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Interviewing the interviewer has been THE best way to get the job. It just oozes a confidence that you already know you're good enough to get the job, and you'r

Interviewing the interviewer has been THE best way to get the job. It just oozes a confidence that you already know you're good enough to get the job, and you're trying to figure out if they are good enough for YOU. Figure out questions before hand that describe the type of good working environments or fixes for bad ones that you've had in the past. The interviewer will quickly shift and try to sell the position to you (harder than normal). It sounds silly, and like something they'd probably be used to by now, but in every case I've done this it's landed me an offer. This is coming from someone who needs to interview well because my degree/experience doesn't usually perfectly line up to the jobs I'm applying for.

viraptor 7y ago
> The interviewer will quickly shift and try to sell the position to you I wonder if that's often how it's perceived on the other side. I love when the people I interview ask me questions. If they're interested in something, not only am I going to answer as best as I can, I'm going to be interested in why you it's important to you. It can be a great conversation, and I'm not even trying to sell the position :-) People really don't do it often enough - that's why I decided to post my own list.
- alistairSH 7y ago
  The best interview I ever conducted, the candidate not only aced the technical questions, but was able to ask solid follow-up questions on those topics. "I solved it this way, what would you have done differently?" "This solution was quick to write and simple to understand, would you prefer a more performant solution?" And during the "social" part of the interview, he asked detailed questions about the company and our niche, not just generic "how big is the team" stuff.
  - dver 7y ago
    Did they get an offer, if so did they accept?
    - alistairSH 7y ago
      Yes and yes, and still on my team 5 years later. So I suppose I aced their portion of the interview as well.
Aeolun 7y ago
If I run out of questions to ask the candidate during an interview, asking if they have any questions themselves is a great way to find out even more. I’m tempted to say that the questions they ask carry more weight for the final result than the ones that I did.
theamk 7y ago
At my job, we have "do you have any questions for us" part as a standard part of every interview -- and my experience shows that most people always have at least one question.
- neogodless 7y ago
  I think there's nothing wrong with what you're talking about here, but I also think it's different from the comment here. You really need to be asking questions throughout, taking any questions directed at you, answering them, and then using that as an opportunity to learned related things about the company, the team, and the environment you would be spending all your time in. It should be continual engagement and back-and-forth, rather than a one-directional quiz (until it's time to ask your questions.)
- pm215 7y ago
  I suspect most candidates have at least one question because it's pretty widely known that many employers will ask "do you have any questions for us" at the end of an interview, and so will have prepared something that makes them sound interested in the employer in some way, even if they don't necessarily actually care that much about the answer. (For instance the advice on https://www.wikijob.co.uk/content/interview-advice/interview-questions/questions-ask-your-interviewer/ https://www.wikijob.co.uk/content/interview-advice/interview... suggests "Have two or three interesting and intelligent questions prepared before the interview, to show that you are interested in the job and eager to find out more" etc.)
  - bradlys 7y ago
    I'll give my anecdote on this: When I used to not have any questions after the interview - I got rejected what felt like a weirdly high amount and definitely a weird tone from the interviewer. When I started asking questions - the interviewer seemed to have a much more positive outlook on me and my acceptance rate went up. I've interviewed a lot and there are people you have to ask questions to or else they will reject you.
    - 7y ago
koffiezet 7y ago
As a freelancer (SRE/devops/'cloud native' architecture etc), this is what I do. Not all questions in original article apply to me though, but I get quite a few offers, and I only try to accept interesting-ones. In my experience, when interviewers don't switch to selling the position, this is a bad sign. I'm confident I know my job, am open and honest about what I know and don't know, I don't need a 101 quiz of whatever tech they have in mind. If this happens I usually cut the interview short and just tell them this is probably not a good match.
