It's a difficult one to ask (and/or get an honest answer to), but something like "how much do you trust the boss, and the company".
If they don't have integrity, other answers might not matter.
Ask HN: Types of questions to ask team members before accepting role?
11–20 of 76 posts
Re: Ask HN: Types of questions to ask team members before accepting role?
#12Describe how you work as a team.
Re: Ask HN: Types of questions to ask team members before accepting role?
#13What have you learnt in the last year and how did that come about? Dig down to see the situation or person or self-motivation that lead to this? Variations can include 'what has the team learnt?'
This is useful at an individual level for your expectations, and it's a company flag if people respond negatively.
Re: Ask HN: Types of questions to ask team members before accepting role?
#14"How would run the business / team / org differently?"
Should let you know what's wrong without asking directly.
Re: Ask HN: Types of questions to ask team members before accepting role?
#15I made a little checklist for myself here: https://smalldata.tech/blog/2017/03/27/questions-to-ask-at-t...
Maybe there are a few questions that make sense for your role!
Re: Ask HN: Types of questions to ask team members before accepting role?
#16Describe how you work as a team.
Also, specifically: How are big decisions made? When two individuals disagree about a technical choice, how is the conflict resolved?
Re: Ask HN: Types of questions to ask team members before accepting role?
#171. Who is the most difficult person here to work with, and why? (Who should I watch out for - do they have a bad temper or goto management every disagreement?) 2. What's the biggest technical thorn in the company's side? (This is almost always something basic - like convincing management to buy more storage, or getting everyone to migrate to the newest version of something, or an underperforming vendor with a long co…
I would never honestly answer #1. In my head I know my honest answer today, but out of context I would never attempt to explain the history with a candidate. If the candidate joins the team, then what? Are some offices so impersonal that this doesn't become an issue?
Re: Ask HN: Types of questions to ask team members before accepting role?
#181. "What is your biggest gripe with the company?" -- For me, at my current company, this would be exaggerated over-rigidness and glacially slow moving processes (because of checks and emails and re-checks and approvals and and and) when a fast answer/development is required. 2. "How many levels are there in the management hierarchy?" (deep vs flat) -- I tend to prefer flatter hierarchies, which plays into 3: 3. "How…
A flat hierarchy is not always strongly correlated to personal freedom. I'm 6 or 7 levels below the CEO, but I have a lot of personal freedom because of the management style of my direct manager.
Re: Ask HN: Types of questions to ask team members before accepting role?
#19If you have a family, verify if some of team members and manager also...
Re: Ask HN: Types of questions to ask team members before accepting role?
#20"What's the worst part of your job?"