Thomas Edison, the genius behind the light bulb, batteries, and motion pictures, also had a knack for revolutionizing job interviews. Imagine being interviewed by the man himself.

Sounds electrifying, right?

Edison wasn't your typical mad scientist working alone in a secret lab. With more than 10,000 employees throughout various companies, he needed the best minds for his cutting-edge projects. Enter the Edison Tests — detailed questionnaires that went far beyond mere technical skills.

Edison’s interviews were anything but ordinary. Picture this: He serves you a bowl of soup. If you salt it before tasting, then he marks you as someone who jumps to conclusions — definitely not what he wanted in a meticulous researcher.

Back in his day, employers rarely considered personality fit. Edison, however, was ahead of his time. His 140-question test required a whopping 90% to pass. In 1921, only 32 of 718 candidates succeeded. Even Einstein stumbled on this one!

Edison might have also accidentally invented news leaks. After his test was leaked to The New York Times, he had to rewrite the whole thing. Talk about unintended innovation!

Edison’s approach to hiring — blending technical know-how with personality insights — has shaped today’s job interview.

So next time you're prepping for an interview, remember: You might have Edison to thank for those quirky questions!