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Ask a question like "Given a non-negative integer numRows, generate the first numRows of Pascal's triangle." If they can't answer without using Google I end the interview as they didn't pass the round. :-)


I'm not sure if this is satire. Sounds like it may be, considering your emoji.

Getting asked questions like this, in most cases, is enough for me to end the interview. I don't want people who can cite off memorized answers to random questions. I want driven people who are excited to learn what needs to be learned in order to push the company forward and make work a fun place to be. Confident people can learn to solve difficult problems on the fly, with ease. This is more valuable than being able to recite a textbook answer during an interview.

One of my favorite interviews of all times:

Interviewer: "Hello. I have your resumé in front of me. I am going to ask you a bunch of questions in rapid succession, and I just want yes and no answers. Are you ready?"

Me: "No."

Interviewer: "Excuse me?"

Me: click




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