Picture this: You’re getting interviewed for a job. Since you’re well prepared, you can easily answer all the standard and typical interview questions. Then BAM! The interviewer hits you with this question, “If your life had a theme song, what would it be?” WHAT IN THE WORLD?!?!
To help you in this situation, I’m going to show you how to answer what is your theme song interview question. Plus, I’ll also explain what the point of the question is, as well as give you some theme song examples. So let’s dive in!
Read More: What is Your Favorite Book? The Answer to This Interview Question Will Reveal a Lot
What Is the Point of Asking What Is the Theme Song of Your Life?
Yes, this is a rather weird and tricky question at a job interview. I mean, how does it relate to you being qualified for the job or not(unless you’re applying for a Broadway Play or some music industry)?
However, the interviewer has a very good point in asking this question. Adrion Porter, a workforce speaker and advisor, says:
This is a very excellent question – especially for an interview. It is unique. It is different. It is a great way to break the ice. But it also is a very clever way to gain some insight into someone’s personality, build immediate rapport, and engage more on an emotional level.
With that in mind, let’s look at some of the reasons why an interviewer might ask what your personal theme song is…
- It gives insight into your personality. In one study, it was discovered that personality and music taste are linked. For example, the people who chose pop music as their favorite genre were all extroverted, honest, and conventional. In the same way, those who chose rock or heavy metal were more on the anger, bravado, and aggression side. This is a creative way for the interviewer to get a glimpse of what you’re like.
- It builds immediate rapport. “Hey, I love that song or genre, too!” A connection like this can build rapport between you and the hiring manager. I don’t know about you, but this sounds like a great way to ease the interview and keep it light-hearted. Moreover, you get to engage on a more emotional level, as Adrion Porter pointed out.
- It shows your critical thinking skills. No doubt you already rehearsed through interview questions and answers before you arrived. You carefully worded your answers to traditional questions. But an interviewer might want to test your critical thinking skills. This is why they ask something out of the ordinary.
- It tells how well you can deal with the unexpected. Knowing how to deal with unexpected situations is a great trait to have in any workplace. This is one reason why a recruiter might give you question tests.
- It reveals your ability to deal with nonsense. Yes, this is a silly (maybe even nonsensical) question to get asked at a job interview. Well, maybe it’s the interviewer’s way of seeing how well you can deal with nonsense. It shows them how you respond to situations where you have to do something even though you don’t know the reason for it.
- It demonstrates your creativity. This is a question that you can get very creative with. You can state your favorite song and why you love it so much. Or, you can get a song related to the interview or job and show how it perfectly fits into the scenario. Whatever you like.
- It displays your ability to develop an answer when there is no right answer. This can determine if you’re someone susceptible to indecision. There’s no right answer to this question, but if you take 2 minutes to come up with an answer, it shows that you’re not as decisive as you might hope.
As you can see, this isn’t a pointless question asked at all. It can tell a lot about you as a person and as a worker.
How to Answer What Is Your Theme Song Interview Question
So you are asked the “what is the theme song of your life” interview question. How do you answer that? Honestly, you can answer it however you want.
You can choose to go the neutral way. This is simply stating your favorite song at the moment (even better if you specifically have a theme song that resonates with you). If you can’t pick one at the top of your head, then go for the last song you listened to. Remember, there are no right answers here.
You can go creative. You can choose a song that will show a good characteristic. For example, you can pick the iconic ‘I’ll Be There For You’ Friend’s theme song because you’re very friendly and all about teamwork. Or, you can pick ‘Gonna Fly Now’, Rocky Balboa’s theme song, to prove that you have the same dedication as Mr. Balboa. This is a good time to boast a few skills, in a rather unconventional way.
If you’re brave enough, you can go in the brash direction. Although, warning, this might not play out well. You can answer the question plainly (or not answer it at all) and ask them how that helps with understanding how you can help the company. This might show the recruiter that you’re a no-nonsense person or it might give them rude vibes. Who knows.
Finally, you can turn to the bright side of life and get quirky with your answer. “I would choose ‘I’m So Excited’ by The Pointer Sisters because I’m so excited to be here.” That can bring in a good chuckle. Or you can go with ‘Happy’ by Pharrell Williams and state that you’re happy you’re shortlisted for the interview.
What Is Your Theme Song Example Answers
To give you some inspiration, let’s look at some theme song of your life examples given by real job seekers from Quora and Reddit.
“‘I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it. I’m about to lose control and I think I like it! ‘ from the song ‘I’m so Excited by The Pointer Sisters’. That is the correct answer. It’s what they want to hear. Haha”
“I don’t think I would have a theme tune. Maybe just like, a quick beat in the opening where the screen goes black and then, I don’t know, Emily’s Life appears in capitals before we get straight into the action. You know, like Fleabag?”
“Can you help me understand how this question helps understand how I can help your organization?”
“I went for ‘Hail to the Chief’.”
“I am a lifelong fan of Bruce Springsteen, so if I could do that, I would choose his iconic Born to Run. The reason for that choice is simple: it’s exuberant and powerful and pumps me up. When I walk into a room, people notice. And I want them to feel that same exuberance.”
“Mine would be the Oompa Song from the Willy Wonka movie. Why? First, I’ve got a strange sense of humor and prefer not to take myself too seriously, and am currently carrying more weight than I’d like to.”
“Africa by Toto. Been there as a nurse. Brings back lovely memories. Beautiful people. Zulu are wonderful and appreciate everything we did. So humble. So very sincerely sweet.”
“If I’m walking into an office to start the work day, it would be Survivor – Eye of the Tiger. The better you start your day, the better your day will be on the whole. I need to start with a pep in my step.”
“If you’re looking for trouble
You came to the right place
If you’re looking for trouble
Just look right in my face
I was born standing up
And talking back
My daddy was a green-eyed mountain jack
Because I’m evil, my middle name is misery
Well I’m evil, so don’t you mess around with me
I know, I know, evil, misery. But, can you imagine the FIERCE strutt!”
As you can see, some go into detail about their answer. Some simply state a song. Some even choose to word out a specific lyric to get a point across. So go ahead and come up with a simple or creative answer.
Final Words
You might be wondering, “How to answer what is your theme song interview question? And what is the point of asking this?” Well, the point will depend on the interviewer asking it, but you can be sure that it’s one of the 7 reasons I gave above. As for your response, you can choose to go neutral, creative, brash, or quirky. It’s up to you.
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