Post:

You have three switches in one room and a single light bulb in another room. You are allowed to visit the room with the light bulb only once. How do you figure out which switch controls the bulb? Write your answer in the comments before looking at other answers.

Comment:

If this were an interview question, the correct response would be "Do you have any relevant questions for me? Because have a long list of things that more deserving of my precious time than to think about this!

  • emotional_soup_88@programming.devEnglish
    61·
    6 days ago

    Dead serious question: I have only ever worked in the public sector (state level and local municipality) but often see or hear about these seemingly idiotic “interview questions” on television (and obviously memes).

    Is this:

    1. just a meme
    2. just a joke
    3. an actual phenomenon in the private sector

    If 3, what on earth is its purpose and what could the interviewer possibly find out about the applicant by asking this?

    I’m calm.

    • MyNameIsRichard@lemmy.ml
      10·
      6 days ago

      In the private sector, I once was asked to come up with 12 uses for a kettle. I said make 12 cups of coffee. I didn’t get the job.

    • MrSmith@lemmy.world
      9·
      6 days ago

      It started when Google started hiring hoardes of people and their interview questions “that only a genius could solve” started leaking. At some point, everyone wanted to work at Google, because they had a slide and free sandwiches and whatnot.

      Then, every startup, turtlenecked steve jobs-wannabe started copying those nonsensical questions that only “gifted” people could answer.

      It’s definitely a thing, praised by every linkedin lunatic, for finding people who “want to be a part of the family”, are “willing to give it 1100%”, and will do overtime for free to prove they’re “worth it”.