What's your weakness.. psychology behind this question..?

[Menelaus]

Right at that moment, I decided that no matter what the rate was, I would never work for this company .....

Agreed. Sneaky *****.

[Scary]

That's BS, you've changed the accepted meaning of either 1, 4 or =. I choose that it is = which has changed in meaning, to function 2^(n+1) of previous number. Just as valid as his answer.

[Svalbaard]

I was asked this question for a large client co. a while back.

I sat there for a minute or so pondering my response and answered "I don't have one."

Was offered job on the spot.

[expat]

That's BS, you've changed the accepted meaning of either 1, 4 or =. I choose that it is = which has changed in meaning, to function 2^(n+1) of previous number. Just as valid as his answer.

More valid. You have seen a pattern and used it to gain understanding, and produced the answer from that understanding. That shows intelligence and logic: good attributes to have in someone working in IT.

The examiner has not. What about "5 = ?". He can't answer, because he can only deal with cases that have been seen before. And he still has no idea why one number "=" another. It would be folly to think that it is acceptable to develop a computer system on top of this total ignorance. He should be fired.

[Menelaus]

I was asked this question for a large client co. a while back.

I sat there for a minute or so pondering my response and answered "I don't have one."

Was offered job on the spot.

O/T, but are you Norwegian / from Longyearbyen/Barentsburg/Ny Alesund?

[expat]

How sad.

What is seriously sad is to see intelligent adult human beings being treated this way, and accepting it. You spend your life working in a complex technical field, and with the application of well-above-average intelligence and education you develop and become one of a relatively small number of experts in an intellectually challenging human activity. With a record of success and a set of previous leaders and colleagues who know your worth, you then find some jerk putting you through these humiliating procedures to see whether you get a job.

This is him not treating you like a human being; this is you grovelling and denying your humanity for the money.

I am seriously thinking about looking for some line of work where I can be judged on what I do, not on how I play some game. The only consolation in IT is that, when you do get the job, you are generally judged on what you do.

What I like most about working in IT is that sometimes just by being right you can win arguments and at the same time gain rather than lose respect. What I like least is how years of knowledge and achievements can be trashed in favour of some meaningless charade to find a travesty of a match for a job.

[Scary]

I am seriously thinking about looking for some line of work where I can be judged on what I do, not on how I play some game. The only consolation in IT is that, when you do get the job, you are generally judged on what you do.

How many people do you know who've been fired for being crap? If it's more than zero, how does it compare with the number who have been crap but haven't been fired? How many smart graduates struggle to get their first jobs where people who have many years' experience of being crap just walk straight in?

Often the least talented people go further due to the Dilbert principle (promote them into management, where they can do less damage).

I think there's game playing in every role that involves people interacting. If you want to avoid it, become a ranger in Alaska or something.

[expat]

How many people do you know who've been fired for being crap? If it's more than zero, how does it compare with the number who have been crap but haven't been fired? How many smart graduates struggle to get their first jobs where people who have many years' experience of being crap just walk straight in?

Often the least talented people go further due to the Dilbert principle (promote them into management, where they can do less damage).

I think there's game playing in every role that involves people interacting. If you want to avoid it, become a ranger in Alaska or something.

I don't mean "playing some game" as in, interacting with colleagues even if they are not the people you'd choose to spend your personal life with. I mean playing games like those mentioned at interviews. In fact I mean interviews as they are currently known.

Otherwise, agree +1.

[TheOmegaMan]

Interviewer: You have fifteen seconds to answer this problem

Me: What's the problem ?

Interviewer: What is four ?

Me: Four equals question mark

Interviewer: No, what's the numerical value of four ?

Me: Four

Interviewer: No, given the information in the problem, what can you deduce about the value of 4 ?

Me: Nothing, without further information the problem is ill-posed. I do not the meaning of the symbol equals. It could be "assign to memory address" for example, memory address 1 contains 4. So, memory address 4 might contain the ascii code for a question mark. This is an IT interview after all.

Interviewer: Look, I am asking you to make a logical deduction. What conclusion can you reach from this question.

Me: That you are a complete tw*t.

[AlfredJPruffock]

FWIW, most studies indicate that the subconscious decision has been made in less than thirty seconds, so even a couple of minutes of good chat won't save you. This is why gubbins like a firm handshake, a smile, and eye contact are absolutely crucial, even if the position requires working in complete isolation from the rest of humanity in a bunker under Antarctica for the next six years.

Give him the money Barney - Spot On Analysis.

Do the above - firm handshake - eye contact - you're a winner - you need not care about the 'right' answers to their petty 'questions.'