You are driving along in your car on a wild, stormy night; it's raining heavily. When suddenly you pass by a bus stop, and you see three people waiting for a bus:
1. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.
2. An old friend who once saved your life.
3. The perfect partner you have been dreaming about.
Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing very well that there could only be one passenger in your car?
Think before you continue reading...
This is a moral/ethical dilemma that was once actually used as part of a job application.
You could pick up the old lady because she is going to die, and thus you should save her first; or you could take the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to pay him back. However, you may never be able to find your perfect mate again.
The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble coming up with his answer. Guess what was his answer?
He simply answered:
"I would give the car keys to my old friend and let him take the lady to the hospital. I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the partner of my dreams."
Sometimes, we gain more if we are able to give up our stubborn thought limitations. Never forget to "Think Outside of the Box."
From India, Hyderabad
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681. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.
2. An old friend who once saved your life.
3. The perfect partner you have been dreaming about.
Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing very well that there could only be one passenger in your car?
Think before you continue reading...
This is a moral/ethical dilemma that was once actually used as part of a job application.
You could pick up the old lady because she is going to die, and thus you should save her first; or you could take the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to pay him back. However, you may never be able to find your perfect mate again.
The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble coming up with his answer. Guess what was his answer?
He simply answered:
"I would give the car keys to my old friend and let him take the lady to the hospital. I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the partner of my dreams."
Sometimes, we gain more if we are able to give up our stubborn thought limitations. Never forget to "Think Outside of the Box."
From India, Hyderabad
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Yes, I have heard companies using questions such as these to come up with their ideal candidate. A good one!!!
From Sri Lanka
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From Sri Lanka
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I would like to address one question asked in an SSB interview. A commandant in chief asked the interviewer, "What will you do if I run away with your sister?" The candidate who was selected answered, "I will not find a better match for my sister than you, sir."
Thanks,
Shikha Sahai
From India, New Delhi
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Thanks,
Shikha Sahai
From India, New Delhi
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Yes. I accept. This type of simple, which requires right answer from smart persons to be added in our question pattern.' Vijayasree
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This was a good one. I think I have heard this before. Another one I'd like to share.
Interviewer (to a female student candidate) - What would you do if one morning you woke up and found out you were pregnant?
Candidate - I would be very excited and take the day off to celebrate with my husband.
(Normally, an unmarried girl would be shocked to hear this, but she handled it well. "Why should I think of it in the wrong way?" she said later when asked.)
Ann M
From India, Mumbai
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Interviewer (to a female student candidate) - What would you do if one morning you woke up and found out you were pregnant?
Candidate - I would be very excited and take the day off to celebrate with my husband.
(Normally, an unmarried girl would be shocked to hear this, but she handled it well. "Why should I think of it in the wrong way?" she said later when asked.)
Ann M
From India, Mumbai
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Dear friends,
Nice postings. :) This is called "Lateral thinking" (thanks to 'The Week'). I'll add one more:
Interviewer: He ordered a cup of coffee for the candidate. Coffee arrived and was kept before the candidate. Then, he asked, "What is before you?" Candidate: Instantly replied, "Tea." He got selected.
Do you know how and why he said "TEA" when he knows very well that coffee was kept before him?
Answer: The question was, "What is before you" (U - alphabet). The reply was "TEA" (T - alphabet). The alphabet "T" was before the alphabet "U."
Best wishes,
Senthil Raj
From Costa Rica, San José
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Nice postings. :) This is called "Lateral thinking" (thanks to 'The Week'). I'll add one more:
Interviewer: He ordered a cup of coffee for the candidate. Coffee arrived and was kept before the candidate. Then, he asked, "What is before you?" Candidate: Instantly replied, "Tea." He got selected.
Do you know how and why he said "TEA" when he knows very well that coffee was kept before him?
Answer: The question was, "What is before you" (U - alphabet). The reply was "TEA" (T - alphabet). The alphabet "T" was before the alphabet "U."
Best wishes,
Senthil Raj
From Costa Rica, San José
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Hi Everybody,
Good topic, nice responses. One question that comes to my mind in the context of INTERVIEWS today from an employer's point of view is: what are we looking at? Is it ATTITUDE? Is it whether the candidate will contribute and stay? Does he/she meet the job profile? The issue is that even if a person is smart/high IQ, etc., his retention and contribution cannot be ascertained in the course of an interview or through the process of 'smart' questions as referred to above.
Yes, if I am perceived to be the best employer in the world, then I need to look at the best candidate as per criteria predetermined. But for SMEs with yet to establish a brand equity...!
