Yeah, it's amazing how many interviewers ask questions that basically boil down to "Are you an analytical thinker?", "Do you think outside of the box?", "Are you a hard worker?". There's usually some padding in the wording, but generally only allows for a yes/no answer (and of course no-one ever says no).
If you want to know if someone's an analytical thinker, then you should of course ask them to show it rather than say it. I like all the questions Toni gave as examples. They will certainly cut out a lot of people, but they can all be prepared for (and therefore even people who are not analytical thinkers can come up with some good answers). I think it is better to go one-further though and give a scenario in the interview that requires the applicant to apply their analytical skills and have them describe what they would do and why. These sorts of skills tend to apply to every industry, so the question doesn't have to be computer related. Eg:
"You're piloting a plane. It has a mechanical fault and goes down. The landing was in a hot desert during the day. There were eight people on board. Most are well, but one passenger broke their leg, which you have now bandaged to a plank. There is a 65 year old man, a 7 year old child and a woman that is complaining of stomach cramps she had before take-off. The navigation and communication systems failed during flight. You were not able to radio in the trouble you were having or your location. Your abscence will be noticed, but it is likely to be 3-5 days before you are found. Although you don't know your location you have flown this route before and believe there is a farm around 80 miles North. You have five litres of water and no food. Do you stay where you are and wait for help, or do you try to make it to the farm? Why?"
Something like that is open-ended. It has several mini-questions that need to be considered (will the water last 3-5 days? Could the child walk or be carried that far? Could the elderly man? The woman with cramps? Should some people walk and some stay put?). It then ultimately requires the interviewee to make a decision. Once they've done that, I believe it should be questioned... "You'd make everyone walk?? What, are you crazy? You've got a child, and old man, and someone with a broken leg? You honestly expect me to believe they could all make it?" (or if they answer that they'd stay with the plane... "What, are you crazy? You've only got 5 litres of water. If it takes 5 days to be rescued that's only 100mL of water per person per day, and with no food. No-one can survive that").
Their response to the question, and particularly your dig at their choice will tell you plenty.
Discussion on:
View:
Show:
the answers people come up with on the fly seem to be a better indicator of their analysis skills. it doesn't guarantee other things like whether they will follow through or not, but that's a different question.
a trained soldier with full equipment might be able to do 80 miles in a couple of days, your average person, even with food and water, would be lucky to do 20 miles a day.
so it is a no-win scenario, literally everyone would be dead in it.
so it is a no-win scenario, literally everyone would be dead in it.
If you go on such a journey you are always advised to stay with the aircraft.
Also the pilot would already have taken adequate survival precautions before starting the journey such as adequate supplies to survive such a situation. You are also advised to make regular check-ins and you are visible to air-traffic controllers throughout the journey. Similar cases that have happened have occurred because the travelers were insufficiently prepared for the journey.
Also the pilot would already have taken adequate survival precautions before starting the journey such as adequate supplies to survive such a situation. You are also advised to make regular check-ins and you are visible to air-traffic controllers throughout the journey. Similar cases that have happened have occurred because the travelers were insufficiently prepared for the journey.
An average (but fit/uninjured) person should be able to do 50 miles in 24 hours. Just ask JFK!
Adjust the scenario how-ever you like (or come up with your own). The point isn't how realistic the question is, and it's not even about the answer the applicant comes up with. The important thing is getting an insight into how the applicant thinks.
Adjust the scenario how-ever you like (or come up with your own). The point isn't how realistic the question is, and it's not even about the answer the applicant comes up with. The important thing is getting an insight into how the applicant thinks.
I could make it 20 miles the first day, but I could not be sure what condition I would be in on the second.
Also, deserts tend to get rather cold at night, even in the summer. Not only would the heat during the day be life threatening, but the exposure at night would be as serious.
Also, deserts tend to get rather cold at night, even in the summer. Not only would the heat during the day be life threatening, but the exposure at night would be as serious.
He will miss the farm by 20 miles to the left or the right on ground that is most likely uneven and cross-country. Personally I prefer a good Chianti with the crusty guy. But we get your point that its how someone thinks and the analysis that they give that counts. Just make sure you're not in a plane with me going over the desert 
It's a Kobayashi Maru scenario. How the interviewee responds to the no-win scenario could be revealing.
Start eating the old people first because they are more crusty and then if they don't rescue you after 5 days munch on the others. Although I'm not too sure the woman with the stomach cramps would enjoy it too much. One question...why did they make me fly the plane?
