Some interviewing anecdotes

Blog XXV of Thirty Days – Thirty Blogs series

During my pursuit of naukri, I gave several interviews at various places and while almost all the interviews were very professional and regular, once in a while there would be some comic moments. Sometimes they make you smile right during the interview, sometimes you smile over them later. Here’s a brief compilation of some interviewing anecdotes that are purely based on my experience. Company/interviewer names and questions have been altered to avoid any conflicts.

How would you test a whiteboard marker ?
This was the first question & I was ecstatic because I had been preparing for such kind of questions. I almost barfed all my responses. Interviewer was looking for a specific response and was happy when I gave that. He communicated this to next interviewer who said “Normally I ask a testing question but I would ask a coding question now". Perhaps the word had spread far & wide. Over lunch I was asked to test an ATM. Interviewer kept on smiling throughout my answers. Apparently interviewers like barf-puppies.

I would let you speak as well..
Interviews were being held en masse in a crowded room and it was hard to listen as it is. To top it, half of interview was already past and John had not let me utter a single sentence and was introducing himself & his work instead. I tried to politely interrupt only to be snapped back “I would let you speak in a short moment..”. I spoke only for 5 minutes out of total 15 minutes of interview.

He is fast with logic..
(I generally like to derive things instead of putting the answer upfront.)
John: Design an AND using MUX
$ (after deriving the equation): Here
John: Design an OR now
$ (after deriving the equation again): Here
John (slightly worried): Design NOT using NAND
$ (Without deriving this time): Here
John (a bit relieved, left and said this to next interviewer): He is fast with logic.

How would you solve this problem ?
It is last interview at the end of a long day full of interviews and a sleepless night at hotel. Even after a coffee dose, I am feeling lightheaded. Thankfully, the interview is with a trainee and he assures me that it was more of a formality. He goes on at length explaining his work (that I was supposed to take over) and I try as hard I can to not doze off. Then comes a question that drives away my sleep, “How would you have solved it ?”. I had no idea what ‘it’ was. Needless to say even before speaking a word, I had lost my case. The only consolation was the interview ended soon afterwards and I got to catch up on my sleep.

We have bunch of hardware here
$ (at career fair): Excuse me, you told me your company has hardware jobs.
John: Oh yes ! Are you interested ?
$: You bet !
John (pointing to a bunch of hydraulic machines): This is the kind of hardware we design.
$: Thanks John, it was nice meeting you.

Can you design it using a regular FSM now ?
(Ever heard the proverb of right arm not knowing what left arm does ?)
Lisa: Design a sequence detector.
$: Here, I have used FSM.
Lisa: It is all bookish knowledge, everybody does it the same way. Do you know any other way ?
$ (after some quick thinking): Here is one without using FSM
Lisa: Great, I would call John now.
John: Design a sequence detector.
$: Here is one without using FSM.
John (a bit baffled at the unconventional answer): Show me how it works
$: Here.
John: Write the code & test it.
$: Here.
John (still a bit unconvinced): Can you design it using a regular FSM now ?
$: (sigh) Here.

Is that how your name is pronounced ?
Lisa (walks in with a resume in hand): Hello there, I am sorry how do you pronounce your name ?
$: Soo-bodhh
Lisa (a bit perplexed): Could you please repeat ?
$: Soo-bodhh
Lisa (showing the resume to me): It is strange, your name’s spelling seems so different from your pronunciation.
$ (taking a glance at resume): That is because, it is not my resume.
Lisa (profusely apologetic): Ohh, I will print yours right away.
$ (feeling happy to get rid of a resume printed long time back): Here you can have my spare copy.