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How do you start these conversations? For example, you ask "what du you think about meritocracy?" I'm curious about some of the questions you ask / things you

How do you start these conversations? For example, you ask "what du you think about meritocracy?" I'm curious about some of the questions you ask / things you say to get the conversation going (Btw seems a bit random to pick different topics with different people, then how can you compare?)

candiddevmike 6y ago
I try to keep things pretty playful, I have a bunch of ice breakers I've learned over the years (stranded on island, what do you bring, what would you do if you had a million dollars/what would you do if you had only one dollar). From there, I dig into things that may lead to more interesting dialogue. This sounds really one sided, but I try to provide my own input if the candidate doesn't ask for it (nerves, just shy, it's all good). The more open I am, the more open they are, and we both leave with a better understanding.
- FooBarBizBazz 6y ago
  I find your "playful" system interesting. Personally, when I interview I try to observe the physiognomy of the subject. I look for defects like weak chins or sloping brows. An informal survey of social opinions is also useful. If the candidate asks "How old is your grandmother?", he's inquiring after your Freemason's lodge number, which is a reliable sign of a good fellow. As you say, you should always keep the atmosphere light and informal. A snifter of brandy, for example, never goes wrong.
  - cutemonster 6y ago
    Why so negative? I wonder if you didn't like some of the other things in that job application process -- but that doesn't mean that this part, about asking "unexpected philosophical questions" would be bad. You'll meet the candidate anyway, right, for a walk, or over a lunch, and what are you going to talk about anyway, then. Might as well make that conversation a bit "deeper" so as to get more info about each other (goes both ways I suppose).
    - FooBarBizBazz 6y ago
      There are two issues: 1. a disrespect for psychological boundaries. 2. a system that seems primarily to probe for cultural markers.
- cutemonster 6y ago
  Ok, sounds like (well, like you said) questions that speed up the getting to know each other process, in that one doesn't talk just about the weather and "what's your favorite language". Seems like a useful tool, to me, if combined with more standard things like coding skill tests etc. Thanks for the idea. Do you answer such questions too? If the candidate later asks you "What would you bring? And do with a million dollars"
watwut 6y ago
As a women he responded to, I have met these people too. Plenty of them who tell you from their own initiative, quite quickly. Like they could not wait for opportunity too tell me about my inferiority. So he likely does not have to fish all that much. The other complicating factor is that people who are smooth and don't talk about these openly, pretty often are on practice even more biased. But in ways that are harder to prove, but do very real damage.
- cutemonster 6y ago
  > Plenty of them who tell you from their own initiative, quite quickly I wonder what are ways to trigger people to show off they have such opinions, during a job interview, but not come off as sexist oneself (in case instead they're kind and good judgement people) > people who are smooth and don't talk about these openly, pretty often are on practice even more biased I'm curious about if you have some examples If they're smooth talkers, I'd guess you'd notice such things via what they do not what they say?

candiddevmike 6y ago

I try to keep things pretty playful, I have a bunch of ice breakers I've learned over the years (stranded on island, what do you bring, what would you do if you had a million dollars/what would you do if you had only one dollar). From there, I dig into things that may lead to more interesting dialogue. This sounds really one sided, but I try to provide my own input if the candidate doesn't ask for it (nerves, just shy, it's all good). The more open I am, the more open they are, and we both leave with a better understanding.

FooBarBizBazz 6y ago
I find your "playful" system interesting. Personally, when I interview I try to observe the physiognomy of the subject. I look for defects like weak chins or sloping brows. An informal survey of social opinions is also useful. If the candidate asks "How old is your grandmother?", he's inquiring after your Freemason's lodge number, which is a reliable sign of a good fellow. As you say, you should always keep the atmosphere light and informal. A snifter of brandy, for example, never goes wrong.
- cutemonster 6y ago
  Why so negative? I wonder if you didn't like some of the other things in that job application process -- but that doesn't mean that this part, about asking "unexpected philosophical questions" would be bad. You'll meet the candidate anyway, right, for a walk, or over a lunch, and what are you going to talk about anyway, then. Might as well make that conversation a bit "deeper" so as to get more info about each other (goes both ways I suppose).
  - FooBarBizBazz 6y ago
    There are two issues: 1. a disrespect for psychological boundaries. 2. a system that seems primarily to probe for cultural markers.
cutemonster 6y ago
Ok, sounds like (well, like you said) questions that speed up the getting to know each other process, in that one doesn't talk just about the weather and "what's your favorite language". Seems like a useful tool, to me, if combined with more standard things like coding skill tests etc. Thanks for the idea. Do you answer such questions too? If the candidate later asks you "What would you bring? And do with a million dollars"

watwut 6y ago

As a women he responded to, I have met these people too. Plenty of them who tell you from their own initiative, quite quickly. Like they could not wait for opportunity too tell me about my inferiority. So he likely does not have to fish all that much. The other complicating factor is that people who are smooth and don't talk about these openly, pretty often are on practice even more biased. But in ways that are harder to prove, but do very real damage.

cutemonster 6y ago
> Plenty of them who tell you from their own initiative, quite quickly I wonder what are ways to trigger people to show off they have such opinions, during a job interview, but not come off as sexist oneself (in case instead they're kind and good judgement people) > people who are smooth and don't talk about these openly, pretty often are on practice even more biased I'm curious about if you have some examples If they're smooth talkers, I'd guess you'd notice such things via what they do not what they say?