Funny interview answers
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And you probably missed the best candidate for the job. I don't know who in his right mind thinks that giving this kind of questions for a job interview and over the phone shows them anything except that people under extreme stress don't perform very well at intensely intellectual games. I am doing the interview circuit right now - I have 30 years programming experience, I rarely get support calls for my stuff but I can't program my way out of a wet paper bag during a job interview. I basically hand in a blank piece of paper when the idiots hand me a test. This is not to say I can't perform under pressure - I have dictated code over the phone in a foreign language in order to get a payroll back up and running (not mine). Anyone with any brains will have researched the effectiveness of test at job interviews and realized they only predict that a person can do a test under extreme personal pressure and absolutely nothing else. In fact when you check out the personality types of the best programmers you will realize that you are weeding out the best of the best with these interview techniques so good luck with your mediocre picks.
I was asking for funny interview experiences and I did really not want you to assess the 'effectiveness of test' at job interviews conducted by anyone anywhere. I see you're offering your thoughts on that line for FREE, but thanks anyway. I'm not sure how many best programmers have you met, but I do think I'm a very good programmer, and unlike you, I *can* program my way out of a wet paper bag. There are more kinds of people than you may probably know, but I'm not going to spend time convincing you on that. :)
It's time for a new sig. Seriously.
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So, my lead was correcting these written test papers and he burst out in laughter suddenly. I went there to see what was it about and found this answer written by a candidate:
Q: Can you identify and define the C++ casting operators?
A: yes.:laugh: :laugh: Yes?! I also reckon a telephonic interview in which a candidate defined function overloading as "stuffing in too much of code in any given function". I muted the phone and laughed like mad before telling him I'm done with the call. :laugh: Have you ever been given such funny answers by any candidates? :)
It's time for a new sig. Seriously.
What a horrible question... The question was not open ended, not behaviorial driven and least of all not asking for demonstrative proof that they knew the information you were looking to obtain. I would be laughing at you as an interviewer.
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I was recently interviewing a CS graduate who had told me he wanted to make programming his life. I asked "Did you write any programs aside from the assignments?", wanting to see what his interests were. He replied, "No." He didn't make my final list of candidates.
Psychosis at 10 Film at 11
What did you expect, when you ask a yes / no question?
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My job is to give such answers. I was taught to do so by my father. A recent test asked for three things make for a successful meeting; I answered: bagels, cream cheese, and brevity. In the real (IT) world, those are much more important than the concepts expressed in the class. I hope you don't write system specs like that question.
I agree 100%.... horrible question... What is worse... is he expected a different answer... I hope his code is not like that ...
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Yes, the question is wanting.
I disagree... the question is a yes / no answer question... A better question would have been : In a short coding example, show how to use the C++ casting operators. Gets what you want and the answer can be written in a very short code snippet: double x = 3.1; int i; i = (int)x;
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I disagree... the question is a yes / no answer question... A better question would have been : In a short coding example, show how to use the C++ casting operators. Gets what you want and the answer can be written in a very short code snippet: double x = 3.1; int i; i = (int)x;
Or, still better:
double x = 3.1;
int i;
i = static_cast<int>(x);-- gleat http://blogorama.nerdworks.in[^] --
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What a horrible question... The question was not open ended, not behaviorial driven and least of all not asking for demonstrative proof that they knew the information you were looking to obtain. I would be laughing at you as an interviewer.
M i s t e r L i s t e r wrote:
What a horrible question... The question was not open ended, not behaviorial driven and least of all not asking for demonstrative proof that they knew the information you were looking to obtain. I would be laughing at you as an interviewer.
What a waste of time! How did you get the idea that I was the "interviewer". There was some sort of written test going on, and I just happened to know a funny reply given by a candidate through a colleague (he was correcting the test papers). Had you read the whole thing before starting to type out a reply, it would have been much easier. Why don't you laugh at yourself for not being able to read?
It's time for a new sig. Seriously.
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I disagree, I think the intent of the question was clear to anybody with half a brain. We already have something that will follow the literal instructions given, their called computers. We need people who can do the fuzzy reasoning to translate a slight vague question into something definite and precise. Kinda like what you just did.
Wjousts wrote:
We already have something that will follow the literal instructions given, their called computers. We need people who can do the fuzzy reasoning to translate a slight vague question into something definite and precise.
