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Ask HN: What is the worst interview question you've ever been asked?

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Re: Ask HN: What is the worst interview question you've ever been asked?

#21

Post by smeyer »

xpto123 wrote: post #17

I find asking a developer to write code on a whiteboard or word document to make not much sense. I was asked how many bytes are there in x amount of space, which i find as not much to do with competence in software development. A follow up question is, whats the point in asking these questions, any idea on what the goal is? There has to be an intention behind it.

Sorry, you don't see the intention behind asking people to write code on a whiteboard? Being able to lay out ideas, code, and architecture on a whiteboard is a useful skill in and of itself for communicating with coworkers, let alone using it as a way to get insight into how an interviewee codes.

Re: Ask HN: What is the worst interview question you've ever been asked?

#22

Post by rubiquity »

To try and convey I really enjoy programming I briefly described a couple things I work on in my spare time. The interviewer countered with:

"We're looking for really committed team members. Is your side project going to interfere with your responsibilities here?"

I ran quickly after that. Oddly enough that wasn't even the worst thing they said during the interview.

Re: Ask HN: What is the worst interview question you've ever been asked?

#23

Post by kevinmchugh »

smeyer wrote: post #21
xpto123 wrote: post #17

I find asking a developer to write code on a whiteboard or word document to make not much sense. I was asked how many bytes are there in x amount of space, which i find as not much to do with competence in software development. A follow up question is, whats the point in asking these questions, any idea on what the goal is? There has to be an intention behind it.

Sorry, you don't see the intention behind asking people to write code on a whiteboard? Being able to lay out ideas, code, and architecture on a whiteboard is a useful skill in and of itself for communicating with coworkers, let alone using it as a way to get insight into how an interviewee codes.

If you want to see how someone codes, ask them for a sample of code that they wrote under realistic circumstances. On a white board in front of strangers who are only there to judge is not a realistic circumstance. A realistic circumstance involves the candidate's preferred development environment and tools.

It is not always possible for job seekers to share code they've written in the past, not everyone has time or interest in side projects, and none of our employers allow us to share the code we write for them, but it is always possible to ask people to add a feature to some library you maintain or write a small demo program.

Re: Ask HN: What is the worst interview question you've ever been asked?

#24

Post by JCJoverTCP »

after hundreds of infosec interviews in the past ~5 years, i leave you with this gem: "describe a 'padding oracle' attack, what versions of Oracle does it affect?" this was not a trick question. i wish there was a topic: 'worst answers you've given to interview questions?' The sheer amount of interviews i have been on speaks to my epic failure here.

Re: Ask HN: What is the worst interview question you've ever been asked?

#26

Post by danielweber »

MalcolmDiggs wrote: post #10

I hate the "What is your greatest weakness?" question. It's a great question for a politician, not so much for a software developer. My answer is usually "heroin"...just to see their response.

I thought no one asked this any more, but I got asked it a few weeks ago.

Re: Ask HN: What is the worst interview question you've ever been asked?

#28

Post by elptacek »

tptacek wrote: post #12

In addition to being asked whether she'd really be able to handle the demands of an IT job AND be an adequate mother, my wife Erin was (in a different interview) also asked to diagnose a welt on the naked ass of the owner of a hosting company. I wish I could get my brain to dial in on all the stupid tech puzzle questions me and my friends used to devise for interviewers, but when I think "bad interview question" now,…

"What will your children do all day long while you're at work?"

I'll never forget how it felt to hear that. It was similar to the time I got hit in the stomach with a softball. Or the time I landed on the sidewalk after falling down the stairs. The wind just kinda went out of me for a moment.

Re: Ask HN: What is the worst interview question you've ever been asked?

#29

Post by tptacek »

elptacek wrote: post #28
tptacek wrote: post #12

In addition to being asked whether she'd really be able to handle the demands of an IT job AND be an adequate mother, my wife Erin was (in a different interview) also asked to diagnose a welt on the naked ass of the owner of a hosting company. I wish I could get my brain to dial in on all the stupid tech puzzle questions me and my friends used to devise for interviewers, but when I think "bad interview question" now,…

"What will your children do all day long while you're at work?" I'll never forget how it felt to hear that. It was similar to the time I got hit in the stomach with a softball. Or the time I landed on the sidewalk after falling down the stairs. The wind just kinda went out of me for a moment.

You think about this and you realize this is how most gender discrimination goes down. No fireworks, no court cases, just quiet demoralization.

Re: Ask HN: What is the worst interview question you've ever been asked?

#30

Post by elptacek »

tptacek wrote: post #29
elptacek wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"What will your children do all day long while you're at work?" I'll never forget how it felt to hear that. It was similar to the time I got hit in the stomach with a softball. Or the time I landed on the sidewalk after falling down the stairs. The wind just kinda went out of me for a moment.

You think about this and you realize this is how most gender discrimination goes down. No fireworks, no court cases, just quiet demoralization.

Onions.
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