logic tests

I've only gone for three job interviews so far. First and second interviews for a semiconductor company and a redundant other from one of the ministries. i do want that semiconductor's job. Not that they're offering a lucrative five day week offer or anything. On the contrary, it's probably the most demanding job an engineer could have. 12 hour night shifts. Work on weekends. Challenging and good enough for no-lives like me.

Wierd enough, this semiconductor company loves logic tests. From the very first day of interview, i was given an hour's logic test. It's not abnormal to leave the room midway through the test. I've seen a guy do that. He was beginning to suspect his intelligence, i suppose. Well, i thought i had cleared the "logical" aspect of the interview after that hour long test but it soon proved otherwise. My first interview took 45 minutes. Inclusive of impromptu logic tests put forward by the interviewer. The questions were not that demanding i suppose. It is the silence while your interviewer awaits your answers that frightens.

This was the question posed to me then:

Suppose i give you a closed box filled with 3 pairs of blue socks, 5 pairs of red socks, and 8 pairs of black socks. What is the minimum number of tries you would have to do in order to obtain a pair of socks of the same colour sucessfully? You cannot peep into the box.

My interviewer then awaited my answer. I was like frantically thinking about the answer while the interviewer was fliiping through my resume and logic tests results. Fortunately, i came out with the answer in like 3 minutes. 3 long minutes.

Next he went on to ask:

Now suppose the question is posed this way. Instead of socks, i give you a box filled with boxing gloves. Numbers or quantities remain the same as in the question with socks. What is the minimum number of tries this time then?

I took like 7 minutes this time. Got the correct answer. Seemed like eternity.

All the while, my interviewer would wait patiently for my answers. Just him and me alone in a small room. Silence. Probably not silence. Mumblings. You mumbling to oneself, trying to make sense of the questions. Enough of resume flipping, the interviewer now fixes his eyes on the pathetic you, awaiting your answer.

Probably the most unconventional interview i had ever. Nothing technical asked. Just logic and more logic.

I thought i had gone through the worst. Until today's second interview with that semiconductor company.

Another round of impromptu logic tests by today's interviewer.

Never knew interviews were so challenging.