And when you start to blur the line in thinking between a computer and a human, then you become awesome. ;P The ability to be coldly logical and completely abstract at the same time. Get it right and debugging will be a breeze. The actual coding itself can sometimes be annoying though, too logical and you have no idea what they're asking you to do. :laugh:
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Usage determines language, not the other way around. Unless you're French.
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So, my lead was correcting these written test papers and he burst out in laughter suddenly. I went there to see what was it about and found this answer written by a candidate:
Q: Can you identify and define the C++ casting operators?
A: yes.:laugh: :laugh: Yes?! I also reckon a telephonic interview in which a candidate defined function overloading as "stuffing in too much of code in any given function". I muted the phone and laughed like mad before telling him I'm done with the call. :laugh: Have you ever been given such funny answers by any candidates? :)
It's time for a new sig. Seriously.
A couple of years ago, I was interviewing for a C++ Windows developer position, and the interviewer asked me if I knew how to map a network drive from a command prompt. It had been so long since I had done it that way I couldn't remember, but I told him how to do it in Windows. He said "some of us prefer to do things the old way." I replied "some of us prefer to keep our skills current." Needless to say, I didn't get the job.
Mark D. Collins
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Cromulent[^] as defined by the Urban dictionary. References an inherent Simpsons reference[^] (item 3).
Sarchasm : The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.
There's also the collective noun for baboons: "flange". :-)
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A couple of years ago, I was interviewing for a C++ Windows developer position, and the interviewer asked me if I knew how to map a network drive from a command prompt. It had been so long since I had done it that way I couldn't remember, but I told him how to do it in Windows. He said "some of us prefer to do things the old way." I replied "some of us prefer to keep our skills current." Needless to say, I didn't get the job.
Mark D. Collins
On the brighter side, it was probably going to be too bad of a job if they were all doing things the old way (especially things like mapping a network drive from command prompt). You could be glad you weren't sucked into it. :)
It's time for a new sig. Seriously.
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So, my lead was correcting these written test papers and he burst out in laughter suddenly. I went there to see what was it about and found this answer written by a candidate:
Q: Can you identify and define the C++ casting operators?
A: yes.:laugh: :laugh: Yes?! I also reckon a telephonic interview in which a candidate defined function overloading as "stuffing in too much of code in any given function". I muted the phone and laughed like mad before telling him I'm done with the call. :laugh: Have you ever been given such funny answers by any candidates? :)
It's time for a new sig. Seriously.
We should have a list of bad interview questions. I hate the ones where they ask you if you know the precidence rules, as if that shows the person's a goor programmer or not. Or they ask to see if you know the parameters of some funky API function. Also, I'm not sure I like the kind of questions that have a single direct answer. Sometimes the way they answer tells me about their background. Here's type of questions I typically like to ask, if I'm testing for their programming competency: 1. Data structures – when would you pick a list over an array? 2. What is a binary search? 3. What is hashing? 4. What is a heap? 5. What is a checksum? 6. What is a callback? 7. What is reference counting? 8. What does it mean to be type safe? 9. What does it mean to be exception safe? 10. How do you think people will program 5, 10, 20 years from now? As examples, for #1, someone might say "what do you mean by list?" you mean a generic list in .net, or a listarray? is this a dynamic array? Or are you talking about the list<> template in C++? Is this a linked list? Is it doubly-linked? A computer-science person may not talk about the specific implementations. They may assume it's a generic term for a container. Or they may assume it's a linked list. A good answer would at least touch about the time-space aspects. you can insert in the middle of the a linked list in O(1) time, but not an array, but you can randomly access an array, but not a linked list, etc. For #5, if the person asks "what is a checksum?" that may be telling. Or they'll say, "what type of checksum? a modular sum where you add all the bytes, or, do you mean checksum generically, so you could use a CRC or parity-byte" For #7, if they start talking about COM, it's possible that's their only exposure to it. Would they use a reference counting system anywhere else where it might make sense? Would they use it at the application level in .net or java? who knows. #10 changes with the wind, 5-10 years ago if they said functional programming, then you know they're thinking. If they say it now, then you know they've watched a few channel 9 videos, because that's a rather obvious answer. But what other problems do programmers have today that they don't even consider to be an issue, but some new language or system might help them. I can go on and on, but you get the point. Also, none of the above questions are related to a specific technology such as .NET, Java or even a particular programming language. These question
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What did you expect, when you ask a yes / no question?
