Weirdest interview question
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You needn't worried about that going to my head. A bit of idol-worship is to be expected by someone in my position.
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001You need to be careful you can leave the room what with the size your head most be getting!
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Ennis Ray Lynch, Jr. wrote:
And an answer of, "Sugar tits, go get me some coffee, the men need to talk" ...
That would have been my pick... :) Actually, I think you can answer the question honestly and still get hired. "I've never met a person who is completely politically correct. Given the multicultural nature of the modern work force, no matter how carefully measured or considered a response, there is the likelihood that one or more individuals will simply misinterpret what was said or the spirit in which the statement was made. I personally try my best not to offend when in a professional environment, but sometimes it simply cannot be avoided. Someone in the group may not have gotten their self-perceived allotment of stink-finger the night before, or a little extra breakfast made their obvious weight problem more pronounced, or any number of other factors may be affecting their mood. I'm not a f*cking mind-reader, so whatever I say may be misconstrued as pissing in their Wheaties. One last thing - I'm applying for a programming job, not running for f*cking office."
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001Simply Great! :)
If the Lord God Almighty had consulted me before embarking upon the Creation, I would have recommended something simpler. -- Alfonso the Wise, 13th Century King of Castile.
This is going on my arrogant assumptions. You may have a superb reason why I'm completely wrong. -- Iain Clarke
[My articles] -
NightJammer wrote:
Most anyone program
I strongly disagree. I've seen many who can talk the talk, but not so many that can walk the walk, and even fewer who can do both effectively. There are an awful lot of transient 'developers' who know how to hide for 6 months. One of the reasons I like small companies, no where for anyone to hide.
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I understand that part ( kinda left that open for the ability to well or not). It's like most everyone can cook, not everyone is right for working in a resteraunt. Contract positions are another spot you can't hide to well in as in some cases you are the main and only person. I think the best Programmer interview I've had, they made you take a "coding test" first just to see if you could even "walk the walk" after that, it was all style.
MidwestLimey wrote:
NightJammer wrote: Most anyone program I strongly disagree. I've seen many who can talk the talk, but not so many that can walk the walk, and even fewer who can do both effectively. There are an awful lot of transient 'developers' who know how to hide for 6 months. One of the reasons I like small companies, no where for anyone to hide.
///////////////// Groucho Marx Those are my principals, if you don't like them… I have others.
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Joe Programm3r wrote:
no one there had the expertise to come up with the questions.
You should have offered to write some better questions for them. (For a fee of course)
Simon
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I saw Gran Torino last night, so I'm feeling a bit Eastwood-ish. After seeing the free exchange of racial epithets in that movie, my soul is revitalized in the knowledge that real people can be accurately portrayed in the movies. :) "Listen, eggroll..." ROTFLMFAO!
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001One of the best films I have seen in a long time.
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I had an interview on Friday that had one of the weirdest questions I've ever had. "Do you consider yourself politically correct?" I was ready for every .NET framework and software development related question, but this one caught me completely off guard. It was every last bit of self control not to answer with what was on my mind.
It's not at all weird, and I give the interviewer kudos for having the guts to ask it straight up. Being politically correct is all about giving shallow answers designed to tell people what they want to hear and constructed in such a way as to not offend anyone. To be politically correct is to be phony, ineffective and typically just south of ethical. Like most things, however, this is a double edged sword. To be PC is to essentially be a sleazy person with no moral convictions and dubious integrity. On the other hand, this question may well flush out the person who has no awareness at all of the political realities present in each and every company. If you say no, then you'll probably get points for having the strength of your convictions. But a simple no may also indicate that you're too stupid to know when it's appropriate to keep your mouth shut (if you fall on your own sword, you're of little value to the rest of us), or that you don't understand the most effective way to accomplish your objectives in a less than perfect world, which often entails saying the unpopular thing, but to the person who can understand your point and has the power to do something about it. If you say yes, you may be perceived as someone who won't stir up unnecessary trouble and is HR friendly. However, a simple yes may hide the fact that, as above, your interpretation of politically correct is not to be a shallow kiss ass, but rather to use common sense, not start unproductive trouble, and instead fight from the inside to accomplish positive goals. Were I asked that question (if I could restrain myself from asking if they were stupid or just stoned for asking such a question of someone like me), I would not give a yes or no answer, but rather would elaborate on the positive aspects highlighted above, designed to show the interviewer that I understood effective communications.
Christopher Duncan www.PracticalUSA.com Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes Got a career question? Ask the Attack Chihuahua!
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I had an interview on Friday that had one of the weirdest questions I've ever had. "Do you consider yourself politically correct?" I was ready for every .NET framework and software development related question, but this one caught me completely off guard. It was every last bit of self control not to answer with what was on my mind.
I hope you said "No".
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
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I generally ask "What was the name of Hong Kong Phooey's Cat?", and "Can you name all of Trumptonshire's Fire Brigade?". I'm not expecting people to give me the correct answer, it's more to see how they cope with my particular mindset. We are a small team, so it's vital that I hire people who will fit in with me.
"WPF has many lovers. It's a veritable porn star!" - Josh Smith
As Braveheart once said, "You can take our freedom but you'll never take our Hobnobs!" - Martin Hughes.
