Elon Musk, the famous CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has recently shared an intriguing interview method.
To address dishonest individuals during an interview, Musk poses a single question that probes into candidates' problem-solving skills. From that, he can easily catch out liars.
Elon Musk doesn't care about your college achievements or field experiences in interviews
For many people, working for the world's richest businessmen seems like a great thing, but in reality, it will be extremely tough and you need to be smart and alert enough to pass their harsh tests.
Elon Musk is famous as the richest businessman in the world. Therefore, working for him is not an easy task, even the interview process can 'kill' you.
In many interviews, Musk frankly shared that he does not care about your university achievements or experience in your fields.
In reality, all of this can be 'fake' easily.
In interviews, Elon Musk always wants to catch liars, a typical example is the type of person who boasts the talent of speaking 5 languages or acts as if they are a brilliant CEO of their father's business at a very young age.
Elon Musk focuses on problem-solving skills in every interview
However, what Musk really cares about in every interview was revealed in a conversation with Auto Bild in 2014.
When asked about the skills Musk looks most forward to in his employees, he revealed that he will usually ask them one/three small questions.
He often intends to discern whether candidates possess the exceptional problem-solving skills and integrity required for his companies.
Musk reveals his preferred question, stating, "I really just ask, 'What are some of the tougher problems [you've] dealt with and how [did you] deal with those?' "
By delving into the interviewee's problem-solving skills, Musk aims to check their ability to navigate challenging situations successfully.
Furthermore, he pays close attention to the decision-making process during critical transition points in their careers.
He added: "What I'm really looking for is evidence of exceptional ability so that they've faced really difficult problems and overcome them.
"And of course, you want to make sure that if there was some significant accomplishment, were they really responsible, or was somebody else more responsible."
How does he find liars in interviews?
Musk emphasizes the significance of acquiring evidence of exceptional ability and genuine accomplishment.
He looks for individuals who have triumphed over arduous obstacles rather than those who merely attribute success to external factors.
By asking detailed follow-up questions, Musk can assess the candidate's level of understanding and involvement in the accomplishments they claim.
On the contrary, those who falsely claim credit for accomplishments they did not earn will struggle to provide coherent answers when investigated further.
The STAR technique is widely applied in interviews
Remarkably, this technique aligns with problem-solving questions commonly asked in job interviews across many industries.
Employers often seek candidates who can clarify the challenges they have encountered and how they overcame them.
By utilizing the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result), interviewees can effectively communicate their problem-solving abilities and demonstrate the lessons learned from their experiences.
