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I find it strange that some people get offended with this approach to problem solving. There is this legendary interview question, "I have a mountain in India a
by js8 6y ago
I find it strange that some people get offended with this approach to problem solving. There is this legendary interview question, "I have a mountain in India and I want to move it in France, how do I do it?". And some questioners (presumably people who like to be authoritative, in charge and order people around), really seem to dislike if my first impulse is to ask "Why do you want to do that? What is your goal?" And they respond with something like, "Why does it matter, just get on with the task, I didn't hire you to ask questions!"
Because the method really does depend on what you want to do. Can I destroy the mountain? Do I have to recreate the geological structure, or is it the biosphere you're interested in, or perhaps there is a holy place on that mountain that is important? And so on. If you want me to think outside the box (and presumably the question is posed to test that skill), then you have to be willing to provide more details on what you ultimately want.
- joe_the_user 6y agoTo satisfy the authoritarian impulse, one can ask "in what manner should the mountain to be moved? Would just transporting the dirt be enough?" And if this is "just interview question", the literal answer is "I don't want the fricken mountain moved to France, I just want to this exercise in hypothetical done with and you're not making it easy on me"
- ben509 6y ago> And some questioners ... really seem to dislike if my first impulse is to ask "Why do you want to do that?" An interview works both ways. If you can suss out the interviewer's nature and help you determine it's not a place you'd want to work, then trust that impulse.