Google worker explains 'coffee shop' interview question that massively confused job candidates
Admit it, we've all rehearsed what we think is the perfect interview technique and questions to answer only for the entire process to be thrown off by a rather off-the-cuff question from the team looking to hire you.
Well, step in Google and its question about coffee shops that is sure meant to do just that.
It's somewhat of a welcome change from the usual 'what is your biggest weakness' drone that everyone answers in the same fashion (we all just work too hard or take too much on ourselves, right?).
But it's can also throw you.
Advert
There's method to the madness of a job interview and when that goes out the window, it can leave us a little stuck.
And just like with Steve Jobs' 'beer test', the idea is to get a real understanding of who the person behind the CV and cover letter is.
One TikToker, who says she used to work for Google, took to the social media platform to share tips for those looking for jobs.
And one of her videos focused on 'how Google stumps interviewees' - with audiences equally just as baffled.
The TikToker, who goes by the handle @hrbitch, said: "This question stump the most interviewers at Google.
"I'll share with you."
Enter a somewhat left-field question about coffee shops - hardly what you might think is on the agenda with a tech giant like Google.
"There's a coffee shop in San Francisco," she explains.
"It has unlimited supply and demand, meaning it has all the coffee beans, coffee cups, teas in the world.
"And the customer line wraps around the block.
"The coffee shop is roughly 500 square feet. So how many cups of coffee can this coffee shop produce in one day?"
Some people commented saying it would depend on the amount of staff working behind the counter, while others starting doing the maths on how long it took to pour a coffee and package it up.
Another said "Minutes open / employees can fit in a 500 square foot place when you account for seating, counter and kitchen? X amount of time it takes to make the coffee.”
The real answer? Well, the interview has been a bit cheeky if they ask you this.
There is no right answer, the TikToker says in another video.
"There are no right or wrong answers, the interviewer's just trying to figure out your thought process," she says.
For those who are looking for a future working for Google, then you might be happy to know that such brainteaser questions have since been ditched.
The company says on its Careers site: "Our data showed that brainteaser questions didn’t predict how well someone would do on the job so we no longer ask them.
"Instead, we do work sample tests and ask structured interview questions."
Topics: Google, Jobs, US News, World News, Viral, Weird, TikTok, Social Media
Tom Earnshaw