Brain Teaser Interview Questions

Be prepared for technical questions and brain teasers! For these questions, employer's want to see how you think and your process of getting an answer - not necessarily the answer itself.

To answer

1. Clarify the question (if possible, write it down)

2. Take a minute to think it out

3. “Think out loud” to your interviewer; it’s ok to use estimates (make it easy and use round numbers!)

4. Focus on the thought process, not answer

5. If you come up with multiple ways to solve, explain the other options as well

1. The “How Many [Things] Are There in [Location]?” Question

Example:

“How many gas stations are there in the U.S.?”

2. The “How Many [Things] Could Fit in [Container]?” Question

Example:

“How many trees are there in NYC’s Central Park?”

3. The “Do Some Quick Math” Question

Example:

What is the sum of the numbers one to 100?

4. The “Why Is [Common Item] [the Way Common Item Is]” Question

Example:

“Why are manhole covers round?”

5. The “Explain [Concept] to a [Difficult-to-Explain-Concept Person]?” Question

Example:

“Explain the internet to someone coming out of a 30-year coma.”

6. The “Solve This Mystery” Question

Example:

“A windowless room has three light bulbs. You are outside the room with three switches, each controlling one of the light bulbs. If you can only enter the room one time, how can you determine which switch controls which light bulb?”

7. The “How Would You Do Something Ridiculous” Question

Example:

“How would you fight a bear?”

Adapted from this article.