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You've dressed for the part and reviewed every interview question you could find. You feel unstoppable. And then your interviewer asks:

"Why is there fuzz on a tennis ball?"

Surprised man saying this is unexpected.

Don't panic! Although unexpected, this question is not meant to test your knowledge of tennis balls. The interviewer is just trying to determine:

  • how well you respond under pressure

  • how creative you can be

  • how your thought process works

Mistakes To Avoid

Although there is no right or wrong answer to this question, there are better and worse approaches.

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DON'T

  • Get frustrated by the question if you can't think of an answer

  • Act like you are above answering this question

  • Answer with "I don't know" and leave it at that

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DO

  • Stay calm and ask for a moment to think about it

  • Take this question seriously and answer the best you can

  • Give an educated guess or get creative with your answer if unsure

How To Answer "Why Is There Fuzz On A Tennis Ball?"

Flaticon IconScenario #1

If you're applying for a financial analyst position, you can use your best educated guess and say:

"That is a great question and one I have not thought about. I would think the fuzz on a tennis ball helps to slow down the ball so that the players can have more controlled serves and returns."

Flaticon IconScenario #2

If you're applying for a woodworking role, you can try to get creative with your response and say:

"I think there is fuzz on a tennis ball to help prevent the floor from scuffing when placed at the bottom of a chair leg."

Did you know?

Rumie is a nonprofit community dedicated to making innovative learning free for everyone.

Take Action

There's no need for a lengthy explanation to this question. Your interviewer knows you are not a tennis ball expert, they are just trying to see how you would react to a situation you did not prepare for.

So let your personality shine through when answering this question and don't be afraid to get creative!

Man pointing at you saying you got this.

License:

This Byte has been authored by

AS

Andreea Sandu

First Time Rumie Volunteer

English

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