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Worst interview questions for software developers

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Re: Worst interview questions for software developers

#111

Post by rightbyte »

r_hoods_ghost wrote: post #89
necovek wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've contributed significant changes in my first 3 months at most jobs. Lack of fit (eg with your manager) can become too much at 5 months.

Surely this is the baseline? If you hadn't contributed significant changes in the first three months and I was your line manager I probably would have failed your probation. I wouldn't expect you to be at maximum productivity by this point but I would be expecting you to make substantive contributions appropriate to your skill level and experience within this time.

I am baffled by this. It has to be so different between fields and companies.

At 2nd job it took 5 months until the first commit. At my 3rd like 4 months.

Getting up to speed and not being a net time sink for the coworkers, like 8 months on my 2nd job even though I did kinda the same thing in my first job. About 5 months at my third job.

This also make me have a hard time understanding how job hoppers are valued at all.

But reading your comment I realize some companies work completely differently.

Re: Worst interview questions for software developers

#112

Post by poutrathor »

neilv wrote: post #97

> I would say, “I’ve got bills to pay, and I know a bit about websites. But you can hire me as an assistant to the system administrator too if you want.” Unfortunately, when you give such an honest answer, you’re asked to get the hell out of the interviewer’s face. So you have to cheat. Don’t make people cheat you. This is important, IMHO. So many companies set a tone of dishonesty and playing-to-the-metrics, startin…

I am surprised by your feedback as we have heard for years that Chinese students cheat all the time.

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=cheating+chinese+student&t=newext&...

Re: Worst interview questions for software developers

#114

Post by drewcoo »

lr4444lr wrote: post #13
lofatdairy wrote: post #3

>4. Why do you change jobs so often (so rarely)? Am I wrong to think this seems at least somewhat reasonable? Like obviously it's annoying to explain yourself, but it takes time to on-board someone and for them to become productive and it seems reasonable to want someone to stay on long enough for that at least. This naturally applies less to those super engineers you barely need to train and have obvious experienced…

No, you're not wrong, and are even downplaying how seriously disruptive a serial job hopper is to a company. I have without regrets red-flagged numerous well-qualified candidates who were an obvious flight risk at the companies I have worked at, which were always smallish. Now that big tech is contracting its ranks somewhat, this behavior is going to be even more suspect, because they will not have that refuge so eas…

> when he gets bored at my workplace

And that! That is the problem to deal with.

Or just don't hire the bastard. Your choice.

Re: Worst interview questions for software developers

#115

Post by perlgeek »

neilv wrote: post #101

> 5. Why are you the best candidate for this job? This could be a good question, when it's a high-value position of which a big part of it involves depending on the person's advice/judgment. If they give what seems like a very honest and thoughtful assessment, that's a good sign. But seems useless or counterproductive, if it comes off to them as just a nonsense ritual or trying to assert power. And if you don't alien…

> If they give what seems like a very honest and thoughtful assessment, that's a good sign.

In 99% of cases, the real, honest answer is "I couldn't possibly know, because I don't know all the candidates for this job". Which makes it a very boring interview question.

The only time where that doesn't apply is a very, very tiny niche where you know all of the qualified people.

You could also see that as a prompt "pitch us why you're a good candidate", which also seems pointless, because pitching yourself is a big part of the interview already.

Re: Worst interview questions for software developers

#116

Post by robocat »

aaronbrethorst wrote: post #88
Volundr wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I actually disagree on 10, I just estimated the population of New York then looked it up and was off by an order of magnitude. Good chance I'd do worse in an interview situation than sitting at home. A few more estimates with errors of this size and we've learned what? I have a poor grasp of US census data? Unless this is a realistic approximation of the kind of thing your doing with this job, the time in the intervi…

"why are manhole covers round" So they don't fall in. Next question.

http://sellsbrothers.com/12395

Re: Worst interview questions for software developers

#117

Post by nlitened »

andirk wrote: post #98

Biggest weakness: I'm slow. Where do I see myself in 5 years: Not here. How many peas in pod: Don't use Quicksort (stole that answer form Obama) Why should I-- : I've traversed your red/black tree and found the jade monkey, I have proven that I'm worth more than the position pays therefore you will need to increase said position's compensation, and I'm very hungover. I did all of this while wicked hungover. Do you ha…

We will call you back, Sir. Have a good day!

Re: Worst interview questions for software developers

#118

Post by neilv »

> 1. Have a family/children? How does this affect your work?

I think this is a huge no-no to ask in the US, since a company can't discriminate in hiring on the basis of family/children, and this is sounding too close to that. (It's about ideals like fairness, and also about company liability.)

When I'm an interviewee, I don't read too much into early startups doing things like asking that question, since startups are still learning lots of things. But if someone is doing this in a big established company, there might be a disconnect from conventional HR practices there, and who knows what other surprises are in store.

Re: Worst interview questions for software developers

#119

Post by itronitron »

neilv wrote: post #118

> 1. Have a family/children? How does this affect your work? I think this is a huge no-no to ask in the US, since a company can't discriminate in hiring on the basis of family/children, and this is sounding too close to that. (It's about ideals like fairness, and also about company liability.) When I'm an interviewee, I don't read too much into early startups doing things like asking that question, since startups are…

It's never appropriate. I've never been asked that question but my wife has, which suggests to me that the question places women at a disadvantage when applying to jobs.

Re: Worst interview questions for software developers

#120

Post by itronitron »

karaterobot wrote: post #48

> How do you see yourself in five years? Man, this question. I was asked this question in an interview for a startup. I gave the regular answer that was expected of me. The interview went well, and at the end when the interviewer (who was the co-founder) asked if I had any questions, I turned this around on him: "where do you see [company x] in five years?" He laughed and talked about finding product-market fit and g…

> How do you see yourself in five years?

Standing in front of a mirror.

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