


you might think this is a blog post about all of the fun-shaped paper clips we carry (circle, arrow, dog bone, quotation bubble, lightening bolt...) but it's not!
a long time ago, i went on an interview in new york city where i was asked to play "the paper clip game". not accustomed to "games" during interviews, I got a little nervous. here's how it works: name as many uses as you can for a paper clip in 1 minute.
- as a paper clip
- to clean under the finger nails
- to pick a lock
- as a weapon to poke someone's eye out
- to temporarily fix a necklace/hold it in place
- as a hole punch
- as a back scratcher
- as a hair clip
- as an earring/jewelry (in and of itself)
- to scratch off the silver coating on a lottery ticket
- as a clothes hanger for doll clothes
- to hit those small buttons like in a car to change the time
- as a rake in a japanese sand box
- to plug a small hole
- to hold a sandal or shoe together
- when coiled, as a spring
- to connect the toilet flusher handle to the part that actually flushes (don't laugh... this HAS been done!)
- to make a chain
- to eject your stuck cd in a computer
the idea was to test how clever or creative i could be on the spot, and to see which parts of my brain are used most often. ie. if someone only came up with uses that pertain to weaponry or destruction, that might be a good sign for the interviewer not to hire that candidate; likewise, if you only came up with aesthetic purposes; or only utilitarian purposes, your brain might function only that way. so be forewarned, job interviewees!! (keep in mind, this list was made in more than 1 minute, and with the help of many minds, they are NOT my original answers!)
how many would you have come up with? what would you add to this list?