How do you think you’d fare? That’s the key question Elon Musk asks in nearly every job interview to spot honesty and problem-solving ability. Candidates applying to Tesla, SpaceX, or any of his companies face intense competition, and embellishing experience is strongly discouraged.
In a 2017 interview with Auto Bild, Musk explained that he doesn’t focus heavily on educational accomplishments. Instead, he asks: “What are some of the tougher problems you’ve dealt with and how you dealt with those?” He wants applicants to tell the story of their career and explain how they made decisions at key transition points.
Why? According to Musk, this one question often reveals whether someone is genuine. People who truly struggled with a challenge tend to recall details clearly, while those exaggerating cannot. He looks for evidence of exceptional ability—proof that the candidate took responsibility and overcame real obstacles.
This aligns with common problem-solving questions identified by Indeed, such as “Describe a time when you faced an unexpected challenge.” Experts suggest using the STAR technique—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to frame answers effectively, showing both problem-solving skills and honesty.