Pete O'Hanlon wrote:
"What was the name of Hong Kong Phooey's Cat?"
I would have said I don't know but I loved CAAPTAIN CAVEMANNNNN much more the HKP.
Sovereign ingredient for a happy marriage: Pay cash or do without. Interest charges not only eat up a household budget; awareness of debt eats up domestic felicity. --Lazarus Long Avoid the crowd. Do your own thinking independently. Be the chess player, not the chess piece. --Ralph Charell
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You needn't worried about that going to my head. A bit of idol-worship is to be expected by someone in my position.
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001That's what Darth Vader said and look at where it got him.
¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! Personal 3D projects Just Say No to Web 2 Point Oh
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"What was the name of Hong Kong Phooey's Cat?" It was 'Spot', but he had stripes.
There are two kinds of people. Those who need closure
I also knew this without google. Data on TNG also named his cat spot and it had strips!
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You can download tough questions online with answers. They obviously did not do their homework.
That's how my last interview (current job) went. It was quite amuzing as there was not really a question they got me on... Yet they clearly needed the cheat sheet to check my answers. When the superior (whom did not have the list or answers) was inquiring to the subordinates if I was correct, they would look down and say "Well he said most of the words that are in the answer so it sounds right".
"9 Pregnent woman can not have a baby in 1 month" -Uknown
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I had an interview on Friday that had one of the weirdest questions I've ever had. "Do you consider yourself politically correct?" I was ready for every .NET framework and software development related question, but this one caught me completely off guard. It was every last bit of self control not to answer with what was on my mind.
I think the "Weirdest Interview Question" is all relative.. I mean think about it. The questions that a Movie pr0n producer asks a potential canadate would definately be considered "out there" for a programmer, while the question What is the user of the session object[^] will certainly result in a different answer from a programmer to a pr0n star ;)
"9 Pregnent woman can not have a baby in 1 month" -Uknown
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Hugh Pugh Barney Mcgrew Cuthbert Dibble Drub Grub
But you missed out Captain Flack, the other Pugh (they were twins) and Cuthbert's Aunt. Some people remember the Pugh twins, but everybody forgets Captain Flack.
"WPF has many lovers. It's a veritable porn star!" - Josh Smith
As Braveheart once said, "You can take our freedom but you'll never take our Hobnobs!" - Martin Hughes.
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Pete O'Hanlon wrote:
"What was the name of Hong Kong Phooey's Cat?"
I would have said I don't know but I loved CAAPTAIN CAVEMANNNNN much more the HKP.
Sovereign ingredient for a happy marriage: Pay cash or do without. Interest charges not only eat up a household budget; awareness of debt eats up domestic felicity. --Lazarus Long Avoid the crowd. Do your own thinking independently. Be the chess player, not the chess piece. --Ralph Charell
That would get you kudos in the interview, because you wouldn't have been phased by my question.
"WPF has many lovers. It's a veritable porn star!" - Josh Smith
As Braveheart once said, "You can take our freedom but you'll never take our Hobnobs!" - Martin Hughes.
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I had an interview on Friday that had one of the weirdest questions I've ever had. "Do you consider yourself politically correct?" I was ready for every .NET framework and software development related question, but this one caught me completely off guard. It was every last bit of self control not to answer with what was on my mind.
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I saw Gran Torino last night, so I'm feeling a bit Eastwood-ish. After seeing the free exchange of racial epithets in that movie, my soul is revitalized in the knowledge that real people can be accurately portrayed in the movies. :) "Listen, eggroll..." ROTFLMFAO!
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
I saw Gran Torino last night,
I haven't seen it yet, but just about the entire movie was filmed in the neighborhoods around my house. It's pretty cool to see how everything works behind the scenes.
John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
After seeing the free exchange of racial epithets in that movie
You might be surprised to see how much of that really happens around here. The Detroit area is the most racially segregated city in the country.
A guide to posting questions on CodeProject[^]
Dave Kreskowiak Microsoft MVP Visual Developer - Visual Basic
2006, 2007, 2008 -
I had an interview on Friday that had one of the weirdest questions I've ever had. "Do you consider yourself politically correct?" I was ready for every .NET framework and software development related question, but this one caught me completely off guard. It was every last bit of self control not to answer with what was on my mind.
Hi Joe, That's an interesting off-the-wall question to ask in an interview. I do think it's inappropriate. But I also think many of the almost "routine" interview questions asked these days : like : "tell us about a time when you made a serious error of judgement, and what you learned from that" ... are totally stupid. I would have turned it around and said something like : "I think the term 'politically correct' has many current interpretations and meanings : perhaps you could help me understand what that term means to you right now so I can respond accurately to what you have in mind." On the other hand if, by this time in the interview I had decided the interview was so stupid I didn't want to work for the company, I would have exited politely. best, Bill
"Many : not conversant with mathematical studies, imagine that because it [the Analytical Engine] is to give results in numerical notation, its processes must consequently be arithmetical, numerical, rather than algebraical and analytical. This is an error. The engine can arrange and combine numerical quantities as if they were letters or any other general symbols; and it fact it might bring out its results in algebraical notation, were provisions made accordingly." Ada, Countess Lovelace, 1844