So the question I am posing is, how does one select the candidate who will stay and will CONTRIBUTE in the context of a not so highly branded company?
Grateful for inputs.
Thanks,
Sanjib.
From India, Delhi
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Good topic, nice responses. One question that comes to my mind in the context of INTERVIEWS today from an employer's point of view is: what are we looking at? Is it ATTITUDE? Is it whether the candidate will contribute and stay? Does he/she meet the job profile? The issue is that even if a person is smart/high IQ, etc., his retention and contribution cannot be ascertained in the course of an interview or through the process of 'smart' questions as referred to above.
Yes, if I am perceived to be the best employer in the world, then I need to look at the best candidate as per criteria predetermined. But for SMEs with yet to establish a brand equity...!
So the question I am posing is, how does one select the candidate who will stay and will CONTRIBUTE in the context of a not so highly branded company?
Grateful for inputs.
Thanks,
Sanjib.
From India, Delhi
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Simply Superb... Please continue with this type of interview questions. we can refresh with new ideas Regards Ram.
From India, Hyderabad
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From India, Hyderabad
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Dear friends,
An interview is a process which helps to quickly assess the candidate and their background within a short time. However, their performance, based on many factors, will be evaluated.
Perhaps I can share my experience. Two years ago, I was personally requested by a CEO to assist in preparing the budget. I supported him and completed the task within a day. Without hesitation, he promised me a position within his organization. I explained to him the various procedures involved (as I am in a government setup) before I could join.
One by one, all the procedures were completed, including the interview (which I performed well in), and I received an offer and joined the organization. I served there for two years, working from morning to night, including weekends. I experienced a salary reduction of about 3000 per month due to differences in job roles as per government procedures, yet I accepted it as it was a new organization.
Within two years, I established a system that operated smoothly and was user-friendly. However, there was sudden pressure on the CEO to hire a new person, and he realized personal benefits in doing so. Consequently, I was asked to leave.
Of course, I felt happy to return to my parent organization with the satisfaction that I had established a good system.
Change is the only inevitable thing. I believe one must maintain a very positive attitude, support others, have confidence, be an optimist, balance family and work life, maintain good relationships, and always seek learning and innovation.
Although it is believed that a selected candidate will stay and contribute significantly, they are aware that change may occur at any time.
Wishes,
Senthil Raj
From Costa Rica, San José
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An interview is a process which helps to quickly assess the candidate and their background within a short time. However, their performance, based on many factors, will be evaluated.
Perhaps I can share my experience. Two years ago, I was personally requested by a CEO to assist in preparing the budget. I supported him and completed the task within a day. Without hesitation, he promised me a position within his organization. I explained to him the various procedures involved (as I am in a government setup) before I could join.
One by one, all the procedures were completed, including the interview (which I performed well in), and I received an offer and joined the organization. I served there for two years, working from morning to night, including weekends. I experienced a salary reduction of about 3000 per month due to differences in job roles as per government procedures, yet I accepted it as it was a new organization.
Within two years, I established a system that operated smoothly and was user-friendly. However, there was sudden pressure on the CEO to hire a new person, and he realized personal benefits in doing so. Consequently, I was asked to leave.
Of course, I felt happy to return to my parent organization with the satisfaction that I had established a good system.
Change is the only inevitable thing. I believe one must maintain a very positive attitude, support others, have confidence, be an optimist, balance family and work life, maintain good relationships, and always seek learning and innovation.
Although it is believed that a selected candidate will stay and contribute significantly, they are aware that change may occur at any time.
Wishes,
Senthil Raj
From Costa Rica, San José
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Out of the box Interview Questions!!
Well, there are some I know are asked at various organizations. Two such questions asked at “Microsoft” spring up to my mind.
You don’t need to be an engineer to answer the first question – all it aims at is your ability to think & think different! There are 20 basic things expected in reply to this question – would you run out for the 10, 15 or do you have it in you to think of the 21st and 22nd?
For the second question, again, the company was “Microsoft”. M&M’s? Here, most probably, the interviewer was himself not aware of the process followed to prepare M&M’s, but what he wanted to see was, how convincing approach could the candidate provide.
HOWEVER:
Such questions however depend on the level / round of the interview. The companies wherein there are more than 2 rounds of interviews, the interviewing procedure should be carefully structured. Interviews should be more objective as the levels move to prevent the candidate from losing the interest.
