Job Interview Riddle

[EnochF]

So, a year or so ago, I'm applying for a game testing position at Microsoft. I never got the job or anything. The interview was awful. Anyway, one of the bizarre questions they threw me during the interview was something like this. "You're on a desert island working for a company that makes inflatable boats, and you're assigned to make a prototype." Or something like that. That's pretty close. It was something just as stupid as that, anyway. "So, what would be your first step?" I walked out of that interview going, "What the hell?" Now, I know with 99% certainty that this question comes from some goddamn human resources pop-psychology book, but I don't know which one. Does this sound familiar to anybody? Is anybody out there a manager or in human resources? What's the answer to this stupid question? I mean, I realize this is over a year ago, and chances are I'll never get that question in an interview again, but every now and then I'll remember that dumb question, and it just ticks me off all over again that I still don't know what they wanted me to say.

[Sofa King]

No doubt someone will beat me to it, but I'll say it anyway. This is an "outside of the box" kind of question, designed to see how creative and dynamic you are.

Bad answer: "I'd study all of the other inflatable rafts and improve on the design."

Good answer: "Hell, if everyone's making inflatable rafts already, and we're on a desert island, I bet I could make a killing with inflatable dolls.

[soulsling]

my first step would've been to hire someone to design the boat and get the materials needed to build it.

[Mr.Zambezi]

I am a manager and LOVE these questions. I have not heard this particular version, but I can tell you that theere is not right answer.

These questions are designed to see how you think. A que might be the desert isle. part. The first step would be to figure out what resources you had. Then determine the qualities that the boat has to have. Then match the resources to the qualities needed, then create designs, build prototype, test different styles, go into production.

That would be my answer. At any rate, the job you applied for required the same type of thought process, so they wanted to see if you thought the way they wanted you to think. THat question would get a very different answer from a salesman, or a nurse, or a finance guy. So it is a good question to have in the interview arsenal.

I used to have a list of these around, but the only questions I seem to nbe asking these days is "are you literat, do you have a car, do you have an alarm clock..."

[Arnold Winkelried]

Wasn't this Microsoft you were interviewing with?

The correct answer was "I would find another company that makes good inflatable boats and I would purchase that company."

[Dumbguy]

No offense, but I think managers like these kinds of questions because they don't know what they're looking for in an employee. I work at a computer game company, and I knew a manager in the test department who would ask every applicant "how would you make a peanut butter sandwich?" He'd base most of his impression on the response to that question. The guy's an idiot. Testing games requires a pretty specific set of skills and experience. Most jobs do. But many managers aren't aware of the skill set their employees need, because they don't possess those skills themselves.

A qualified applicant will tend to be prepared to talk about his or her relevant education and experience and might be thrown by a goofy, off-topic question. On the other hand, if you're interviewing some hack bullshitter with smooth people skills but nothing of real value to contribute, that's probably just the kind of opening he's looking for.

[h_thur]

Another interview riddle:

"What are your weaknesses?" How is one to answer that?!

Well, I am addicted to SDMB, I am shy, I am horribly disorganized, etc.

[Biotop]

More riddles for the modern job market (from a manager who knows):

1. You spend all night partying and get to sleep a 6AM. Your alarm clock goes off at 7AM for a busy day at work where you will be needed. What do you do?

2. A band you like is playing in a city 200 miles away. You wish to attend, but you are scheduled to work. What excuse might you use to get out of work?

3. You are designing the prototype for an inflatable raft. Your boss rudely suggests that perhaps you should think about removing the anvil from your design. You are filled with rage. Do you (A)ignore the boss and continue to do what you think is right because, hey, there's no one else in the job market and they can't afford to fire you or (B) Do you change the design and complain bitterly to your co-workers about your treatment, or (C)do you do something else?

4. You are designing the prototype for an inflatable raft. How many of the company's rafts from the previous model are you allowed to take home and distribute to your friends during the process?

Sorry to rant. I feel better now. Thank you.

