Interviews can be nerve-wracking at the best of times, but when a curveball question comes your way, even the most prepared candidate can wobble. We asked professionals across a range of office support jobs in London to share the interview questions that caught them off guard - and how they responded.
“If you were a kitchen appliance, what would you be?”
Aliyah, now a customer service supervisor, laughed when she recalled this one. “I said, ‘A kettle, because I’m always switched on, reliable, and I bring people together - often over a cuppa.’ It was silly, but it helped break the ice and showed I could think on my feet.”
“Tell me something that’s not on your CV.”
Kwame, who works in payroll, was briefly stumped. “I’d rehearsed every detail of my CV but hadn’t thought about what’s not on it. I ended up talking about my volunteer work helping refugees with budgeting. It wasn’t directly relevant, but it showed empathy and initiative. The interviewer loved it.”
“How would your worst enemy describe you?”
Manisha, a senior HR officer, said this one threw her into deep reflection. “I said, ‘Probably too brutally honest,’ then followed it up by explaining how I’ve learned to balance transparency with sensitivity. It showed I’m self-aware, but also growing.”
“Sell me this pen.”
Joe, applying for an admin coordinator role, had seen this in films but never expected it in real life, and certainly not in a job that’s not directly about sales. “I panicked for a second, then said, ‘This pen represents your signature on new opportunities. It’s not just ink - it’s action.’ Bit cheesy, but it worked! I got the job.”
“What makes you get out of bed in the morning?”
Sana, who now works in compliance, said it took her by surprise. “I said, ‘Coffee and a sense of purpose.’ I spoke about how knowing I make a difference in small ways at work motivates me. It felt genuine, and the interviewer seemed to appreciate that.”
“Teach me something in 60 seconds.”
Liam, a junior accounts assistant, had to improvise fast. “I taught them how to solve a Rubik’s cube in a minute, just because I had one in my bag and it’s all I could think of. It was random, but fun - and I got to show communication skills under pressure.”
“How would you handle working with someone you don’t like?”
Fatima, in office management, answered honestly. “I said, ‘It’s inevitable at times, so I’d focus on shared professional goals, stay professional, and find common ground where possible.’ I think the honesty helped as no one wants to hear fake perfection.”
We Help You Land Your Next Interview
Working in office support jobs in London means adapting to all sorts of people and situations, and sometimes that starts with the interview itself. As these real-life examples show, the trick isn’t knowing every answer. Rather, it’s staying calm, showing who you are, and turning the question into an opportunity.
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