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Interview questions

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  • 0 00daytona

    I hope this doesn't offend any authors, but I find it rather counterproductive to have articles like this published. I mean the purpose of an interview (or at least one of the main purposes) is to discover whether the candidate is suitable for the position, if they just cram up on some technology they've never experienced before just for the interview, it isn't going to end well for either party. Thoughts?

    Sander RosselS Offline
    Sander RosselS Offline
    Sander Rossel
    wrote on last edited by
    #8

    Maybe the problem is with the interviews. If it's a matter of just learning some facts to pass the interview than of what worth is the interview?

    Best, Sander arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript SQL Server for C# Developers Succinctly Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

    L 1 Reply Last reply
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    • 0 00daytona

      I hope this doesn't offend any authors, but I find it rather counterproductive to have articles like this published. I mean the purpose of an interview (or at least one of the main purposes) is to discover whether the candidate is suitable for the position, if they just cram up on some technology they've never experienced before just for the interview, it isn't going to end well for either party. Thoughts?

      L Offline
      L Offline
      Lost User
      wrote on last edited by
      #9

      Practice-exams should be forbidden in that case too- same principle. And asking questions about drivers-theory is again something similar - we should stop that counterproductive idea. Then again, if you're relying on those questions, you probably deserve the answers you get :)

      Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^][](X-Clacks-Overhead: GNU Terry Pratchett)

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      • G glennPattonWork3

        I am in the process of interviewing at the moment, I have found the questions I get asked tend to be of have you done this rather than the latest tech. I think the main point is has this person done anything like we want before, can we work with him (or will he start fires if he not supervised), Do you fit the culture of the company...I spent some time cramming an RTOS system (for MSP430's) was asked the name of it that was all got the job on the back of that question.

        0 Offline
        0 Offline
        00daytona
        wrote on last edited by
        #10

        That's not exactly what I had in mind. Does "again" mean what I think it does? Better luck with the next one!

        1 Reply Last reply
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        • G glennPattonWork3

          I am in the process of interviewing at the moment, I have found the questions I get asked tend to be of have you done this rather than the latest tech. I think the main point is has this person done anything like we want before, can we work with him (or will he start fires if he not supervised), Do you fit the culture of the company...I spent some time cramming an RTOS system (for MSP430's) was asked the name of it that was all got the job on the back of that question.

          L Offline
          L Offline
          Lost User
          wrote on last edited by
          #11

          Agreed. We just went through a series of interviews with a few potential candidates and I was responsible for asking the "technical" questions. My manager was quite surprised when I was asking questions more related to team work rather than text book questions. Some that I recommend are focused on getting a better insight into their personality. Here is an example. When working in a team environment, do you prefer to: a. Receive the requirements and design and code the module yourself? b. Receive assistance in the design and approach from the team before coding? c. Depend heavily on team support by involving everyone on the team? This gives me some insight into their confidence level and trust of others. This combined with other similar questions can help determine if the candidate is a good fit for the team.

          When you are dead, you won't even know that you are dead. It's a pain only felt by others. Same thing when you are stupid.

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          • 0 00daytona

            I hope this doesn't offend any authors, but I find it rather counterproductive to have articles like this published. I mean the purpose of an interview (or at least one of the main purposes) is to discover whether the candidate is suitable for the position, if they just cram up on some technology they've never experienced before just for the interview, it isn't going to end well for either party. Thoughts?

            L Offline
            L Offline
            Lost User
            wrote on last edited by
            #12

            How about asking some less generic questions that require a little more than just coughing up the one and only correct answer or one of the jokers? When this quiz goes on too long, I might decide to look somewhere else. Those companies that don't come up with interesting interviews rarely come up with interesting work.

            The language is JavaScript. that of Mordor, which I will not utter here
            This is Javascript. If you put big wheels and a racing stripe on a golf cart, it's still a fucking golf cart.
            "I don't know, extraterrestrial?" "You mean like from space?" "No, from Canada." If software development were a circus, we would all be the clowns.

            J 1 Reply Last reply
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            • Sander RosselS Sander Rossel

              Maybe the problem is with the interviews. If it's a matter of just learning some facts to pass the interview than of what worth is the interview?

              Best, Sander arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript SQL Server for C# Developers Succinctly Object-Oriented Programming in C# Succinctly

              L Offline
              L Offline
              Lost User
              wrote on last edited by
              #13

              Indeed. If they can't even conduct a single appointment for an introduction, they will most probably bore you to tears at work. Or worse, their great flexibility can turn every day into a little hell.

