How Would You Move Mount Fuji?: Microsoft's Cult of the Puzzle

William Poundstone

Physical

In Circulation

For years, Microsoft and other high-tech companies have been posing riddles and logic puzzles like these in their notoriously grueling job interviews. Now "puzzle interviews" have become a hot new trend in hiring. From Wall Street to Silicon Valley, employers are using tough and tricky questions to gauge job candidates' intelligence, imagination, and problem-solving ability -- qualities needed to survive in today's hypercompetitive global marketplace. For the first time, William Poundstone reveals the toughest questions used at Microsoft and other Fortune 500 companies -- and supplies the answers.

He traces the rise and controversial fall of employer-mandated IQ tests, the peculiar obsessions of Bill Gates (who plays jigsaw puzzles as a competitive sport), the sadistic mind games of Wall Street (which reportedly led one job seeker to smash a forty-third-story window), and the bizarre excesses of today's hiring managers (who may start off your interview with a box of Legos or a game of virtual Russian roulette). How Would You Move Mount Fuji? is an indispensable book for anyone in business. Managers seeking the most talented employees will learn to incorporate puzzle interviews in their search for the top candidates.

Job seekers will discover how to tackle even the most brain-busting questions, and gain the advantage that could win the job of a lifetime. And anyone who has ever dreamed of going up against the best minds in business may discover that these puzzles are simply a lot of fun. Why are beer cans tapered on the end, anyway?

What will you learn from this book

  1. Problem-Solving Skills: Microsoft's use of puzzles in interviews aimed to assess candidates' problem-solving abilities, creativity, and analytical thinking.

  2. Critical Thinking: The book emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and reasoning, as these puzzles were intended to evaluate candidates' abilities to think logically and outside the box.

  3. Cultural Fit: Microsoft's puzzle-based interviews also aimed to assess candidates' cultural fit within the company, evaluating if they aligned with the innovative and intellectually challenging environment.

  4. Diversity of Skills: The puzzles were designed to test a wide range of skills, including mathematical reasoning, lateral thinking, pattern recognition, and adaptability in approaching complex problems.

  5. Debunking the Puzzles: Poundstone discusses how some of the puzzles highlighted in the book may not necessarily correlate with job performance or accurately predict a candidate's success at Microsoft.

  6. Interview Preparation: The book offers insights and advice on how candidates might prepare for puzzle-based interviews, although it emphasizes that the effectiveness of such preparation methods varies.

  7. Cognitive Bias: Poundstone explores the potential for cognitive bias in using puzzles as a hiring tool, suggesting that interviewers might inadvertently favor candidates who excel at puzzle-solving but may not necessarily be the best fit for the role.

  8. Alternative Hiring Methods: The book raises questions about the efficacy of puzzle-based interviews and discusses alternative and more effective hiring methods that focus on relevant skills and experiences.

  9. The Impact of Microsoft's Approach: Poundstone's book delves into the impact of Microsoft's puzzle-based hiring on other companies and the broader tech industry, influencing their own interview processes.

  10. Evolving Hiring Practices: The book underscores the need for companies to evolve their hiring practices, moving towards more structured and relevant assessment methods that align with job requirements and competencies.

Language English
ISBN-10 0316778494
ISBN-13 9780316778497
No of pages 276
Font Size Medium
Book Publisher Little brown Books
Published Date 02 Apr 2004

About Author

Author : William Poundstone

3 Books

Related Books