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You can make it even more generic than that. A rather simple at first glance, but discussion provoking question: "What do you like and what do you dislike about

You can make it even more generic than that. A rather simple at first glance, but discussion provoking question: "What do you like and what do you dislike about the Technology X?". A good candidate who has experience with the said Technology X would not shut up on this subject. A bad one however will struggle. This is of course provided that you are hiring for some specific stack.

commandlinefan 5y ago
> experience with the said Technology X would not shut up on this subject I've learned the hard way to be very reserved when giving opinions about technology X because interviewers sometimes get really defensive about the thing they like about technology X.
webdood90 5y ago
The bias in this approach is obvious. In your mind, you think a candidate "not shutting up" is a green flag, but the reality is you are trying to hire someone who thinks like you. There are a million reasons why this approach doesn't work. Maybe they just don't like talking that much. Maybe they don't like the technology you're discussing. Maybe they just don't care enough to have an opinion on it. None of the above are good reasons to pass on a candidate.
- neverminder 5y ago
  > but the reality is you are trying to hire someone who thinks like you. Not really. If someone can present solid reasoning and argue their point well, they don't have to think like me. Three's more than one way to skin a cat. > Maybe they don't like the technology you're discussing. Maybe they just don't care enough to have an opinion on it. You mean the technology they are being hired for? Yeah, hating, not caring about it is probably not a good motivator to go for the job then, wouldn't you agree? > None of the above are good reasons to pass on a candidate. Beats the whiteboarding. I was hired like that in my last 3 jobs and I have used the same approach myself with rather consistently good results.
  - webdood90 5y ago
    Oh, well it sounds like you're doing everything right. This also probably scales really well. Thanks for sharing - hopefully a lot of people will use your anecdotal evidence to impact the way they hire people too!

commandlinefan 5y ago

> experience with the said Technology X would not shut up on this subject I've learned the hard way to be very reserved when giving opinions about technology X because interviewers sometimes get really defensive about the thing they like about technology X.

webdood90 5y ago

The bias in this approach is obvious. In your mind, you think a candidate "not shutting up" is a green flag, but the reality is you are trying to hire someone who thinks like you. There are a million reasons why this approach doesn't work. Maybe they just don't like talking that much. Maybe they don't like the technology you're discussing. Maybe they just don't care enough to have an opinion on it. None of the above are good reasons to pass on a candidate.

neverminder 5y ago
> but the reality is you are trying to hire someone who thinks like you. Not really. If someone can present solid reasoning and argue their point well, they don't have to think like me. Three's more than one way to skin a cat. > Maybe they don't like the technology you're discussing. Maybe they just don't care enough to have an opinion on it. You mean the technology they are being hired for? Yeah, hating, not caring about it is probably not a good motivator to go for the job then, wouldn't you agree? > None of the above are good reasons to pass on a candidate. Beats the whiteboarding. I was hired like that in my last 3 jobs and I have used the same approach myself with rather consistently good results.
- webdood90 5y ago
  Oh, well it sounds like you're doing everything right. This also probably scales really well. Thanks for sharing - hopefully a lot of people will use your anecdotal evidence to impact the way they hire people too!