Crazy Job Interview

Crazy Job Interview is a fun and engaging icebreaker game that challenges players to think on their feet and come up with creative explanations for why seemingly unrelated traits make them the ideal candidate for an imaginary job. The purpose of this activity is to help players develop their speaking, positive outlook, and quick-thinking skills, all while having a good time.

To play Crazy Job Interview, each player writes down five or more traits and two or more occupations on small slips of paper. These slips are then placed in separate hats or vessels. The game begins with one player acting as the interviewer, while the other players draw an occupation and three traits from the respective hats.

The interviewer then calls on one of the other players to be the interviewee, who must give a short speech explaining why they are a good fit for the job they have drawn based on the traits they have been given. The interviewee begins by talking about their first trait and can move on to their next trait when ready or when prompted by the interviewer.

At the end of each round, the interviewer awards a point to the player they feel did the best job of convincing them that they were the ideal candidate for the job. The game continues with a new interviewer and new interviewees until all players have had a chance to participate.

Crazy Job Interview is a great way to break the ice, get to know other players, and have fun while developing important communication skills. Whether you’re playing with friends or coworkers, this game is sure to bring lots of laughs and good times.

1. Randomly choose a player to be the first interviewer.
2. Other players draw an occupation and three traits from the respective hats.
3. Interviewer calls on one of the players to be the interviewee.
4. Interviewee starts giving a speech explaining why they are fit for the job, based on one trait.
5. Interviewee looks at their next trait and begins talking about it.
6. The interviewer can force the interviewee to move on to the next trait.
7. When the interviewee has finished talking about all three traits, a new player is chosen for an interview.
8. Interviewer awards a point to the best interviewee based on their own standards.
9. The player to the left of the current interviewer becomes the new interviewer. Repeat the process.

• Seven small strips of paper per player: These will be used to write down traits and occupations for each player.
• A “literal or non-literal hat” or other container: This will be used to hold all the trait slips that players will draw from.
• Another container: This will be used to hold all the occupation slips that players will draw from.
• Optional: A list of traits and occupations pre-written for convenience: If you don’t want to come up with your own on the spot, having a list ready can save time.
• A way to keep track of points (optional): This could be as simple as a piece of paper and pen or pencil.

Overall, the materials needed for Crazy Job Interview are minimal and easy to obtain, making it a great icebreaker for any occasion.

To set up for the Crazy Job Interview icebreaker activity, you need to gather a group of players and provide them with seven small strips of paper each. Ask each player to write down five or more “traits” on their slips of paper, using adjectives, backgrounds, previous jobs, interests, or outlooks on life. They should also write down two or more “occupations” on separate slips of paper. Once everyone has finished writing, collect all the trait slips and place them in a hat or other container. Do the same with the occupation slips.

Next, randomly choose a player to be the first interviewer. The remaining players should then draw an occupation and three traits from the respective hats. They can look at the occupation but should keep their traits hidden.

Finally, explain the rules of the game and remind players that they do not need to try to be funny or creative; they should simply relax and say what comes to mind. Encourage players to ask for a moment to compose themselves if needed, and consider allowing all players to look at their traits when they draw them or having the interviewer draw the occupation for multiple interviews to give players more thinking time.

1. Prepare the game materials: Give each player seven small strips of paper. Ask them to write down five or more “traits” on separate slips, such as adjectives, backgrounds, previous jobs, interests, or outlooks. Then, have them write down two or more “occupations” on different slips.
2. Combine the traits and occupations: Place all trait slips into one container (literal or non-literal hat) and all occupation slips into a separate vessel.
3. Select the first interviewer: Randomly choose a player to be the first interviewer.
4. Draw an occupation and traits: Have other players draw an occupation and three traits from their respective containers without looking at the traits yet.
5. Begin the interview: The interviewer calls on one player to be the interviewee, who will give a short speech about why they are fit for the job they’ve drawn.
6. Present the first trait: The interviewee looks at their first trait card and starts giving their speech based on this trait.
7. Discuss subsequent traits: When ready, the interviewee moves on to discuss their other traits, one by one, as prompted by the interviewer or when they feel they’ve spoken enough about the previous trait.
8. Choose another interviewee: After an interviewee has discussed all three traits, the interviewer selects another player for an interview.
9. Assign points: Once every player has given their interview, the interviewer awards a point to who they believe was the best interviewee based on their own standards (funniest, most convincing, etc.).
10. Rotate the interviewer: The player to the left of the current interviewer becomes the new interviewer, and the game continues. When you run out of traits or occupations, return to the setup phase to create more.

Additional tips:

• It’s okay if not everyone is comfortable talking on the spot; encourage them to relax and say what comes to mind. If needed, they can ask the interviewing player to go last in that round for thinking time.
• Allow all players to look at their traits when they draw them or have the interviewer draw the occupation for all players to give speeches based on the same job. This provides more opportunities for building off earlier interviews and jumping off points.

