Want to work at Google?? How much does your head weigh ?

It has a global reputation for being one of the best brands to work for, but do you have what it takes to work for Google?

Author William Poundstone claims to have unlocked the secret of succeeding in an interview at Google, and is reveals his secrets in a new book. He states that Google and other companies of their ilk, require successful candidates to solve perplexing riddles.

In ‘Are You Smart Enough to Work at Google?’, Poundstone provides tips for Google interview questions that he claims  will increase an applicant's chances of getting hired.

In an interview with ABC News, Poundstone stated,  'HR departments are running scared, asking themselves, "How can we make sure our questions have predictive power for how well someone will do on the job?"'

Poundstone outlines several of the brain teasers that are said to be used by actual Google interviewers, from 'How much toilet paper would you need to cover Texas' to 'Can you swim faster in water or syrup?'

He told ABC News that whether a job applicant can answer the question or not, it’s best to ask follow up questions to show that you recognise what is being asked.

Google would not comment on Poundstone's book, but some are quick to point out that the interview questions that have been circulating the web for several years are works of fiction.

GOOGLE'S BRAIN BUSTERS

• Why are manhole covers round?
• How many piano tuners are there in the entire world?
• How much toilet paper would you need to cover Texas?
• You are shrunk to the height of a nickel and thrown in a blender. The blades start moving in 60 seconds. What do you do?
• How much should you charge to wash all the windows in Seattle?
• How many vacuum cleaners are made a year?
• Using only a four-minute hourglass and a seven-minute hourglass, measure exactly nine minutes - without the process taking longer than nine minutes.

• Design an evacuation plan for San Francisco.
• How would you devise an evacuation plan for San Francisco?
• What number comes next in this pattern? 10, 9, 60, 90, 70, 66
• Can you swim faster in water or in syrup?
• A man pushed his car to a hotel and lost his fortune. What happened?
• How many times a day do a clock’s hands overlap?

Have you been to an interview at Google? What is the strangest or most difficult interview question you have been asked?? How did you respond ?

 

To view jobs in the card and payment industry, go to http://www.cardandpaymentjobs.com

 

 

 

 

Contactless Cards and Payments Conference - June 20th and 21st - London

Following on from the success of the 2011 conference, Contactless Cards & Payments is returning to London for it’s 10th annual conference on 20th & 21st June 2012.

A new report by Forrester suggested Britain will be a cashless society by 2016.

Contactless Cards and Payments 2012 covers a variety of technologies, from NFC to mobile payments and banking. This conference is an update on the newest technologies to be developed, case studies of successful schemes and a look at the risks involved from a fraud perspective. With developing technologies comes new regulation, and this event will also look at the regulatory bodies and how they are approaching the potential risks and prevention strategies they intend to apply.

With the conference taking place a month before the London 2012 Olympics – this is a good opportunity to gain an insight into the role contactless cards play in major events. As the leading banks have a big role in contactless, the question most people are asking is what role the big technology leaders such as Apple and Google will play in securing their position in this rapidly growing market.
Although a tremendous amount has been achieved in contactless cards, the question still remains as to why there is a slow response and attitude from consumers towards this ever evolving concept.

SMi's two day conference has been carefully designed to bring you 18 successful case studies and interactive panel discussions, this is the only event that will give you answers and experiences you need to gain a better insight into the contactless cards market.

Key topics to be discussed:

NFC: recent developments in mobile payments

E-wallets: are we ready for a cashless society?

The European market: hear from leaders in the Turkish and Spanish markets

Retail: hear from leading retailers including stadiums and vending machines

Apple and Google: what will they do?

Keynote speakers include: 

Juan MorlaCards Director
La Caixa Bank (Spain)

Burak IlgiciogluCards & Payments Systems Analysis ManagerYapi Kredi Bank (Turkey)

Craig RamsayGlobal Innovation
Barclaycard

Carl Scheible Managing DirectorPayPal

Kevin LomaxHead, Collections Cash Management
Standard Bank

Victor DostovPresident
Russian Electronic Money Association

Mehmet SezginCEO Payment Systems Garanti Bank

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The expert speaker line-up also includes

Burak Ilgicioglu, Cards & Payments Systems Analysis Manager, Yapi Kredi BankCraig Ramsay, Global Innovations, Barclaycard
Sergio Cozzolino, Strategic Development Director, Telecom Italia Mobile
Matthew Hudson, Head of Business Development, Transport for London
Carl-Olav Scheible, Managing Director, PayPal
Kevin Lomax, Head, Collections Cash Management, Standard Bank
Victor Dostov, President, Russian Electronic Money Association
Mehmet Sezgin, CEO, Payment Systems, Garanti Bank
Juan Morla, Cards Director, La Caixa (Spain)
Karen Walsh, Business Development Director, Everything Everywhere
Gerhard Romen, Director Financial Services, Nokia
Claire Maslen, Senior Manager, Market Development, 02
Robert Courtneidge, Global Head of Card & Payments, Salans Solicitors
Dave Birch, Director, Consult Hyperion
Saadi Hussain, Head of Commercial Management, BT
Chris Crooks, Managing Partner, Optimum Associates
Francesco Burelli, Partner, Value Partners

Go to http://www.smi-online.co.uk/events/overview.asp?is=8&ref=3720 and book your ticket now