Problem Solving

Question 1

Give me an example of when you used logic to solve a problem

Answer 1

CHINOOK essayer de trouver pq ton implémentation de communication par can fonctionne pas.

1. trouver nature du bug (matériel ou logiciel )
2. remplacer implémentation par un appareil connu pour valider que c’était pas l’autre partie qui ne fonctionnait pas
3. comparer mon implémentation avc le device qui est fonctionnel
4. retour à la documention
5. essayer de spotter ce qui manque

Answering Tip: Employ a Situation/ Task→ Action→ Result format.

Question 2

Explain a time when you took the initiative on a project.

Answer 2

• Mon collègue avait la tâche de développer le matériel, l’échéance arrivait mais il ne livrait pas.
• J’ai décider de prendre sa tâche en main et je l’ai fait moi même.
• J’ai réussi à livrer sa partie.

Answering Tip: Tempting as it may be to focus only on yourself, don’t forget to give credit to your team, too. Try to use examples where you went beyond your day role to take on extra responsibility.

Question 3

Describe how you used your problem-solving skills to benefit a team or company.

Answer 3

• Mon collègue avait la tâche de développer le matériel, l’échéance arrivait mais il ne livrait pas.
• J’ai décider de prendre sa tâche en main et je l’ai fait moi même.
• Comme on n’avait pas le temps ni le manpower pour refaire sa partie, j’ai trouvé une alternative : prototype matériel plutôt que manufacturer un pcb

Answering Tip: Demonstrate how you look for solutions for the greater good of the company. Not just solutions for your own good and your team’s good.

Bonus Example: According to Bosmat, Engineering Manager at Facebook, the best way to demonstrate your problem solving skills (particularly if you’re applying for a software engineering role) is to think aloud. The interview at Facebook for software engineering roles is part behavioural and part technical, and interviewers love to know how you think, so share your thought process openly, while using the tips the interviewers give you. Facebook also recommend familiarizing yourself with the company’s core values and vision, and joining their online talent community to network with hiring managers and other peers.

Question 4

Tell me about a time when you used creativity to overcome a dilemma.

Answer 4

• Mon collègue avait la tâche de développer le matériel, l’échéance arrivait mais il ne livrait pas.
• J’ai décider de prendre sa tâche en main et je l’ai fait moi même.
• Comme on n’avait pas le temps ni le manpower pour refaire sa partie, j’ai trouvé une alternative : prototype matériel plutôt que manufacturer un pcb

Answering Tip: Think about a way that you surprised yourself with an unexpected idea. Did you follow a ‘creative process’? Or was your creativity more spontaneous in the situation?

Question 5

What’s the best idea you’ve come up with on a team-based project?

Answer 5

• Proposer à l’équipe mécanique d’extraire des données dans un ficher Excel.
• Plutôt que d’attendre après moi que je développe d’autre features pour manipuler des données.
• Bruno/Alex
• Tool extracter
• Besoin urgent d’analyse
• Outils pas encore au point

Answering Tip: Brainstorm at least three different ideas and be prepared to discuss one during your interview. Focus on the ones that had the biggest impact.

Question 6

How do you approach problems? What’s your process?

Answer 6

1- Émettre des hypothèses de cause (sommairement)
2- Tenter d’éliminer les hypothèses en les vérifiant
3- Si je réussi a valider une hypothèse = good. Sinon je vais retourner sur mes assomption de départ et je vais recommencer le processus.

Answering Tip: Focus on the approach you use to solve problems. How do you break them down into steps in order to solve them? What tools and techniques do you use to work through a problem?

Question 7

Tell me about a time when you were consulted for a problem.

Answer 7

Dans ta vie personnel ça arrive que ton entourage te demande des conseils pour régler un problème technique.

Answering Tip: The interviewer wants to know what you are known/remembered for among the people who know you. Do your friends come to you for relationship advice, professional advice or to brainstorm solutions? Do they ask you for places to visit around town? Think about what you know a lot about, and what your friends know & think about you too!

“We look for candidates who have a wider lens in understanding the impact of their own function, and most of all able to operate in a high growth environment with a desire to grow.”
Monica Watt, General Manager, Elmo Talent Learning

Question 8

Name three improvements you made in your most recent position.

Answer 8

1- Mettre en pratique un patron architecturale dans des outils logiciel. Ça a permis d’améliorer l’extensibilité, la clarté et de réduire cycle de développement

2- Parrallèliser certaines tâches assez longues. Ça a permi de diminuer le temps d’attente de 90%

Answering Tip: Make a list so that you’re not stumbling over your words during the interview. Focus more on the result you achieved for this question, and have the ‘3 things’ ready to discuss.

Bonus Example: Think of a time when you’ve used an approach like Design Thinking Or Lean Startup methodology to come up with solutions to a problem. This demonstrates that you’re well versed in typical problem solving approaches used by advanced tech folks out there. Kevin Lee, Founder at PMHQ recommends asking clarifying questions and focusing on the end user, especially for Product Management Interviews at companies like Google. Who is it that you made the improvements for and why? What difference did your improvements make to your end users lives?