I'm currently reviewing the brainteasers in Crack's book in case any come up in interviews. When you are asked a brainteaser and you already know the answer, how do you go about answering the question in the interview? Do you tell the interviewer you're familiar with the question and work it out anyways, or act like it's the first time you heard the question?
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You don't have to act like you've never seen it before, nor do you have to announce that you've seen or heard the question or a similar question before. Instead, acknowledge the question, then tackle it as you would making sure to not skip steps and explain your rationale and figures for each step as you work through the problem (remember to not appear entirely rehearsed or that you've memorized the answer - actually work through the problem - no you should not fake tremendous difficulty). If you know the answer and solution already, great, you should be comfortable with going through the problem, working towards the solution and delivering the correct answer. There is no reason to give away information that you do not need to give away (meaning the fact that you've seen the question or a similar question before). If asked, you can certainly admit to being familiar with similar problems, but you still don't need to say that you've seen the exact problem before.
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This actually happened to me in two separate interviews.
The first time it was for a 2nd round Citi IBD Summer Analyst interview. He asked what is the sum of all the numbers 1 to 100. If you've been preparing for IBD interviews you know the answer is 5,050 (1+100, 2+99, 3+98, etc... 101 x 50 = 5,050). I was so excited that i already knew the brainteaser that I immediately blurted out "FIVE THOUSAND FIFTY!"
He was like, "Gee, that was quick...?" I admitted that I had heard the brain teaser before, but then followed up with the steps and reasoning behind the steps. i.e., it would be inefficient to add 1+2+3+4, etc. But rather you should look for a pattern...
He seemed fine with my explanation and we moved on.
The second time was a first round Macquarie full-time IBD position. I got the 3 gallon jug / 5 gallon jug question. I also knew the answer to this one, but this time i played it cool. I convincingly walked through the different "moves" at a real-time pace.
It was funny though because i memorized the version where you start with the 3 gallon jug, unaware that a second method exisited. When I finished the first answer, very proud of myself, the interviewer asked "so how about the other method."
He was definitely calling me out, but i started with the 5 gallon jug and was able to reason it correctly in real time.
I got the second round, so I guess it worked!
This is a dream scenario. When it comes to brain teasers, a lot of interviewers use "old" brain teasers because they're incapable of coming up with new ones and being certain of the answer. That's good news, because if you look at enough of them, there's a reasonable chance you'll get asked a brain teaser you've seen before.
I agree with the above. Don't give away that you know the answer. Remember that even if this is the type of brain teaser that actually does have a correct answer, they are interested more in HOW you come up with the answer.
Here are a few more brain teasers if you just can't get enough How many street lamps are there in Manhattan? - http://bit.ly/16ua15 Estimate the market demand in gallons for skim milk in the U.S. in a given year - http://bit.ly/3rrmZ Crossing the Bridge - http://bit.ly/4q2bam
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What to do when interviewer asks brainteaser you've heard? (Originally Posted: 10/15/2010)
I tried searching around for people's opinions on this issue but only found this link: http://www.wilmott.com/messageview.cfm?catid=16&threadid=74772
I wanted to hear some more opinions regarding this if possible, mostly from interviewers and successful interviewees who were faced with this situation.
From my personal experience last year, I had one interview where I told the interviewer I've heard it before and he cut me off before I could say the solution and asked another brainteaser. Ironically, I had also heard of the next brainteaser, so this time I decided to answer it pretending I hadn't heard of it thinking it would be weird if I told him again that I've also heard this one. From then on, I've always just pretended to not have heard the question, but I'm wondering if this is a good strategy or not.
Why would this not be a good strategy? What are you afraid of, looking dumb for knowing the answer?
Just pretend you haven't heard the brainteaser before, it can only make you shine amongst others. Or you can go the respectable route, and say with all do respect you have heard this brainteaser before and feel it would not be ethical and ask for another question. It's whatever you want to do man
Had a friend say he's heard a brainteaser before when he was completely stumped, and got asked another one. I said that took some serious guts to do - he said it wasn't going so well and not being able to answer that question would have sealed the deal, so he just took a chance!
