Advice for interviewing a technical manager
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My company is in the process of hiring a new technical project manager. The first stage of the interviews have already been conducted; I have been invited to the second interviews for a few candidates to try and assess their technical competance. I have already googled for some appropriate questions, so I'm just wondering if anyone here has a good question to ask, or has been asked a good question for asessing technical knowledge. Obviously, the role is for a manager, so I'm not asking for programming tasks. Something more like an open ended question in which the candidate can go into technical details and expose their technical knoledge (or lack therof). Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Ben.
Ask them what their management style is? A very open-ended and vague question I know - but what I would be trying to find out is where on the scale of micro-management do they sit... What they do to motivate and help their team when a deadline is looming? How do they manage "impossible" deadlines? What is their favourite flavour of Krispy Kreme doughnuts?
Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.(Winston Churchill)
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Here are some questions to consider: Are you now, or have you ever been a member of the Communist party? What's the difference between an orange? Ginger or Marianne? Boxers or briefs? In your opinion, does the word "hyphenated" sound like some sort of medical condition associated with the anus? Why is the sky blue? If you were to die right now, would you rather be shot by an AR-15 or slashed with a machete? To add a sense of urgency to the question, lay both weapons on the table. Bring a pretty secretary into the room, and say, "So, what do you think of Ms. Hardbody's butt?"
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
Are you now, or have you ever been a member of the Communist party?
Only on the third Thursday in December when the moon is a balloon
John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
What's the difference between an orange?
Crusty flanges.
John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
Ginger or Marianne?
Oh, Ginger, every time.
John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
Boxers or briefs?
Commando.
John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
In your opinion, does the word "hyphenated" sound like some sort of medical condition associated with the anus?
Yes
John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
Why is the sky blue?
It's blue??? Shit, my eyes are worse than you thought.
John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
If you were to die right now, would you rather be shot by an AR-15 or slashed with a machete? To add a sense of urgency to the question, lay both weapons on the table.
Help me! Help me!
John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
Bring a pretty secretary into the room, and say, "So, what do you think of Ms. Hardbody's butt?"
Get me a Krispy Kreme, you fool!
"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair. nils illegitimus carborundum me, me, me
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What was it about your last project that got you excited and why? How and why did you choose the technologies with which to build your last project?
"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair. nils illegitimus carborundum me, me, me
digital man wrote:
What was it about your last project that got you excited and why?
Response: "We had our own version of Ms. Hardbody, and her butt was a prize-winner. Whenever she walked into our office, we all got major wood, wink-wink-nudge-nudge."
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997 -
Ask them what their management style is? A very open-ended and vague question I know - but what I would be trying to find out is where on the scale of micro-management do they sit... What they do to motivate and help their team when a deadline is looming? How do they manage "impossible" deadlines? What is their favourite flavour of Krispy Kreme doughnuts?
Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.(Winston Churchill)
GuyThiebaut wrote:
Ask them what their management style is?
Response: "Can I borrow your machete so I can demonstrate?"
GuyThiebaut wrote:
How do they manage "impossible" deadlines?
Response: "Can I borrow your AR-15 so I can demonstrate?"
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997 -
Here are some questions to consider: Are you now, or have you ever been a member of the Communist party? What's the difference between an orange? Ginger or Marianne? Boxers or briefs? In your opinion, does the word "hyphenated" sound like some sort of medical condition associated with the anus? Why is the sky blue? If you were to die right now, would you rather be shot by an AR-15 or slashed with a machete? To add a sense of urgency to the question, lay both weapons on the table. Bring a pretty secretary into the room, and say, "So, what do you think of Ms. Hardbody's butt?"
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997"Why is the sky blue?" does have some potential get some interesting answers and could act as a filter for jargon spouters...as soon as they hear the words "blue" and "sky" in the same sentence, they'll start spoting a load of buzzword nonsense, and immediately go on my black-list.
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digital man wrote:
What was it about your last project that got you excited and why?
Response: "We had our own version of Ms. Hardbody, and her butt was a prize-winner. Whenever she walked into our office, we all got major wood, wink-wink-nudge-nudge."
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
major wood
Is that the same Major Wood who served under General Apathy and was in charge of Private Parts?
