During a job interview, it’s common to receive questions about your employment history, credentials, skills and personal qualities. Sometimes, the interviewer might ask you a question that seems unrelated to work, such as “If you could be a vegetable, what vegetable would you be?” To be prepared for such a creative question, it’s important to understand the motivations behind it and the elements that go into an effective response. In this article, we discuss why an interviewer might ask creative questions, explain how to formulate a strong answer and provide some examples to guide you.
Fruit or Vegetable Picker interview questions
Example 2
This interviewee begins by focusing on one characteristic, a carrot, and then expanding on it, associating it with other desirable qualities:
“If I had to choose to be just one vegetable, Id be a carrot. This is because carrots are so versatile. There are carrot salads prepared a dozen different ways, carrot soups and soups with carrots in them, carrot gratins and carrot cakes. Carrots flavor stocks and sauces, and they commonly occupy the same platter as the main dish. You can also just snack on carrots. The complexity of a carrots flavor is what allows it to serve so many functions. Its simultaneously sweet, savory, bright and earthy. I feel that Im similarly complex and adaptable.
I think these characteristics are best illustrated by a restaurant I went to recently. It was a multicourse pop-up that incorporated carrots into each course. In some courses, the carrot flavor wasnt pronounced, but you could tell youd miss it if it werent there. I feel I can be like the carrot for your company. I can fit appropriately into any circumstance and make a noticeable contribution.”
How to answer the “What vegetable would you be?” interview question
Follow these steps to formulate a strong response to a question such as “What vegetable would you be?” during your next interview:
Example 1
The interviewee in this example compares their characteristics with those of a potato and likens their potential to the effect the vegetable can have on others:
“I think that if I could be a vegetable, Id want to be a potato. One reason for this is that I consider myself to be a humble person. Thats to say that Im down-to-earth, and a potato is a root vegetable, growing down below the earth. Another reason is universality. Potatoes seem to play a significant role in just about every major cuisine. Similarly, I can be a key contributor to any group, project or circumstance in which I find myself.
The idea of being a key contributor reminds me of a Thanksgiving dinner I had as a teenager. In addition to the turkey, we had all the usual side dishes—all except for mashed potatoes. The food was great, but the dinner was lacking. A mound of mashed potatoes on my plate wouldve fulfilled the meals promise, as I hope to fulfill your organization.“
Example answers for “What vegetable would you be?”
Consider the following example answers to give you a sense of how to formulate an effective answer to this question:
Whether you are interviewing for an ultrasound technician position or a different job altogether, it’s good to build some self-awareness and practice answering questions related to your personal and professional attributes.
Ideally every individual would consume a balanced and nutritious diet. In our context for example, there are a number of reasons why it makes sense for medical and allied health professionals to “eat their vegetables”. Eating well helps them be healthy enough to consistently perform their essential, energy-consuming occupation, it sets a positive example for patients, not to mention it’s good for their own quality of life.
Something countless mothers have told their children across generations is “Eat your vegetables!” to encourage their family to lead a healthy lifestyle.
According to the Dairy Council of California’s “Healthy Eating Made Easier” program, vegetables provide essential nutrients so your body can stay healthy; depending on the individual, a daily intake from one to four cups is recommended. Additionally, the Council adds, “a diet rich in vegetables may reduce risk for stroke, cancer, heart diseases and type-2 diabetes.”
You may be asked one of these imaginative questions or the like during a job interview. The idea is to explain the WHY behind your answer. The interviewer is attempting to assess your personality, creativity, specific skill-set, as well as how well you know yourself.
Then there is the inevitable “what are your strengths and weaknesses?” question or the “where do you see yourself in 5 years time”. With the best preparation in the world, itll happen. The employer will ask you a question that you just hadnt planned for or expected. TargetJobs have put together an excellent list of the common tricky questions and have shared strategies on how to answer them. Really worth a read!
Dont forget: practice makes perfect, so do book an interview with one of our careers advisers!
In my mind, the employer isnt always interested in what you say but rather how you handle the situation. How you cope with curve balls they throw your way is a strong indicator of your ability to work under pressure, remain calm and problem solve. So next time you are caught off guard in an interview, take a deep breath – smile and ask the employer to give you a few minutes to think. This approach conveys bags and bags of self-confidence.
That said, when it comes to interviews, there are certain questions that crop up time and time again. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail and all that. Yes, it’s a well-trodden adage and it might even sound worn, but if you want to wing it at a job interview then, well, you’re on your own. Below are the five most common interview questions and ones that we have found students and graduates find most challenging.
OK, confession time! A long time ago, when I went for my first interview for a graduate scheme at a leading advertising agency – right at the end the interviewer asked me, “so, if you could be a vegetable; what sort of vegetable would you be?”. I was totally thrown by this curve ball of a questions and mumbled, “a cabbage”. Truth is, I dont like cabbages… (no offence to all you cabbage lovers!)
A carrot is considered a root vegetable – rooted from the ground up. This represents me in that I am rooted in strong professional morals, values and beliefs that drive my motivation to be the best I can be and help define who I am today. Growing up my parents consistently reminded me to eat my vegetables; I couldn’t leave the table unless I did. When it came to eating carrots, they provided encouragement by indicating they were good for my eyes – thus improving my vision. I approach my work in a similar way, always looking ahead into the future to what opportunities and challenges could exist and how I (and my colleagues) could strengthen our productivity and work output. Lastly, carrots have a crisp texture and are considered good companion plants for gardeners. When given a task, project or other responsibility I tend to be as precise and detail-oriented as possible; creating a clean and crisp outcome, solution or final product. In addition, I enjoy working collaboratively with others as both a leader and team contributor (companion), and like gardeners I bring a strong passion and enthusiasm to my work.
Whether you are asked to be a vegetable, color, type of vehicle, kind of cereal or any other type of product remember that you should not only describe the characteristics (in detail) of that item but you should relate each characteristic to you. Remember, this is your opportunity to showcase your personality, creativity and ability to think outside the box; you never know what just might help you secure your ideal position.
With a more competitive job market (as well as professional school admission), organizations and institutions are needing to base their selection much more on personality fit than ever before. The aforementioned question is one of many types of questions interviewers can ask to better assess you personality, analytical reasoning, creativity and self-awareness. The recommended approach to these types of questions is similar to that of a case study question (i.e. How many hotdogs are consumed in Chicago in a given year?). The goal is not to get the right answer, but more so your reasoning behind your recommended approach…or in case of the vegetable question – why you feel that the vegetable you chose represents you. Moreover, one of the biggest mistakes job applicants make when approaching this question is not only trying to answer the question based on what they think the employer wants to hear, but they typically avoid relating the topic (in this case a vegetable) to their qualities, strengths, abilities and personal characteristics.
FAQ
Which vegetable do you like the most answer?
Can you give me a list of vegetables?
What are the 10 most common interview questions and answers?
- Artichoke. Asparagus. Aubergene (eggplant) Avocado. Beet. Bok Choy. …
- Cauliflower. Celeriac. Celery. Chard (Red and Swiss) Chicory. Corn. …
- Jicama. Kale. Kohlrabi. Leeks. Arugula Lettuce. …
- Peas. Snap Sugar Peas. Snow Peas. Anaheim Peppers. Sweet peppers. …
- Acorn Squash. Butternut Squash. Patti Pan Squash. Spaghetti Squash. Swede.
