What's the hardest interview question you were ever asked?
Mod note (Andy): Throwback Thursday, this post originally went up on 6/4/12.
Andy note: some of the quotes below were published on CNBC / Yahoo awhile back: Want This Job? 'Let Me Sleep With Your Girlfriend', also check out WSO's response to their article
This thread got me thinking... Interviewees: what is the hardest / most nerve-wracking question you ever got asked in an interview, how did you handle it, and what was the end result?
Interviewers: what is the hardest / most nerve-wracking question you ever asked in an interview, how did the interviewer handle it, and what was the end result?
Did you ask it just to see how they would respond (ie all that mattered was that he/she gave a good effort / didn't get flustered)? OR did you ask it to actually see his/her knowledge and/or intelligence?
mod (Andy) note: hope I never have an interview with Blackhat...
In a 2 on 1 where I was the silent #2 interviewing some nervous banker, my only line was "are you trying to fck us over?" The kid had NO CLUE what to say. Got visibly uncomfortable and said he wasn't sure what I meant. My co-worker goes "why didn't you say no?" Kid just froze like a fckin' deer in the headlights.
[quote=David Aames]Hmm..from a job interview for a GS analyst position: “If you were shrunk to the size of a pencil and put in a blender, how would you get out?”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/30/job-interview-questions_n_8026…]
Really brilliant question, given that you happen to be in the market for lateral thinking kinesiologists. Bravo, Goldman.
Actual questions I've received: What is your beta? Tell me the one line on your resume that demonstrates best why you would be great for this job. Tell us something interesting about you that would surprise us. One bond has an 8% coupon and a 10% current yield, the other has a 10% coupon and an 8% current yield. Which bond is cheaper? Tell me a joke that is not racist or sexist.
I heard of one BB interview (perhaps an urban legend) conducted in a hotel room where the windows didn't open. The interviewers (two) said "Jeez, it's hot in here, you mind opening that window?" and the interviewee went wild and through his chair through the window. I hope it's true. Even if it's not I'll pretend it is.
From GS:
Interviewer: If I told you that the only way you were going to get this job is if you let me sleep with your girlfriend, would you accept?
Me: I'd rather you sleep with me
I'm the only one who feels the warmth between my girl's legs.
However, if you can convert my lesbian cousin, she's all yours.
Least funny thing I have ever read.
My response: Is that how you got your job?
In a 2 on 1 where I was the silent #2 interviewing some nervous banker, my only line was "are you trying to fuck us over?" The kid had NO CLUE what to say. Got visibly uncomfortable and said he wasn't sure what I meant. My co-worker goes "why didn't you say no?" Kid just froze like a fuckin' deer in the headlights.
A: Well, it seems I am in a pickle.
Interviewer: "Tell me something interesting." Me: "about the tech industry?" Interviewer: "about anything" Me: "oh okay, I'll tell you about my spring break last year..."
got the offer
If I don't know the answer to a brainteaser, I just take my pants off. I guarantee you the brainteaser won't be why you got dinged.
GS 2 on 1 interview --> "What is your favorite thing to think about, or what do you think about the most?"
My answer, "sex." I figured they had heard answers all day that made the candidate sound smart, serious, and studious; so I decided to cut the bullshit. They thought it was hilarious and it definitely was a positive. I took the "risk" with the joke because they were two mid 20's males with finance hair and one had mentioned having a rough night years back when he visited friends at my school.
Instead of thinking up answers to all these hypothetical wildcard questions, realize that the point of them is to throw you off your game. Accept that you can be asked a random question out of nowhere that does this, so it is probably smarter to spend the time practicing your technicals, networking, etc. rather than thinking about what you should say is your favorite thing to think about.
Takeaway=> when you get stuck with one of these questions that that forces you to pause and panic, you can do yourself a favor by analyzing the audience and tailoring your answer to that. A young, outgoing analyst might appreciate humor where a soft-spoken VP/MD might prefer a professional answer. The answer isn't as important with questions like these as is the manner in which you answer it.
"how bad do you want this job?" as the interviewer stood up and started to undo his belt...easily the hardest ive had