------------------------------------ I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave CCC Link[^] Trolls[^]
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GuyThiebaut wrote:
Ask them what their management style is?
Response: "Can I borrow your machete so I can demonstrate?"
GuyThiebaut wrote:
How do they manage "impossible" deadlines?
Response: "Can I borrow your AR-15 so I can demonstrate?"
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997Would you like a cup of Chamomile tea? :-D
Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.(Winston Churchill)
-
digital man wrote:
What was it about your last project that got you excited and why?
Response: "We had our own version of Ms. Hardbody, and her butt was a prize-winner. Whenever she walked into our office, we all got major wood, wink-wink-nudge-nudge."
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997Who are you and what have you done with the real JSOP???
"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair. nils illegitimus carborundum me, me, me
-
Ask them what their management style is? A very open-ended and vague question I know - but what I would be trying to find out is where on the scale of micro-management do they sit... What they do to motivate and help their team when a deadline is looming? How do they manage "impossible" deadlines? What is their favourite flavour of Krispy Kreme doughnuts?
Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.(Winston Churchill)
GuyThiebaut wrote:
What is their favourite flavour of Krispy Kreme doughnuts?
The cardboard box they're packaged in. Nasty vile disgusting things they are. X|
Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, waging all things in the balance of reason? Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful? --Zachris Topelius
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John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
major wood
Is that the same Major Wood who served under General Apathy and was in charge of Private Parts?
------------------------------------ I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave CCC Link[^] Trolls[^]
Related to Colonel Parameters (Kernal Parameters...)?
Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.(Winston Churchill)
-
Would you like a cup of Chamomile tea? :-D
Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.(Winston Churchill)
You can't say "chamomile" without losing a moderate number of man-points...
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997 -
Related to Colonel Parameters (Kernal Parameters...)?
Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.(Winston Churchill)
Wasn't his brother-in-law in the Navy? Seaman Staines?
"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair. nils illegitimus carborundum me, me, me
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Who are you and what have you done with the real JSOP???
"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair. nils illegitimus carborundum me, me, me
How was that post not JSOP-esque?
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997 -
My company is in the process of hiring a new technical project manager. The first stage of the interviews have already been conducted; I have been invited to the second interviews for a few candidates to try and assess their technical competance. I have already googled for some appropriate questions, so I'm just wondering if anyone here has a good question to ask, or has been asked a good question for asessing technical knowledge. Obviously, the role is for a manager, so I'm not asking for programming tasks. Something more like an open ended question in which the candidate can go into technical details and expose their technical knoledge (or lack therof). Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Ben.
If two programmers disagree on a task, one has more years with the company but the other has more significant experience in the subject how would you decided where to eat for lunch?
Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. I also do Android Programming as I find it a refreshing break from the MS. "And they, since they Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs" -- Robert Frost
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GuyThiebaut wrote:
What is their favourite flavour of Krispy Kreme doughnuts?
The cardboard box they're packaged in. Nasty vile disgusting things they are. X|
Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, waging all things in the balance of reason? Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful? --Zachris Topelius
+1
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997 -
You can't say "chamomile" without losing a moderate number of man-points...
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997As long as I get to keep my one man point fnarr fnarr...
Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.(Winston Churchill)
-
If two programmers disagree on a task, one has more years with the company but the other has more significant experience in the subject how would you decided where to eat for lunch?
Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. I also do Android Programming as I find it a refreshing break from the MS. "And they, since they Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs" -- Robert Frost
Tell them both to write a program to do it while you go to a really good lunch that costs as much as taking all three of you and then expense it.
Steve Maier
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How was that post not JSOP-esque?
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997Hmm... The Monty Python "wink-wink-nudge-nudge" was a tad unexpected (M.P. isn't your usual style). Face it John, you've graduated from "CP cultural icon" to "CP law of nature".
Software Zen:
delete this; -
As long as I get to keep my one man point fnarr fnarr...
Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.(Winston Churchill)
Every case is evaluated on its own merit. I can't guarantee anything. I'm sure you understand.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997 -
Hmm... The Monty Python "wink-wink-nudge-nudge" was a tad unexpected (M.P. isn't your usual style). Face it John, you've graduated from "CP cultural icon" to "CP law of nature".
Software Zen:
delete this;I didn't expect the bloody Spanish Inquisition! I'm a big MP fan. :)
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997