Oddest interview questions you've ever got?

[Special K]

Originally posted by: halik
I got some good ones today:

How many ways can you pick a par out of a deck of cards?

There are 4 individual socks in a drawer and when picking up pair, you have 50% chance of getting black ones. How many black socks are in the drawer?


Also another one I've got is to write a recursive function for Fibonaci numbers.

1. ((13 choose 1) * (4 choose 2))/(52 choose 2)

2. I solved this one with trial and error. Its a hypergeometric random variable:

Assume there are 3 black socks in the drawer:

P(draw 2 black socks) = (3 choose 2)/(4 choose 2) = 3/6 = 1/2

I suppose those problems would be a lot more difficult if you weren't allowed to use scratch paper or a whiteboard to work them out on.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: halik
I got some good ones today:

How many ways can you pick a par out of a deck of cards?

There are 4 individual socks in a drawer and when picking up pair, you have 50% chance of getting black ones. How many black socks are in the drawer?


Also another one I've got is to write a recursive function for Fibonaci numbers.

1. ((13 choose 1) * (4 choose 2))/(52 choose 2)

2. I solved this one with trial and error. Its a hypergeometric random variable:

Assume there are 3 black socks in the drawer:

P(draw 2 black socks) = (3 choose 2)/(4 choose 2) = 3/6 = 1/2

I suppose those problems would be a lot more difficult if you weren't allowed to use scratch paper or a whiteboard to work them out on.

First one isn't right either ... why are you dividing by 52 choose 2?

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: halik
I got some good ones today:

How many ways can you pick a par out of a deck of cards?

There are 4 individual socks in a drawer and when picking up pair, you have 50% chance of getting black ones. How many black socks are in the drawer?


Also another one I've got is to write a recursive function for Fibonaci numbers.

1. ((13 choose 1) * (4 choose 2))/(52 choose 2)

2. I solved this one with trial and error. Its a hypergeometric random variable:

Assume there are 3 black socks in the drawer:

P(draw 2 black socks) = (3 choose 2)/(4 choose 2) = 3/6 = 1/2

I suppose those problems would be a lot more difficult if you weren't allowed to use scratch paper or a whiteboard to work them out on.

First one isn't right either ... why are you dividing by 52 choose 2?

D'oh, I thought it was asking for the probability of drawing a pair. If they just want the number of combinations, then take the numerator of what I wrote.

 

[Born2bwire]

Originally posted by: ChaosDivine

Originally posted by: halik
Also another one I've got is to write a recursive function for Fibonaci numbers.

Isn't this a sophmore-level programming question?

Isn't this a classic programming no-no?

 

[Chronoshock]

Originally posted by: Reel

Originally posted by: eLiu
Huh? Those aren't that exciting, lol.

1) 52 choose 2 = 52*(52-1)/2
2) 3. 3/4 * 2/3 = 1/2 Aren't these two in intro probability/discrete math classes? Part of any CS undergrad program.
3) isn't this in any basic programming class? fibo(n), if(n<=1) return n; else return fibo(n-1)+fibo(n-2);

Try:
1) I give you a pointer to the head node of a linked list. This linked list has unknown size. As efficiently (time & space) as possible, tell me whether or not this linked list has a cycle. A cycle is the situation where a node whose "next" pointer points to a node that preceded it or points to itself.
2) Suppose I give you the coordinates of 2 rectangles (I give you the x,y coords of each rect's 4 corners). As efficiently as possible, tell me the coordinates of their intersection; if there is no intersection, say so.

Edit: My results in 1) & 2) might be wrong. I *suck* at probability/counting problems, yuck.

For 3, try memoization. It is a far more efficient approach.

The most efficient approach is the closed form of the formula which takes constant space and time. The fibonacci as recursion is a classic question because (most) people know the recursive definition so it's easy to write out. It's a poor choice to test knowledge of efficiency.

 

[eLiu]

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: eLiu
Huh? Those aren't that exciting, lol.

1) 52 choose 2 = 52*(52-1)/2
2) 3. 3/4 * 2/3 = 1/2 Aren't these two in intro probability/discrete math classes? Part of any CS undergrad program.
3) isn't this in any basic programming class? fibo(n), if(n<=1) return n; else return fibo(n-1)+fibo(n-2);

Try:
1) I give you a pointer to the head node of a linked list. This linked list has unknown size. As efficiently (time & space) as possible, tell me whether or not this linked list has a cycle. A cycle is the situation where a node whose "next" pointer points to a node that preceded it or points to itself.
2) Suppose I give you the coordinates of 2 rectangles (I give you the x,y coords of each rect's 4 corners). As efficiently as possible, tell me the coordinates of their intersection; if there is no intersection, say so.

Edit: My results in 1) & 2) might be wrong. I *suck* at probability/counting problems, yuck.

First one is not right, 52 choose 2 means how many ways you can take any 2 cars from a deck. A pair means two cars with the same number ....

LOL oops, I just read it as how many ways can you pick *any* 2 cards out of a deck. And I was like... holy crap, how can that be an interview question? Oops.

In that case, I think it's 13*(4 choose 2). For a given card, there's 4 choose 2 pairs. There are 13 such sets across the suits.


