This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/us-news-blog/2012/oct/03/google-interview-brain-teaser-myth
The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| How to pass a Google interview: busting the brain teaser myth | How to pass a Google interview: busting the brain teaser myth |
| (7 days later) | |
| Do you know why manhole covers are round? How much toilet paper is needed to cover Texas? Whether people can swim faster in water or syrup? | Do you know why manhole covers are round? How much toilet paper is needed to cover Texas? Whether people can swim faster in water or syrup? |
| Several books, websites and forums claim that the ability to answer these questions is the key to getting a gig at one of the most revered tech companies in the world. They purport to give hopefuls the cheat's code to a life of free meals, laundry service and Lego walls within Google's employ. All you have to do, they suggest, is learn the tricks. | Several books, websites and forums claim that the ability to answer these questions is the key to getting a gig at one of the most revered tech companies in the world. They purport to give hopefuls the cheat's code to a life of free meals, laundry service and Lego walls within Google's employ. All you have to do, they suggest, is learn the tricks. |
| But current and former Googlers agree that the ability to answer brain teasers isn't the secret key to getting a job at the search giant – because there isn't one. | But current and former Googlers agree that the ability to answer brain teasers isn't the secret key to getting a job at the search giant – because there isn't one. |
| A software engineer who worked at the company for four and a half years and at one point interviewed two to three Google applicants per week, said the company actually frowns on brain teasers. | A software engineer who worked at the company for four and a half years and at one point interviewed two to three Google applicants per week, said the company actually frowns on brain teasers. |
| "I've actually been amused when I see these 'what questions they ask at Google' type things, because, one, they're usually just these very old brain teasers, and two, once they're published somewhere, Google's not going to ask them any more," the software engineer said. | "I've actually been amused when I see these 'what questions they ask at Google' type things, because, one, they're usually just these very old brain teasers, and two, once they're published somewhere, Google's not going to ask them any more," the software engineer said. |
| Google employees agree that getting into the company is a rigorous process – applicants go through multiple rounds of interviews that can last several hours – but the trick question myth has been a part of tech company lore for decades. | Google employees agree that getting into the company is a rigorous process – applicants go through multiple rounds of interviews that can last several hours – but the trick question myth has been a part of tech company lore for decades. |
| "My understanding is that this is the sort of the thing that has been going around for at least 10 or 15 or 20 years; that at x tech company these are the things they ask. Before it was Google, it was said that Microsoft and IBM would ask these questions." | "My understanding is that this is the sort of the thing that has been going around for at least 10 or 15 or 20 years; that at x tech company these are the things they ask. Before it was Google, it was said that Microsoft and IBM would ask these questions." |
| Gayle Laakmann McDowell, author of The Google Resume and founder and CEO of CareerCup.com, was a software engineer at Google between 2005 and 2008, where she, too, interviewed potential candidates. McDowell said Microsoft asked brain teasers 15 years ago but have since ended the practice. | Gayle Laakmann McDowell, author of The Google Resume and founder and CEO of CareerCup.com, was a software engineer at Google between 2005 and 2008, where she, too, interviewed potential candidates. McDowell said Microsoft asked brain teasers 15 years ago but have since ended the practice. |
| "Any information that is out that the companies are asking brain teasers is very, very out of date – or people are misinterpreting what the questions are about," McDowell told the Guardian. | "Any information that is out that the companies are asking brain teasers is very, very out of date – or people are misinterpreting what the questions are about," McDowell told the Guardian. |
| She says that people who assess difficult estimation questions (how many pizzas are delivered every year in New York?) as trick questions don't understand what they are being asked. | She says that people who assess difficult estimation questions (how many pizzas are delivered every year in New York?) as trick questions don't understand what they are being asked. |