[Lynn Bodoni]

Biotop, you can go play in my forum for a while if you want.

Lynn

Queen of the Pit

[Geenius]

Did the interviewer say you were actually stranded on the desert island? I mean, the answer might have been something like, "Cross the bridge into town to get the stuff I need, and y'know, maybe stock up on bottled water while I'm at it."

[handy]

What is a desert island? Lots of sand?

[Derleth]

Near as I can figure, 'desert' is a corruption of 'deserted'. A 'desert' island might have a huge city on it, and a 'deserted' island might be mostly jungle, so confusing the terms leads to idiotic statements.

[SuaSponte]

Another interview riddle:

"What are your weaknesses?" How is one to answer that?!




From one friend's experience, the WRONG answer is "I steal office supplies."

I guess the only moral from that is -- unfortunately, you have to take the damn question seriously.

V.

[billehunt]

Re: the OP question
Sounds like a good question to me. In addition to outside the box thinking (as pointed out earlier), it evaluates how good you are at planning, organizing and seeing the whole picture. The question could've been just as easily: We are thinking of building a new game. What's the first step?

Anybody can do what they're told. Good employees figure out what's best to do and do it without being told. This question evaluates how good you are at that.

Re: Dumbguy's comment: "No offense, but I think managers like these kinds of questions because they don't know what they're looking for in an employee."
I'll give you my take as an employer: I would much prefer hiring somebody who is smart, hard-working and friendly than somebody who has relative experience. Any day. These kind of questions evaluate raw intelligence capabilities, like problem-solving, planning, outside-the-box thinking, etc.

[mellonhead]

Another interview riddle:

"What are your weaknesses?" How is one to answer that?!

Well, I am addicted to SDMB, I am shy, I am horribly disorganized, etc.


Disclaimer: I'm a recruiter...sorry if this sounds preachy.

The best way to answer a question like this is to NOT tell them you're stealing office supplies, embezzling from the company, or happen to like kiddy porn while listening to Bach on your super state of the art stereo system.

Pick a weakness and turn it around...for example:

"Sometimes I tend to take on too much work. I can get overwhelmed - But I'm working on my delegation skills and believe that the situation is getting better."

I realize that's a really generic, blow-some-smoke-up-your-ass kind of answer, but it's better than telling them that you like to yell obscenities at the administrative support staff:)

[Luckie]

from OP:
"You're on a desert island working for a company that makes inflatable boats, and you're assigned to make a prototype."

what? is this some kind of extreme telecommuting????

nothing wrong with "out there" questions during an interview, but this one seems particularly malformed. First thing you would have to do is figure out exactly what he's asking.
-luckie

[FreakFreely]

They are all a load of crap. Interviewing is a load of crap. Nine times out of ten, due to resume screening and the like, the choice is between any given number of qualified people. So his butts covered. If he couldn't justify hiring any given candidate, he wouldn't be interviewing him/her/it in the first place. The only challenge is finding some way to make the intuitive sizing up, first impression judgement call seem like some sort of highly trained professional assessment. Hogwash, balderdash, and tommyrot!

As far as interviewing at Msoft, its like many others, any answer is correct as long as you say it while bending over.

[aseymayo]

Ha! - I misunderstood the question to mean, "you work for a company based on a desert island where they make inflatable boats and they ask you to build a prototype." My first question would have been why, if we make inflatable boats, do we stay on a desert island? So...they wouldn't have hired me, either.

My favorite was the story in the 80's about executives taking you to lunch and judging you on whether you salted your food before tasting. I would have failed that, too. I never know if I'll like the taste of something, but I do know I like the taste of salt.

[billehunt]

FreakFreely wrote
Nine times out of ten, due to resume screening and the like, the choice is between any given number of qualified people.
Not in my world. I can't count the number of dream resumes I've seen that have a dolt attached to them.

A resume just gets you in the door. The interview's the thing.

[DRY]

Another interview riddle:

"What are your weaknesses?" How is one to answer that?!

Well, I am addicted to SDMB, I am shy, I am horribly disorganized, etc.


