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My phone interview with Google had something I would probably describe as a brain teaser (which is probably why I didn't get a follow up interview). It was some
by ubercore 13y ago
My phone interview with Google had something I would probably describe as a brain teaser (which is probably why I didn't get a follow up interview). It was something along the lines of explaining how an insect in a bottle could jump out if the bottle was frictionless. Something like that. Anyway, I don't remember specifics well enough to make a strong statement, but I would argue that this isn't an absolute in either direction -- I bet a certain class of question is used less, but some that border on brainteaser are still used.
- sharkweek 13y agoHow did you answer that question? -- I honestly don't understand what possibly could be drawn from asking that. Deductive reasoning? Logical thought pattern? Creative thinking? Seems like there are a lot of better ways to find out if someone is capable of such things
- makerops 13y ago"Quit wasting my fucking time google-interviewer." "Correct. You're hired."
- yelnatz 13y agoIf only it was that easy.
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- diminoten 13y agoUsing a swimming technique to push off the air the bug could either gain momentum by using the bottle's sloped bottom as a kind of half-pipe, or start moving in a circular path until sufficient speed were built up that the bug would begin moving up the bottle's side. Alternatively, the bug could fly out if it's that kind of bug. Or it could knock the bottle over by rocking it. Clearly I'm Google material because of my "bug in frictionless jar" degree.
- brg 13y agoThe bottle can be tipped to its side, and the bug can hop over the lid.
- ubercore 13y agoI fully admit there might have been a detail I'm neglecting that made it more clearly useful, but I do know for a fact it didn't fall in the "market estimation" bin, either. At least not fully or obviously.
- gaylemcd 13y agoI would agree with you that that's a brainteaser -- or at least a stupid question that shouldn't be asked. However, brainteasers are indeed banned and they always have been. The problem is that what you and I call a brainteaser isn't what everyone else calls one. Thus, a brainteaser could still be asked, despite the ban.
- ubercore 13y agoAgreed, and that's fine. I think this is a clearer statement of what I was trying to express with my initial post :)
- spankalee 13y agoYou actually got asked that question? That shouldn't have happened, I'm sorry.
- phamilton 13y agoI was asked how I would roll out a kernel upgrade to a datacenter on the Moon. I thought that was a little silly (though I get that it was an easy way to provide strict constraints on a problem).