HP Forum Archive 20

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Fair Interview Question? Message #1 Posted by Norman Dziedzic on 14 July 2011, 9:54 a.m. I'm interviewing someone today for a job that could eventually lead to position in my engineering department. Do you think it is fair to ask them what type of calculator they use?

Re: Fair Interview Question? Message #2 Posted by Alex Mark (Greece) on 14 July 2011, 10:02 a.m., in response to message #1 by Norman Dziedzic When I was being interviewed for my current job, the Chief Engineer gave me an old and heavily used HP 15C (that is still working) and asked me to calculate 2+2... He was so amazed when I did it, that I got hired almost instantly... Thanks, 32Sii... Alex (Civil Engineer) - Greece

Re: Fair Interview Question? Message #3 Posted by Jeff Kearns on 14 July 2011, 10:02 a.m., in response to message #1 by Norman Dziedzic Sure. Then, if the candidate doesn't give you the answer you want and you hire him/her anyway, buy them a nice HP calculator out of your departmental budget and encourage its use. Jeff

Re: Fair Interview Question? Message #4 Posted by Tim Wessman on 14 July 2011, 10:07 a.m., in response to message #1 by Norman Dziedzic I always do. :-) That can be a good lead in type question to really get at the heart of what the candidate thinks about math, problem solving, and the way they approach things. Even if they don't really use a calculator, it is a good way to then have them reason out what might be the advantages of using one vs other options. TW

Re: Fair Interview Question? Message #5 Posted by George Bailey (Bedford Falls) on 14 July 2011, 10:25 a.m., in response to message #1 by Norman Dziedzic It doesn't matter what brand of calculator he uses, if he uses one at all or a spreadsheet, a piece of paper, a slide rule or what have you, as long as he solves the problem. This is too much a politics/religion-type of question that raises too many emotions (at least with you) that divert from the important questions of a job interview. As soon as you anticipate good and not-so-good answers, don't go there at all. If you are completely neutral about his answers you could ask it - but then: why should you in the first place!?! The fact alone that you ask this here shows me you shouldn't ask it there! ;) Edited: 14 July 2011, 10:28 a.m.

Re: Fair Interview Question? Message #6 Posted by John Pierce on 14 July 2011, 11:41 a.m., in response to message #5 by George Bailey (Bedford Falls) I don't agree with your premise. One could not ask any question during an interview.

Re: Fair Interview Question? Message #7 Posted by M. Joury on 14 July 2011, 11:58 a.m., in response to message #6 by John Pierce I think that the point of George's statement is that the type of calculator (if any) chosen by the candidate does not affect his/her ability to do the work. The corollary that George offers is religion / politics. Is it correct to ask the candidate's opinion of either in an interview? Neither are related to the job at hand and neither help determine the candidate's ability to do said job. The type of calculator chosen falls into the same category in my opinion. Interview questions should be related to the ability of the candidate to perform the duties expected of him/her and questions unrelated to the job that might engender an emotional response should not be asked. My 2 cents worth...

Re: Fair Interview Question? Message #8 Posted by Mike T. on 14 July 2011, 5:11 p.m., in response to message #5 by George Bailey (Bedford Falls) I don't agree as I would want to be sure they could solve the problem in an approprite way. Even if they got the right answer I'd be concerned abount a candidate that had to break out a spreadsheet or use Wolfram Alpha to find the proability of throwing (a fair) coin and getting three heads, or finding the resistance of two resistors in parallel... Mike T.

Re: Fair Interview Question? Message #9 Posted by M. Joury on 14 July 2011, 7:10 p.m., in response to message #8 by Mike T. And how does the BRAND of calculator they choose to use matter to their ability to solve a problem the appropriate way? Any question related to being able to do the job is fine. No one is suggesting that such questions should not be asked. But asking if you use a HP vs. TI vs. any other brand does not judge your ability to solve a problem appropriately.

Re: Fair Interview Question? Message #10 Posted by George Bailey (Bedford Falls) on 15 July 2011, 3:54 a.m., in response to message #8 by Mike T. Quote: Even if they got the right answer I'd be concerned abount a candidate that had to break out a spreadsheet or use Wolfram Alpha to find the proability of throwing (a fair) coin and getting three heads, or finding the resistance of two resistors in parallel... I'd be concerned even more if anyone had to get out his pocket calculator for these answers, when a piece of paper or just his or her head alone would do. If help is needed, the best candidate will use whatever is available, no matter what specifically it is. This could be the own fingers, a calculator, a super computer, wikipedia, a book, a coworker, his aunt Eleonore...I wouldn't care how the problem was solved, if the answer was correct and delivered in time.