There was a Brazilian football (soccer) team that agreed with you!
The question makes the applicant the pilot because it puts them in charge of the situation. If you were merely a passenger an applicant might say "I would do what the pilot told me to do because he's more trained than I am". That's not the sort of response you want - you want applicants discussing the options out loud.
The question makes the applicant the pilot because it puts them in charge of the situation. If you were merely a passenger an applicant might say "I would do what the pilot told me to do because he's more trained than I am". That's not the sort of response you want - you want applicants discussing the options out loud.
First, search the plane for tools, knives, etc. Especially for flares to catch any planes flying over.
I would have the healthy first harvest the the seats, use the cushions for beds and the coverings for shelter and for protection from the heat during the day.
Next, Find parts of the plane that can be used to make a fire for the night.
The next day, search for cactuses that can provide moisture, this could get you a few extra days.
Next, dig holes and place plastic cups (like the kind you get on the plane) in them, this will be to catch critters and scorpions that can be eaten.
As long as you stay in the shade and with as little activity as possible, you could stretch your food and water supply until you get rescued, especially if you find plants that have water in them.
To increase your chance of being rescued, find mirrors and stuff so that you could reflect light and signal overhead planes.
If anyone does die, and cannibalism is not an option, their body should be moved far from camp to keep the critters that eat the dead far from camp.
I would have the healthy first harvest the the seats, use the cushions for beds and the coverings for shelter and for protection from the heat during the day.
Next, Find parts of the plane that can be used to make a fire for the night.
The next day, search for cactuses that can provide moisture, this could get you a few extra days.
Next, dig holes and place plastic cups (like the kind you get on the plane) in them, this will be to catch critters and scorpions that can be eaten.
As long as you stay in the shade and with as little activity as possible, you could stretch your food and water supply until you get rescued, especially if you find plants that have water in them.
To increase your chance of being rescued, find mirrors and stuff so that you could reflect light and signal overhead planes.
If anyone does die, and cannibalism is not an option, their body should be moved far from camp to keep the critters that eat the dead far from camp.
Because someone just died by trying to walk the short distance to the Farm which was about 16 Kim's away.
Personally I would say that you stay put and kill the pilot who is responsible for the mess you find yourself in because they should have turned back when the problems started and got the plane fixed.
Of course the kid is nice and tender so there a few days of food and it shouldn't taste all that bad either.
Col
Personally I would say that you stay put and kill the pilot who is responsible for the mess you find yourself in because they should have turned back when the problems started and got the plane fixed.
Of course the kid is nice and tender so there a few days of food and it shouldn't taste all that bad either.
Col
Killing the pilot wouldn't work too well... the question is posed so that *you* are the pilot!
I would never have allowed a faulty aircraft to get into that position in the first place.
If it's broke it shouldn't be leaving the ground till it's fixed.
Col
If it's broke it shouldn't be leaving the ground till it's fixed.
Col
Presumably you (as the pilot) didn't know it was broken at take-off. Maybe it incurred some damage by a bird, maybe a bolt came loose during the flight... who knows. It's unimportant detail.
Hopefully in an actual interview situation you'd have a proper go at answering such a question. Saying "I wouldn't have gotten into that situation" is a bit of a cop-out. We all make mistakes, and sometimes unforeseen circumstances happen too. I don't think I'd be impressed with an answer of "that wouldn't happen to me"!
Hopefully in an actual interview situation you'd have a proper go at answering such a question. Saying "I wouldn't have gotten into that situation" is a bit of a cop-out. We all make mistakes, and sometimes unforeseen circumstances happen too. I don't think I'd be impressed with an answer of "that wouldn't happen to me"!
The plane was probably declared "air-worthy" by the cost cutters at the company for whom you fly. LOL
If you can catch an espisode or two of Survivorman, it is about a man (Les Stroud)who puts himself in those kinds of scenarios. He has tons of training, and lots of experience living in the wilderness. But even he gets into trouble sometimes, because you can't anticipate everything.
I was once involved in a management seminar where we used a very similar scenario. And even more coincidental, one of my coworkers was related to someone whose plane crash was the inspiration for that particular scenario (and his team won, shockingly).
You have to start with the best outcome is that everyone survives.
The focus is on the 3 to 5 days.
Taking everyone walking is a non starter.
Its also unlikely that a person trying to do 80 miles will not require all of the water to be successful, even if they are travelling at night and resting in the day (unless they magically find an oasis every day). It is also unlikely they would find the town in a desert without a compass, unless they happen upon a road(and without a map how would they know where the road would lead).