| "Ninety-nine percent of the time it's about problem solving. Just ask questions and see if you can logically deduce the answer," McDowell said. | "Ninety-nine percent of the time it's about problem solving. Just ask questions and see if you can logically deduce the answer," McDowell said. |
| These questions are typical for positions like software engineering that rely heavily on mathematics. | These questions are typical for positions like software engineering that rely heavily on mathematics. |
| "All the tech companies are really asking very similar questions. There's nothing that scary about Google's," McDowell said. | "All the tech companies are really asking very similar questions. There's nothing that scary about Google's," McDowell said. |
| Comments | Comments |
| 10 comments, displaying first | |
| 3 October 2012 5:50PM | 3 October 2012 5:50PM |
| Hmmm, no mention of mandatory clapping at company meetings, or that the shuttle drivers, cleaners etc don't get any free food and are treated like shit by the company and their employees. Google, like a lot of these big companies, is cultish but the cult is modern and revolves around cribbing stuff from burning man, like the ubiquitous free bikes and cashless campus, superficial gestures that mask the boredom of selling ads and spying on people. And the story I want to read about google is an examination of its relationship with the security state. Questions like, at what level do Google executives have to have security clearance by the NSA? Any journalists out there? | Hmmm, no mention of mandatory clapping at company meetings, or that the shuttle drivers, cleaners etc don't get any free food and are treated like shit by the company and their employees. Google, like a lot of these big companies, is cultish but the cult is modern and revolves around cribbing stuff from burning man, like the ubiquitous free bikes and cashless campus, superficial gestures that mask the boredom of selling ads and spying on people. And the story I want to read about google is an examination of its relationship with the security state. Questions like, at what level do Google executives have to have security clearance by the NSA? Any journalists out there? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 3 October 2012 6:35PM | 3 October 2012 6:35PM |
| These 'brain teasers' in interviews can't be answered definitively. It's about showing your logical or perhaps outside the box thinking to arrive at a solution. They want to see the method, not the answer. | These 'brain teasers' in interviews can't be answered definitively. It's about showing your logical or perhaps outside the box thinking to arrive at a solution. They want to see the method, not the answer. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 3 October 2012 6:39PM | 3 October 2012 6:39PM |
| Do you know why manhole covers are round? | Do you know why manhole covers are round? |
Yes, I do. Assuming a lip to hold the cover, it's the onlygeometric shape that can't fall through its own hole. | Yes, I do. Assuming a lip to hold the cover, it's the onlygeometric shape that can't fall through its own hole. |
| How much toilet paper is needed to cover Texas? | How much toilet paper is needed to cover Texas? |
Single or double-thickness? | Single or double-thickness? |
| Whether people can swim faster in water or syrup? | Whether people can swim faster in water or syrup? |
Water. You hands get more purchase in syrup but friction and suction in the higher viscosity will slow you down even more. | Water. You hands get more purchase in syrup but friction and suction in the higher viscosity will slow you down even more. |
| Do I get the job? | Do I get the job? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 3 October 2012 7:17PM | 3 October 2012 7:17PM |
| Did you google the answers? | Did you google the answers? |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 4 October 2012 3:21AM | 4 October 2012 3:21AM |
| I've just joined Google -- day 3 being a Brit abroad in Mountain View! eating (as I type) a very good dinner on campus. If you apply to Google, you'll be told very clearly what sort of questions to expect, and exactly what to do to prepare. No secrets and no surprises, and no trick questions. The interviewers will do their best to set you at ease. This is not the same as the process being easy, far from it; but it's pretty fair. | I've just joined Google -- day 3 being a Brit abroad in Mountain View! eating (as I type) a very good dinner on campus. If you apply to Google, you'll be told very clearly what sort of questions to expect, and exactly what to do to prepare. No secrets and no surprises, and no trick questions. The interviewers will do their best to set you at ease. This is not the same as the process being easy, far from it; but it's pretty fair. |
