Elon Musk uses detailed questions to assess candidate honesty
Elon Musk uses a unique question to help spot dishonesty during job interviews. He asks candidates about difficult problems they have faced and how they resolved them. Musk believes that true problem-solvers can recall detailed accounts of their experiences, which helps reveal honesty. Many people may find this question straightforward. However, Musk digs deeper into a candidate's story. He wants to hear specific details about the challenges and decisions made. According to Musk, those who genuinely solved tough problems will remember every aspect, while those who exaggerate or lie will struggle to provide specifics. This interview tactic is not just used by Musk at Tesla and SpaceX. Hiring managers in various industries also ask similar questions to test real-world skills. For example, job platform Indeed often features questions about unexpected challenges in past jobs. Experts recommend a strategy called the STAR technique to structure answers: 1. Situation – Describe the challenge. 2. Task – Explain your role. 3. Action – Discuss what you did. 4. Result – Share the outcome. As job candidates prepare for interviews, they should be ready to support their achievements with clear details. If their experiences are genuine, they should recall important moments without stress. Those facing Musk in an interview should be especially prepared, as he is adept at detecting dishonesty.