3 ms·

For example, "what are the strengths and weaknesses of classifying grammars via the Chomsky hierarchy?" What's the point of grandstanding like this? To make y

by drugme 8y ago

For example, "what are the strengths and weaknesses of classifying grammars via the Chomsky hierarchy?" What's the point of grandstanding like this? To make yourself feel smarter than they are? My way of dealing with bullshitters (who in general are surprisingly eager to reveal themselves as such -- there's no need to lay special traps for them) is simply to say "Hmm - okay" and politely end the interview at the nearest reasonable opportunity.

kristopolous 8y ago
It's a 1-on-1 interview (not in front of others). Ultimately the point is to help the person. When interviewing and I didn't get a job I always desperately wanted to know how to improve things next time and nobody would tell me. Instead there was this little canned BS email from HR "after much consideration blah blah blah" stop that ... tell why! This goes one step beyond telling. Show people why. Show them what they are doing, when they are doing it, how you can see it, why it's bad, why it hurts them and help them not do it in the future. Give them an offer to correct it after you've made it clear (this is like throwing an exception in programming versus silent failure). Reset the clock and try again if you want. Maybe they're actually great and you read them wrong (they might be a "good program" with your bad input). The interviewer isn't some flawless executioner. Most interviewers don't act like characters out of an Ayn Rand book. At the end of the day they care about others and know they have bills to pay. Doing this shows "this is why this job can't happen". Try to be their best interview for a job they didn't get. The candidate doesn't walk out the door with ambiguity or false pretense or the illusion of doing well. Nor do the decisions come across as arbitrary and indiscriminate. They know exactly what action they need to take for their next opportunity. If they don't get the job on offer, the best you can do for them is help make sure they can get the next one.
- drugme 8y ago
  Fair enough - thanks for clarifying.

by drugme 8y ago

kristopolous 8y ago

It's a 1-on-1 interview (not in front of others). Ultimately the point is to help the person. When interviewing and I didn't get a job I always desperately wanted to know how to improve things next time and nobody would tell me. Instead there was this little canned BS email from HR "after much consideration blah blah blah" stop that ... tell why! This goes one step beyond telling. Show people why. Show them what they are doing, when they are doing it, how you can see it, why it's bad, why it hurts them and help them not do it in the future. Give them an offer to correct it after you've made it clear (this is like throwing an exception in programming versus silent failure). Reset the clock and try again if you want. Maybe they're actually great and you read them wrong (they might be a "good program" with your bad input). The interviewer isn't some flawless executioner. Most interviewers don't act like characters out of an Ayn Rand book. At the end of the day they care about others and know they have bills to pay. Doing this shows "this is why this job can't happen". Try to be their best interview for a job they didn't get. The candidate doesn't walk out the door with ambiguity or false pretense or the illusion of doing well. Nor do the decisions come across as arbitrary and indiscriminate. They know exactly what action they need to take for their next opportunity. If they don't get the job on offer, the best you can do for them is help make sure they can get the next one.

drugme 8y ago
Fair enough - thanks for clarifying.