Should I tell Interviewers that I know the question?

Aug 26, 2018 17 Comments

According to CTCI, I should tell Interviewers if I know the questions. What do you guys think? What if I let interviewer know? Will they topically give me a new questions?

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TOP 17 Comments
  • Apple
    VUST57

    Go to company page Apple

    VUST57
    I guess the real question is: how much do you care about honesty? As the interviewer I would really value an honest candidate.
    Aug 26, 2018 2
  • Microsoft / Eng
    Meowth

    Go to company page Microsoft Eng

    Meowth
    If i was the interviewer, i would have the candidate regurgitate the solution and keep adding extra followup challenges.

    For example, with the easy house robber problem on leetcode, i would followup with things like returning the list of houses instead of just the max value, requiring K houses between each robbed one, implement a multithreaded approach, making test cases, etc.
    Aug 26, 2018 3
    • All on a whiteboard? Fuck that
      Aug 26, 2018
    • Microsoft / Eng
      Meowth

      Go to company page Microsoft Eng

      Meowth
      I wouldn't expect a working solution for all the followup stuff on a whiteboard in one interview -- just some good progress that shows a real understanding of the problem and related concepts. That would show whether they actually understand vs just memorize.
      Aug 26, 2018
  • Expedia / Eng
    conbro

    Go to company page Expedia Eng

    conbro
    The interviewer will know right at the moment you jump and solve. I found it better to let the interviewer know that you solved this problem before. Usually the interviewer doesn’t care and let you solve the first version. She can then add twists in it to judge your knowledge.
    Aug 26, 2018 5
    • OP
      From my first reply I meant “cant”
      Aug 26, 2018
    • Expedia / Eng
      conbro

      Go to company page Expedia Eng

      conbro
      If the interviewee can’t solve the follow up that means he prepared well, but didn’t understand the concept well to be able to solve the follow up. If it’s a SDE role that might be ok. If it’s SDE II or III then it’s a problem. I would expect a SDE II to solve the problem with few hints and III to solve it with minimum hints.
      Aug 26, 2018
  • People saying they like when candidate is honest aren't being honest themselves because if candidate fails next question, that honestly won't help and you'll give him/her red light.
    Just play the game and pretend you haven't seen question before.
    Aug 26, 2018 0
  • Google
    ∞ + 1

    Go to company page Google

    ∞ + 1
    Yeah, the honest thing is to say you've seen it, and give a summary. Or if it's basically the same as another problem, you can compare it...

    ... That being said, it's the interviewers job to be able to follow up with unique things, to separate rote learners from people who actually know what they're doing.
    Aug 26, 2018 1