3 ms·

I've had the polar opposite experience. I guess we have very different clients. Clients generally ask questions that don't make a lot of sense or that show a fu

I've had the polar opposite experience. I guess we have very different clients. Clients generally ask questions that don't make a lot of sense or that show a fundamental misunderstanding of how the system works. They may introduce new constraints and requirements on the fly that you've never heard of before. It's generally a lot more difficult. The "universe of potential questions" is basically limitless. Interviewers aren't going to ask you nonsensical questions about the STL or to use algorithms in contexts that make no sense. The "universe of potential questions" is limited to the reasonable.

clavalle 13y ago
But with clients (at least the ones I've dealt with) it is part of your job to educate them. Question doesn't make sense? Let them know (gently, of course). Fundamental misunderstanding? Same thing. You are speaking from a position of authority. I suppose you could try to take that posture in an interview but you are gambling on the interviewer being receptive to that approach.
- blah32497 13y ago
  I completely agree. Ostensibly the client should know more because he's the one ordering the product, but the reality is you often need to educate them. But that just goes to show it's more stressful and difficult than an interview.
RougeFemme 13y ago
I admit I've never experienced what you describe with a client - at least not to that degree. On the other hand, as another poster stated, with a client you've already established some level of authority and can bring them back down to earth or tap a teammate for help/clarification (unless you are working solo) or give a general response and say you will need to get back to them with more specifics. (Of course, with a prospective client, you are, in fact, interviewing and may not want to do that.)

3 ms·

I've had the polar opposite experience. I guess we have very different clients. Clients generally ask questions that don't make a lot of sense or that show a fu

by blah32497 13y ago

clavalle 13y ago
But with clients (at least the ones I've dealt with) it is part of your job to educate them. Question doesn't make sense? Let them know (gently, of course). Fundamental misunderstanding? Same thing. You are speaking from a position of authority. I suppose you could try to take that posture in an interview but you are gambling on the interviewer being receptive to that approach.
- blah32497 13y ago
  I completely agree. Ostensibly the client should know more because he's the one ordering the product, but the reality is you often need to educate them. But that just goes to show it's more stressful and difficult than an interview.
RougeFemme 13y ago
I admit I've never experienced what you describe with a client - at least not to that degree. On the other hand, as another poster stated, with a client you've already established some level of authority and can bring them back down to earth or tap a teammate for help/clarification (unless you are working solo) or give a general response and say you will need to get back to them with more specifics. (Of course, with a prospective client, you are, in fact, interviewing and may not want to do that.)