@Gekko21
I think it's a good strategy too, but some of the responses in the link I gave include people who claim to be interviewers saying it's not difficult to tell when a candidate is faking his answers. By pretending I haven't heard it before, I can't be 100% sure my interviewer will not notice I'm faking it. Is this risk worth taking or is it better to say you've heard it before and try to give the solution.
I'm baffled as to why you think pretending you hadn't heard it before then nailing the answer would be anything but a good idea.
because it'd look sus, and because they might be able to tell that you knew the answer and spoke as if you just heard it.
i'm saying this because i have had personal experience. in one interview, knew the answer and proceeded to answer, many times, and felt bad about not owning up. some of the questions they asked were pretty tricky, and so it would really look sus if i didn't have any trouble answer it. i got thru, but i don't know wha their impression was
To be more specific, for say top firms like DRW, SIG, JSC, Getco, etc. where the interviewers are very smart people, would you still try to pretend you haven't heard the answer before?
if you think in your head that you are trying to "deceive" somebody, then yes, they could pick up on it.
instead, you should be thinking, 'wow, i have a great answer'. which you do. that is not a lie.
take a minute. structure what you are going to say. answer.
Part of an interview is being prepared and doing your homework. If you know the answer just answer the question. You don't have to pretend like you haven't heard the question before and managed to get the answer. Just answer it in a logical manner. Even if the interviewer thinks you have heard the question before he will realize that you have taken the interview seriously and prepared.
I'm not saying if you get a difficult brainteaser that you've heard before you should just throw out the one word answer immediately. I'm saying that you should still systematically and logically talk your way through the problem. The benefit being that you a) know the answer b) know the process and c) should be confident enough due to the first 2 that you will be able to give a cool, calm and complete answer.
the answer to this question is really, really simple: answer it
Ha ha I remember interviewing at GS and they asked me the angle between the clock question - i.e. the fucking oldest one in the book - and I conjured up the biggest bullshit performance complete with the whole "hmmm let me try and visualise this... so you've got a clock face, which, mathematically, can be expressed as 360 degrees"... and they ate that shit up like it was Christmas pudding ha ha good times. Anyone who pussies out on a perfect opportunity to bullshit needs to either a) work on their acting skills or b) grow some balls.
Wow, that's a golden mother-fucking opportunity to look really smart and come off as super impressive. If you suck at lying maybe you shouldn't be in Finance.
Yeah, I said it.
i know the brain teaser already (Originally Posted: 07/24/2007)
so i bought every book i can find about brain teaser and have practiced over them. so when i go into the interview and is asked about the brainteaser that i've encountered before, should i be honest or use that to my advantage.
if i do use it to my advantage, how should i pretend that i don't know it, meaning not to be too obvious that i know the answer.
That's a good point.
I would say that part of the "practice" is not only to rattle off the answer, but to demonstrate the reasoning behind it. You probably don't want to fake the "hmmm, I wonder, let me see" --- just walk the interviewer methodically from your reasoning to the answer, without skipping any steps.
If they call you out "you've heard that before haven't you" just be honest and say yes, and respectfully admit that you are prepared. No shame in that.
lmao...you've done THAT many brain teasers....that you think they are going to ask the same ones over? ....i highly doubt that....also you would be a tard if you admitted to them that "you've heard it before"...why would anyone admit to that?...just do the problem and be thankful you heard it before and keep it moving
definitely play along, but make sure you do it well.
they'll be able to see right through you...especially weathered md's...be honest...easy as that...they'll appreciate the hard work you've spent learning them in the first place because that displays a good deal of commitment for something you don't even have yet...
You obviously just tell them the answer and make yourself look good.
Isn't that why you spent hours doing brain teasers? To make yourself look good.
Play along and do it well.
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