3 ms·

I think honesty is still probably correct - if you're struggling to figure out how to hedge. I think you'd rather have good odds at some companies and 0% at ot

I think honesty is still probably correct - if you're struggling to figure out how to hedge. I think you'd rather have good odds at some companies and 0% at others, rather than abysmal but non-zero odds at all companies. And as an added bonus, you might get hired at a company where you're actually a good fit, rather than one you weasled your way into, and get to pay rent, food bills, and other expenses through employment for a long time!

simonw 4mo ago
It's pretty easy as an interviewer to spot when a candidate is hedging on a question, and it's the kind of thing that might get discussed in the post-interview debrief. "Wouldn't give a straight answer on question X" isn't an instant no-hire, but it's not a positive signal.
- airstrike 4mo ago
  ironically, I'd understand people not giving a straight answer on this particular topic
- ipaddr 4mo ago
  This doesn't make sense in practice. He hedged so not sure need to look at other factors vs he picked a side and he selected the opposite of what we wanted no-hire or he answered what we wanted small positive signal need to look at other factors.
- deleted 4mo ago
  [deleted]
- knollimar 4mo ago
  I just interviewed a guy and all three interviewers asked him functionally the same question. He hedged 3 times and we just wanted an honest answer...
  - onraglanroad 4mo ago
    The guy wanted a job, didn't know what answer you wanted for the job, and you guys were being assholes. If you can accept that then you've learnt something.
    - sebzim4500 4mo ago
      On the other side of this though, the third time the guy should have realized that hedging wasn't working and committed to the truth or a lie.
    - yen223 4mo ago
      > you guys were being assholes Where was this coming from?
      - knollimar 4mo ago
        instead of telling him out loud, "hey we see you're hedging and applying bullshit interview speak, your answer isn't sufficient", we asking in increasingly obvious but different ways. It was an internal candidate so it would be awkward to tell him to his face he was floundering.
    - knollimar 4mo ago
      It was a question of the form trying to figure out how you deal with "X", and he denied X having ever happened, despite that being a core part of his current role. He was an internal candidate, we were interviewing him to see if we could trust him with more responsibility (more X specifically), since the new role shouldn't cover up X when it happens. The role involved doing X for himself AND for other people. Similar to the form of "tell me about your biggest weakness" and you responding with "I have no weakness".
      - onraglanroad 4mo ago
        I guess it's a bit different when it's an internal candidate. I've been on the recieving end of clueless folk trying to make me feel small when I've just been looking for a job, so I might be a bit sensitive about it! Sorry for any offense given. Thankfully I'm beyond that craziness now and can just do what I want for work.
- LtWorf 4mo ago
  "The candidate is mature and doesn't engage in bikeshedding"
- emodendroket 4mo ago
  I mean, let's be real here. There is such a thing as too honest in an interview.

simonw 4mo ago

It's pretty easy as an interviewer to spot when a candidate is hedging on a question, and it's the kind of thing that might get discussed in the post-interview debrief. "Wouldn't give a straight answer on question X" isn't an instant no-hire, but it's not a positive signal.

airstrike 4mo ago
ironically, I'd understand people not giving a straight answer on this particular topic
ipaddr 4mo ago
This doesn't make sense in practice. He hedged so not sure need to look at other factors vs he picked a side and he selected the opposite of what we wanted no-hire or he answered what we wanted small positive signal need to look at other factors.
deleted 4mo ago
[deleted]
knollimar 4mo ago
I just interviewed a guy and all three interviewers asked him functionally the same question. He hedged 3 times and we just wanted an honest answer...
- onraglanroad 4mo ago
  The guy wanted a job, didn't know what answer you wanted for the job, and you guys were being assholes. If you can accept that then you've learnt something.
  - sebzim4500 4mo ago
    On the other side of this though, the third time the guy should have realized that hedging wasn't working and committed to the truth or a lie.
  - yen223 4mo ago
    > you guys were being assholes Where was this coming from?
    - knollimar 4mo ago
      instead of telling him out loud, "hey we see you're hedging and applying bullshit interview speak, your answer isn't sufficient", we asking in increasingly obvious but different ways. It was an internal candidate so it would be awkward to tell him to his face he was floundering.
  - knollimar 4mo ago
    It was a question of the form trying to figure out how you deal with "X", and he denied X having ever happened, despite that being a core part of his current role. He was an internal candidate, we were interviewing him to see if we could trust him with more responsibility (more X specifically), since the new role shouldn't cover up X when it happens. The role involved doing X for himself AND for other people. Similar to the form of "tell me about your biggest weakness" and you responding with "I have no weakness".
    - onraglanroad 4mo ago
      I guess it's a bit different when it's an internal candidate. I've been on the recieving end of clueless folk trying to make me feel small when I've just been looking for a job, so I might be a bit sensitive about it! Sorry for any offense given. Thankfully I'm beyond that craziness now and can just do what I want for work.
LtWorf 4mo ago
"The candidate is mature and doesn't engage in bikeshedding"
emodendroket 4mo ago
I mean, let's be real here. There is such a thing as too honest in an interview.