[masternight]

They're hard for me because the events that a lot of people consider achievements don't really stand out in my memory. Often I tend to forget they happened.

I've solved some programming problems that I considered quite mundane and unremarkable, yet others think it was some great achievement.

While it might have been hard at the time, in hindsight the events seem unremarkable and just me doing my routine duties.

> "Write about a time during your university studies in which you faced a difficult problem, and what you did to overcome it."

I guess the university example I could spin a story about how I failed a subject and had to repeat it and got high marks the second time round. The thing is I probably won't remember the event if I'm in an interview and under pressure.

When I started writing this post, I couldn't think of anything difficult that I had to overcome in my CompSci degree. It took me a while to even remember failing that subject, and in hindsight I don't have any emotional attachment to the event. It just doesn't stand out in my memory as remarkable or interesting or even difficult. I did change up my tactics the second time around and did quite well in the subject, so I have material for a story.

The problem is most of the time I don't even remember failing that subject. Even if I did remember, I'd probably dismiss it as I don't remember it being difficult.

[bravesoul2]

This I am finding a problem. If you are a senior developer you are leading every day and doing senior things but it is like walking. I don't remember each step I took.

In the performance review you now need to say "On this Tuesday I needed to get from the salon to the baker so I initiated by motor neurone and walked out of the salon. This made me get there in 5 minutes which had the impact of my mum getting her cinnamon scroll" and you have to remember that happened. For those with worse memory this is an extra job. If you don't do it you get discriminated against.

[quectophoton]

in a job interview

"Tell me about a time when you tripped over while commuting."

"Tell me about a time when your feet touched each other during a walk."

"Tell me about a time when you were facing north-east and a bus passed in front of you." [follow-up question] "What type of bus was it? [suburban, long distance, etc] You say you saw it, so walk me by your visual experience."

If you have lived your life as a walking person, as you seem to imply by your comment, you surely have done these things multiple times, right? Failing to respond in a truthful and satisfactory manner will be counted heavily against you.

[masternight]

> will be counted heavily against you.

Yes, that's the problem

Though, as someone who's done a number of those interviews over the years, I'd replace the word truthful with manner that the interviewer regards as truthful

[jaggederest]

So I'm on the other end of the number line from the SDAM folks and I'm kind of mind blown that people don't remember when they trip, I remember at least 6 instances off the top of my head. Ditto feet touching each other - which shoes I was wearing, what the weather was like, where I was at. The bus question I would have to dig a little but I'm sure it happened at least once.

[wat10000]

That's wild. I can remember categories of tripping. For example, I know that one of the more frequent ones involves stupid cats who don't realize that it's a bad idea to walk in front of a rapidly moving creature who outweighs them by a factor of 13. But I can't recall any specific instance of it.

[jaggederest]

I remember tripping as a child (ice cream truck...), in middle school (stairs), in high school (book bag), while getting coffee over a decade ago with coworkers (sciatica). I couldn't necessarily tell you which dates those happened on but could probably get it within a month or so.

[kaashif]

I don't trip over that often, I remember like 1 time in the past 2 years I tripped over. Maybe people just don't trip over that much.

[jaggederest]

I mean I remember tripping when I was 5, 15, and 25, and I'm 42 now so I don't trip that often, I just remember everything.

[sensanaty]

I mean, I've definitely had all these experiences and know I have, but I couldn't tell you a single detail about anything of those moments. I've missed plenty of buses because I've had music blaring and I wasn't focused on the bus stop, but I definitely don't remember anything else about those moments other than they, at some point in history, happened to me.

[bravesoul2]

I feel like fuck it going to be that frank in the interview. Or all my examples will be from the last 21 days. Do a lot of heroic stuff at work for 21 days to coincide with the interview!