Ask HN: Is IQ test a thing during hiring in your country or industry?

Re:Ask HN: Is IQ test a thing during hiring in your country ... by a3n on Monday April 17, 2023 @12:29AM (#35596858)

Years ago, when I was still in tech, an interviewer asked me how to time something using burning rope, or something like that. Most have probably seen the puzzle.

I'd seen it before, but couldn't remember how to do it, and couldn't figure it out.

I said "Just tell me the answer."

He recommended me for hire anyway.

Months later I asked him why he asked such a ridiculous question. He said he wanted to know how I think. So I asked him, how do I think?

He didn't really have an answer. He either hadn't thought that far ahead while planning the interview, or didn't have enough information to tell him how I think, or he was too polite to say that I really just don't think.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Is IQ test a thing during hiring in your country ... by lisasays on Monday April 17, 2023 @11:19PM (#35609582)

The "I just want to see how you think" line was always BS. Like they can actually tell.

The people using these questions just want some magical button to push that supposedly will tell them whether you're "good" or not -- without them having to think about the objective merits of your abilities and experience or how it fits into the job description, or any of that fuzzy, messy stuff.

[ Parent | on HN ]