You are driving along in your car on a wild, stormy night, it's raining heavily, when suddenly you pass by a bus stop, and you see three people waiting for a bus:
1. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.
2. An old friend who once saved your life.
3. The perfect partner you have been dreaming about.
Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing very well that
there could only be one passenger in your car?
Think before you continue reading...
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This is a moral/ethical dilemma that was once actually used as part of a job application.
* You could pick up the old lady, because she is going to die, and thus you should save her first;
* or you could take the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to ! pay him back.
* However, you may never be able to find your perfect mate again.
The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble coming up with his answer. Guess what was his answer?
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He simply answered:
"I would give the car keys to my Old friend and let him take the lady to the hospital. I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the partner of my dreams."
Sometimes, we gain more if we are able to give up our stubborn thought limitations. Never forget to "Think Outside of the Box."
From India, Hyderabad
681. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.
2. An old friend who once saved your life.
3. The perfect partner you have been dreaming about.
Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing very well that
there could only be one passenger in your car?
Think before you continue reading...
.............
...........
....
...........
.......
............
............
.............
.............
....
............
..................
..........
.......
...
This is a moral/ethical dilemma that was once actually used as part of a job application.
* You could pick up the old lady, because she is going to die, and thus you should save her first;
* or you could take the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to ! pay him back.
* However, you may never be able to find your perfect mate again.
The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble coming up with his answer. Guess what was his answer?
.........
........
...........
....
.....
He simply answered:
"I would give the car keys to my Old friend and let him take the lady to the hospital. I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the partner of my dreams."
Sometimes, we gain more if we are able to give up our stubborn thought limitations. Never forget to "Think Outside of the Box."
From India, Hyderabad
Yes, I have heard companies using questions such as these to come up with their ideal candidate. A good one!!!
From Sri Lanka
From Sri Lanka
I would like one question asked in an SSB interview a commandent in chief asked the interviewer "what will you do if i run away with your sister"
the candidate who was selected answered " i will not get a better match for my sister than you sir"
Thanks
shikha sahai
From India, New Delhi
the candidate who was selected answered " i will not get a better match for my sister than you sir"
Thanks
shikha sahai
From India, New Delhi
Yes. I accept. This type of simple, which requires right answer from smart persons to be added in our question pattern.' Vijayasree
This was a good one. I think I have heard this before. Another one I'd like to share.
Interviewer ( to a student girl candidate) - What is one morning you woke up & found that you were pregnant.
Girl - I will be very excited and take an off, to celebrate with my husband.
( Normally an unmarried girl will be shocked to hear this, but she managed it well. Why shud I think it in the wrong way, she said later when asked)
Ann M
From India, Mumbai
Interviewer ( to a student girl candidate) - What is one morning you woke up & found that you were pregnant.
Girl - I will be very excited and take an off, to celebrate with my husband.
( Normally an unmarried girl will be shocked to hear this, but she managed it well. Why shud I think it in the wrong way, she said later when asked)
Ann M
From India, Mumbai
dear friends,
nice postings. :)
This is called 'Lateral thinking" ( thanks to 'The week')
I add one more:
Interviewer: He ordered a cup of coffee for the candidate. Coffee arrived kept before the candidate, then he asked what is before you ?
Candidate : Instantly replied "Tea"
He got selected.
You know how and why did he say "TEA" when he knows very well that coffee was kept before.
(Answer : The question was "What is before you (U - alphabet)
Reply was "TEA" ( T - alphabet)
Alphabet "T" was before Alphabet "U"
wishes
senthil raj
From Costa Rica, San José
nice postings. :)
This is called 'Lateral thinking" ( thanks to 'The week')
I add one more:
Interviewer: He ordered a cup of coffee for the candidate. Coffee arrived kept before the candidate, then he asked what is before you ?
Candidate : Instantly replied "Tea"
He got selected.
You know how and why did he say "TEA" when he knows very well that coffee was kept before.
(Answer : The question was "What is before you (U - alphabet)
Reply was "TEA" ( T - alphabet)
Alphabet "T" was before Alphabet "U"
wishes
senthil raj
From Costa Rica, San José
Hi Everbody,
Good topic-nice responses.
One question that comes to my mind in the context of INTERVIEWS-today from an employers point of view is what are we looking at:
Is it ATTITUDE?
Is it whether the candidate will contribute and stay?
Does he/she meet the job profile?
The issue, is even if a person is smart/high IQ etc. his retention and contribution cannot be ascertained in the course of an interview.....or through the process of 'smart' questions as referred above...
Yes if I am perceived to be the best employer in the world than I need to look at the best candidate as per criterias predetermined.
But for SME's with yet to establish a brand equity....!
So the question I am posing is, how does one select the candidate who will stay and will CONTRIBUTE....in the context of a not so high branded co.?
Grtaeful for inputs.
Thanks,
Sanjib.
From India, Delhi
Good topic-nice responses.
One question that comes to my mind in the context of INTERVIEWS-today from an employers point of view is what are we looking at:
Is it ATTITUDE?
Is it whether the candidate will contribute and stay?
Does he/she meet the job profile?
The issue, is even if a person is smart/high IQ etc. his retention and contribution cannot be ascertained in the course of an interview.....or through the process of 'smart' questions as referred above...