Isn't anyone going to try my 2 problems? lol

 

[Vehemence]

Originally posted by: Tizyler

Originally posted by: dNor
Last two questions asked in an interview for Blizzard:


Explain how you ties your shoes.


Pretend you step in to a time machine that takes you hundreds of years back, and you have to convince 10 people the world is round in order to get back. How would you do it?

Holy fuck that second question makes my head want to explode.

How did you explain it?

I didn't, really. I wasn't expecting questions like that at all so I was and fucked both questions all up. Also, one of the interviewers had her tits all over the place so I was kind of distracted, so I just did a...

Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy
He screamed "ZERG RUSH!" and leapt through the nearest window.

 

[dennilfloss]

Do you like movies about gladiators? Have you ever been in a Turkish prison? You ever seen a grown man naked?

 

[ChaosDivine]

Originally posted by: Born2bwire
Isn't this a classic programming no-no?

Well sure, but the interviewer did ask.

 

[ChaosDivine]

Originally posted by: dNor
I didn't, really. I wasn't expecting questions like that at all so I was and fucked both questions all up. Also, one of the interviewers had her tits all over the place so I was kind of distracted, so I just did a...

So the interview wasn't all bad?

 

[puffff]

Originally posted by: Tizyler

Originally posted by: dNor
Last two questions asked in an interview for Blizzard:


Explain how you ties your shoes.


Pretend you step in to a time machine that takes you hundreds of years back, and you have to convince 10 people the world is round in order to get back. How would you do it?

Holy fuck that second question makes my head want to explode.

How did you explain it?

You don't have to explain it. Just convince ten people.

I'd hold a deadly weapon to someone's head, ask them to agree with me that the world is round, and promise to blow their head off if they don't. That ought to "convince" them.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

'On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your ability to bullshit your way through a meeting?' (This was for a CSR job)

I chuckled and said something like, "I don't think it's something I should express great pride in, but I'd just like to say that it's not unfamiliar territory."

 

[Vehemence]

Originally posted by: ChaosDivine

Originally posted by: dNor
I didn't, really. I wasn't expecting questions like that at all so I was and fucked both questions all up. Also, one of the interviewers had her tits all over the place so I was kind of distracted, so I just did a...

So the interview wasn't all bad?

Shoulda :camera:s, I know. Ban inc

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: puffff

You don't have to explain it. Just convince ten people.

I'd hold a deadly weapon to someone's head, ask them to agree with me that the world is round, and promise to blow their head off if they don't. That ought to "convince" them.

I think stepping out of a time machine that appeared out of thin air might give you some degree of credibility.

Big crowd gathers around the super-cold Delorean, and you say, "I bring you news from the future! The world is round! Who here will agree with that?"
10 people slowly raise their hands, and bam, you're back home.



* - the Delorean got really cold after time travel, right? I never actually watched those movies.

 

[edro]

Do you smoke?

 

[RKS]

Originally posted by: dennilfloss
Do you like movies about gladiators? Have you ever been in a Turkish prison? You ever seen a grown man naked?

Those are just the standard questions for a commercial airline pilot.

 

[Born2bwire]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: puffff

You don't have to explain it. Just convince ten people.

I'd hold a deadly weapon to someone's head, ask them to agree with me that the world is round, and promise to blow their head off if they don't. That ought to "convince" them.

I think stepping out of a time machine that appeared out of thin air might give you some degree of credibility.

Big crowd gathers around the super-cold Delorean, and you say, "I bring you news from the future! The world is round! Who here will agree with that?"
10 people slowly raise their hands, and bam, you're back home.



* - the Delorean got really cold after time travel, right? I never actually watched those movies.

Pfft... I'd just go to Greece and show them their own writings.

 

[ChaosDivine]

Originally posted by: dNor
Shoulda :camera:s, I know. Ban inc

Don't worry, here's a complimentary ATOT get out of jail free card

 

[TipsyMcStagger]

I was once asked

"Have you ever had to do something with a sense of urgency"

I said "yes". They probably expected me to elaborate, but i thought it was a real jackass question.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: queenrobot

Originally posted by: RaistlinZ

Originally posted by: queenrobot
"Do you have children or are you planning on having children in the future?" Not really odd, but definitely illegal.

How do you answer that question tactfully without ruining your chances of getting the job? Also, if you decide to decline answering it and are later denied the job how can you go about proving you were unfairly denied the position because you refused to answer an illegal question during the interview?

I am not really sure what the best thing to do in this situation is. I was really surprised by the question, so I asked what the purpose of it was. The response I got was that they were "just checking" because the last person they hired got pregnant within two months of hire and requested maternity leave. BTW, the person asking this question is a lawyer. :shocked:

well I think it's fair game. We have had a ton of 'associates' rape us for our pregnancy benefits. Some back to back.

Fortunately they have fixed this this year. leave is on you now. You can use your vacation/sick/personal days in any way for it. Outside of those days, good luck.

*EDIT* also we used to get 6 'sick' occurrences per year. Each occurrence could be up to 5 business days. They axed that once 3 years of a high minority of employees taking 30 sick days a year was noticed.

When the change was made those same employees would take them all too. Most are now no longer with us.