The best course would be to stay, make the shelter work as best they can for daytime heat and night time cold, and as others mentioned, conserve the water, make water traps etc.
You have to start with the best outcome is that everyone survives.
The focus is on the 3 to 5 days.
Taking everyone walking is a non starter.
Its also unlikely that a person trying to do 80 miles will not require all of the water to be successful, even if they are travelling at night and resting in the day (unless they magically find an oasis every day). It is also unlikely they would find the town in a desert without a compass, unless they happen upon a road(and without a map how would they know where the road would lead).
The best course would be to stay, make the shelter work as best they can for daytime heat and night time cold, and as others mentioned, conserve the water, make water traps etc.
"What do you think of Windows 8, and why?"
The person who is not analytical, will spout off stuff like 'it's faster', and 'i can play my games faster'. Right then and there I know not to hire that person.
If someone is analytical, he thinks of the parameters and principles, so shows the ability to do abstract thinking. The way he analyses tells me if he can think outside the box, or is herdbound. So even if he lacks experience, he's a good person to hire, if not herdbound and capable of abstract thinking. Anything else he needs to learn, can be more easily trained.
The person who is not analytical, will spout off stuff like 'it's faster', and 'i can play my games faster'. Right then and there I know not to hire that person.
If someone is analytical, he thinks of the parameters and principles, so shows the ability to do abstract thinking. The way he analyses tells me if he can think outside the box, or is herdbound. So even if he lacks experience, he's a good person to hire, if not herdbound and capable of abstract thinking. Anything else he needs to learn, can be more easily trained.
no opinion, I have not looked at it at all so cannot give any evaluation.
"I can't give you a definitive answer because I haven't used it yet. But if I was looking at deploying it at a company, I would look to doing some testing to establish a performance baseline, to see if the company needs to upgrade PCs, and analyszing the interface to see if there would be requirements for training the user base....."
I like that question. As well as finding out the reasoning behind the answer, it's a good chance to see if the person has religious beliefs when it comes to software. It also lets you see who is playing around with beta's etc "just for fun". They're often the people you want to hire.
I once interviewed for a position, and at the end of the technical questionnaire was a bonus question: a logic problem.
There are three light switches in the basement, each of which corresponds to one of three light bulbs in the attic (this is clearly a poorly wired house). There is no way to see any light in the attic from within the basement. You can turn the switches on and off and leave them in either position. How would you identify which switch corresponds to which light bulb, if you are only allowed one trip upstairs?
I solved the problem, which impressed the interviewer, and I won the position. I vowed to incorporate similar questions into my own interview process for analytical positions one day. They demonstrate one's ability (or inability) to approach problem solving in a creative way.
There are three light switches in the basement, each of which corresponds to one of three light bulbs in the attic (this is clearly a poorly wired house). There is no way to see any light in the attic from within the basement. You can turn the switches on and off and leave them in either position. How would you identify which switch corresponds to which light bulb, if you are only allowed one trip upstairs?
I solved the problem, which impressed the interviewer, and I won the position. I vowed to incorporate similar questions into my own interview process for analytical positions one day. They demonstrate one's ability (or inability) to approach problem solving in a creative way.
Questions like this only assess how much time someone has spent reading interview preparation materials. Let's face it: the lightbulb problem is easy once you have specifically prepared for this type of question but if it were encountered completely out of the blue and unexpected, something like 1% of the population would be able to correctly solve it (with no hint and no preparation).
If this 1% of top analytical thinkers is the group you are trying to hire, be sure you are among the top 1% of companies since these candidates can afford to be picky about where they work. Once thing for sure, they don't want to work in a bank's IT department.
If this 1% of top analytical thinkers is the group you are trying to hire, be sure you are among the top 1% of companies since these candidates can afford to be picky about where they work. Once thing for sure, they don't want to work in a bank's IT department.
I'd expect to find more people who've heard the question before than people who could solve it with a question like that.
What would it mean if I took out my cell phone and looked up the answer?
What would it mean if I took out my cell phone and looked up the answer?
I loved the interview where they handed me a 2D shape puzzle and watched me fumble around. Never could figure out what the metric was on that.
