This is a bona fide interview question that Goldman Sachs posed to its operations analyst candidates in 2014. Needless to say, it’s considered one of the toughest questions the financial firm has ever asked. It might seem ludicrous, but throwing an edgy curve-ball into a job interview can reveal a lot about the candidate’s ability to perform under pressure and respond to the unexpected. (Also, they might really like Hitler.)
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The movers-and-shakers who run Goldman Sachs have a reputation for being gung-ho, arrogant mavericks. They were also among the chief beneficiaries of the US government’s massive bailout of Wall Street. We therefore hesitate to recommend any of their workplace practices; particularly bringing up Hitler to potential employees.
With that said, there could be a method to the aforementioned madness. It’s the kind of question that is guaranteed to completely throw the candidate’s game plan and force them to think on their feet. This can be valuable intel if they’re applying for a high-pressure position.
There’s really only one correct response to this question (“I don’t like him”) — but it can be expressed in myriad ways. Do they react jovially? Get offended? Turn the question back on the interviewer? Depending on the type of employee you want, any of these responses could be the right one.
The 10 trickiest Goldman Sachs interview questions [Business Insider]
Comments
4 responses to “Killer Interview Question: What Is Your Opinion Of Adolf Hitler?”
He was a misunderstood genius, wait what now, how is this even relevant? Oh I see Goldman Sachs are power hungry tyrants.
Well, he brought Germany out of depression, built infrastructure including the autobahns that still exist today and put into mass production the much-loved VW Beetle. This of course was all done under the ulterior motive of bringing about mass genocide and war across Europe. So if that wasn’t his actual agenda, he wouldn’t be the evil, crazy bastard we all know.
In conclusion, he was a sneaky fucker, and that trait alone means he would fit right in on Wall Street.
Despite all of his faults and completely misguided extremist motivations behind his unforgivable actions, he definitely knew how to get a lot of shit done during his short time as leader.
He was a smart man, but not a wise one. He and many others paid for that difference.
“I don’t like him” can’t be the right answer here. That’s a knee-jerk unthinking response.
I would think that a correct answer to elevate an applicant above the pack would properly balance acknowledgement of and respect for his significant economic achievements, with a healthy dose of moral condemnation of the warmongering and genocide.
We was a speaker, motivator and influencer. If he was on Wall Street, people would have eaten stocks for breakfast.
“well he’s literally hitler”