toast0 7y ago
When I'm scheduled for a technical interview, I've got some time for questions, but not a lot. If the candidate controls the interview to the point where we don't have time to get into the harder technical stuff, that's a red flag from experience with previous candidates; but I also will try harder to push back to the schedule to make sure I get the technical signal I'm looking for.
everdrive 7y ago
Your advice is correct, but depressing. These body-language games people play with each other are manipulative, and sometimes deceptive. Even if there's truth behind the assertion of confidence, the assertion was made to manipulate the outcome. No doubt, the most obvious rebuttal is that the interviewer will be doing their best to manipulate no matter your tactic, so you either circumvent them or acquiesce to them.
- Jarwain 7y ago
  What would you say is the distinction between influencing and manipulating an outcome?
  - everdrive 7y ago
    I take "manipulation" to be somewhat similar to "lying." The distinction is intent. So, you have at least three scenarios: - 1) You earnestly express a belief, and it happens to have the desired outcome. - 2) You express a belief primarily because you know what outcome it will create. - 3) And the grey area: You honestly hold a belief, but you're also well informed about how that belief must be presented to modify your outcome. Realistically, most of us live in that third option. The distinction between a job interview, and say, a dinner out with a friend, is that you're highly incentivized during a job interview to present yourself in the best light possible. Most of us are aware of how we'll come off when we make a statement, and there's always some incentive to come off in a better light. But, a job interview generally removes the possibility for blunt honesty. "Well, of course I'm excited to work here. If I don't express that excitement, you won't hire me!" Such a frank appraisal isn't really possible in a job interview. But in another (ie, a social) context, you could make a sarcastic quip, or even just an honest appraisal of the situation. "I'm excited to see you, but being in this crowded restaurant is giving me a bit of a panic attack." Maybe that's not the best social tact, but the option is much more available in a social context. I'm meandering a bit here, but I hope my point comes through. When we're stuck in that grey area of option #3 in most situations in every day life, we can generally chose to go with honesty if we prefer. In a job interview, our success and survival depends on forcing us toward option #2.
  - 7y ago
JMTQp8lwXL 7y ago
At a smaller place, sure. If you know the job would require working with the interviewer. But in places like Google, who you're interviewing has no relation to where you work within the company; team placement comes after hiring committee deciding they want you.
svckr 7y ago
I totally agree and, anecdotally, the last time I was interviewing for a position, the thing I was terrified of the most was running out of questions to ask (which happened eventually, after 5 rounds of interviews with ample time in between). I'm happy to be adding a few more questions to my list now :)
- proverbialbunny 7y ago
  >the thing I was terrified of the most was running out of questions to ask (which happened eventually, after 5 rounds of interviews with ample time in between). Why? Usually by the last interview if I have questions they're personal getting to know the person type questions, because I've got everything figured out by then.
- ChuckNorris89 7y ago
  5 rounds of interviews?! Jesus, where's that a thing? Most I've had in EU was 3 rounds. 1 HR/recruiter, 2 technical, 3 technical+personal then offer
rolltiide 7y ago
> The interviewer will quickly shift and try to sell the position to you "How long has this position been open?" is useful to subsequently ask "so why is this offer letter expiring in 48 hours?"
- crispyporkbites 7y ago
  I wouldn’t bother, offers don’t expire, no matter what they say
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
pkaye 7y ago
I'm okay with this as as interviewer as long as they allow me to ask my own questions. There have been a few candidates over the years that swamp you with their own questions that you don't have time to ask them your own. In this case it just leaves doubt in my mind.