              The language is JavaScript. that of Mordor, which I will not utter here
              This is Javascript. If you put big wheels and a racing stripe on a golf cart, it's still a fucking golf cart.
              "I don't know, extraterrestrial?" "You mean like from space?" "No, from Canada." If software development were a circus, we would all be the clowns.

              1 Reply Last reply
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              • L Lost User

                Agreed. We just went through a series of interviews with a few potential candidates and I was responsible for asking the "technical" questions. My manager was quite surprised when I was asking questions more related to team work rather than text book questions. Some that I recommend are focused on getting a better insight into their personality. Here is an example. When working in a team environment, do you prefer to: a. Receive the requirements and design and code the module yourself? b. Receive assistance in the design and approach from the team before coding? c. Depend heavily on team support by involving everyone on the team? This gives me some insight into their confidence level and trust of others. This combined with other similar questions can help determine if the candidate is a good fit for the team.

                When you are dead, you won't even know that you are dead. It's a pain only felt by others. Same thing when you are stupid.

                G Offline
                G Offline
                glennPattonWork3
                wrote on last edited by
                #14

                Well my view is you can work the way 'they' want if there prepared to listen your ideas and previous experience...

                L 1 Reply Last reply
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                • 0 00daytona

                  I hope this doesn't offend any authors, but I find it rather counterproductive to have articles like this published. I mean the purpose of an interview (or at least one of the main purposes) is to discover whether the candidate is suitable for the position, if they just cram up on some technology they've never experienced before just for the interview, it isn't going to end well for either party. Thoughts?

                  J Offline
                  J Offline
                  Johnny J
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #15

                  I find them utterly useless! I've been to quite a number of interviews in my life time, and not one of them has been like another. The things you get asked highly varies from time to time - and from which part of the world you are in apparently, and even if you DO get technical questions, there is a wide range of stuff you can get asked. So my question is: How can the so-called authors of the article in ANY way expect that they have picked questions that have ANY relevance to an interview unless they conduct the interview themselves. Answer is: They cannot! So just forget it! My advice is: Be yourself, and be reasonably honest. Sure, everybody exaggerates a little to make sure they make a good impression. But if you exeggerate, make sure that it can be scrutinized without making you look too much the fool

                  Anything that is unrelated to elephants is irrelephant
                  Anonymous
                  -----
                  The problem with quotes on the internet is that you can never tell if they're genuine
                  Winston Churchill, 1944
                  -----
                  I'd just like a chance to prove that money can't make me happy.
                  Me, all the time

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                  • L Lost User

                    How about asking some less generic questions that require a little more than just coughing up the one and only correct answer or one of the jokers? When this quiz goes on too long, I might decide to look somewhere else. Those companies that don't come up with interesting interviews rarely come up with interesting work.

                    The language is JavaScript. that of Mordor, which I will not utter here
                    This is Javascript. If you put big wheels and a racing stripe on a golf cart, it's still a fucking golf cart.
                    "I don't know, extraterrestrial?" "You mean like from space?" "No, from Canada." If software development were a circus, we would all be the clowns.

                    J Offline
                    J Offline
                    Johnny J
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #16

                    I think they should keep the questions to undocumented features. That way people can't cheat... ;P

                    Anything that is unrelated to elephants is irrelephant
                    Anonymous
                    -----
                    The problem with quotes on the internet is that you can never tell if they're genuine
                    Winston Churchill, 1944
                    -----
                    I'd just like a chance to prove that money can't make me happy.
                    Me, all the time

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • 0 00daytona

                      I hope this doesn't offend any authors, but I find it rather counterproductive to have articles like this published. I mean the purpose of an interview (or at least one of the main purposes) is to discover whether the candidate is suitable for the position, if they just cram up on some technology they've never experienced before just for the interview, it isn't going to end well for either party. Thoughts?

                      M Offline
                      M Offline
                      Marc Clifton
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #17

                      00daytona wrote:

                      if they just cram up on some technology they've never experienced before just for the interview, it isn't going to end well for either party.

                      Any company that conducts and interview with technical questions that can be Googled is not a company I would want to work for, and they get what they deserve, IMO. In fact, when I went to an interview last year, the first question was something like "what's the difference between an interface and an abstract class?" I had two reactions: 1. You just totally insulted me -- have you even looked at my resume, my online profile, etc? 2. My response was "Please do NOT ask me questions I can google the answer for." After they realized I was dead serious, the response was "well, ok, if I ask any more questions like that, feel free to answer 'that can be googled." :laugh: Needless to say, I didn't take the job. One of the other ironies of the job was that I would have to commute 50 minutes to Albany to sit in a cubicle telecommuting to the company's main offices in Buffalo. :wtf: Marc

                      V.A.P.O.R.ware - Visual Assisted Programming / Organizational Representation Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny Artificial intelligence is the only remedy for natural stupidity. - CDP1802

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                      • G glennPattonWork3

                        Well my view is you can work the way 'they' want if there prepared to listen your ideas and previous experience...