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• Improves Speaking Skills: By participating in the Crazy Job Interview icebreaker game, I can practice and enhance my speaking skills through short speeches and conversations. This experience will help me become more comfortable speaking in various social situations.
• Boosts Confidence: As I engage in the game and think on my feet to create persuasive arguments about unusual combinations of traits and occupations, my self-confidence will grow. I’ll feel more assured when facing unexpected challenges or conversations.
• Encourages Positive Outlook: The nature of this icebreaker promotes a positive attitude, as players must find ways to frame seemingly negative traits as assets for the job at hand. This mental exercise can help me maintain a positive perspective in real-life situations.
• Develops Quick Thinking: By having to adapt my speeches on the fly based on trait cards and interviewer prompts, I’ll improve my ability to think quickly and creatively under pressure.
• Promotes Laughter and Fun: Playing Crazy Job Interview is an enjoyable way to break the ice in a group setting. The game’s lighthearted and humorous nature helps create a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, making it easier for me to connect with others.
• Enhances Active Listening Skills: Paying close attention to other players’ speeches allows me to learn from their ideas and build upon them in my own responses. This practice will make me a better listener in all conversations.
• Fosters Creativity and Adaptability: Incorporating unexpected traits into persuasive arguments for various occupations requires creative thinking and adaptability, skills that are valuable in both personal and professional settings.

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• Public Speaking: Playing Crazy Job Interview helps build confidence in public speaking as players take turns giving speeches to explain why they are a good fit for the job they have drawn, using the traits given to them.
• Quick Thinking: The game encourages quick thinking and improvisation, as players must come up with reasons on the spot why their randomly assigned traits make them suitable for a specific occupation.
• Positive Outlook: Crazy Job Interview promotes a positive outlook by encouraging players to find ways to present even seemingly negative traits in a positive light, making them more attractive candidates for the job.
• Humor and Creativity: While not required, the game allows opportunities for humor and creativity as players think of unique and entertaining ways to connect their traits to the given occupation, helping build comedic timing and storytelling abilities.
• Active Listening: By listening to other players’ speeches, participants learn active listening skills, allowing them to build on ideas presented earlier or adapt their own speeches based on what they have heard from others.
• Empathy and Understanding: Playing Crazy Job Interview can help develop empathy and understanding as players must think about the given occupation from different perspectives, considering how their traits might be perceived by someone in that role.
• Constructive Feedback: The game encourages giving constructive feedback as players vote for the best interviewee based on their own standards, allowing them to practice assessing others’ performances and providing supportive comments to foster growth and development.
• Stress Management and Resilience: Crazy Job Interview can also help build resilience and stress management skills by simulating high-pressure situations in a safe and fun environment, helping players learn to stay calm and focused under pressure.

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I like the Crazy Job Interview icebreaker because it is a fun and engaging way to get to know others in a group setting. The game encourages creativity, quick thinking, and public speaking, which can help improve communication skills and build confidence. I also appreciate that the rules of the game are flexible, allowing for adjustments based on the needs and preferences of the group. Additionally, Crazy Job Interview has the potential to be a great stress-reliever, as it incorporates humor and laughter into the activity. Overall, I find this icebreaker to be an enjoyable and effective way to promote connection and communication in a group.

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• Consider accessibility: Before starting the game, check if all the players can comfortably read and write the words on the slips of paper. If not, you could use pre-written cards with symbols or pictures instead.
• Avoid culturally specific traits or occupations: To make sure everyone feels included, avoid using traits or occupations that are specific to certain cultures or regions. Instead, opt for more universal terms that can be understood by all players.
• Promote a safe and respectful environment: Encourage all players to be mindful of their language and behavior during the game. Make sure everyone feels comfortable participating and speaking up if they feel uncomfortable with any of the prompts or responses.
• Consider using “I statements” instead of “you statements”: Instead of asking a player to explain why being “aggressively flirtatious” would make them a good fit for a certain occupation, rephrase it as “I am aggressively flirtatious, and here’s how that would make me a great [occupation].” This can help prevent any unintentional misinterpretations or offense.
• Be open to feedback: After the game, ask for feedback from all players about what worked well and what could be improved. Use this feedback to make adjustments for future games and create an even more inclusive environment.

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1. What was the most challenging part of this activity for you? This question can help participants reflect on their communication skills and their ability to think on their feet. It can also give facilitators insight into areas where participants may need additional support or practice.
2. Did you find it difficult to come up with reasons why your traits would be suitable for your given occupation? If so, why do you think that was? This question can help participants consider the relationship between their personal characteristics and potential career paths. It can also encourage them to think creatively about how their strengths and interests could translate into different job roles.
3. How did it feel to be in the role of the interviewer? Did you enjoy having the power to decide who won each round? This question can help participants reflect on the dynamics of power and decision-making in group settings. It can also give facilitators insight into how participants handle responsibility and authority.
4. Did you find yourself making assumptions about the traits or occupations that were drawn, even if they didn’t make sense at first glance? If so, why do you think that was? This question can help participants consider their own biases and assumptions, and how these can affect their judgments and decisions. It can also encourage them to be more open-minded and receptive to new ideas and perspectives.
5. What did you find most enjoyable or memorable about this activity? Was there a particular moment that stood out to you? This question can help participants reflect on the positive aspects of the activity, and how they can apply what they learned to other situations. It can also give facilitators insight into what worked well and what could be improved for future icebreakers or team-building activities.

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