Non-technical Interview Questions

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2284894

by xteemarie • 15 years ago

11 10 15 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

I want to know the best, non-technical interview questions you've ever been asked.

Thanks!

bartonfink• 15 years ago

I've never been asked a good non-technical interview ? in an interview for a technical position, but the best non-technical ? I was ever asked was for a summer job cutting grass at a golf course.

"Do you party?"

xteemarie2• 15 years ago

First, that is a pretty awesome and appropriate question for said position.

Second, why do you think you've never been asked a good non-technical question?

Third, do you have any ideas for a non-technical question that wouldn't make you cringe?

flignats3• 15 years ago

Probably wasn't the best, but its a funny question to be asked;

I give you a glass jar, a penny, and a cork. I put the penny into the jar and seal the jar with the cork. Remove the penny from the jar without taking the cork out.

I'll reply with answer if no one can get it :P

pmiller2• 15 years ago

Easy. Break the jar.

flignats3• 15 years ago

Nah, you can't just break the jar...

mdonahoe• 15 years ago

Push the cork into the jar.

flignats3• 15 years ago

Yes, push the cork into the jar.

Peroni• 15 years ago

Fermi Questions are pretty useful if you need to gain an understanding of a candidates ability to process their own thoughts in an uncomfortable situation.

http://mathforum.org/workshops/sum96/interdisc/classicfermi....

It depends on how you define 'best'. Do you mean the most humorous, most obscure or are you referring to non-tech questions that reveal a lot about your candidate?

xteemarie2• 15 years ago

The latter-- non-tech questions that reveal a lot about your candidate.

zmitri• 15 years ago

What are you proud of.

I love that question, and now I use it now whenever I interview people. You can tell pretty quickly whether you can relate to someone depending on how they answer it.

A funny question to ask, is if they know what a 418 HTTP error code is.

Non-technical Interview Questions

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