Disclaimer: I'm a recruiter...sorry if this sounds preachy.

The best way to answer a question like this is to NOT tell them you're stealing office supplies, embezzling from the company, or happen to like kiddy porn while listening to Bach on your super state of the art stereo system.

Pick a weakness and turn it around...for example:

"Sometimes I tend to take on too much work. I can get overwhelmed - But I'm working on my delegation skills and believe that the situation is getting better."

I realize that's a really generic, blow-some-smoke-up-your-ass kind of answer, but it's better than telling them that you like to yell obscenities at the administrative support staff:)



You know, I'm reading through this thread, and like that obnoxious kid that all of us knew in school, the one that just HAD to show off his/her knowledge, I'm raising my hand (actually, getting ready to type) and thinking, "I know! I know the answer to h_thur's question!"

And then I read mellonhead's response....
Bleah. What mellonhead said.

Not real sure as to the original post, but I will add my comment that when I was looking for a job, I tried to alter my approach depending on the context--specifically, on what I felt my "odds" of getting the job were. I'm normally pretty low key and understated in interviews, but in interviewing for an entry level paralegal position, I knew that paralegal schools churn out great numbers of potential entry level candidates. Because of this, I was quite a bit more aggressive in my approach, feeling that I needed to stand out a bit to even be "in the ballpark" and figuring that it didn't really matter whether I came in second or last.

Somewhat off topic, but this is how I'd handle an unusual question or situation like the OP. I'd want to know what my approximate chances are going in, and adjust my approach accordingly.

Obviously the best thing that you can do is to QUICKLY try to discern the other person's purpose in asking the question, and, having analyzed this, give the type of answer they're ideally looking for. Easier said than done, I know.

Pardon my ramblings.

[HorseloverFat]

Wasn't this Microsoft you were interviewing with?

The correct answer was "I would find another company that makes good inflatable boats and I would purchase that company."



Wrong, It would be "I'd use our monopolistic muscle to drive the competition out of business through illegal means and then sell an overpriced low-quality boat compatible with only my company's accessories to the masses calling design errors 'innovations' and hoping the DOJ doesn't get on my ass before I can make my first 10 billion."

[Tomcat]

Another interview riddle:

"What are your weaknesses?" How is one to answer that?!

Well, I am addicted to SDMB, I am shy, I am horribly disorganized, etc.


Disclaimer: I'm a recruiter...sorry if this sounds preachy.

The best way to answer a question like this is to NOT tell them you're stealing office supplies, embezzling from the company, or happen to like kiddy porn while listening to Bach on your super state of the art stereo system.

Pick a weakness and turn it around...for example:

"Sometimes I tend to take on too much work. I can get overwhelmed - But I'm working on my delegation skills and believe that the situation is getting better."

I realize that's a really generic, blow-some-smoke-up-your-ass kind of answer, but it's better than telling them that you like to yell obscenities at the administrative support staff:)



Well, here’s a little answer that I have used before, and have told others to use, and so far I’m 6 offers of employment out of 6 tries. The answer:

“I have none.”

EVERYONE gives smoke up the ass answers- be different! Walk into an interview knowing that you are a good employee who’s confident, on time, works hard, etc. This is a stock question that they ask and I find it pointless. If everyone is told to blow smoke, what use is it? I believe in turning the interview around, asking just as many questions as are asked of me, and never ever playing the game of a typical interview. If you aren’t confident enough to boldly make that statement as is, then try this modified one:

“I have none. I’m on time, I work hard, I communicate well with others. If there is something I don’t understand, I’m going to ask questions and find the answer for myself. If there is a problem, I will actively approach it and find the best possible way to fix it.” Add your strengths to this list with examples.

FUCK the “I had a problem, then I made it better” approach- it will get you nowhere. Plus, the look on the interviewers face when you say that is awesome! Wakes them up faster than an alarm clock. They might interview 10 people that day and 50 people for that job, but YOU are going to be the one remembered.

