Employers and interviewers often suggest that candidates are proficient at discussing their relevant skills and experience but sometimes struggle when responding to personal or on-the-spot questions. Knowing how to answer these questions is beneficial as they are designed to reveal your personality and assess how well you would integrate into the office culture.
Keep in mind that there are no right or wrong answers to these types of questions. However, practicing your responses before an interview can make you feel more comfortable and even help to increase your confidence.
So how do you prepare for an impromptu conversation? We suggest using a technique, such as improv, to help you feel ready for the unknown. Here are four improv games you can practice with friends to help you feel more at ease with questions in low-pressure setting.
Bonus Tip: Doing a couple of deep breaths before you begin may be helpful, as relaxation can release mental blocks.
- Practice name association. I’m Going On A Picnic
- Sit in a small circle or opposite, facing each other. The game starts with Player 1 and proceeds clockwise.
- Player 1 says “I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing ______” (Selecting any item they would bring on a picnic. For this example, we’ll say cheese.)
- Player 2 then says “I’m going on a picnic with Player 1, who’s bringing cheese, and I’m bringing _____.” (Filling in their own item. For this example, we’ll say soda.)
- Player 3 then says “I’m going on a picnic with Player 1, who’s bringing cheese, Player 2 who’s bringing soda, and I’m bringing ______.”
- Play continues around the circle, with each new player having to remember all the names and picnic items being brought by the players preceding them. No items should be repeated.
- The game ends back at Player 1, who then must recite everyone’s name and picnic item.
- For very small groups, try starting with an ‘A’ item and continue through the alphabet all the way to ‘Z’. Example: “I’m going on a picnic with Player 1, who’s bringing an apple, Player 2 who’s bringing brownies, and I’m bringing cheese, Player 1, who’s bringing deviled eggs, Player 2 who’s bringing English muffins, and I’m bringing figs.”
How it benefits you in an interview: This allows you to practice name recall and key points that you may want to reference later in the discussion.
- Share your interests. The Very Hungry Ewok
- Stand in a circle, or opposite, facing each other, spaced out enough so that a soft object can be gently tossed from person to person.
- Using a small ball or other soft object, introduce it as a VERY HUNGRY EWOK. When the Ewok is tossed to you, you must quickly answer the question asked of you or the Ewok will bite!
- The person holding the object identifies someone in the circle by name and asks them a simple question, such as ‘What’s your favorite book?’, ‘What’s a recent performance you’ve seen?’, or ‘Name a meal/dish you cook well.’ As soon as the question is asked, the Ewok is tossed to that player, who must answer quickly.
- If the player answers quickly, they then identify another player by name, ask a question, and toss the Ewok.
- If the player does not answer quickly (within a few seconds), the Ewok “eats them” and they are eliminated. They leave the circle, which then grows tighter.
- Continue play until only one person remains, decreasing amount of time permitted each round.
How it benefits you in an interview: You learn how to answer questions quickly and honestly to keep the conversation flowing.
- Extend the conversation. Yes, But…Yes, And
- Sit in a small circle or opposite, facing each other.
- The first player announces they are going on a simple journey to accomplish a specific task – like going to the post office to mail their tax return.
- Play then moves in a clockwise fashion around the circle, with each player adding an obstacle. Example:
- Player 1: I’m going to the post office to mail my taxes.
- Player 2: Yes, but the bridge is out so that will make the trip longer
- Player 3: Yes, but the post office closes in twenty minutes, so you have to hurry
- Player 4: Yes, but if you’re caught speeding again, you’ll lose your license…
- Once you have gone around the circle completely players switch to start offering solutions
- Player 1: I’m going to the post office to mail my taxes and the bridge is out and I only have twenty minutes and I can’t be caught speeding
- Player 2: Yes, and if you take the back road, you don’t need the bridge
- Player 3: Yes, and taxes aren’t due until next month, so you can just put it in a mailbox if the office is closed
- Player 4: Yes, and if you’re really worried about speeding, you can take a taxi
- Continue until everyone has offered a solution.
How it benefits you in an interview: You learn to listen to what is being said and build upon another person’s responses, showing how to continue conversation around an idea without overthinking it.
- Adapt to shifts in dynamic. Secret Identity
- Two players act out a scene.
- In advance of this game, make a list of scenarios, characters, and ‘secret identities’ for each scene. Select the scenario and the character, making those public to the whole group. However, one observer should privately tell each Player their ‘secret identity’ either by whispering or passing them a note.
- Players perform based on the information they’re given without revealing their own ‘secret identity’.
- For example:
- The scenario is a restaurant;
- Player 1 is the customer; and, Player 2 is the server.
- Player 1 wants to order dinner; and, Player 2 only wants to sell them dessert.
- However, Player 1’s ‘secret identity’ is that they’re actually Player 2’s boss; and Player 2’s ‘secret identity’ is that they’re Player 1’s parent.
- The Players act out the scenario as announced, and eventually find a spot in the scene to ‘remove their mask’ and reveal their secret identity. This should change the dynamic of the scene, and both players will need to re-calibrate quickly. After playing out this new dynamic for a while, the second player ‘removes their mask’ and reveals their own secret identity, changing the dynamic yet again.
- Both players should then find a way to end the scene in as logical a fashion possible.
How it benefits you in an interview: It shows you how to see context clues, determine the direction of the conversation, and respond accordingly.
These ideas are adapted from Whose Workshop is it Anyway? originally developed by J. Michael DeAngelis at the University of Pennsylvania Career Services. Michael has a Theatre background and expertise in the Art of Improvisation. We caught up with him and he shared some thoughts on why this process works.
If you are in need of someone to practice your interview skills (or maybe a round of improv) with, then set up an appointment with one of your designated career advisors. For additional suggestions and strategies for responding to traditional interview questions, along with tools and resources for interview preparation, check out the resources here.