If you have a second person, have them check
or
Go upstairs, take out the light bulbs and replace them with those things that turn light sockets into plugs, plug in extension cords and plug in radios to the end, set each to a different station and set the volume loud so you can hear it in the basement. Use that to determine which is which.
or
Replace once switch with a dimmer switch, and set it to half brightness, then have 1 on, 1 off, 1 half.
or
Go upstairs, take out the light bulbs and replace them with those things that turn light sockets into plugs, plug in extension cords and plug in radios to the end, set each to a different station and set the volume loud so you can hear it in the basement. Use that to determine which is which.
or
Replace once switch with a dimmer switch, and set it to half brightness, then have 1 on, 1 off, 1 half.
turn 2 lights on.
after a minute or so, turn 1 of the 2 lights off
got upstairs and touch the 2 lights that are not lit. The warm one is the light you turned off.
after a minute or so, turn 1 of the 2 lights off
got upstairs and touch the 2 lights that are not lit. The warm one is the light you turned off.
modern bulbs that don't get hot, like LEDs.
I'd just use the circuit 'sniffer' in my tool bag.
Shame on you for showing up for electrical work without proper tools!
Shame on you for showing up for electrical work without proper tools!
But the scenario didn't say you had a "sniffer"
No one but an analytical thinker would know the answer to that one. 
How about
How would you use a desktop database as the backend for a multi user enterprise system?
Or the user says their printer is not working. Come up with a set of fault finding steps and explin the why of each one.
Or for DBAs. Given you have only one database and you need to collect and report to it. How would you decide where and when to optimise it, and why.
Course you need someone on the other side of the table, who understands the answers....
So may be feeding 5000 with one loaf and a small fish would be an alternative.
How about
How would you use a desktop database as the backend for a multi user enterprise system?
Or the user says their printer is not working. Come up with a set of fault finding steps and explin the why of each one.
Or for DBAs. Given you have only one database and you need to collect and report to it. How would you decide where and when to optimise it, and why.
Course you need someone on the other side of the table, who understands the answers....
So may be feeding 5000 with one loaf and a small fish would be an alternative.
Though, after closing many man-hole covers that were square I can understand why the majority of man-hole covers are round.
An equilateral triangle couldn't fall in either, but it would take more metal to make a cover for a hole that would accommodate the same size worker. The round ones are heavy enough.
Step one: CHECK THE CABLES!
I've got my propeller beanie and pocket protector with me. Where do I sit?
P.S. This one time shortly after starting this job, I had to set up a consultant with a laptop so she could do some security tests on our network. (Pentium II, Windows 98se, NIC was a pcmcia card with a dongle.) The laptop couldn't see the network. She starts analyzing the error according to the 7 layer model. I took the laptop from her, reinstalled the driver, and rebooted. One can think too much, too. Sometimes you just gotta punt!
Step one: CHECK THE CABLES!
I've got my propeller beanie and pocket protector with me. Where do I sit?
P.S. This one time shortly after starting this job, I had to set up a consultant with a laptop so she could do some security tests on our network. (Pentium II, Windows 98se, NIC was a pcmcia card with a dongle.) The laptop couldn't see the network. She starts analyzing the error according to the 7 layer model. I took the laptop from her, reinstalled the driver, and rebooted. One can think too much, too. Sometimes you just gotta punt!
Because a round object cannot pass through a smaller round hole, no matter which angle you use.
Desktop database? That sounds dangerous, should you have a server for that?
I don't understand the optimize database question, don't you just turn on indexing (and set index-able columns) and the integrity checks?
Bread is all carbs, you could last longer on it then with fish, but fish would give you more lasting energy.
I'd say, for survival, build your shelter, use bread if you need some energy, use bread to go fishing, eat fish until you are ready to go searching, or wait to be rescued.
Desktop database? That sounds dangerous, should you have a server for that?
I don't understand the optimize database question, don't you just turn on indexing (and set index-able columns) and the integrity checks?
Bread is all carbs, you could last longer on it then with fish, but fish would give you more lasting energy.
I'd say, for survival, build your shelter, use bread if you need some energy, use bread to go fishing, eat fish until you are ready to go searching, or wait to be rescued.
Indexes can become fragmented. Rebuilding, reorganizing or updating the statistics for the query optimizer can provide some performance increase on large indexes.
I would use an sql script to rebuild indexes that are more than 30% fragmented and reorganize between 5%-30% for indexes > 1000 pages. I would schedule it to run periodically when the database isn't busy, probably at night or over the weekend depending on the business.
I would use an sql script to rebuild indexes that are more than 30% fragmented and reorganize between 5%-30% for indexes > 1000 pages. I would schedule it to run periodically when the database isn't busy, probably at night or over the weekend depending on the business.