                        L Offline
                        L Offline
                        Lost User
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #18

                        True, but it's that sort of thing that the questions were designed for. If the candidate chose A, then their is a higher likelihood that they will not be accepting of ideas from them team and want to do it their way (over-confident) . If they choose B, then it demonstrates that they are more accepting of outside ideas and demonstrates a good level of confidence. It they choose C, then that appears to be a low confidence level and possibly brown-nosing. This is just one of many questions to help determine how well they will work and interact with the team. Other questions are very simple, such as "What is your preferred method of research?" If they immediately respond "Google", then I know that they are honest and confident. If they go into a whole diatribe of owning a library at home with a large selection of programming books, then that's a red flag that they are not necessarily honest and haven't worked in a real team environment with real deadlines.

                        When you are dead, you won't even know that you are dead. It's a pain only felt by others. Same thing when you are stupid.

                        D 1 Reply Last reply
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                        • 0 00daytona

                          I hope this doesn't offend any authors, but I find it rather counterproductive to have articles like this published. I mean the purpose of an interview (or at least one of the main purposes) is to discover whether the candidate is suitable for the position, if they just cram up on some technology they've never experienced before just for the interview, it isn't going to end well for either party. Thoughts?

                          L Offline
                          L Offline
                          Lost User
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #19

                          If candidates only answers basic questions thrown at them they are useless - (even questions regarding work habits i.e. team player...) A good candidate should find out what the job entails, then they take over and explain how they approach the work, what their value add is in achieving that, and what they expect in terms or work processes. Even if the interviewer(s) start asking stupid questions a good candidate will do the aforementioned. (They brief on their skill set in their value-add). It's the only chance to impress, getting say 24/25 questions is not because most others will score the same and one guy/gal will ace the exam. School is done, no more "I can do it," it's time for "I'm the best ans here's why." If the interviewer(s) don't like what just happened, 2 things become instantly clear: 1. the interviewers are useless robotic workers, 2. sure as shit the candidate will not be happy working at that company (unless they also want to be a drone in a mindless hive probably run by some authoritarian git with management skills from the early 1900's.)

                          Sin tack ear lol Pressing the any key may be continuate

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                          • M Marc Clifton

                            00daytona wrote:

                            if they just cram up on some technology they've never experienced before just for the interview, it isn't going to end well for either party.

                            Any company that conducts and interview with technical questions that can be Googled is not a company I would want to work for, and they get what they deserve, IMO. In fact, when I went to an interview last year, the first question was something like "what's the difference between an interface and an abstract class?" I had two reactions: 1. You just totally insulted me -- have you even looked at my resume, my online profile, etc? 2. My response was "Please do NOT ask me questions I can google the answer for." After they realized I was dead serious, the response was "well, ok, if I ask any more questions like that, feel free to answer 'that can be googled." :laugh: Needless to say, I didn't take the job. One of the other ironies of the job was that I would have to commute 50 minutes to Albany to sit in a cubicle telecommuting to the company's main offices in Buffalo. :wtf: Marc

                            V.A.P.O.R.ware - Visual Assisted Programming / Organizational Representation Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny Artificial intelligence is the only remedy for natural stupidity. - CDP1802

                            J Offline
                            J Offline
                            Johnny J
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #20

                            So what IS the difference between an interface and an abstract class? :confused:

                            Anything that is unrelated to elephants is irrelephant
                            Anonymous
                            -----
                            The problem with quotes on the internet is that you can never tell if they're genuine
                            Winston Churchill, 1944
                            -----
                            I'd just like a chance to prove that money can't make me happy.
                            Me, all the time

                            M R 2 Replies Last reply
                            0
                            • L Lost User

                              True, but it's that sort of thing that the questions were designed for. If the candidate chose A, then their is a higher likelihood that they will not be accepting of ideas from them team and want to do it their way (over-confident) . If they choose B, then it demonstrates that they are more accepting of outside ideas and demonstrates a good level of confidence. It they choose C, then that appears to be a low confidence level and possibly brown-nosing. This is just one of many questions to help determine how well they will work and interact with the team. Other questions are very simple, such as "What is your preferred method of research?" If they immediately respond "Google", then I know that they are honest and confident. If they go into a whole diatribe of owning a library at home with a large selection of programming books, then that's a red flag that they are not necessarily honest and haven't worked in a real team environment with real deadlines.

