Interview Question How do they make M Ms

Interview Question â€" How do they make M M’s Have you ever been in an interview where the interviewer asked you a question you had no idea how to answer? This happens to almost everyone at some point during the job search process. Why do companies ask questions that really blindside you? It’s simple: they want to see how well you “think on your feet.” Approximately seven years ago, I was asked a question during an interview and it went something like this: “Heather, how do you think they make M M’s?” Well, first of all, I hardly ever eat M M’s and I am certainly not a chocolate manufacturer. However, I knew they were testing me to find out how quickly I could develop a coherent, plausible answer. This question obviously had nothing to do with the job. I was not going to be producing M M’s if I landed the position. My answer was approximately the following: “I believe the chocolate shells are loaded into a machine and they are simply hinged on one side (like a clam). As they come down the machine belt, chocolate is squirted inside the shells, and the shell is heat sealed. Finally, a stamp comes down and stamps the “M” on top of the candy. Was I right with my answer? I have no idea, but it is highly doubtful. However, the important thing was that the answer was creative, relatively realistic, and I came up with it on-the-spot. The company was seeking someone that could troubleshoot issues and develop problem solving skills in a quick manner. To this day, I still don’t know how they make M M’s. Does it matter? Probably not I got the job and didn’t need to look into becoming a chocolate manufacturer.