We've used the printer question before, and a few similar ones when hiring for a general support person. They're open-ended questions, there's no 'one right answer', the ordering of steps will let you see if they're breaking the problem domain down properly, and the depth of their answer will tell you how much of this sort of work they've done before.
Another one I like for support people (that deal with the general public) is "How would you explain DNS to an end-user?".
Another one I like for support people (that deal with the general public) is "How would you explain DNS to an end-user?".
I wouldn't if I could avoid it, but if I had to, in 3 or 4 sentences, MAX. More than that would just blind them with science.
I've been telling them it is dark magic involving hallucinogenic substances and the sacrifice of chickens. They usually stop asking questions after that. Do I get the job?
I'm surprised no one has said "I'd ask 'Which is better: Windows or Linux?'"
Look, I'm an analytical thinker - meaning, I will likely evaluate a situation moreso than a non-analytical thinker. However, I feel overwhelmed when on the spot I am asked to bring up memories of my past in which a vague description applied. Given a period of time I can think of these things and describe them to you in a concise and meaningful way, but not on the fly. So if you want to see an accurate picture of my analytical style, I can deliver that if you give me a situation to analyze right there on the spot.
I have struggled back and forth whether I need to start trying to commit some of these events to memory. However, I've landed on the answer that it's effort wasted in vain since I normally only encounter these types of situations when in interviews (something I can brush up for shortly beforehand, and which are not very frequent).
I have struggled back and forth whether I need to start trying to commit some of these events to memory. However, I've landed on the answer that it's effort wasted in vain since I normally only encounter these types of situations when in interviews (something I can brush up for shortly beforehand, and which are not very frequent).
I would prefer to be asked one of the scenarios proffered by some of the other commenters. What would you think about if someone asked you to describe your problem solving method. Would that stump you in the moment? Or would it in itself be like a problem that you could then go on to describe how you'd solve?
We know people over-estimate their own abilities. They also over-estimate how well they dealt with issues in the past. Since the interviewer doesn't know the scenario and wasn't there, they can't evaluate whether:
* There was a simpler answer the candidate missed
* The candidate worked well with others, followed instructions, whether they really were the one that came up with the answer or whether someone else did but they are claiming it etc etc
You are much better to put a scenario forward and see for yourself how they handle it. There is some value in discussion of the past since it is a good indicator of future behaviour. I think a good way to incorporate it is when a candidate talks about some of their recent projects try to find a question along the lines of "that sounds like a tricky problem. How long did it take you to figure that out? Did you ask your colleague's for suggestions?" etc.
* There was a simpler answer the candidate missed
* The candidate worked well with others, followed instructions, whether they really were the one that came up with the answer or whether someone else did but they are claiming it etc etc
You are much better to put a scenario forward and see for yourself how they handle it. There is some value in discussion of the past since it is a good indicator of future behaviour. I think a good way to incorporate it is when a candidate talks about some of their recent projects try to find a question along the lines of "that sounds like a tricky problem. How long did it take you to figure that out? Did you ask your colleague's for suggestions?" etc.
We used several of this type of question in interviews for technical reporting analyst positions.
After pointing to a water tower out the interviewers window, ask the candidate "How would you figure out how many jelly beans it would take to fill the water tower?" You are not looking for an answer; you are looking for a mental process that would be followed to arrive at an answer. If the response is, I have no idea where to even start, that candidate was not right for the job we were looking to fill.
Another question involves telling the candidate - "I want you to tell me about the weather?" What additional questions do you need an answer to before you can actually tell me what I really need to know? Some example questions we were looking for included - current month average, max high and lows temps and or percipitation,: annual averages: current day conditions or tomorrow or next week; for this location of some other location? All intended to make sure the candidate understood the problem scope before they expended time and effort compiling a solution.
After pointing to a water tower out the interviewers window, ask the candidate "How would you figure out how many jelly beans it would take to fill the water tower?" You are not looking for an answer; you are looking for a mental process that would be followed to arrive at an answer. If the response is, I have no idea where to even start, that candidate was not right for the job we were looking to fill.
Another question involves telling the candidate - "I want you to tell me about the weather?" What additional questions do you need an answer to before you can actually tell me what I really need to know? Some example questions we were looking for included - current month average, max high and lows temps and or percipitation,: annual averages: current day conditions or tomorrow or next week; for this location of some other location? All intended to make sure the candidate understood the problem scope before they expended time and effort compiling a solution.
- Keyboard Shortcuts:
- Prev
- Next
- Toggle
