biscuits will determine your suitability for an IT analyst role.
One unlucky applicant even spent hours crafting a presentation about the cultural significance of custard creams, only to be ghosted by the employer. Probably whisked away by the biscuit illuminati.
2. The Office Scavenger Hunt
In some companies, the interview process is akin to a low-budget version of The Amazing Race. One such task required candidates to participate in a scavenger hunt around the office. Clues were placed strategically throughout the building, with tasks ranging from deciphering Morse code messages to solving riddle-laden puzzles.
All this to find out if you can… answer emails? Some candidates reported feeling like Indiana Jones, only without the hat, the charm, or the whip. Just a very confused expression and a growing suspicion this might all be an elaborate joke.
3. The Personality Test From Space
We’re all familiar with personality tests. They usually ask you about your strengths, weaknesses, and whether you prefer cats or dogs. But some employers take it to a whole new level.
One candidate was asked to complete a personality test that included questions like, “If you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?” and “How would you describe the colour yellow to someone who is blind?”
Apparently, their ability to compare themselves to a carrot was pivotal in determining their suitability for a finance position. Who knew?
4. The Creative Writing Odyssey
Some companies think the best way to evaluate your marketing skills is to ask you to pen a 2,000-word essay on the topic “Life as a Pencil.”
Naturally, they believe this task will reveal your creativity, storytelling prowess, and possibly your latent disdain for stationery. What it actually reveals is that people will write just about anything to land a job if they’re desperate enough.
One candidate wrote an epic tale of a pencil’s journey from the factory to the desk of a celebrated author, complete with plot twists and character development. Did it get them the job? Absolutely not. But it did win them a small following on Reddit.
5. The ‘Build a Model’ Challenge
In a bizarre twist on the traditional skills test, one company asked candidates to bring in a model they’d built using household items. No further instructions were given.
What followed was an eclectic collection of creations ranging from a cereal box spaceship to a toilet roll Eiffel Tower. Some candidates showed up with their childhood Lego sets, only to find that apparently, Lego didn’t count as “household items.”
It turns out, the whole exercise was less about creativity and more about seeing who would bother to do it. Spoiler: Not many.
6. The ‘Tell Us a Joke’ Request
Whilst humour can be an asset in the workplace, some employers take it to the next level by asking candidates to perform stand-up comedy as part of the interview process.
One unlucky applicant recalls being asked to “tell the best joke you know” - only to be met with stony silence and a polite smile from the interview panel. The joke died a lonely death in that room.
Turns out, not everyone appreciates a well-timed pun about spreadsheets.
7. The Origami Task
If you’ve ever been asked to fold a thousand paper cranes in the name of professional development, you’re not alone.
One particular company requested candidates demonstrate their “attention to detail” by creating a perfectly crafted origami swan.
After hours of paper cuts and frustration, one determined candidate managed to present something resembling a swan - albeit a very abstract, Picasso-esque swan. Did they get the job? No, but they did develop a healthy dislike for paper crafts.
8. The Impromptu Dance
In a move that surely defies all logic, candidates at one particular company were asked to showcase their “team spirit” by performing an impromptu dance routine.
To the horror of many, this was not a joke. Candidates shuffled awkwardly, throwing out the occasional jazz hand, while pondering if this job was worth the embarrassment.
The resulting performances were, by all accounts, less ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and more ‘Strictly Cringeworthy.’
9. The Unusual Skill Test
A company once insisted that candidates demonstrate their ability to whistle a specific tune on demand.
Apparently, the employer believed that the skill of whistling is indicative of strong leadership potential. Many candidates attempted to impress with varying degrees of success, only to be met with puzzled expressions from the interviewers.
If nothing else, the task proved that not everyone can whistle under pressure.
10. The Disguise Challenge
This particular pre-interview task required applicants to attend the interview in disguise, with bonus points for creativity.
One candidate recalls donning a Shakespearean costume, complete with ruff and tights, only to find that the interview panel consisted of very serious-looking individuals in business suits.
While it certainly broke the ice, it also led to some awkward explanations in the elevator post-interview.
In Need of Sane Recruitment Practices?
If these tales of bizarre pre-interview tasks have left you shaking your head in disbelief, you're not alone. At Coburg Banks, we believe in recruitment processes that make sense.
We focus on real-world skills and genuine talent, not interpretive dance or biscuit monologues.
So, if you’re looking to recruit without the surrealist circus act, get in touch. We promise not to make you dress up like Shakespeare.
