[gottareply2020]

I once interviewed fresh out of college for a tech job at a big shop. When the interviewer got to the puzzle questions, they prefaced with ‘And be honest if you’ve heard it before. We want to get one you haven’t heard.’

Seven puzzles later of me saying, “yes, I’ve heard that one” and giving an short description indicating that I understood the solution, the interviewer became visibly upset/annoyed.

And so when they asked the 8th question I suddenly ‘didn’t know this one.’ The interviewer was delighted. Of course I did know it already but pretended to work my way through it.

Got the offer, didn’t take it because that interviewer would’ve been my boss’ boss.

[VeniVidiVici42]

Similar story: I had an interview for an internship at a trading firm, in which they asked me several questions that I wrote (for a math competition at my school). I took the honest route and explained that I had authored all these problems, leading to the interviewer getting so annoyed that they just cut the interview early.

Unsurprisingly, did not get an offer.

[rasz]

How about being interviewed using your own book, but the interviewer didnt notice authors name on the cover, doesnt understand the questions and butchers the problems? ;-) Happened to Elecia White (of https://embedded.fm/)