| Best advice I can give is read this book: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Algorithms and do all the exercises. | Best advice I can give is read this book: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Algorithms and do all the exercises. |
| W | W |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 4 October 2012 12:04PM | 4 October 2012 12:04PM |
| Actually they tested swimming in water vs syrup on MythBusters: http://mythbustersresults.com/swimming-in-syrup The results seemed to show you could swim roughly the same speed in both substances. | Actually they tested swimming in water vs syrup on MythBusters: http://mythbustersresults.com/swimming-in-syrup The results seemed to show you could swim roughly the same speed in both substances. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 4 October 2012 2:50PM | 4 October 2012 2:50PM |
| And, first and foremost, you should be young. | And, first and foremost, you should be young. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 4 October 2012 2:52PM | 4 October 2012 2:52PM |
| And, by the way, if anyone threw a nickel in my blender and turned it on and it scratched the bowl they would have to buy me a new blender. That makes perfect cents. | And, by the way, if anyone threw a nickel in my blender and turned it on and it scratched the bowl they would have to buy me a new blender. That makes perfect cents. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 4 October 2012 4:45PM | 4 October 2012 4:45PM |
| I agree. It is time for the media to take off the kid gloves with this company. Sheesh, it's not the wonder product of 2001 any more. | I agree. It is time for the media to take off the kid gloves with this company. Sheesh, it's not the wonder product of 2001 any more. |
| It is a monstrous global corporation, strangling competition in every market it takes over. To say nothing of its core mission: sell advertising. | It is a monstrous global corporation, strangling competition in every market it takes over. To say nothing of its core mission: sell advertising. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
| 4 October 2012 7:12PM | 4 October 2012 7:12PM |
| barko Did you google the answers? | barko Did you google the answers? |
| Actually, I use Dogpile. That's Google and a lot more. | Actually, I use Dogpile. That's Google and a lot more. |
| Link to this comment: | Link to this comment: |
http://www.dheerajtechworld.net http://www.bahadurgarh.net | |
| Comments on this page are now closed. | Comments on this page are now closed. |
| Google v Oracle: we wanted to take on Android, admits Ellison | |
| 18 Apr 2012 | |
| Oracle claims Google used Java illegally; Google counters that Oracle only began its suit after giving up on smartphone race | |
| 28 Apr 2011 | 28 Apr 2011 |
| That Royal Wedding: agile, fast and cloudy. And that's just the website | That Royal Wedding: agile, fast and cloudy. And that's just the website |
| 25 Dec 2010 | 25 Dec 2010 |
| Beware: Google Nexus S plus Android 2.3.1 update can equal wiped phone | Beware: Google Nexus S plus Android 2.3.1 update can equal wiped phone |
| 19 Nov 2009 | 19 Nov 2009 |
| Google aims to take over the netbook market with its Chrome operating system | Google aims to take over the netbook market with its Chrome operating system |
| 6 Jun 2006 | 6 Jun 2006 |
| Google announces spreadsheet, press reaction is clueless as usual | Google announces spreadsheet, press reaction is clueless as usual |
| Windows 8 launch: Microsoft aims to make ground on Apple and Google | |
| 25 Oct 2012 | |
| Software for on PCs, tablet computers and smartphones seen as attempt to compete in Apple- and Google-dominated market. By Josh Halliday | |
| Turn autoplay off | Turn autoplay off |
| Turn autoplay on | Turn autoplay on |
| Please activate cookies in order to turn autoplay off | Please activate cookies in order to turn autoplay off |
| Edition: UK | Edition: UK |
| About us | About us |
| Today's paper | Today's paper |
| Subscribe | Subscribe |
| You won't ace the mythologized Google interview by knowing what to do if you're turned into a nickel and thrown in a blender | You won't ace the mythologized Google interview by knowing what to do if you're turned into a nickel and thrown in a blender |
| Do you know why manhole covers are round? How much toilet paper is needed to cover Texas? Whether people can swim faster in water or syrup? | Do you know why manhole covers are round? How much toilet paper is needed to cover Texas? Whether people can swim faster in water or syrup? |