Per that reason, it should be weighed down if it is feasible / advisable to have such question. It takes skill and work to analyze these answers and it needs to be ensured that these are asked in lieu of requirement and not the interviewer’s penchant to ask different / unexpected questions.
Regards,
Parichay Dewan
From India, Mumbai
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Well, there are some I know are asked at various organizations. Two such questions asked at “Microsoft” spring up to my mind.
- How would you design Bill Gates’ bathroom?
How is M&M’s made?
You don’t need to be an engineer to answer the first question – all it aims at is your ability to think & think different! There are 20 basic things expected in reply to this question – would you run out for the 10, 15 or do you have it in you to think of the 21st and 22nd?
For the second question, again, the company was “Microsoft”. M&M’s? Here, most probably, the interviewer was himself not aware of the process followed to prepare M&M’s, but what he wanted to see was, how convincing approach could the candidate provide.
HOWEVER:
Such questions however depend on the level / round of the interview. The companies wherein there are more than 2 rounds of interviews, the interviewing procedure should be carefully structured. Interviews should be more objective as the levels move to prevent the candidate from losing the interest.
Per that reason, it should be weighed down if it is feasible / advisable to have such question. It takes skill and work to analyze these answers and it needs to be ensured that these are asked in lieu of requirement and not the interviewer’s penchant to ask different / unexpected questions.
Regards,
Parichay Dewan
From India, Mumbai
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Hai Ann M, The question was excellenctly answered by the girl. this is an excellent presence of mind in the interview.
From India
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From India
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Hey Kiran, Shikha, and Ann,
Fantastic! The three of you are classical examples of how presence of mind works to achieve better goals than getting provoked, tensed, sentimental, and ultimately failing. Great.
Thanks,
Dhinakaran
From India, Hyderabad
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Fantastic! The three of you are classical examples of how presence of mind works to achieve better goals than getting provoked, tensed, sentimental, and ultimately failing. Great.
Thanks,
Dhinakaran
From India, Hyderabad
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Someone was mentioning about "Logical" questions. I just remembered one: [I think South Indians can understand better!]
The question is: Where would Lord Rama have celebrated his "First Diwali"? People will start thinking of Ayodhya, Mithila [Janaki's place], Lanka, etc. But the logic is, Diwali was celebrated as a mark of Lord Krishna killing Narakasura. In Dashavatara, Krishna avatar comes after Rama avatar. So, Lord Rama would not have celebrated Diwali at all!
Regards,
Sathiyamoorthy Iyer
From India, Madras
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The question is: Where would Lord Rama have celebrated his "First Diwali"? People will start thinking of Ayodhya, Mithila [Janaki's place], Lanka, etc. But the logic is, Diwali was celebrated as a mark of Lord Krishna killing Narakasura. In Dashavatara, Krishna avatar comes after Rama avatar. So, Lord Rama would not have celebrated Diwali at all!
Regards,
Sathiyamoorthy Iyer
From India, Madras
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HI , As correctly said think out of the box. in todays world if u want to survie in corporated then u have to think out of the box.
From India, Hyderabad
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From India, Hyderabad
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This is a general quiz question I once asked my Sunday school kids referencing the Bible. It is similar to the Lord Rama question.
Q - How many animals went into the Ark that Moses built?
A - Moses never built an Ark; it was Noah.
You never know, such brain teasers are used everywhere.
Ann M
From India, Mumbai
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Q - How many animals went into the Ark that Moses built?
A - Moses never built an Ark; it was Noah.
You never know, such brain teasers are used everywhere.
Ann M
From India, Mumbai
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Hi, my question is if interviever ask to share an jok, then what kind of jok should we tell? give answer with example.
From India, Mumbai
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From India, Mumbai
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Hey guys,
Here is a similar kind of treasure from my end.
During an interview, the interviewer asked the candidate, "This is your last question of the interview. Please tell me the exact position of the center of this table where you have kept your files."
The candidate confidently put one of his fingers at a point on the table and stated that this was the central point of the table. The interviewer asked how he knew that was the central point, to which he quickly responded, "Sir, you are not likely to ask any more questions as it was the last question you promised to ask."
As a result of his quick-wittedness, he was selected. Please share more examples of such uncommon types.
Suryakant
Mumbai
From India, Bangalore
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Here is a similar kind of treasure from my end.
During an interview, the interviewer asked the candidate, "This is your last question of the interview. Please tell me the exact position of the center of this table where you have kept your files."