viraptor 7y ago

> The interviewer will quickly shift and try to sell the position to you I wonder if that's often how it's perceived on the other side. I love when the people I interview ask me questions. If they're interested in something, not only am I going to answer as best as I can, I'm going to be interested in why you it's important to you. It can be a great conversation, and I'm not even trying to sell the position :-) People really don't do it often enough - that's why I decided to post my own list.

alistairSH 7y ago
The best interview I ever conducted, the candidate not only aced the technical questions, but was able to ask solid follow-up questions on those topics. "I solved it this way, what would you have done differently?" "This solution was quick to write and simple to understand, would you prefer a more performant solution?" And during the "social" part of the interview, he asked detailed questions about the company and our niche, not just generic "how big is the team" stuff.
- dver 7y ago
  Did they get an offer, if so did they accept?
  - alistairSH 7y ago
    Yes and yes, and still on my team 5 years later. So I suppose I aced their portion of the interview as well.

Aeolun 7y ago

If I run out of questions to ask the candidate during an interview, asking if they have any questions themselves is a great way to find out even more. I’m tempted to say that the questions they ask carry more weight for the final result than the ones that I did.

theamk 7y ago

At my job, we have "do you have any questions for us" part as a standard part of every interview -- and my experience shows that most people always have at least one question.

neogodless 7y ago
I think there's nothing wrong with what you're talking about here, but I also think it's different from the comment here. You really need to be asking questions throughout, taking any questions directed at you, answering them, and then using that as an opportunity to learned related things about the company, the team, and the environment you would be spending all your time in. It should be continual engagement and back-and-forth, rather than a one-directional quiz (until it's time to ask your questions.)
pm215 7y ago
I suspect most candidates have at least one question because it's pretty widely known that many employers will ask "do you have any questions for us" at the end of an interview, and so will have prepared something that makes them sound interested in the employer in some way, even if they don't necessarily actually care that much about the answer. (For instance the advice on https://www.wikijob.co.uk/content/interview-advice/interview-questions/questions-ask-your-interviewer/ https://www.wikijob.co.uk/content/interview-advice/interview... suggests "Have two or three interesting and intelligent questions prepared before the interview, to show that you are interested in the job and eager to find out more" etc.)
- bradlys 7y ago
  I'll give my anecdote on this: When I used to not have any questions after the interview - I got rejected what felt like a weirdly high amount and definitely a weird tone from the interviewer. When I started asking questions - the interviewer seemed to have a much more positive outlook on me and my acceptance rate went up. I've interviewed a lot and there are people you have to ask questions to or else they will reject you.
  - 7y ago

koffiezet 7y ago

As a freelancer (SRE/devops/'cloud native' architecture etc), this is what I do. Not all questions in original article apply to me though, but I get quite a few offers, and I only try to accept interesting-ones. In my experience, when interviewers don't switch to selling the position, this is a bad sign. I'm confident I know my job, am open and honest about what I know and don't know, I don't need a 101 quiz of whatever tech they have in mind. If this happens I usually cut the interview short and just tell them this is probably not a good match.

toast0 7y ago

When I'm scheduled for a technical interview, I've got some time for questions, but not a lot. If the candidate controls the interview to the point where we don't have time to get into the harder technical stuff, that's a red flag from experience with previous candidates; but I also will try harder to push back to the schedule to make sure I get the technical signal I'm looking for.

everdrive 7y ago

Your advice is correct, but depressing. These body-language games people play with each other are manipulative, and sometimes deceptive. Even if there's truth behind the assertion of confidence, the assertion was made to manipulate the outcome. No doubt, the most obvious rebuttal is that the interviewer will be doing their best to manipulate no matter your tactic, so you either circumvent them or acquiesce to them.

Jarwain 7y ago
What would you say is the distinction between influencing and manipulating an outcome?
- everdrive 7y ago
  I take "manipulation" to be somewhat similar to "lying." The distinction is intent. So, you have at least three scenarios: - 1) You earnestly express a belief, and it happens to have the desired outcome. - 2) You express a belief primarily because you know what outcome it will create. - 3) And the grey area: You honestly hold a belief, but you're also well informed about how that belief must be presented to modify your outcome. Realistically, most of us live in that third option. The distinction between a job interview, and say, a dinner out with a friend, is that you're highly incentivized during a job interview to present yourself in the best light possible. Most of us are aware of how we'll come off when we make a statement, and there's always some incentive to come off in a better light. But, a job interview generally removes the possibility for blunt honesty. "Well, of course I'm excited to work here. If I don't express that excitement, you won't hire me!" Such a frank appraisal isn't really possible in a job interview. But in another (ie, a social) context, you could make a sarcastic quip, or even just an honest appraisal of the situation. "I'm excited to see you, but being in this crowded restaurant is giving me a bit of a panic attack." Maybe that's not the best social tact, but the option is much more available in a social context. I'm meandering a bit here, but I hope my point comes through. When we're stuck in that grey area of option #3 in most situations in every day life, we can generally chose to go with honesty if we prefer. In a job interview, our success and survival depends on forcing us toward option #2.
- 7y ago

JMTQp8lwXL 7y ago

At a smaller place, sure. If you know the job would require working with the interviewer. But in places like Google, who you're interviewing has no relation to where you work within the company; team placement comes after hiring committee deciding they want you.

svckr 7y ago

I totally agree and, anecdotally, the last time I was interviewing for a position, the thing I was terrified of the most was running out of questions to ask (which happened eventually, after 5 rounds of interviews with ample time in between). I'm happy to be adding a few more questions to my list now :)

proverbialbunny 7y ago
>the thing I was terrified of the most was running out of questions to ask (which happened eventually, after 5 rounds of interviews with ample time in between). Why? Usually by the last interview if I have questions they're personal getting to know the person type questions, because I've got everything figured out by then.
ChuckNorris89 7y ago
5 rounds of interviews?! Jesus, where's that a thing? Most I've had in EU was 3 rounds. 1 HR/recruiter, 2 technical, 3 technical+personal then offer

rolltiide 7y ago

> The interviewer will quickly shift and try to sell the position to you "How long has this position been open?" is useful to subsequently ask "so why is this offer letter expiring in 48 hours?"

crispyporkbites 7y ago
I wouldn’t bother, offers don’t expire, no matter what they say
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]

pkaye 7y ago

I'm okay with this as as interviewer as long as they allow me to ask my own questions. There have been a few candidates over the years that swamp you with their own questions that you don't have time to ask them your own. In this case it just leaves doubt in my mind.