Some interviewers throw curveballs — 'Sell me this pen', 'Why should we NOT hire you?', a quirky estimation puzzle, or a sudden 'what's your expected salary?'. These are rarely about a correct answer. They test how you react under surprise: do you panic, or do you stay composed, reason aloud, and keep your poise and good humour?
It's the reaction, not the answer
With a curveball, the interviewer is watching your composure and thought process. Stay calm, take a brief moment, and reason out loud so they can follow your thinking. For estimation puzzles, a structured guess beats a perfect number. For provocative questions, answer with confidence and a light, professional touch.
Common curveballs
| Curveball | How to handle it |
|---|---|
| 'Sell me this pen' | focus on the listener's need, not pen features |
| 'Why shouldn't we hire you?' | stay positive; give a minor honest caveat, then reassure |
| estimation puzzle | state assumptions and reason aloud; logic over the exact number |
| 'Expected salary?' on the spot | give a researched range, or defer politely as a fresher |
| awkward silence | a short pause is fine; don't fill it with panic |
⚡ The edge
- The goal is to stay composed and think aloud. Interviewers want to see your reasoning, not a memorised answer — narrate your approach calmly even if you're unsure of the destination.
- For 'why shouldn't we hire you?', don't tear yourself down. Offer a small, honest caveat ('I'm still building deep experience in X') and immediately reassure ('but I learn fast, and here's how I'm closing that gap').
Worked example
How do you handle 'sell me this pen'?
- Don't list pen features; first understand the buyer's need — 'What do you currently use to take notes?'
- Connect the pen to that need: reliability, a smooth write, never running out at the wrong moment.
- Close confidently. The exercise tests communication and customer focus, not pens.
Answer: Focus on the listener's need, connect the product to it, and close confidently — it tests communication, not the pen.
Worked example
How do you handle an estimation puzzle ('how many X in a city')?
- Don't guess a random number; state your assumptions out loud (population, ratios, etc.).
- Reason step by step to a rough estimate — the structure is what's being graded.
- State the final ballpark confidently, noting it's an estimate from your assumptions.
Answer: State assumptions, reason step by step to a rough figure — the logic matters far more than the exact number.
⚠ Watch out
- Don't panic or freeze — a calm pause and thinking aloud is exactly what they want to see.
- Don't tear yourself down on 'why not hire you' — a minor caveat plus reassurance, never a confession.
- Don't blurt a random salary number — give a researched range or defer politely (see the salary chapter).