[pulykamell]

another of my favorite interview tricks that my high school psychology teacher told me about involved a boss taking you out to dinner. Besides the aforementioned salt trick, at the end of the dinner the boss would pull out a cigarette and ask for a light. If the interviewee happened to be carrying a light, he would be judged on whether s/he instantly knew which pocket it was in, or whether s/he fumbled around several pockets before finding it.

i certainly would fail this, too.

[Hokienautic]

Yeah, it seems like riddles and problem-solving are all the rage lately, especially in consulting. Consultants are usually all pretty homogenized -- who knows what and for how long -- so these kinds of things can make you stand out. Here's a fun one: You're in a room with three light switches. On the other side of a closed door are the three light bulbs they power. Once you open the door, you can't flip the switches any more. How do you figure out which switch powers which bulb?

[Chef Troy]

How about turning on two of the light switches (say center and right) for a minute, then turn off the center one and go through the door. The light that's on is powered by the right switch, the off light bulb that's warm is powered by the center switch, and the off bulb that's cool is powered by the left switch.

[Ptahlis]

Yeah, it seems like riddles and problem-solving are all the rage lately, especially in consulting. Consultants are usually all pretty homogenized -- who knows what and for how long -- so these kinds of things can make you stand out. Here's a fun one: You're in a room with three light switches. On the other side of a closed door are the three light bulbs they power. Once you open the door, you can't flip the switches any more. How do you figure out which switch powers which bulb?


Assuming a one switch to one bulb relationship, you turn on 2 switches and wait a minute, then turn one off. Walk into the room. The lit bulb is the 'on' switch, the warm unlit bulb is the switch that you turned on then off, and the cool unlit bulb is the switch that was not turned on at all. This is only an answer if you can actually reach the bulbs though.

[Mr. Cynical]

The last time I had an interview question of this caliber, I immediately stood up, gathered my things and explained to the interviewer that I felt that this question had absolutely no bearing on whether I would be able to perform the job at hand. I then walked to the office of the VP, whom I had already met, explained that I would be leaving because the questioning was so asinine.

End of story: I got the job, the interviewer got a new job, provided he knew how to answer questions like, "Tell me about a time when you didn't know what you were doing, and you had to make up what you were doing as you went along."

[John Corrado]

Having been in a position to interview people for jobs, I have used 'thinking' questions before. The idea is to get to know the person beyond just what their resume says.

*Anyone* can write a great resume- all it takes is a boosting of your accomplishments and leaving out all of your failures. And a great resume doesn't mean a person who will fit in well with the job or the people they would work with.

Having said that, I think the 'light bulb' question asked previously is a terrible question. It has a single answer that the interviewer is looking for (and the 'check to see which is warm' is it), which means that maybe a quarter of the people who answer it correctly have already heard the answer. And what does it tell you? Not much at all.

My favorite question to ask as an interviewer was, "Tell me about the biggest mistake you've ever made." Admittedly, this wasn't a question designed to set the candidate at ease, but I tried to be as supportive as possible with the candidate (*never* accusing or shocked), and occasionally would preface it with *my* story of the worst mistake I had ever made (quitting college).

Again, there wasn't a "correct" answer, although there was a "wrong" answer ('I can't really think of any mistakes I've made': Uh-huh. Sure, Mr. Perfect. Glad to see you're honest with me). Rather, the idea was to get the candidate to open up, talk about him/herself in a way not strictly 'qualification-related', so as to get a better feel for that candidate and his/her communcations skills. Working in retail meant that communications skills were absolutely necessary, and this question helped me find people who may not have had retail experience, but who had *great* communications skills. And I can teach people how to work a register; it's a lot harder to teach people how to talk to a customer.

I think, by that token, the "deserted island" riddle was to see what process you go about when faced with a problem. I can see that being a useful thing to know when interviewing for a testing position (hey, your job isn't to play the game and have fun- it's to test *everything* in the game and see what goes bad. Where do you start? How do you proceed?)

