13 of the hardest questions you may have to answer in a job interview at Tesla

Question source: Glassdoor

Question source: Glassdoor

Question source: Glassdoor

During Business Insider's Ignition conference, Musk shared with the audience that having job applicants explain how they solved a problem in the past helps him figure out if they really are qualified for the job and lets him know if they're lying.

"If someone was really the person who solved the problem, they'll be able to answer at all levels — they'll be able to go down to the brass tacks," Musk explains. "And if they weren't, they'll get stuck."

"Anyone who struggled hard with a problem never forgets it," Musk said.

Question source: Glassdoor

Glassdoor reviewers agree that you should be prepared for lots of detailed followup questions about anything on your résumé.

"My advice: you never know what you might be asked, so stay on top of your game!" one interviewee writes.

According to the biography "Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future," this is one of Musk's favorite interview questions, and he likes to ask candidates this riddle to test their intelligence.

Question source: Glassdoor

Wong says that interviewers want to see you have a knowledge of fundamental engineering topics.

"Being a mechanical engineering student, they were not in depth technical questions," writes Sam Youngdale, a former Tesla battery engineering intern, on Quora. "Rather, it was a conversation to check my understanding of certain concepts and problem solving processes."

Wong also notes that interviewers may also ask technical questions outside your domain "to see if you can figure it out."

Question source: Glassdoor

Another question Wong says interviewers want to answer is how you'd handle the stress of the job. "It's tough working here and no one will hold you hand," he writes.

Question source: Glassdoor

Question source: Glassdoor