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When interviewing for a job, it's obviously important to highlight your skills when attempting to set yourself above other potential candidates. But startups these days aren’t just looking for someone who’s capable of doing the work. More often than not, they’re looking for someone who’s compatible with a company’s culture and work atmosphere, which tends to make their interview techniques a bit unconventional.
“The interview questions at startups tend to be quirky and outlandish,” said Kaylee Feldt, a recruiter for the Denver-based staffing company, Remy Corporation. “This typically eliminates the ‘Tell me about your experience with so and so company,’ and ‘How are your computing skills’ questions.”
As priorities are constantly shifting, startups often view hiring differently than your typical corporation. Feldt said because of this, startup interview questions are designed to see if a potential employee can truly “hang” with the company, and she was generous enough to compile a list of some the top questions a recruiter may ask.
1. Would you rather climb to the top of Mount Everest or swim to the deepest point in the ocean and why?
2. If you won the lottery today, what would you do tomorrow?
The unexpected questions are common in startup interviews. They help employers find out who you are, and why you’re applying for this particular job. Feldt said most start-ups have small, tight-knit teams and it’s very important that the individual not only have the desired skill sets, but also fit in with the existing atmosphere, whether that is creative, fast-paced, quirky or serious.
“These types of questions really help uncover who the individual is, loosen them up, and test how they handle spontaneity and pressure,” she said. Employers want to know if you’re truly passionate about job, or if you’re just there for another interview, and “[employers] can tell the difference pretty quickly between the two when [they] throw some curve balls in there,” she said.
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3. Tell us about a startup that you think is influencing the community.
4. What is the most influential technology news you’ve recently read about that could impact our company?
5. What new apps or software have you been using lately?
You’ve made it through the questions that are specifically designed to throw you off guard. Now it’s time to prove your skill set and knowledge in yet another unconventional way. Feldt said startups want someone who is passionate, excited and eager to be there. They’re hoping to hire someone who will be not just another body, but a lasting investment to the company.
“These types of questions serve to get a sense of both how ‘in the know’ you are, and if you are passionate about the career and the position you are applying for,” she said.
Try to have something prepared in advance — something new they may not have heard of yet, but make sure you’re also prepared to answer the follow up questions. Explain how there’s nothing else like X app out there, or have suggestions on how you’d change Y software for the better. Saying ‘X app (or Y software) is great because it’s helpful,’ won’t cut it, and employers will see right through the generic responses.
6. What’s your favorite brewery and why?
Another question that helps employers get a feel for who you are, and how well you’ll mesh with the company’s atmosphere. Can you handle a work hard/play hard mindset? You will inevitably be working directly with many different individuals and departments, so it’s important for employers to make sure you can play well with others and work on a team.
“At a start-up, you can hire someone with all the necessary skill sets and more,” Feldt said. “But if they don’t fit in with the company culture and team, it will not last.”