[Dumbguy]

Bilehunt, you say "the question could've been just as easily: We are thinking of building a new game. What's the first step?" Not only could it be something along those lines, it should be. It's both possible and preferable to assess someone's problem solving skills in the context they'll be using them rather than some nonsense about rubber rafts. As for the "outside the box" stuff, that's the biggest load of crap in the business. There are pretty rigid protocols for all phases of game development (and most all product development, I would imagine), and people who 'think outside' of these parameters are generally considered not team players or not in tune with the fiscal realities of the industry. Management doesn't really want people that think outside the box. They say they do, and they may even believe it, but in practice it's not true.

You also say: "I would much prefer hiring somebody who is smart, hard-working and friendly than somebody who has relative experience. Any day." I think a lot of managers would agree. But some of the best testers I've worked with have very stunted social lives, and they've channeled their energy into computer games with a single mindedness that probably isn't healthy. They often aren't friendly and on the surface they don't seem that smart because their focus is so narrow, but they make remarkable testers. These are exactly the kind of guys that get washed out by questions about peanut butter sandwiches and inflatable rafts.

[manhattan]

This is exactly the kind of excellent-question-but-with-no-definite-answer for which we created the forum In My Humble Opinion. I'll move it over there now.

[billehunt]

Dumbguy wrote
Management doesn't really want people that think outside the box. They say they do, and they may even believe it, but in practice it's not true.

I'm sure you're right in some industries and some parts of all industries. All I can tell you is about what I've seen.

I'm a manager in the software business. My last three companies have been startups with explosive growth, where I've hired (and led) the Engineering, Test, (and in two cases) Support and Manufacturing teams. I have hired almost 300 people in the last four years (do the math, that's a crap-load of interviews every week).

I have personally turned down many people with relevant experience who didn't come across as good planners, organizers or out-of-the-box thinkers. I have personally hired many people without relevant experience because I believed they would be quick studies and would aggressively figure out what needed to be done without being told.

People are everything in a business. People who make things happen are prized above all others. People who know what they're doing and do what they're told are useful, but they're not the jewels that managers look for.

The type of question we're talking about is designed to filter out those jewels.

[Spiritus Mundi]

A slight hijack into MSPISMS land:
I just interviewed for a very technical position at a company that is absolutely dependent upon its technologial infrastructure. I spoke to 5 different people over 4 hours of interviews and was asked not one technical question. It was almost surreal.

I was also, thankfully, spared the kind of ridiculous "outside the box" questions discussed in the OP. Whenever I encounter them, I have a deep suspicion that the interviewer wouldn't know what to do with a truly original idea if I put it back inside the box and handed it to him.

[gazpacho]

During the recent expansion of my company I would interviewing people about once a week. I never asked any of the stupid thinking out side the box questions. I think these got started by people who write buisness books. You won't sell a book by saying what the last one did so you have to come up with something new.

I usually ask people about stuff they say they know on their resume. I find a lot of people that puff up their resume that way. This always sort of amazes me. I mean what else did I think I was going to ask him? Maby this works for people who ask about the rubber raft. BS an outside the box question and pad the resume viloa you have a job.

[Dumbguy]

Bilehunt wrote:
_________________________________________________________
People are everything in a business. People who make things happen are prized above all others. People who know what they're doing and do what they're told are useful, but they're not the jewels that managers look for.

The type of question we're talking about is designed to filter out those jewels.
____________________________________________________________

I agree with you about people that make things happen, but I still think that the rubber raft questions are more likely to get someone who talks a good game than someone who plays a good game. The truly talented people I've worked with like to think problems through, look for possible pitfalls, do some background research, things of that nature, and wouldn't try to a solve a problem with a cursory response, which is all an interview allows. The people who can can answer smoothly and efficiently under pressure are often just good salesmen.

It seems to me that the best indicator that a person can get things done is evidence they have actually done things.

