Simple questions hard to answer

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To get a job at Google you should answer several weird interview questions like “Why is a manhole round?” All of those questions test the candidates’ math skills, ability at logical reasoning or involve calculation and physics.

But my post isn’t actually about Google. Today I want to talk about Bridgewater founder Ray Dalio and his questions.

Bridgewater is the largest hedge fund in the world. Ray Dalio, according to Forbes, is the 29th richest person in America and the 60th richest person on the planet. He is also famous for his daily meditation practice that helps him perceive reality more clearly and creatively and get rid of irrational thoughts (now you know what to include in your morning routine to become a millionaire). Ray describes his management philosophy as “radical transparency”. Everyone is allowed to speak up and criticize a certain project as long as the criticism is constructive.

But to get a seat at the meeting first you have to face your job interview. Bridgewater’s questions have nothing to do with math, physics, logic or any other favorite words of every student. You don’t need any special knowledge to answer them. In fact, these questions don’t have a right or wrong answer. They aim to look inside your heart and ‘feel’ your way of thinking.

Just in case you want to be a millionaire, not a blogger, ask yourself and answer some of these questions.

“Is television damaging to society?”

“Would the world be better off with an open border policy?” a Russian tourist (who wished to remain anonymous) asks

“Would you sell cigarettes to a smoker even if it was bad for them?”

“How do you think people perceive you?”

“If you had to push a button to eliminate death, will you push it?”

“If you could genetically modify your children, would you, and with what conditions?”

“Why shouldn’t we hire you?”