'Impossible' to solve job interview brainteaser is leaving everyone baffled

The tricky puzzle was part of a job application, now, the puzzle is going viral on Reddit, and social media users are desperately trying to crack the code and it's not simple

This interview brainteaser has left job seekers scratching their heads. The puzzle was shared by a mother whose daughter was applying for a job; the puzzle was part of the application. Now, the puzzle is going viral on Reddit, and social media users are desperately trying to crack the code.

The mother posted the brainteaser on Reddit after both she and her daughter were completely flummoxed. She wrote: “My daughter is applying for a job, and this is part of the application. Any ideas?” The sequence itself seemed simple enough at first glance, yet many couldn’t figure it out., t he Express reports.

The puzzle involved completing a sequence of letters in the alphabet: the first sequence reads “A, D, G, J, M, P,” and the second one reads “C, G, K, O, S, ?”. Despite its seemingly straightforward nature, many found themselves stumped. However, the solution, as revealed by eagle-eyed Reddit users, is far simpler than it first appears. The trick lies in the pattern that creates the two-letter sequences, this is what most people initially overlook.

One user explained that the pattern works by counting how many letters are skipped between each letter in the sequence. In the first row, every letter skips two positions ahead: A skips over B and C to land on D, D skips over E and F to land on G, and so on. In the second row, however, the skips increase to three: C skips D, E, and F to land on G, G skips H, I, and J to land on K, and the same pattern continues with O and S.

Another person commented by saying: “The number of skipped letters between the rows increases by one each time.” They pointed out that the pattern essentially works like this: a(b)c, d(ef)g, g(hij)k and so on. If you haven’t figured out the answer just yet, and don’t want to know the answer yet then look away. The answer: the final letter in the second sequence is W.

Brainteasers like this are often used in job applications to test lateral thinking, logical reasoning, and problem-solving skills. As the puzzle shows, even the simplest puzzles can prove surprisingly tricky when you’re not familiar with the pattern. Brain teasers like this one help sharpen cognitive skills by improving problem-solving abilities, enhancing memory, and boosting creativity, making them a great way to exercise the brain and keep it sharp.