[billehunt]

(not so)Dumbguy wrote
It seems to me that the best indicator that a person can get things done is evidence they have actually done things.
Absolutely. This thread has concentrated on one type of interview question, but of course there are many. What you say is right on the money: people recurs. If someone stole before, they're likely to again. If people made the company millions before, they're likely to again.

One of the best interview techniques is to pick a desirable trait (let's say 'taking ownership of a problem') and asking for examples of where they've done that in the past.

I also like logic problems, although I don't care for the one about light bulbs above because you either get it or you don't. (In all honesty, I should confess that I'm biased, since I didn't get it.) For an interview, you want questions that allow you to see if the interviewee is thinking along the right lines. Even a bad answer may be good, if there's lots of good thought put into the problem.

It goes without saying that a good interview will ask plenty of deep questions about the areas of expertise required.

[aseymayo]

So, Bill - since we're out of GQ and in a dandy new forum - just for laughs, who here would you hire based on our responses to this thread? I think you should hire me because I will call you Bill E. and not Billie.

[billehunt]

aseymayo, why you of course!

Actually, anyone who knows XML, is in Silicon Valley, and is (as above) Smart, Hard-working and Friendly should look me up. (Please.)

[Dumbguy]

Oh, I thought your handle was Bile-hunt (as you can see in my previous post), which struck me as odd and gross. Sorry.

I'm lazy, simple-minded, surly, and I've never heard of XML. Of course, those kind of qualifications don't come cheap, so it'll cost you. I've already got some feelers out to Microsoft.

[billehunt]

Dumbguy wrote
Oh, I thought your handle was Bile-hunt (as you can see in my previous post), which struck me as odd and gross. Sorry.
Don't worry about it; I'm starting to get used to it now. I'm even thinking of changing my real-world name from Bill to Bile.

Hmmm. Maybe Wile would be better, as in that guy who buys everything at Acme and never catches the bird.

[DRY]

...about interviews.

Most interviewers will ask you if you have any questions for them. This is not only an opportunity to find out if the place in question is a good fit for you, it is also an additional opportunity for you to tell them more about yourself. The types of questions you ask can help you every bit as much as well thought out response to one of their questions.

By way of example, when I was first interviewing at my present firm for the paralegal position I now hold, I was an entry level candidate. I wanted to demonstrate that I had at least some knowledge of how the "legal game" is played, so I tried to at least come up with a few "technically sophisticated questions", such as asking about the firm's legal software, billable hour requirements, etc.

One of my favorite questions I like to use as an interviewee is "Suppose I were to come to work for you. What advice would you give me to help me avoid mistakes that other new employees have made?"

This (hopefully) portrays me as someone who is meticulous, who wants to avoid making common mistakes by accepting the advice of more experienced co-workers, and also (subtly) causes the interviewer to imagine me, for a moment, as already occupying the position (a helpful image, I'm sure you'll agree).

I stole that idea out of a job interview book, and I'd recommend the book here, but frankly, I don't remember which one it was.

I used to be TERRIFIED of interviews--it's only a slight exagerration to say I considered it a victory if I avoided wetting myself. But with a little preparation and a bit more confidence, they aren't so frightening. I admit I still get a bit nervous, though. That'll probably never go away for me.

[SoulFrost]

The question I've gotten at a couple of different jobs is "What position on a baseball team is most important?"

Of course, the right answer is "None--they're a team and are all equally important."

I didn't like that answer.

So I told the interviewers "The catcher."

Of course, they wanted to know why.

"Because the catcher is the only player who's able to keep an eye on those other 8 sons-of-bitches."

Probably wouldn't have worked anywhere but Texas...but I got both jobs.

-David

[The Ryan]

The question in the OP doesn't make any sense. If they already make inflatable boats, what do they need a prototype for? Why can't they just keep on making their old inflatable boats?

[DRY]

The question in the OP doesn't make any sense. If they already make inflatable boats, what do they need a prototype for? Why can't they just keep on making their old inflatable boats?


This is a good point, and whether you address the interviewer about this (ie, point out the curious use of the word "prototype") or not is an interesting dilemma? Would the rest of you?

