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A Rational Oddball?

I know it seems like an obvious contradiction but let me explain; I’ve seen a lot of articles recently from various sources but namely from Glassdoor.com’s blog, and it always makes me thankful that I was never faced with questions like these. It also has me wondering…why do they try to stump you with such odd questions. And if you are wondering the same thing then I’m glad you’re reading this because it turns out there are good reasons…

According to an article in eWeek discussing this very topic, “these unconventional queries seem designed to not only force job applicants to think outside the box, but also give potential employers a sense of their logic and mathematics skills. In addition, many of the “oddball questions” seem specifically tailored to certain companies’ needs; for example, when Amazon.com asks a potential applicant, “If you had 5,623 participants in a tournament, how many games would need to be played to determine the winner?” it reflects the online retailer’s need for people who can intuit ranking and ordering systems.” You can read more here as well.

But of course we wouldn’t leave you with more questions than answers so make sure to check out Glassdoor.com’s post with 4 1/2 ways to respond to the oddball interview questions.

On campus recruiting (i.e. employers coming to campus to conduct interviews) starts on Feb. 7th.

You’ll find OCR listings on the BRIDGE. It always helps to have your BRIDGE profile updated with your major and career interests, this way we can send out targeted emails when certain employers visit or job listings get posted.

For more questions on OCR you can attend a weekly Interviewing Tips workshop with the Program Director.  Held every Monday night at 5 pm in the CDC, students can find out about OCR procedures, tour the interviewing rooms, and get inside tips about employers who come to campus.

If you have a quick question when using the BRIDGE you can stop by Monday – Friday from 3:00 – 4:00 for BRIDGE Quick Questions.

Additional Resources:

Questions about OCR?
Contact us at (570) 577-1238 or email recruiting@bucknell.edu

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