Yes if I am perceived to be the best employer in the world than I need to look at the best candidate as per criterias predetermined.
But for SME's with yet to establish a brand equity....!
So the question I am posing is, how does one select the candidate who will stay and will CONTRIBUTE....in the context of a not so high branded co.?
Grtaeful for inputs.
Thanks,
Sanjib.
From India, Delhi
Simply Superb... Please continue with this type of interview questions. we can refresh with new ideas Regards Ram.
From India, Hyderabad
From India, Hyderabad
dear friends,
Interview is a process which helps to quickly assess the candidate and his back ground within the short time.
However, his performance, based on so many things, will be counted.
Perhaps i can share my experience.
Two years before i was personally requested by a CEO to help him to prepare the budget. I supported him and completed the task within a day. Without hesitating, he promised me that i will be taken to his organisation. I explained him that there so many proceudres are there (as i am in government set up) before i come there.
One by one, all the procedures were completed, including interview (i did the interview very well) and got the offer and also joined.
Served there for two years ...worked from morning to night...including sat and sunday. I lost about 3000 pm because difference in the job as per the government procedure, still i accepted since it was new organisatin.
Within two years....i established a system which was moving very smoothly and user friendly. Suddenly, there was a pressure on him to appoint new person and he also understood that he will be benefitted personally, hence i was requested to leave.
Ofcourse i felt very happy to back to my parent organisation with the happy note that a good system was establihsed by myself.
So CHANGE is the only thing inevitable.
My feeling is that one must have very positive attitude, support others, have confidence, be an optimist, balance your family and office, maintain good relationship and alwasy look for learning/innovation.
Though there can be belief that the candidate if selected will stay and contribute lot....... they know that change may come at any time.
wishes
senthil raj
From Costa Rica, San José
Interview is a process which helps to quickly assess the candidate and his back ground within the short time.
However, his performance, based on so many things, will be counted.
Perhaps i can share my experience.
Two years before i was personally requested by a CEO to help him to prepare the budget. I supported him and completed the task within a day. Without hesitating, he promised me that i will be taken to his organisation. I explained him that there so many proceudres are there (as i am in government set up) before i come there.
One by one, all the procedures were completed, including interview (i did the interview very well) and got the offer and also joined.
Served there for two years ...worked from morning to night...including sat and sunday. I lost about 3000 pm because difference in the job as per the government procedure, still i accepted since it was new organisatin.
Within two years....i established a system which was moving very smoothly and user friendly. Suddenly, there was a pressure on him to appoint new person and he also understood that he will be benefitted personally, hence i was requested to leave.
Ofcourse i felt very happy to back to my parent organisation with the happy note that a good system was establihsed by myself.
So CHANGE is the only thing inevitable.
My feeling is that one must have very positive attitude, support others, have confidence, be an optimist, balance your family and office, maintain good relationship and alwasy look for learning/innovation.
Though there can be belief that the candidate if selected will stay and contribute lot....... they know that change may come at any time.
wishes
senthil raj
From Costa Rica, San José
Out of the box Interview Questions!!
Well, there are some I know are asked at various organizations. Two such questions asked at “Microsoft” spring up to my mind.
You don’t need to be an engineer to answer the first question – all it aims at is your ability to think & think different! There are 20 basic things expected in reply to this question – would you run out for the 10, 15 or do you have it in you to think of the 21st and 22nd?
For the second question, again, the company was “Microsoft”. M&M’s? Here, most probably, the interviewer was himself not aware of the process followed to prepare M&M’s, but what he wanted to see was, how convincing approach could the candidate provide.
HOWEVER:
Such questions however depend on the level / round of the interview. The companies wherein there are more than 2 rounds of interviews, the interviewing procedure should be carefully structured. Interviews should be more objective as the levels move to prevent the candidate from losing the interest.
Per that reason, it should be weighed down if it is feasible / advisable to have such question. It takes skill and work to analyze these answers and it needs to be ensured that these are asked in lieu of requirement and not the interviewer’s penchant to ask different / unexpected questions.
Regards,
Parichay Dewan
From India, Mumbai
Well, there are some I know are asked at various organizations. Two such questions asked at “Microsoft” spring up to my mind.
- How would you design Bill Gates’ bathroom?
How is M&M’s made?
You don’t need to be an engineer to answer the first question – all it aims at is your ability to think & think different! There are 20 basic things expected in reply to this question – would you run out for the 10, 15 or do you have it in you to think of the 21st and 22nd?
For the second question, again, the company was “Microsoft”. M&M’s? Here, most probably, the interviewer was himself not aware of the process followed to prepare M&M’s, but what he wanted to see was, how convincing approach could the candidate provide.
HOWEVER:
Such questions however depend on the level / round of the interview. The companies wherein there are more than 2 rounds of interviews, the interviewing procedure should be carefully structured. Interviews should be more objective as the levels move to prevent the candidate from losing the interest.
Per that reason, it should be weighed down if it is feasible / advisable to have such question. It takes skill and work to analyze these answers and it needs to be ensured that these are asked in lieu of requirement and not the interviewer’s penchant to ask different / unexpected questions.
Regards,
Parichay Dewan
From India, Mumbai
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Good interview format.doc