Are You Smart Enough to Work at Google? by William Poundstone

A insight into how the world of interviews and selection is changing.  For companies like Google, so many people want to work there that they can make it really tough, just to get an interview with candidates self-selecting though a series of internet challenges.

The book includes examples of the brain teasers used in some modern interviews.  Read it and discover if you could ever get a job again.



Equally covert is the most ubiquitous personality measure, the “airport test.” After meeting with the applicant, the interviewers have a postmortem on his or her general likability. As Larry Page explained it, “Just think about if you got stuck in an airport with this [job candidate], on a long layover on a business trip. Would you be happy or sad about it?” They want to hire people who are fun to be around.Read more at location 842 •
Four questions traditionally posed in job interviews at the consulting firm Accenture:
1. How do you put a giraffe in a refrigerator? The correct answer: Open the refrigerator, put in the giraffe, and close the door.
2. How do you put an elephant in a refrigerator? The correct answer: Open the refrigerator, take out the giraffe, put in the elephant, and close the door. This question tests your ability to recognize the consequences of your actions.
3. The Lion King is holding an animal conference. All the animals attend except one. Which one? The correct answer: The elephant. You put him in the refrigerator. This question tests your memory. You’ve now got one final chance to prove yourself.
4. You have to cross a river in crocodile country and don’t have a boat. How do you get across? The correct answer: You swim. The crocodiles are all attending the animal conference. This tests how well you learn from your mistakes