Service Representative Interview Questions

Everybody is reading this question wrong. It doesn't say how many tennis balls CAN FILL this room. It says how many tennis balls are IN THIS ROOM and why. The question is probably meant to see if the candidate is actually fully paying attention to the questions (unlike everybody who has answered it here). It is a trick. I would gather to say that there are NO tennis balls in the room...and why? Because it is an office, not a tennis court.

Hi wildfiresg, Maybe you should ask the interviewer to show the insides of his pockets? You never know, maybe there is a tennis ball in there!

I think wildiresg is the only one above who's really paying attention (which is CRITICAL in an interview) - give him the job!! And Igor makes a very good but funny point....the candidate should also ask to check any drawers, boxes or closets in the room!!!

In the original post the candidate did mention "how many tennis balls can fill this room?" as part of the interview. The first answers were tricked into reading this question as the same in the story. Good job wildiresg!

"If the room is already filled with sand, none. Do you want to know if I can actually write code?"

If the question really is how many "are in this room", then make an observation about how many you can see. I'm going to assume "zero" is a safe bet for most interviews. If, however, the question was suppose to be how many *can fit* in the room, then please ask (type, in this forum) the right question, or the people who are smart enough to actually listen to the question you're asking will never give you a response you'll be happy with.

Assume: 1) this is a theoretical determination of how many the room would hold & 2) not an exercise of observation & 3) there is no compression ... then this is a simple mathematical problem (as long as you know the formulas) and you have the relevant metrics to hand. A tennis ball is a sphere & its volume is calculated at 4/3 Pi r(cubed). Packing ratios are 66 & 1/2% (there will be space between the balls when packed). With the dimensions of the room you can then calculate how many tennis balls would fit into it. This can be used to work out the fairground game of how many marbles in a jar or even m&m's in a jar (though that is a different formula & is for an oblate spheroid & not a sphere)

This is a metaphorical question. There is one tennis ball in the room. The interviewer is serving and the candidate is returning. The game will continue until the ball is missed.

As any schoolboy could tell you: count the number of chairs in the room and multiply by 4. The tennis balls are on the bottom of the chair legs so they don't scuff the floor!

sound weird but they i want to be sure that u r focus

metaphorical question..because there aren't balls in the room. but the balls are keeps on rolling, because it has its determination to keeping that ball rolling..

I would further determine how long the trip time would be, whether I was a solo passenger and compare the quality of the two vehicles. If you consider this question as it relates to the world of retail, when two retailers offer a product at the same price, which retailer would you choose? The answer would be, whoever offers the better service and buying experience. Or you could prove yourself as green or frugal by saying I'd take a bike, and save the money.

It depends.... You might choose the limo if you were with a group or traveling a longer distance. (You value a more comfortable experience) You might choose the taxi if you were alone, not traveling far or expected heavy traffic since the taxi would be better able to negotiate the crowded streets. (You value time more) You might choose the next available if you were on a time budget and the other option were not immediately available. It depends on the 'value cage' you are in at the moment of decision.

A taxi-even a big ol' Crown Vic retired cop car gets better mileage than a limo. Both will get me where I'm going in relative safety and comfort. Taking a limo is conspicuous consumption.

I like idea of pointing out that the taxi takes traffic better saving time and parking concerns. I would also point out that the limo would allow a desk/privacy for doing work while I traveled that wouldn't be available in the taxi (if a longer trip.) And of course if it is possible to travel with a group, allowing more work/socializing and would likely be more efficient per person travel than multiple taxes.

The limo is, in fact, the better value. However, at the same time, perception is reality. The people who see you in the limo don't know that it was the same price as the taxi. If you're traveling for pleasure, by all means take the limo. But if you're at all concerned about the image colleagues or potential clients will have, you have to go with the taxi.

Knowing I don't have a "driver" means that I'd have to consider which vehicle I'd rather drive and that would be a taxi as it's easier to drive. I'm also not a "limo" person because they're used for funerals as well as red carpet events. What to wear?

Assume: Both the taxi and the limo will be able to fit into parking spaces where I go. Assume: The question is just being worded that way to take money out of the equation; it makes no inherent implications about quality. Assume: I'm not on my way to Washington to plead for a bailout package. If I'm feeling chatty, I pick the taxi. If I want to be alone, I pick the limo and roll up the window. ... WAIT! Am I buying it, or just taking a ride?

This question doesn't surprise me coming from BB. Assuming the vehicles are of standard quality, not a low quality limo or high quality cab (if such exists) the answer they would want is the Cab. By answering such you show to the thieves at BB that you can sell a lower quality item with a higher markup thus more profit. This is of course coming from their side, if you approached it from the customer side you would say limo and not get the job because the markup wouldn't be as great and they wouldn't get the same cash from the transaction. Unless you told them you sold a service contract with the limo purchase, then you are IN!

Whichever is available first, especially if it's raining.

IMO the key thing to know is: Where does one you need to go in that taxi or limou? Both are good trandsportation products, but they are totally different. If you want to go wine tasting with a bunch of pals in Napa County, you won't take a taxi, nor will you use one to take your bride to your wedding reception after your nuptials. Figure out what the need is, then fit the product to the need.

Ask which one will get you there faster.. if they say the same speed then choose the taxi because it shows humility.

The real reason manhole covers are round is because the manhole is round. It certainly wouldn't do to put a square cover on a round hole. (However, that's likely not the answer they are looking for.)

Because the manhole pipe is round.

Because if it were star-shaped it would have pointy bits that would be ouchy and tear your clothing.

In addition to Adam's observations (which contain the very best answers to this question), a round manhole cover has no sharp corners, so if for any reason it did not sit right in the manhole, and a car or truck ran over it, it would be less likely to puncture the vehicle's tire.

This was a Microsoft interview question at one point. It is round so that the cover can't fall into the hole the way a square or rectangular cover could if inserted diagnally. It's also easier to move (by rolling it).

It's also the maximum coverage for the minimal amount of material - making it the cheapest shape in terms of material cost.