What Are the Stupidest Interview Questions Reported by Candidates
Recruiters at large technology and finance firms have asked candidates questions that many professionals classify as the stupidest interview questions rather than useful skill tests. Glassdoor and Blind have documented hundreds of such questions from companies including Amazon, Tesla, SpaceX, and Goldman Sachs, showing that some hiring teams prioritize puzzle solving over job relevant evaluation. These questions often test pattern recognition, mental math, or creative thinking under pressure, but critics argue they can introduce bias and reduce the predictive validity of interviews, as noted by research summarized by the Harvard Business Review and other outlets.
In 2023 and 2024, job seekers continued to share unusual questions on platforms such as Glassdoor, with some questions appearing in multiple industries from consulting to software engineering. For example, candidates applying to roles at Tesla and SpaceX reported being asked to explain how a microwave works or to estimate the number of golf balls that fit in a school bus, tasks that emphasize estimation and abstract reasoning. While some firms defend these questions as proxies for problem solving, others have moved toward structured behavioral interviews and skills based assessments, a shift documented by the Society for Human Resource Management and reported by Forbes.
Examples of the Stupidest Interview Questions from Major Employers
Amazon has been associated with brainteaser style questions such as "How many tennis balls can you fit in this room?" and "Why are manhole covers round?" while Google has used variations of estimation and logic puzzles in certain roles. SpaceX reportedly asked candidates to describe how they would solve a problem if you had no information, and Tesla has used questions that blend technical knowledge with unconventional scenarios, as discussed in hiring guides and candidate reports on sites like Glassdoor and Blind.
In finance, Goldman Sachs and other investment banks have asked candidates to estimate the number of windows in New York City or to explain the physics of a bicycle, while consulting firms such as McKinsey and Bain have used market sizing questions that some candidates label as among the stupidest interview questions they have encountered. These questions often appear in case interviews where the process matters as much as the final number, and firms publish guidance on how to structure your thinking, as seen in resources from Harvard Business Review and company career pages.
Why Companies Ask These Questions and How Candidates Respond
Employers use unconventional questions to evaluate composure, creativity, and the ability to think aloud under pressure, but research suggests that such questions often have low predictive validity for job performance. The Harvard Business Review and other sources have highlighted that structured interviews with standardized scoring rubrics tend to produce better hiring outcomes than unstructured brainteasers, and some regulators have scrutinized whether such questions introduce illegal bias.
Candidates who face these questions often use frameworks such as breaking the problem into smaller parts, stating assumptions clearly, and walking through calculations step by step, a method promoted by management consulting firms and business schools. Sites like Glassdoor and Blind allow job seekers to share specific questions and answers, helping others prepare for similar interviews at companies such as Amazon, Tesla, SpaceX, and Goldman Sachs, while professional guides on interview preparation emphasize aligning responses to the core competencies listed in the job description.