Re: Fair Interview Question? Message #11 Posted by Gerson W. Barbosa on 14 July 2011, 10:54 a.m., in response to message #1 by Norman Dziedzic I think it is fair, as long as the answer to that particular question doesn't influence your decision.

Re: Fair Interview Question? Message #12 Posted by George Bailey (Bedford Falls) on 15 July 2011, 3:56 a.m., in response to message #11 by Gerson W. Barbosa Quote: I think it is fair, as long as the answer to that particular question doesn't influence your decision. And because one can't guarantee this, one avoids these questions altogether. Edited: 15 July 2011, 3:57 a.m.

Re: Fair Interview Question? Message #13 Posted by Ren on 14 July 2011, 12:53 p.m., in response to message #1 by Norman Dziedzic Once my cow-orkers proposed that during a job interview, they gave the interviewee a Stardate. The interviewee would then have to correctly identify the episode Title and guest star. A correct answer assured them the candidate would fit in with the team. B^) Ren dona nobis pacem

Re: Fair Interview Question? Message #14 Posted by Maximilian Hohmann on 14 July 2011, 1:24 p.m., in response to message #1 by Norman Dziedzic Hi! Don't you have anti-discrimination laws in the US? Here in Germany you would probably not be allowed to ask that question and base your decision on the answer... And how would I qualify for your position? Although I own almost 1000 calculators I haven't used one at work (engineer and aviator) for 15 years or more. No need at all. Regards, max

Re: Fair Interview Question? Message #15 Posted by Walter B on 14 July 2011, 2:49 p.m., in response to message #14 by Maximilian Hohmann AFAIK, they have only laws for the less important topics like gender, colour, age etc. ;-)

Re: Fair Interview Question? Message #16 Posted by Maximilian Hohmann on 14 July 2011, 3:04 p.m., in response to message #15 by Walter B Quote: AFAIK, they have only laws for the less important topics like gender, colour, age etc. ;-) And ideology ("Weltanschauung"). The preference for certain types of calculators is certainly an ideological issue, because professionally, an engineer must be flexible enough to adapt to every kind of technology :-) Edited: 14 July 2011, 3:05 p.m.

Re: Fair Interview Question? Message #17 Posted by Marcus von Cube, Germany on 14 July 2011, 3:32 p.m., in response to message #1 by Norman Dziedzic You can probably ask "Do you work with a calculator?". If the answer is yes, you may ask for a demonstration.

Re: Fair Interview Question? Message #18 Posted by Hans Brueggemann on 14 July 2011, 6:04 p.m., in response to message #17 by Marcus von Cube, Germany wow, marcus, that's too close to a "hexenhammer" Bo) hans

Re: Fair Interview Question? Message #19 Posted by Norman Dziedzic on 14 July 2011, 9:03 p.m., in response to message #1 by Norman Dziedzic I didn't ask. This is a recent graduate and he was nervous enough without wondering why I'm asking him about what calculator he uses.

Re: Fair Interview Question? Message #20 Posted by db (martinez, ca.) on 14 July 2011, 9:42 p.m., in response to message #1 by Norman Dziedzic Norman; I think it's fair, as long as you include the Corvus 500, Privileg SR 54 NC and the Electronica RPNs on the correct answer list. Alex; Every surveyor i know has met at least one (civil) engineer who needs a calculator to do 2+2. Ren; I remember reading that stardates vary by not only time but position; so if that's true, depending where you are, it's always 4523.3 Tim; Extra points given to applicants whipping out a DC50? BTW: There was a bean counter at our field office today. He brought the 17bii he bought in college, and uses it in RPN. For the very little that it is worth; he gets extra points from me.

Re: Fair Interview Question? Message #21 Posted by Martin Pinckney on 15 July 2011, 10:20 p.m., in response to message #20 by db (martinez, ca.) Quote: Every surveyor i know has met at least one (civil) engineer who needs a calculator to do 2+2. Every surveyor I know depends on a (civil) engineer for his employment!

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