Ask HN: Are you supposed to appear dumb during interviews?

#1

Post by emthrowaway » Fri, Sep 17, 2021, 6:29 PM UTC

Hello HN,

It might appear as a strange question, but after failing so many interviews with Goog, FB, Aws and few more similar companies - It's what I'm about to conclude. Now, I've a pool of interview questions. So, when I ask them those questions, they really don't have credible answers. So, not sure, how they are judging me.

I'm starting to believe - if as an interviewee, you come across as smarter, the interviewer might feel threatened and may fear that - if they select you - then you might progress faster than them. So, it's better for them to reject you.

Re: Ask HN: Are you supposed to appear dumb during interviews?

#2

Post by PaulHoule » Fri, Sep 17, 2021, 6:30 PM UTC

You fed the questions back to the interviewers?

Re: Ask HN: Are you supposed to appear dumb during interviews?

#3

Post by emthrowaway » Fri, Sep 17, 2021, 6:31 PM UTC

PaulHoule wrote: post #2

You fed the questions back to the interviewers?

from the past interviews

Re: Ask HN: Are you supposed to appear dumb during interviews?

#4

Post by FaisalAbid » Fri, Sep 17, 2021, 6:32 PM UTC

emthrowaway wrote: post #3

PaulHoule wrote: post #2

You fed the questions back to the interviewers?

from the past interviews

What are these questions you are asking them?

Re: Ask HN: Are you supposed to appear dumb during interviews?

#5

Post by emthrowaway » Fri, Sep 17, 2021, 6:36 PM UTC

FaisalAbid wrote: post #4

emthrowaway wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

from the past interviews

What are these questions you are asking them?

Some standard questions -

1. Conflict resolution 2. Hiring/Firing 3. Strategy 4. 1:1s 5. Career management of DRs

i. For Hiring/Firing - One interviewer said - she don't like to fire people :-) ii. For conflict resolution - another interviewer has a made up story

Re: Ask HN: Are you supposed to appear dumb during interviews?

#6

Post by PaulHoule » Fri, Sep 17, 2021, 6:49 PM UTC

emthrowaway wrote: post #5

FaisalAbid wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What are these questions you are asking them?

Some standard questions - 1. Conflict resolution 2. Hiring/Firing 3. Strategy 4. 1:1s 5. Career management of DRs i. For Hiring/Firing - One interviewer said - she don't like to fire people :-) ii. For conflict resolution - another interviewer has a made up story

I'll say that

https://job-interview-answers.com/job-interview-tips/about-b...

changed my approach to job interviews from being something I dread to something I think is fun.

Re: Ask HN: Are you supposed to appear dumb during interviews?

#7

Post by axy » Fri, Sep 17, 2021, 6:58 PM UTC

First, you chose bad companies, as I can see from your list. Second, same here. I'm feeling myself a dumb, stupid numskull. If all those companies raise money with their crappy products, what's wrong with me?

Re: Ask HN: Are you supposed to appear dumb during interviews?

#8

Post by emthrowaway » Fri, Sep 17, 2021, 7:05 PM UTC

PaulHoule wrote: post #6

emthrowaway wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some standard questions - 1. Conflict resolution 2. Hiring/Firing 3. Strategy 4. 1:1s 5. Career management of DRs i. For Hiring/Firing - One interviewer said - she don't like to fire people :-) ii. For conflict resolution - another interviewer has a made up story

I'll say that https://job-interview-answers.com/job-interview-tips/about-b... changed my approach to job interviews from being something I dread to something I think is fun.

Thanks.

I was watching this[0] yday. It's hard to answer every question that way - STAR approach.

[0] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fwsc5Hm6AIA

Re: Ask HN: Are you supposed to appear dumb during interviews?

#9

Post by ssss11 » Fri, Sep 17, 2021, 9:55 PM UTC

I don’t think it’s a case of needing to act dumb to get a job. It’s probably a case of asking difficult questions that make the interviewer dislike you.

I definitely think you should ask questions, just carefully select which questions. I usually try to ask about company culture, the team and the expectations of the role itself.

Re: Ask HN: Are you supposed to appear dumb during interviews?

#10

Post by emthrowaway » Fri, Sep 17, 2021, 10:10 PM UTC

ssss11 wrote: post #9

I don’t think it’s a case of needing to act dumb to get a job. It’s probably a case of asking difficult questions that make the interviewer dislike you. I definitely think you should ask questions, just carefully select which questions. I usually try to ask about company culture, the team and the expectations of the role itself.

Thanks. I'll keep that in mind.

I was asking them those questions to validate my answers and learn better ways to tackle those questions in the future.