Ask HN: Should I pull an April fools at my Google interview on Thursday? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Should I pull an April fools at my Google interview on Thursday?

6 pointsjhuckestein11 comments

I love the idea and then at least then Google could know what they are getting themselves into ;)

The biggest problem is that it's a phone interview. I don't really know how to get OUT of the joke on the phone (I can't just grin uncontrollably and make them laugh).

Also, what would a good joke be?

Claiming to be a hired contractor conducting the interview in my name b/c I found a legal loophole allowing me to sue them if they don't interview him? I guess they would hang up.

Claiming to be SJ? Too obvious.

I was thinking of answering their "what Google product do you like most" question with their April fools' product... Or just making up my own fake product and out-googling them! I wish I could go there in person and show them a fake google product on my phone :(

Anyways, should I do it? I am expecting to be fooled and a pre-emptive strike could prevent that. har har.

And Dave, if you're reading this: I'm just kidding! Don't worry.

If you REALLY want to do something, given the options you listed, I would answer their favorite product question with their April Fools product. Something along the lines of "Well I'm partial to the new Google Time Machine... but in all seriousness I spend my life in Gmail".

It's the most benign thing you could do, breaks the ice a little, and it actually demonstrates that you've paid close attention to what they're doing.

All that said, I personally wouldn't do anything.

If you're just kidding then why the posting. If you're not think about whether or not you really want that job...

A phone interview is limited in time and scope, if you use it to pull an april fools joke it says that you are not able to see when is the appropriate time to be serious and when not.

I used to be on the other side of phone some time back. Don't do it.

Apparently, you've already fooled them into interviewing you.

So, the only way to top that would be to fool them into thinking you are actually qualified to work there. That's a joke that could be good for days... weeks... even years worth of laughs before they figure it out.

<shaking head ruefully>

i don't recommend it. your interviewer most likely views this phone screen as a chore, and isn't anywhere near as excited about it as you are.

well maybe he SHOULD be ... ;)

"My favorite Google product is definitely Gmail Paper! I have already done so much amazing for the environment."

http://mail.google.com/mail/help/paper/more.html

This would be risking/wasting an amazing opportunity

You should ask them about the big balloon and camera they use to photograph the world for Google Earth.

If you don't care about the job, do it! It will be fun. Otherwise, don't.

It's a surprisingly small world, and the person you snub today may be on the other side of another table a year from now. You only have one reputation, don't soil it.

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