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I asked some puzzle questions - add 6 feet to a rope around the world, stretch it out and how far off the ground would it be? I can only imagine being "charmed

I asked some puzzle questions - add 6 feet to a rope around the world, stretch it out and how far off the ground would it be? I can only imagine being "charmed" by a question like if I was much younger in my career, eager to be seen as smart and in the company of like-minded folk. Nowadays... my focus is on solving problems... as in real problems, not made-up ones. Thankfully I haven't heard questions like this in years. But when I do, I take it as a sign that they probably don't have actual, meaty problems to work on, that is, requiring higher-level cognitive skills (and actual experience). Not to mention that this was supposed to be lunch, and here they are asking filter questions, but pretending it's just "casual conversation" when obviously it isn't. And so would probably pause for a second, and think of a way to tactfully end the interview, and thank the interviewer for their time.

JoeAltmaier 4y ago
Yeah it's easy to act all butt-hurt and be too good to even try. But how outrageous is it to imagine that folks who can solve such problems might be able to solve other problems?
- sys_64738 4y ago
  A lot of people will find your questions obnoxious and irrelevant. Ask questions about the candidate's experience in past problems. Asking abstract questions to satisfy your own ego is a narcissistic trait.
- anon2020dot00 4y ago
  That's not the point or context; No one likes "creative" interview questions is what people are saying like this is just a variation of brain teasers from 1990's Microsoft interviews.
- anon2020dot00 4y ago
  Also, it's not about being too good to even try but about being old enough to no longer put-up with corporate non-sense; too much bullshit in a job to put up with as it is. Once you get to a certain age, you learn to prioritize real stuff rather than appearances.
- nprateem 4y ago
  I think you've got it backwards. Lots of people who could solve your real world problems with a computer might not have a background in maths or physics and so may not be able to solve your puzzles. They may just feel anxious about appearing stupid in front an interviewer, and annoyed they weren't allowed any downtime in the day. This is about empathetically understanding the stress levels between both of you would have been miles apart. Unless the candidate had brought up the subject somehow it'd have been nicer to just try to relax them and get to know them informally by asking about them - or better yet letting them do their own thing for lunch if they wanted.
- spoils19 4y ago
  This shows an alarming level of narcissism. I (principal engineer) would definitely not want to work with you.

JoeAltmaier 4y ago

Yeah it's easy to act all butt-hurt and be too good to even try. But how outrageous is it to imagine that folks who can solve such problems might be able to solve other problems?

sys_64738 4y ago
A lot of people will find your questions obnoxious and irrelevant. Ask questions about the candidate's experience in past problems. Asking abstract questions to satisfy your own ego is a narcissistic trait.
anon2020dot00 4y ago
That's not the point or context; No one likes "creative" interview questions is what people are saying like this is just a variation of brain teasers from 1990's Microsoft interviews.
anon2020dot00 4y ago
Also, it's not about being too good to even try but about being old enough to no longer put-up with corporate non-sense; too much bullshit in a job to put up with as it is. Once you get to a certain age, you learn to prioritize real stuff rather than appearances.
nprateem 4y ago
I think you've got it backwards. Lots of people who could solve your real world problems with a computer might not have a background in maths or physics and so may not be able to solve your puzzles. They may just feel anxious about appearing stupid in front an interviewer, and annoyed they weren't allowed any downtime in the day. This is about empathetically understanding the stress levels between both of you would have been miles apart. Unless the candidate had brought up the subject somehow it'd have been nicer to just try to relax them and get to know them informally by asking about them - or better yet letting them do their own thing for lunch if they wanted.
spoils19 4y ago
This shows an alarming level of narcissism. I (principal engineer) would definitely not want to work with you.