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We should have a list of bad interview questions. I hate the ones where they ask you if you know the precidence rules, as if that shows the person's a goor programmer or not. Or they ask to see if you know the parameters of some funky API function. Also, I'm not sure I like the kind of questions that have a single direct answer. Sometimes the way they answer tells me about their background. Here's type of questions I typically like to ask, if I'm testing for their programming competency: 1. Data structures – when would you pick a list over an array? 2. What is a binary search? 3. What is hashing? 4. What is a heap? 5. What is a checksum? 6. What is a callback? 7. What is reference counting? 8. What does it mean to be type safe? 9. What does it mean to be exception safe? 10. How do you think people will program 5, 10, 20 years from now? As examples, for #1, someone might say "what do you mean by list?" you mean a generic list in .net, or a listarray? is this a dynamic array? Or are you talking about the list<> template in C++? Is this a linked list? Is it doubly-linked? A computer-science person may not talk about the specific implementations. They may assume it's a generic term for a container. Or they may assume it's a linked list. A good answer would at least touch about the time-space aspects. you can insert in the middle of the a linked list in O(1) time, but not an array, but you can randomly access an array, but not a linked list, etc. For #5, if the person asks "what is a checksum?" that may be telling. Or they'll say, "what type of checksum? a modular sum where you add all the bytes, or, do you mean checksum generically, so you could use a CRC or parity-byte" For #7, if they start talking about COM, it's possible that's their only exposure to it. Would they use a reference counting system anywhere else where it might make sense? Would they use it at the application level in .net or java? who knows. #10 changes with the wind, 5-10 years ago if they said functional programming, then you know they're thinking. If they say it now, then you know they've watched a few channel 9 videos, because that's a rather obvious answer. But what other problems do programmers have today that they don't even consider to be an issue, but some new language or system might help them. I can go on and on, but you get the point. Also, none of the above questions are related to a specific technology such as .NET, Java or even a particular programming language. These question
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What a horrible question... The question was not open ended, not behaviorial driven and least of all not asking for demonstrative proof that they knew the information you were looking to obtain. I would be laughing at you as an interviewer.
M i s t e r L i s t e r wrote:
What a horrible question... The question was not open ended, not behaviorial driven and least of all not asking for demonstrative proof that they knew the information you were looking to obtain. I would be laughing at you as an interviewer.
I think it is a good idea to purposely give questions that are a bit vague. I do not want an employee that never takes the time to think. Anyone with a brain would know that a Yes/No answer was not the intention of the question. I think a great way to weed out the smart asses is to give the smart asses a venue to show their true colors.
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I have always found that short programming assignments are much better than a Q&A style interview. Looking for things like self documenting and modular code is more important to me than seeing if the applicant knows what reference counting is.
yes, short programming assignments are useful. I wouldn't go as far as saying that it's better than asking them questions about programming. They're both useful. If a programmer doesn't know the concept of reference counting, then that's fine. I would assume that may not know the terminology, and I would ask them to solve a problem where I think reference counting would be the best solution (multiple owners for an object, when you're not sure which owner is going to get disposed first), and see what they come up with. Hopefuly, they'll do something like referencing counting.
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It's the question that is wrong, not the answer: his answer was perfect. The question should have been: Q: Identify and define the C++ casting operators. If you can't even pose a question correctly how do you expect to be able to carry out a fair and balanced interview?
"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair. nils illegitimus carborundum me, me, me
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So, my lead was correcting these written test papers and he burst out in laughter suddenly. I went there to see what was it about and found this answer written by a candidate:
Q: Can you identify and define the C++ casting operators?
A: yes.:laugh: :laugh: Yes?! I also reckon a telephonic interview in which a candidate defined function overloading as "stuffing in too much of code in any given function". I muted the phone and laughed like mad before telling him I'm done with the call. :laugh: Have you ever been given such funny answers by any candidates? :)
It's time for a new sig. Seriously.
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It's the question that is wrong, not the answer: his answer was perfect. The question should have been: Q: Identify and define the C++ casting operators. If you can't even pose a question correctly how do you expect to be able to carry out a fair and balanced interview?
"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair. nils illegitimus carborundum me, me, me