Oct
13
Brown Shoes or Black? from Alex Castaldo
October 13, 2007 |
Years ago a friend of mine applied for a clandestine job at a major intelligence agency and was invited to McLean VA for a series of interviews. His story may be of interest if you are looking for a similar job.
The first interview was quite uninteresting, even boring, according to my friend. He was ushered into a small nondescript office by an average looking guy who seemed to want to do most of the talking. My friend perhaps expected the agent to "sell" the agency to him with recitals of interesting adventures during his career, but it was nothing like that. The man talked mostly about himself, but in a dull, matter of fact way, full of details. Just as an example of how boring and pointless the conversation was my friend said that on two occasions the man pulled out a battered wallet and showed him pictures of his children; the second time my friend's eyes glazed over and he looked away. My friend was not impressed by the caliber of people working at the agency, to say the least.
After 45 tedious minutes the meeting was over and my friend went to his next appointment with a man who was obviously a top official, sitting in a nice big office. Now the real interview began, as the official fired question after question at my friend: Tell me about the man you just met: what did he look like, what would you estimate his height and weight? Did he wear brown shoes or black? Please summarize what he said. Did he mention anything about American policy in the Philippines? How many children does he have? Are they boys or girls? Unfortunately my friend had not paid enough attention during the first meeting; he thought of himself as detailed oriented and having a good memory, but was surprised at how difficult it was to come up the information requested.
Well, he did not get the job, but instead joined a big accounting firm, became a partner and lived happily ever after.
Comments
5 Comments so far
Archives
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- Older Archives
Resources & Links
- The Letters Prize
- Pre-2007 Victor Niederhoffer Posts
- Vic’s NYC Junto
- Reading List
- Programming in 60 Seconds
- The Objectivist Center
- Foundation for Economic Education
- Tigerchess
- Dick Sears' G.T. Index
- Pre-2007 Daily Speculations
- Laurel & Vics' Worldly Investor Articles
This reminds me of an anecdote related in a Jerzy Kosinski book.
It has been a long time since I read the book, so I might have some of the details a bit wrong, and may have left parts out, but the general idea is right, and it was this:
The protagonist was in a large room filled with large group of applicants for some sort of super-secret spy-type job.
The applicants were left in the room for a strangely long time.
At one point, they were instructed to take their clothes off.
Later they were told to put their clothes back on.
More time passed.
During all of this, some of the applicants griped, and some went off by themselves.
Eventually, they were told that the interview was over. They were told that the entire experience WAS the interview.
The protagonist passed the interview because he:
Had acted as if the entire experience was not a surprise or particularly weird, to the point of even being expected;
Had calmly folded and arranged his clothes neatly on the floor, insteado fleaving them in disarray;
Had mingled with several of the others in the room, instead of becoming isolative.
*************************
(If anyone out there knows the Jerzy Kosinski book from which I am remembering the above anecdote; and can correct, clarify and/or expand upon my memory of the above — much appreciated.)
Addendum: Jerzy has caught flak for presenting fiction as truth. Nonetheless, the alleged test presented above is intriguing as it could be seen as a potentially “deep” psychoemotional evaluation — at least in some ways — of the subjects.
I found an excerpt on amazon.com about my comment posted regarding Jerzy Kosinski. The excerpt is from the the book "Cockpit." Here's the URL. (Hope it works. Pages 54 and 55 are relevant.) http://snipurl.com/1s4w9 .. If this URL fails, just go to Amazon.com and find Cockpit by Jerzy Kosinski, and find the excerpt, pages 54-55.
The proper answer would have been: "I didn't look, but I would be extremely surprised, nay shocked, if he was wearing brown shoes. It must have been black".
…same interview for my daughter, graduating suma from Boston College, majored in Arabic and poli sci…except the interview has become more ‘goal oriented’…the interview ended, and the interviewer told her she would no longer be considered for the job because she answered this question wrong: What one thing would you do to stem terrorism and bring more stability to the developing countries?
She said she would do all possible to ensure adequate food supplies for all.
Brilliant, perfect answer. She was reluctant to tell us, because they are told to keep everything secret. This should be screamed from the rooftops.
Maybe it will be. CNN just hired her.
REMINDS ME OF MY FIRST INTERVIEW WITH A STODGY STATE STREET BOSTON FIRM, I HAD DRESSED IN A CONSERVATIVE GREY SUIT. JOB NARROWED DOWN TO TWO PERSONS, DESPITE MY OBVIOUS ETHNICITY (NON WASPISH), I GOT THE JOB…..BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I LATER FOUND OUT IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS WEARING BROWN SHOES.