Some companies ask candidates to describe their strengths and weaknesses during a job interview, while others ask applicants to figure out how many ping pong balls can fit into the overhead compartment of a 747 plane. Some companies are developing reputations for conducting tough interviews. Are you getting enough out of your applicants by asking the right questions?
Samantha Zupan, a spokesperson for Glassdoor, says just because companies have tough interviews doesn’t make them bad places to work. She points out, these tough interview questions arguably help companies find the most suitable workers, and help workers determine if the company is right for them so that both are more satisfied in the long run.
Here are some of the hardest questions:
- “If you were an animal, what animal would you be?” – For a regional account representative.
- “Tell me a joke.” – For a sales agent.
- “What companies in the Polish energy sector do you know?” – For a business analyst position.
- “How big is the market size for wheelchairs in Shanghai?” – For a business analyst position.
- “You have a 10x10x10 rubix cube. You paint the outside. How many cubes have paint on them?” – For an embedded analyst position.
- “You are outside a room. Inside the room there are two light bulbs. One light bulb is on all the time, the other light bulb only turns on when you open the door. How do you determine which light bulb is on all the time?” – For an engineering position.
- “Estimate the market size of IVF treatment in Sweden.” – For a management consulting position.
- “Why do you like singing?” – For a consulting associate.
- “How is the pothole formed?” – For a science position.
- “How many barbers would you need in a city of 1 million?” – For a process engineer.
- “A Canadian beer manufacturer notices that when they increase the price of beer, other drinks’ consumption goes up. How will you predict the change in quantity bought based on change in price?” – For an analytics specialist.
- “A mom-and-pop music shop wants to grow with stiff competition. How should they go about it? Calculate customer lifetime value.” – For a marketing professional.