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Three questions to turn the table during technical interviews

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Re: Three questions to turn the table during technical interviews

#11

Post by safeimp »

eclectic29 wrote: post #8

> These days, the roles I consider are in leadership so if we lack vision and a clear understanding of our value I’m usually empowered to fix that. If you’re interviewing for a more IC role, your hiring manager and teammates being unable to communicate expectations and success criteria is obviously a bigger concern. So, the author doesn't seem to consider IC role a leadership role. I see, ok.

I think you're being unfair. It's clear what the authors intention is. They aren't speaking "down" regarding ICs, they're just making their intention clear in terms of the role they're in search of. Yes, ICs can absolutely be leaders in an organization (and _should_ be) but that doesn't change what the role of a leader is or what the author wants.

Re: Three questions to turn the table during technical interviews

#12

Post by stevenpetryk »

bdw5204 wrote: post #7

> In every round, the interviewer should leave with the impression that you answered their questions as honestly as possible because you’re looking for the right fit, not just a job. This is precisely what I despise about "job interviews". What you ask in the "Do you have any questions?" section of the interview should be irrelevant. I don't want to have to ask questions when I don't care about the answers just becau…

Yeah. When I’m interviewing folks at my current company, and the Q&A portion begins, I tell them they can ask whatever they want or just reclaim the time; my notes are sealed. More interviewers should operate like that.

Re: Three questions to turn the table during technical interviews

#14

Post by kevinventullo »

bdw5204 wrote: post #7

> In every round, the interviewer should leave with the impression that you answered their questions as honestly as possible because you’re looking for the right fit, not just a job. This is precisely what I despise about "job interviews". What you ask in the "Do you have any questions?" section of the interview should be irrelevant. I don't want to have to ask questions when I don't care about the answers just becau…

FWIW at the big tech companies I’ve worked at, that part of the interview does not have any impact on hiring decisions.

Re: Three questions to turn the table during technical interviews

#15

Post by ang_cire »

evilfred wrote: post #4

“There’s an IC sitting out there who just had an amazing idea for a new feature/product. What happens?” in a company with more than 10 staff, they should talk to a product manager, sorry. you can't build a sustainable company by adding new features willy nilly whenever some dev has a Great Idea.

10? If I am the 12th hire at a company and there's already a dedicated PM there, I'm out. 100, understandable.

Re: Three questions to turn the table during technical interviews

#16

Post by happyopossum »

bdw5204 wrote: post #7

> In every round, the interviewer should leave with the impression that you answered their questions as honestly as possible because you’re looking for the right fit, not just a job. This is precisely what I despise about "job interviews". What you ask in the "Do you have any questions?" section of the interview should be irrelevant. I don't want to have to ask questions when I don't care about the answers just becau…

I suppose it depends on the role, but IME as a hiring interviewer, that phase of the interview can important.

Do you truly not care to learn anything about the company you will spend the next 2,3,5,10 years with?

Re: Three questions to turn the table during technical interviews

#17

Post by greenthrow »

bdw5204 wrote: post #7

> In every round, the interviewer should leave with the impression that you answered their questions as honestly as possible because you’re looking for the right fit, not just a job. This is precisely what I despise about "job interviews". What you ask in the "Do you have any questions?" section of the interview should be irrelevant. I don't want to have to ask questions when I don't care about the answers just becau…

If you don't have any interest why do you want to work at that organization? You just want a check? That's not a good way to spend half your waking hours during the work week.

Re: Three questions to turn the table during technical interviews

#19

Post by greenthrow »

eclectic29 wrote: post #8

> These days, the roles I consider are in leadership so if we lack vision and a clear understanding of our value I’m usually empowered to fix that. If you’re interviewing for a more IC role, your hiring manager and teammates being unable to communicate expectations and success criteria is obviously a bigger concern. So, the author doesn't seem to consider IC role a leadership role. I see, ok.

By definition they aren't. That's what the I stands for. Individual as in you aren't leading anyone else.

Re: Three questions to turn the table during technical interviews

#20

Post by greenthrow »

These are ok generic questions, but not great. And I would encourage people to do learn as much as possible about the org/team they are interviewing for. If there's not much public info, then this is where you ask the questions to find out if this is work you're going to enjoy or if you're gonna end up in another round of interviews in 6 months.
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