The candidate confidently put one of his fingers at a point on the table and stated that this was the central point of the table. The interviewer asked how he knew that was the central point, to which he quickly responded, "Sir, you are not likely to ask any more questions as it was the last question you promised to ask."
As a result of his quick-wittedness, he was selected. Please share more examples of such uncommon types.
Suryakant
Mumbai
From India, Bangalore
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Many years ago in a small Indian village, a farmer had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender. The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer's beautiful daughter. So he proposed a bargain. He said he would forgo the farmer's debt if he could marry his daughter. Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the proposal.
So the cunning moneylender suggested that they let Providence decide the matter. He told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag. Then the girl would have to pick one pebble from the bag:
1) If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father's debt would be forgiven.
2) If she picked the white pebble, she need not marry him, and her father's debt would still be forgiven.
3) But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail.
They were standing on a pebble-strewn path in the farmer's field. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from the bag.
Now, imagine that you were standing in the field. What would you have done if you were the girl? If you had to advise her, what would you have told her?
Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:
1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble.
2. The girl should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag and expose the moneylender as a cheat.
3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself to save her father from his debt and imprisonment.
Take a moment to ponder over the story. The above story is used with the hope that it will make us appreciate the difference between lateral and logical thinking.
The girl's dilemma cannot be solved with traditional logical thinking. Think of the consequences if she chooses the above logical answers.
What would you recommend the girl to do?
Well, here is what she did ....
The girl put her hand into the money bag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.
"Oh, how clumsy of me," she said. "But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked."
Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had picked the white one. And since the moneylender dared not admit his dishonesty, the girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an extremely advantageous one.
MORAL OF THE STORY:
Most complex problems do have a solution. It is only that we don't attempt to think.
From India, Hyderabad
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So the cunning moneylender suggested that they let Providence decide the matter. He told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag. Then the girl would have to pick one pebble from the bag:
1) If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father's debt would be forgiven.
2) If she picked the white pebble, she need not marry him, and her father's debt would still be forgiven.
3) But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail.
They were standing on a pebble-strewn path in the farmer's field. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from the bag.
Now, imagine that you were standing in the field. What would you have done if you were the girl? If you had to advise her, what would you have told her?
Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:
1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble.
2. The girl should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag and expose the moneylender as a cheat.
3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself to save her father from his debt and imprisonment.
Take a moment to ponder over the story. The above story is used with the hope that it will make us appreciate the difference between lateral and logical thinking.
The girl's dilemma cannot be solved with traditional logical thinking. Think of the consequences if she chooses the above logical answers.
What would you recommend the girl to do?
Well, here is what she did ....
The girl put her hand into the money bag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.
"Oh, how clumsy of me," she said. "But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked."
Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had picked the white one. And since the moneylender dared not admit his dishonesty, the girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an extremely advantageous one.
MORAL OF THE STORY:
Most complex problems do have a solution. It is only that we don't attempt to think.
From India, Hyderabad
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One night, four MBA students were drinking heavily till late at night and didn't study for the test scheduled for the next day.
In the morning, they devised a plan. They deliberately made themselves appear dirty and bizarre by covering themselves in grease and dirt.
They then approached the dean and fabricated a story that they had attended a wedding the previous night. On their way back, their car's tire blew out, and they had to push the car all the way home. Consequently, they claimed they were in no condition to take the test.
The dean, being fair-minded, granted them a retest after three days.
The students assured they would be prepared by then. On the third day, they presented themselves before the dean. The dean informed them that this retest was under special conditions. Each of the four students had to sit in separate classrooms for the test.
They all consented, feeling confident after studying rigorously in the last three days. The test comprised only two questions, with a total of 100 marks:
Q1. Write down your name. ----- (2 marks)
Q2. Which tire burst? ------- (98 marks)!!!
From India, Hyderabad
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In the morning, they devised a plan. They deliberately made themselves appear dirty and bizarre by covering themselves in grease and dirt.
They then approached the dean and fabricated a story that they had attended a wedding the previous night. On their way back, their car's tire blew out, and they had to push the car all the way home. Consequently, they claimed they were in no condition to take the test.
The dean, being fair-minded, granted them a retest after three days.
The students assured they would be prepared by then. On the third day, they presented themselves before the dean. The dean informed them that this retest was under special conditions. Each of the four students had to sit in separate classrooms for the test.
They all consented, feeling confident after studying rigorously in the last three days. The test comprised only two questions, with a total of 100 marks:
Q1. Write down your name. ----- (2 marks)
Q2. Which tire burst? ------- (98 marks)!!!
From India, Hyderabad
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