Interview questions that test your ability to think

[hamidrizvi]

I've heard from a few people that they have been asked questions such as:

1) How many red cars are there in Canada
2) The soap dispenser in the washroom is not working, what could be wrong with it

I read another thread on the second question, but how would you go about answering the first? I can understand that they want to test your ability to think, problem solve, etc - but do they also expect an estimated quantitative answer?

[dealstime]

There are 65764 red cars in canada. If he has a doubt he can go and count it.

The soap dispenser has been clogged or does not have any soap left.

[funnykid]

1) 12947.50 The red paint is peeling off the 0.50 one.

2) Either the person is using it wrong or the caretaker has been slacking off in the back room doing crosswords in the Saturday Star paper.

[thescream]

Hehe, I never heard of those questions but over my years I have been asked some difficult ones-- though common.

When I was 14-years old, I got my first 'real' job aside from newspapers and ice cream bikes, and the manager came and sat with me in the dining room of Burger King....he asked me, "Where do you see yourself in 5-years?" I thought to myself.....I dearly hope not working at Burger King....

Other difficult interview questions are to name your weaknesses.....tell them about a problem / difficult encounter with a co-worker and how you resolved it.

You got to just make things up that sound good or ask yourself what the purpose of the question is before you answer it. Is the glass empty, or half full? This is a question they ask just to test your optimism..or lack of it, obviously half full is more optimistic then half empty, right? :)

[onexeyed]

I've been asked: "What's your favourite fruit and why?"

[mmrrX]

Other difficult interview questions are to name your weaknesses.....tell them about a problem / difficult encounter with a co-worker and how you resolved it.

The "what is your weakness" is a horrible interview question. Only unskilled interviewer's ask that. It does give you a chance to talk however (demonstrate communication skill?), but this question doesn't tell them anything.

As for the solving conflict with a co-worker, we all know what everybody does... goto the manager and rat them out :D

[nalababe]

The "what is your weakness" is a horrible interview question. Only unskilled interviewer's ask that. It does give you a chance to talk however (demonstrate communication skill?), but this question doesn't tell them anything.

As for the solving conflict with a co-worker, we all know what everybody does... goto the manager and rat them out :D

Actually that is a gross misunderstanding. Asking the weakness question can tell more about the candidate than many other questions. The purpose of an interview is not to gauge what you know, rather are you a good fit to the company.

[dokie]

Here are several questions that are asked in a Cambridge (UK) entrance exam.

Why are the sewer lids circular in shape?

You're driving along the street and you see your best friend, a pregnant women and your gf. who do you pick up and what should you do?

[Sylvestre]

For an engineering position once I was asked "how would you design a can-opener".

[roguechameleon]

Why are the sewer lids circular in shape?

So the lid cannot fall into the hole.


You're driving along the street and you see your best friend, a pregnant women and your gf. who do you pick up and what should you do?

They are all the same person... so only one pick up needed.

[deep]

You're driving along the street and you see your best friend, a pregnant women and your gf. who do you pick up and what should you do?
I like the "they're all the same person answer", actually. Or I'd go with - give the car to my best friend and have him give the pregnant lady a ride, then have a nice relaxing walk with my girlfriend.

[redg2]

They are all the same person... so only one pick up needed.

Actually, the answer should be: You lend your car to your best friend to drive the pregnant lady to the hospital while you walk with your girlfriend.

This is the way to get everybody satisfied.

[nalababe]

I like the "they're all the same person answer", actually. Or I'd go with - give the car to my best friend and have him give the pregnant lady a ride, then have a nice relaxing walk with my girlfriend.

IT said car, not motorcycle. Offer a ride to all three.

[deep]

IT said car, not motorcycle. Offer a ride to all three.
You don't win points for disagreeing with me. I said what I would do...if I were on my motorcycle, you can be sure as hell I wouldn't lend it to a friend.

Besides which, the lady might be 3 months pregnant...who says she's in need of a ride?

[roguechameleon]

^

All very interesting answers that I hadn't thought of. Definitely a good interview question... however I am unsure of how I would interpret each answer.

That is, if the person answered this way, it means this... etc.