It's hip to be... huh?

[flexagon]

We interviewed someone yesterday for a position in our group. I give them a math puzzle, because math skills are important in our group (my own math skills are behind where they need to be, in my opinion). At some point they invariably have part of the answer but haven't seen the full pattern yet.

It's AMAZING how many people, and I mean people with PhDs in math or engineering, don't recognize a pattern from the numbers 1, 4 and 9. :(

Comments

[artana.livejournal.com]

Woot! Squares! Then again, I don't think in a high pressure situation where it is given over the phone I would necessarily remember that.:)

[flexagon]

Woot! You win.

People just fall apart in interview situations. I've never interviewed people so much before I got this job... it's very informative. Next time I interview I hope I'm able to put a few of these lessons into practice.

[nevers.livejournal.com]

oof! i got it, but i guess i might have choked in an interview. plus i really like square numbers (i can recite them up to 17-squared or so and calculate them in my head after that; ahhh, dorkiness).

[flexagon]

For quite a while I used to put myself to sleep by calculating them in my head... :)

[nevers.livejournal.com]

me too! wow!

[miyyu.livejournal.com]

Please tell me not THAT many people couldn't answer this question. Please?

[webrat.livejournal.com]

I couldn't answer that question. o.0 - Does this make me a dumbass? :(

[miyyu.livejournal.com]

Not if you weren't applying for that job. :)

[jg26.livejournal.com]

1 4 9... weren't those the dimensions of the monolith in "2001 a space odyssey"? ;)

In their defense... at an interview for a job I REALLY wanted, they asked me to code up a solution to a simple problem while standing over my shoulder. I completely forgot the syntax of the C language that day. It would have taken me 2 minutes to do it in any other situation.

[flexagon]

Ooh. If anyone ever says that I'll recommend hire on the spot. :) But yes, I know people tend to not be at their best in interviews...

[(Anonymous)]

oooh! You are cool, I added you!
Your comment to nevers journal about the sensory stuff seriously made my day!

[witch-kat.livejournal.com]

oooh! You are cool, I added you!
Your comment to nevers journal about the sensory stuff seriously made my day!