There were 3 strong candidates - any one of us would have been a good fit for the position and the company. During the interview, we each were asked the inevitable "The fecal matter has struck the rotary air impeller, what do you do?" question.

The other two candidates each fired off answers from the hip. When they asked me, I thought about it for a few seconds before answering - not because of any interview strategy but simply because I distrust pat answers and try very hard not to give them. Anyway, all of us answered the question correctly but I was the one that got hired. And all because I took 10 seconds to think before I answered.

What I'm getting at is that it's also important to consider HOW a question was answered, not just whether the answer was accurate. Is the interviewee rattling off prepared answers or is he taking the time to think about your questions and to consider his answers before opening his mouth?

Jack