Perks of being a giraffe: they're graceful, efficient, and able to see the big picture from way up there.
REUTERS/Keld Navntoft/Scanpix Denmark
Interviewing demands that job candidates be thoughtful, creative, and quick on their feet. This is particularly true for when the applicant is asked a highly unusual question. Not only does the question need to be recognized with diplomacy, but the answer also requires strategy coupled with creativity. How you react both verbally and visually will determine whether or not you become one step closer toward being hired.

Some career coaches do not like to admit this, but interviewing does require a sales strategy. Like it or not, you are competing against other formidable candidates. This fact alone requires you to sell yourself as the best possible person to get the job done.

Professional salespeople are trained to look at the largest picture imaginable and then drill down on the pieces that complete the puzzle. To do well, recognize that the ultimate sale or desired position is not about you. Instead, the interview is about how you may solve the company's problems related to that vacancy.

Upon entering the office, the biggest question on your mind should be, why is there a job vacancy?

Drilling down on this one question provides many plausible possibilities, such as:

  • Was the previous person promoted or incompetent? In either case, what were the motivating factors behind his or her decision to leave?
  • Is this a brand new position or one that no one wants? Why?
  • If you do take the job, what are the possible paths you might see for career advancement? What would one need to achieve in order to get to the next level?

The list of questions to ask continues. But there is usually a wrench in the process, and that is of the highly unusual questions asked, particularly of salespeople. This is where giraffe strategy comes into play.

The question frequently asked is, "If you were an animal, which one would you like to be and why?"

Answered properly, and the applicant may provide insight into creative thought, strategic thinking and risk taking as they relate to the sales profession. The ability to do this intrigues the hiring manager and encourages advancement to the next phase of the hiring process. The following is an example of how a salesperson would answer the above question. As you read the answer, consider how you would relay a similar reply for your profession.

"I would choose to be a giraffe, and here is why: First, giraffes have beautiful, glowing fur. Likewise, professional salespeople are well dressed and groomed, making for an excellent first impression when meeting clients.

Giraffes are elegant and graceful as they run, plus they move at very high speeds. Well-heeled professional salespeople are elegant as they accomplish much in a very short period of time. They, too, run at high speeds to please clients, secure sales and, in turn, please management. Confident salespeople also run in packs as team players, looking out for the greater good.

Where the giraffe strategy truly stands out, particularly for sales, is that the giraffe does not focus on low-hanging fruit. Because they are tall, they gain the wider perspective from the top of the tree. They can determine which is the better fruit and work the tree from multiple angles, providing a wider array of possibility. Similarly, salespeople who begin with the bigger perspective first are able to get broader understandings of situations to ultimately build larger sales."

As you can see, the key to answering unusual interview questions is to do so in a manner that creatively applies to the position available. Answering in this manner is essential for getting hired.