| Several books, websites and forums claim that the ability to answer these questions is the key to getting a gig at one of the most revered tech companies in the world. They purport to give hopefuls the cheat's code to a life of free meals, laundry service and Lego walls within Google's employ. All you have to do, they suggest, is learn the tricks. | Several books, websites and forums claim that the ability to answer these questions is the key to getting a gig at one of the most revered tech companies in the world. They purport to give hopefuls the cheat's code to a life of free meals, laundry service and Lego walls within Google's employ. All you have to do, they suggest, is learn the tricks. |
| But current and former Googlers agree that the ability to answer brain teasers isn't the secret key to getting a job at the search giant – because there isn't one. | But current and former Googlers agree that the ability to answer brain teasers isn't the secret key to getting a job at the search giant – because there isn't one. |
| A software engineer who worked at the company for four and a half years and at one point interviewed two to three Google applicants per week, said the company actually frowns on brain teasers. | A software engineer who worked at the company for four and a half years and at one point interviewed two to three Google applicants per week, said the company actually frowns on brain teasers. |
| "I've actually been amused when I see these 'what questions they ask at Google' type things, because, one, they're usually just these very old brain teasers, and two, once they're published somewhere, Google's not going to ask them any more," the software engineer said. | "I've actually been amused when I see these 'what questions they ask at Google' type things, because, one, they're usually just these very old brain teasers, and two, once they're published somewhere, Google's not going to ask them any more," the software engineer said. |
| Google employees agree that getting into the company is a rigorous process – applicants go through multiple rounds of interviews that can last several hours – but the trick question myth has been a part of tech company lore for decades. | Google employees agree that getting into the company is a rigorous process – applicants go through multiple rounds of interviews that can last several hours – but the trick question myth has been a part of tech company lore for decades. |
| "My understanding is that this is the sort of the thing that has been going around for at least 10 or 15 or 20 years; that at x tech company these are the things they ask. Before it was Google, it was said that Microsoft and IBM would ask these questions." | "My understanding is that this is the sort of the thing that has been going around for at least 10 or 15 or 20 years; that at x tech company these are the things they ask. Before it was Google, it was said that Microsoft and IBM would ask these questions." |
| Gayle Laakmann McDowell, author of The Google Resume and founder and CEO of CareerCup.com, was a software engineer at Google between 2005 and 2008, where she, too, interviewed potential candidates. McDowell said Microsoft asked brain teasers 15 years ago but have since ended the practice. | Gayle Laakmann McDowell, author of The Google Resume and founder and CEO of CareerCup.com, was a software engineer at Google between 2005 and 2008, where she, too, interviewed potential candidates. McDowell said Microsoft asked brain teasers 15 years ago but have since ended the practice. |
| "Any information that is out that the companies are asking brain teasers is very, very out of date – or people are misinterpreting what the questions are about," McDowell told the Guardian. | "Any information that is out that the companies are asking brain teasers is very, very out of date – or people are misinterpreting what the questions are about," McDowell told the Guardian. |
| She says that people who assess difficult estimation questions (how many pizzas are delivered every year in New York?) as trick questions don't understand what they are being asked. | She says that people who assess difficult estimation questions (how many pizzas are delivered every year in New York?) as trick questions don't understand what they are being asked. |
| "Ninety-nine percent of the time it's about problem solving. Just ask questions and see if you can logically deduce the answer," McDowell said. | "Ninety-nine percent of the time it's about problem solving. Just ask questions and see if you can logically deduce the answer," McDowell said. |
| These questions are typical for positions like software engineering that rely heavily on mathematics. | These questions are typical for positions like software engineering that rely heavily on mathematics. |
| "All the tech companies are really asking very similar questions. There's nothing that scary about Google's," McDowell said. | "All the tech companies are really asking very similar questions. There's nothing that scary about Google's," McDowell said. |