(It's actually similar to a situation where you notice that the original classified ad/job posting has a typo in it. Do you say something?)

My answer: I probably would, in both cases, but tactfully, of course. Especially for the question above as opposed to my scenario, because it might buy me a couple seconds to try to figure out what the OP is designed to accomplish (while they're busy clarifying the original question).

I'm particularly interested in what a recruiter or office administrator would think.

As to Soulfrost's original baseball question, I would think my answer would be "Mine. At least to me." (Followed by standard tripe about how it IS a team sport, blahblah...)

[Mike in HK]

Why not outsource the design and construction of the prototype....the first guy that arrives on your island in an inflatable dinghy has proved he has the best product...Microsoft then buy his idea, market it as their own and sit back and watch 95% of the population buy the damn thing only to see it pop leaks every other day and sink.

[Scissorjack]

Why not outsource the design and construction of the prototype....the first guy that arrives on your island in an inflatable dinghy has proved he has the best product...Microsoft then buy his idea, market it as their own and sit back and watch 95% of the population buy the damn thing only to see it pop leaks every other day and sink.

That's because you have cunningly made lots of tiny little holes in it so everyone has to constantly upgrade with, ahem, patches. Lifeboat 2.0, with Portholes XP.

[don't ask]

I think I would point out that prototyping is not an appropriate design methodology for an object that is expected to traverse bodies of deep water. Who the hell wants to do the mid Pacific QA on Lifesaver V1.0.

The correct answer for "What are your weaknesses?" is "I make the other staff look bad." For the paranoid amongst us it is "All the other staff hate me because I'm so popular."

[DougC]

- - - Okay, I would make the boat round, semi-translucent and have weighted streamers hanging off the bottom. The reason is that it would then look like a jellyfish, and sharks don't eat jellyfish. <:D
......
- Of course, after looking it up I see that sea turtles and sunfish both do eat jellyfish, and both of them are generally considered non-violent.... to people.
But both of them grow as big as a subcompact car, and if you could ask a jellyfish, I rather doubt that it would say they were non-violent.... but the interviewer may have just read it in a trendy management book last month and know nothing of the seas. So I'll place my bet on the jellyfish-boat answer.
~

[ccwaterback]

Another interview riddle:

"What are your weaknesses?" How is one to answer that?!

Well, I am addicted to SDMB, I am shy, I am horribly disorganized, etc.

I tend to be impatient. If other workers are holding my back, I usually offer to help them out. I'm also a perfectionist, I am constantly thinking of ways to improve the product I am working on.

Ding! Bingo! :D

[tomndebb]

I would offer to make it out of this thread, since even though it sank four and a half years ago, it has risen to the surface again.

[Finagle]

I would offer to make it out of this thread, since even though it sank four and a half years ago, it has risen to the surface again.

Ah, thank you! I couldn't for the life of me figure out why Billehunt was having trouble finding people in Silicon Valley. Those were the days...

As for the stupid interview question, assuming it was really a desert island, I guess my answer would be "First find a rubber tree."

[ShibbOleth]

There's a book on this now, How Would You Move Mount Fuji (http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0316919160/ref=sib_dp_pt/102-0978355-5948120#reader-link), by William Poundstone, copyright 2003. Maybe he's a Doper and wrote it after reading/posting this thread. Anyway you can go to the library and check it out. It's fairly interesting.

[ivylass]

How the heck do guests find Zombie threads? They can't search.

[Bill H.]

Finagle wrote
Ah, thank you! I couldn't for the life of me figure out why Billehunt was having trouble finding people in Silicon Valley. Those were the days...
Indeed they were. Haven't seen that name in a while; wonder what became of him.

[Czarcasm]

Why not outsource the design and construction of the prototype....the first guy that arrives on your island in an inflatable dinghy has proved he has the best product...Microsoft then buy his idea, market it as their own and sit back and watch 95% of the population buy the damn thing only to see it pop leaks every other day and sink.
If you must refer to old threads, link to them-do not resurrect them.