Recruitment is full of surprises. At Cox Purtell, we’ve heard our fair share of thoughtful career questions - but every now and then, something a little more unexpected lands in our inbox or gets dropped into a casual candidate chat.

And while we love a classic “How do I tailor my CV?” or “What’s the market like right now?” - it’s the unusual ones that keep things interesting (and give us something to laugh about at lunch).

Here are 10 real questions we’ve been asked - and what we actually said in return.

1. “Is it weird if I send a thank-you cake after the interview?”

Not weird. Delicious.
We’ll never say no to baked goods - but no, it’s not expected. A quick thank-you email does the trick. (Unless it’s a salted caramel cake. In that case, we’re available.)

2. “Do you think I could make a career out of being the ‘vibe person’ in the office?”

Honestly… maybe.
If you’ve got strong soft skills, you’re halfway to a great EA, Office Manager, or People & Culture role. Being the ‘vibe person’ is a skill - just pair it with a solid CV.

3. “I’ve had six jobs in two years… should I just lie about it?”

Tempting, but don’t.
We’ll help you shape the story honestly - think growth, adaptability, and lessons learned. Transparency beats Google-proof lies every time.

4. “I just got back from three months in Europe. Can I say I was ‘freelancing’?”

You could... but did you actually work?
We say own the career break. Travel gives you perspective - and a tan. And if you did do some work from that beach in Mykonos, sure, we can finesse it.

5. “Can I apply even if I don’t tick every box?”

Please do.
Most job ads are a wish list, not a checklist. If you’re 70–80% there, back yourself. We’ll help fill the gaps.

6. “What if I accidentally said the wrong company name in the interview?”

First of all - ouch.
Second - it happens. If you nailed the rest of it, we can smooth it over. We’re in your corner (just maybe leave the names on a sticky note next time).

7. “Can I send a follow-up message... via LinkedIn and email and text?”

Triple contact might be a bit much.
We admire the enthusiasm, but one polite follow-up will do. If they’re keen, they’ll be in touch. If they ghost... we’ve got more fish in the sea.

8. “Do I really need to include a cover letter?”

Short answer: Not always.
Longer answer: If it’s well written and tailored, it can help. But if you're sending a generic one from 2019... maybe skip it. Or let us help freshen it up.

9. “Do you actually read my LinkedIn profile?”

We do. We definitely do.
Sometimes it tells us more than your CV. So if your headline is still from 2022, maybe time for a refresh.

10. “What’s the strangest question you’ve been asked?”

We get this one a lot - usually right after someone asks something we’d file under “top contenders.”
Truth is, recruitment is full of surprises. What’s weird to one person is perfectly normal to another. And honestly? The only “weird” question is the one you didn’t ask - because we’re probably thinking it too.

Recruiters aren’t robots. We’re not judging you for asking something different - in fact, we welcome it.

At Cox Purtell, we believe the best working relationships are built on honest conversations, human moments... and the occasional curveball.

So go on. Ask the “weird” question.

We’re all ears. And sometimes cake.