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Wacky interview questions

geekwire.com

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Re: Wacky interview questions

#22

These aren't just wacky, they are stupid. "How many ping-pong balls can fit in a VW bus" is just about the worst question I've ever gotten. Little or no relation to software development. Here's what we do. Interested in feedback, please! Via the phone: * A few background questions (why are you looking for a job, what sounds interesting about what we are doing) (20-30 minutes) * A bunch of topgrading questions http://…

Are you hiring now? :-)

Re: Wacky interview questions

#23
“Calculate the angle of two clock pointers when time is 11:50."

I know the correct answer is supposed to be 0, but the hour hand moves closer to hour+1 as minutes approach 60. I guess I would ask for a compass.

Another fave is: “How many quarters would you need to reach the height of the Empire State building?”

My answer would be: "What's the price of admission?"

Re: Wacky interview questions

#24
post #23

“Calculate the angle of two clock pointers when time is 11:50." I know the correct answer is supposed to be 0, but the hour hand moves closer to hour+1 as minutes approach 60. I guess I would ask for a compass. Another fave is: “How many quarters would you need to reach the height of the Empire State building?” My answer would be: "What's the price of admission?"

The minute hand is at 300 degrees and the hour hand is at 354 degrees, so the correct answer is 54 degrees (subject to me not having messed up the arithmetic).

Re: Wacky interview questions

#25
post #23

“Calculate the angle of two clock pointers when time is 11:50." I know the correct answer is supposed to be 0, but the hour hand moves closer to hour+1 as minutes approach 60. I guess I would ask for a compass. Another fave is: “How many quarters would you need to reach the height of the Empire State building?” My answer would be: "What's the price of admission?"

The minute hand is at 300 degrees and the hour hand is at 354 degrees, so the correct answer is 54 degrees (subject to me not having messed up the arithmetic).

Ahh yes, you're right. The hour hand should move .5 degrees every minute after the hour. Haha I can't believe I didn't reason that out.

Re: Wacky interview questions

#26

Has anyone been asked any of these? I'm curious because I've been asked #18 before.

#18 actually seems like a real-world problem a programmer might face. Besides, there are coldly logical steps you can take to solve the question, and a closed, correct answer, unlike most of the open-ended waffly answers elsewhere in the list.

Re: Wacky interview questions

#28
tech companies asking these silly questions doesn't make them top employers. they should better be focusing on the domain instead of wasting time on nonsense stuffs. it happens only in bay area. crap!

Re: Wacky interview questions

#29
post #2

I can see where most of these are coming from. Estimation, consulting/sales, personality, management & leadership. The penguin in the sombrero is harder to pin down. Are they trying to see how you analyse novel situations? As in, "Well, it's wearing a sombrero but comes from the antarctic, so it's likely been on holiday. Since this office isn't in Mexico or the antarctic it's probably on a travelling holiday, which m…

It doesn't matter what a penguin says, I won't understand it any more than a talking lion.

Re: Wacky interview questions

#30
post #18
post #8

“What’s your favorite song? Perform it for us now.” I'd have to go with "Take this job and shove it". There's nothing worse than places that mandate you be "fun" and "offbeat". If I am fun/offbeat, all you as an interviewer have to do is make me comfortable enough to show it. If you can't do that, why do I want to work for you?

It could be part of the job description, not every interview is for a developer.

It was for a company which does "Advertising & Marketing Services."
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