Problem solver. Creative. Works well under pressure. 

These are key personality traits employers will be seeking no matter what position they’re hiring for—and chances are, you resume probably already showcases them in some way. But these days, hiring managers from some firms aren’t content to take job seekers at their word—they want to see it to believe it. 

And that’s why some companies have turned the interview process on its head. Instead of the traditional questions you might expect in an interview, they’re giving candidates problems to solve—problems which, at first glance, might seem totally random. Google, for example, has been known to ask, “How many people are using Facebook in San Francisco at 2:30 PM on a Friday?” Hewlett-Packard asks, “If Germans were the tallest people in the world, how would you prove it?” 

No doubt, these are tough questions but there is no need to panic. Your interviewer isn’t necessarily looking for a right answer. He wants simply to determine how quickly you can think on your feet, how you’ll approach a difficult situation, and, most importantly, whether you can remain positive and proactive and make progress in the face of a challenge.

      “Doctor,” said the woman, “every night my son dreams he's a chicken, and then he starts acting like one. 20 , he flaps his arms like wings, puts his head down to the ground, and starts eating bugs. 21 , his head goes back and forth when he walks. 22 , he even comes into my room and wakes me up at dawn.” “This isvery serious,” said the doctor. “You should bring him to me at once. 23 , he might develop otherstrange behaviors, 24 building a nest.” “OK, Doctor,” said the woman. “But I'm going to miss the eggs.”

      According to two recent studies, the annual cost of workplace absence in the U.K. has risen to 10.5 billion pounds,   41    employment every week because of work-related injury or illness. Ill health is now the    42    of joblessness in the U.K., with repetitive strain injury, back strain, and stress the three top reasons for absence. One study found that employees took an average of 7.8 days off work through sickness last year, a   43    from 8.5 days the previous year. “Absence is a huge cost to business—the worst performing firms have twice the absence rates of the best ones,” said one research unit. Many companies believe    44    to 15% of absences are not genuine. Overindulging in alcohol is the main reason for pulling a sickie, one survey has found. A third of British    45    would call in sick after a drunken night. But more than half said they would think again if their pay was cut.

       Pete is 36 years old and works for the post office. He has worked there for 12 years. His salary is good, and benefits are excellent. All postal workers have health insurance and a good   36   plan. Pete works hard,   37   misses work, and is never late. He’s reliable, and his supervisors know that they can   38   on him. He also gets along well with the other workers. Pete loves sports. He played football and baseball in high school, and he still jogs three or four times a week. Pete doesn’t drink or smoke, but he has one big   39   . He loves to   40   . He buys a lottery ticket every day. He goes to the racetrack every week. He also bets on football, basketball, and baseball games. Sometimes, he wins a lot of money, but sometimes he loses a lot. This makes his wife, Gloria, angry. “You should stop betting,” she tells Pete. “I’ll stop betting if you lose 40 pounds,” he replies.

Depression drains your energy, hope, and drive, making it difficult to take the steps that will help you to feel better. Sometimes, just thinking about the things you should do to feel better, like exercising or spending time with friends, can seem exhausting or impossible to put into action. It’s the Catch-22 of depression recovery: the things that help the most are the things that are the most difficult to do. There is a big difference, however, between something that’s difficult and something that’s impossible. While recovering from depression isn’t quick or easy, you do have more control than you realize—even if your depression is severe and stubbornly persistent. The key is to start small and build from there. You may not have much energy, but by drawing on all your reserves, you should have enough to take a walk around the block or pick up the phone to call a loved one, for example. Taking the first step is always the hardest. But going for a walk or getting up and dancing to your favorite music, for example, is something you can do right now. And it can substantially boost your mood and energy for several hours—long enough to put a second recovery step into action, such as preparing a mood-boosting meal or arranging to meet an old friend.