Weird interview questions

[TitleTown088]

Sorry my "riddle" wasn't up to standards with your "interview questions"

[DChess]

Originally Posted by TitleTown088

Sorry my "riddle" wasn't up to standards with your "interview questions"

it's "alright"

[soybean]

the worst is when my friend was getting a job at home depot. the interviewer goes "so... you're a salesman eh? sell me something."

this business frat at ucla my friend was trying to get into had the same question. they made them sell them a pen. My friend pretended it was a magic wand... he didn't get in.

[Rob S]

I've gotten lots of these....in most cases, it's not at all about getting them right. The interviewer just wants to see how you go about solving a problem. In the past 2 months, I've seen "How many ping pong balls fit in a 747", "How many lightbulbs are there in Australia?", "You have two sand-glass timers, one with 7 minutes worth of sand and another with 4 minutes worth of sand, how do you use both to precisely time 12 minutes?"

[soybean]

I read a yahoo article about this. This is a question they ask for United Health Group:

Coke or Pepsi?

[CJSchneider]

Given who is asking the questions, I'd pick neither.

[jrdrylie]

I was asked to name the different ways to use bricks. After "Use them to build..." if gets a bit difficult.

[yo123]

How about "throw them in the face of the interviewer for asking such a stupid question?"

[Rob S]

These type of questions lost their relevance with the interwebz growing so quickly. If you go into a job interview and are surprised by anything, well, you only have yourself to blame because all that info is out there.

[Raiderz4Life]

I wouda said...to take out a front CV Axle....cuz...that's what I use bricks for lol

[WCH]

Originally Posted by raiderz4life

I wouda said...to take out a front CV Axle....cuz...that's what I use bricks for lol

Throw threatening messages through windows, hold doors open, use them as a weapon, hold down lightweight objects...

[brat316]

cook, turn into powder.

[wogitalia]

Holy necro thread...

[ATLDirtyBirds]

Originally Posted by Rob S

"You have two sand-glass timers, one with 7 minutes worth of sand and another with 4 minutes worth of sand, how do you use both to precisely time 12 minutes?"

Disregard glass timers, set cell phone timer.

[49ersfan_87]

I suck at job interviews. Just a ton of pressure for me. Sometimes i think fast and come up with good answers, sometimes i just go blank. I try to prepare as much as i can, going over my resume and experiences/stories at previous jobs/school that can help me with the current job, but one curveball question can screw me up. I'm actually a lot better in real job situations for whatever reason, but the actual interview just sucks. I think the pressure of one bad answer costing me a job just gets to me.

[Rob S]

Originally Posted by ATLDirtyBirds

Disregard glass timers, set cell phone timer.

You would not be selected because you can't follow instructions.

Originally Posted by 49ersfan_87

I suck at job interviews. Just a ton of pressure for me. Sometimes i think fast and come up with good answers, sometimes i just go blank. I try to prepare as much as i can, going over my resume and experiences/stories at previous jobs/school that can help me with the current job, but one curveball question can screw me up. I'm actually a lot better in real job situations for whatever reason, but the actual interview just sucks. I think the pressure of one bad answer costing me a job just gets to me.

glassdoor.com is your friend.

[jrdrylie]

Originally Posted by Rob S

I've gotten lots of these....in most cases, it's not at all about getting them right. The interviewer just wants to see how you go about solving a problem. In the past 2 months, I've seen "How many ping pong balls fit in a 747", "How many lightbulbs are there in Australia?", "You have two sand-glass timers, one with 7 minutes worth of sand and another with 4 minutes worth of sand, how do you use both to precisely time 12 minutes?"

You could just use the four minute one three times. But since you have to use them both. Flip them both over at the same time. When the four minute one is done, flip over the seven minute one. That one will have four minutes worth of sand falling. When that one is done, flip over the four minute one again until it runs out of sand. 12 minutes.

[Rob S]

Originally Posted by jrdrylie

You could just use the four minute one three times. But since you have to use them both. Flip them both over at the same time. When the four minute one is done, flip over the seven minute one. That one will have four minutes worth of sand falling. When that one is done, flip over the four minute one again until it runs out of sand. 12 minutes.

You got it.

[jrdrylie]

My last interview (which I didn't get the job because I am too qualified) asked me to give an example within the past year where I had conflict at work and how I dealt with it. Pretty common question.

The problem is, what I do at work is I'm part of a two-person team. I'm good friends with the guy I work with. And even though we are on the same team, we work independently. So there is never any conflict so I completely botched the question.

[Rob S]

Originally Posted by jrdrylie

My last interview (which I didn't get the job because I am too qualified) asked me to give an example within the past year where I had conflict at work and how I dealt with it. Pretty common question.

The problem is, what I do at work is I'm part of a two-person team. I'm good friends with the guy I work with. And even though we are on the same team, we work independently. So there is never any conflict so I completely botched the question.

Yeah.....you just gotta have something in the bag.

[ATLDirtyBirds]

I always rock the conflict questions due to my work as an umpire. Money.

[Bulldogs]

Originally Posted by ATLDirtyBirds

I always rock the conflict questions due to my work as an umpire. Money.

I bet you're the worst umpire ever.

[wogitalia]

Haha at the "correct" answer for that timer one...

I'd have totally just said throw out the 7m timer and just use the 4 3 times as that is the logical answer.

If they then required me to use both... I'd probably have said flip the 4 minute one 3 times and use the 7m one to play with to pass the time while I wait for the other one... because lets be honest... why would I use both when using one is the better option.

That would be like using 2 programs to do something at work when you could do it all in one, all you'd be doing is increasing the likelihood of errors and making things harder. Which as someone who has now worked for nearly 5 years... is pretty much how most businesses do things, so I guess that's a good question :)

[wogitalia]

Never really understood the "conflict" question. Just seems like an incredibly weighted question to me.

If you admit to having conflicts then you fail. If you don't have conflicts then you didn't answer the question and you fail. It's the interview equivalent of would you rather be shot or stabbed.

Being an umpire would be a great result if that question came up though due to the nature of the job, but in most work environments, if you have conflict you did something wrong.

[Raiderz4Life]

haha when my boss asked me how I resolved a conflict at my previous job...I wasn't sure if to tell the truth or lie...the position was virtually the same so I decided on a half truth.

Neutralize the threat and escort him out of the premises.

Text book wording and what not.