Thread: interview questions

  1. #1
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    interview questions

    Suppose that I want to get a job as a programmer...
    Any ides on what I might come across in a interview???
    Will there be general questions for example how many bytes is an int or something
    maybe a implement a quick program or algorythm?

  2. #2
    and the hat of int overfl Salem's Avatar
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    Given a few requirements, how would you write the program?
    What do you find easy / hard / interesting?
    What problems have you had in the past and what did you do to solve them?
    Here's a short function, comment on the style, does it contain any bugs?
    Write a function to duplicate a string in allocated memory.
    If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
    If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.

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    How many wings are attached to the ceiling fan running at the full speed above you?

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    How many wings are attached to the ceiling fan running at the full speed above you?
    Provide me with a stroboscope But seriously, what company asks such questions in the interview ? Aren't the interview questions supposed to be technical for a programmer's job ?
    Last edited by PING; 05-03-2008 at 08:39 AM. Reason: typos
    Code:
    >+++++++++[<++++++++>-]<.>+++++++[<++++>-]<+.+++++++..+++.[-]>++++++++[<++++>-] <.>+++++++++++[<++++++++>-]<-.--------.+++.------.--------.[-]>++++++++[<++++>- ]<+.[-]++++++++++.

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    Well this is a kind of twister, probable answers:
    - may be 3 or 4
    - i have only seen 3 winged, so definitely 3
    - not sure (must have strange kind of ceiling fan, otherwise would not ask me such simple thing)
    - stop the fan, and tell the exact answer

    which one you would like to receive as an answer, from a technical person?

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    The correct answer is: "This was a mistake. I'm going to find some other job were I'm not asked dumb questions. Thank you."

    That's the kind of answer you want from a technical person.
    Originally Posted by brewbuck:
    Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.

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    Good answer Mario!
    You will be reported by email, thanks, and you can leave now!


    I do not know about Technical or not, but my answer would be 3!

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    which one you would like to receive as an answer, from a technical person?
    I'd simply ask the interviewer for a stroboscope. Technical, ain't it ?

    The correct answer is: "This was a mistake. I'm going to find some other job were I'm not asked dumb questions. Thank you."
    An actual question from a google telephonic interview :
    Design a stapler for the visually impaired .
    Code:
    >+++++++++[<++++++++>-]<.>+++++++[<++++>-]<+.+++++++..+++.[-]>++++++++[<++++>-] <.>+++++++++++[<++++++++>-]<-.--------.+++.------.--------.[-]>++++++++[<++++>- ]<+.[-]++++++++++.

  9. #9
    (?<!re)tired Mario F.'s Avatar
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    Really? And how exactly you think asking about the blades on a fan... look, forget it. Whatever.
    Originally Posted by brewbuck:
    Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.

  10. #10
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    > How many wings are attached to the ceiling fan running at the full speed above you?
    The same number as when it was stationary.
    If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
    If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.

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    Google "C++ interview questions" - it's what most inteviewers do, from my recent experience. If they ask you how dynamic dispatch is implemented, don't be afraid to challenge them on it as it's not mandated by the standard. They always get a little miffed when I do that.

  12. #12
    (?<!re)tired Mario F.'s Avatar
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    That's more like it.

    You'll most probably be asked question about the tools they have in-place (specific programming language(s) and related tools and technologies), questions to test your overall problem solving skills, and almost certainly you'll be asked to solve one or two small problems in the context of those tools.

    You'll also most probably be asked about your previous professional experiences and most interviewers will want to know why you quit, or was sacked, from your previous jobs. They will also like to know what type of tasks you were involved in and how you felt about those experiences. And some interviewers will like to know how much you know about the company you are applying to.

    Some companies, who like to think of themselves as a social environment (what company isn't?) will probably want also to know some aspects of your personal life like your hobbies and personal interests.

    Finally bear in mind there are a few questions that are always answered but never asked; How you present yourself in the interview, how at-ease you make yourself and how confident you seem to be on your skills and your answers as well as your level of self-confidence and general attitude towards the interviewer.
    Last edited by Mario F.; 05-03-2008 at 02:26 PM.
    Originally Posted by brewbuck:
    Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.

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