                              When you are dead, you won't even know that you are dead. It's a pain only felt by others. Same thing when you are stupid.

                              D Offline
                              D Offline
                              David Crow
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #21

                              Donathan.Hutchings wrote:

                              If they go into a whole diatribe of owning a library at home with a large selection of programming books, then that's a red flag that they are not necessarily honest and haven't worked in a real team environment with real deadlines.

                              I used to own a library full of said books. It's what I used before Google. If I mentioned that during an interview, you'd claim dishonesty?

                              "One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson

                              "Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons

                              "You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him." - James D. Miles

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                              • D David Crow

                                Donathan.Hutchings wrote:

                                If they go into a whole diatribe of owning a library at home with a large selection of programming books, then that's a red flag that they are not necessarily honest and haven't worked in a real team environment with real deadlines.

                                I used to own a library full of said books. It's what I used before Google. If I mentioned that during an interview, you'd claim dishonesty?

                                "One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson

                                "Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons

                                "You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him." - James D. Miles

                                G Offline
                                G Offline
                                glennPattonWork3
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #22

                                Hmm, I think it was what every one did used pre-Google...

                                L 1 Reply Last reply
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                                • D David Crow

                                  Donathan.Hutchings wrote:

                                  If they go into a whole diatribe of owning a library at home with a large selection of programming books, then that's a red flag that they are not necessarily honest and haven't worked in a real team environment with real deadlines.

                                  I used to own a library full of said books. It's what I used before Google. If I mentioned that during an interview, you'd claim dishonesty?

                                  "One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson

                                  "Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons

                                  "You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him." - James D. Miles

                                  L Offline
                                  L Offline
                                  Lost User
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #23

                                  Of course not. Interviewing is not cut and dry. It's a science (psychology). Based on a series of questions, experience stated on their resume, and visual queues from the candidate, the determination would then be made. Common sense has to be applied to these kind of things. My point is that the type of questions asked in most technical interviews take the wrong approach. Technical knowledge is very important, but it's not an end to a means. True experience is based in wisdom, not knowledge and that's the point of the type of questions I suggest and I use.

                                  When you are dead, you won't even know that you are dead. It's a pain only felt by others. Same thing when you are stupid.

                                  G 1 Reply Last reply
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                                  • G glennPattonWork3

                                    Hmm, I think it was what every one did used pre-Google...

                                    L Offline
                                    L Offline
                                    Lost User
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #24

                                    Yes, but not now. I used to have a library myself before the internet, but it is a little ridiculous to think an experienced programmer, or any programmer for that matter, would pull a book before Googling the answer.

                                    When you are dead, you won't even know that you are dead. It's a pain only felt by others. Same thing when you are stupid.

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • J Johnny J

                                      So what IS the difference between an interface and an abstract class? :confused:

                                      Anything that is unrelated to elephants is irrelephant
                                      Anonymous
                                      -----
                                      The problem with quotes on the internet is that you can never tell if they're genuine
                                      Winston Churchill, 1944
                                      -----
                                      I'd just like a chance to prove that money can't make me happy.
                                      Me, all the time

                                      M Offline
                                      M Offline
                                      Marc Clifton
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #25

                                      Johnny J. wrote:

                                      So what IS the difference between an interface and an abstract class?

                                      Google It! ;) Marc

                                      V.A.P.O.R.ware - Visual Assisted Programming / Organizational Representation Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny Artificial intelligence is the only remedy for natural stupidity. - CDP1802

                                      L 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • L Lost User

                                        Of course not. Interviewing is not cut and dry. It's a science (psychology). Based on a series of questions, experience stated on their resume, and visual queues from the candidate, the determination would then be made. Common sense has to be applied to these kind of things. My point is that the type of questions asked in most technical interviews take the wrong approach. Technical knowledge is very important, but it's not an end to a means. True experience is based in wisdom, not knowledge and that's the point of the type of questions I suggest and I use.

                                        When you are dead, you won't even know that you are dead. It's a pain only felt by others. Same thing when you are stupid.

                                        G Offline
                                        G Offline
                                        glennPattonWork3
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #26

                                        From my experience people that are hired as they know buzz words and the latest trendy tech aren't up to the job, they can do X but when you need the full back ground leading to X have they got the skills to find how to do it.

                                        L 1 Reply Last reply
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                                        • 0 00daytona

                                          I hope this doesn't offend any authors, but I find it rather counterproductive to have articles like this published. I mean the purpose of an interview (or at least one of the main purposes) is to discover whether the candidate is suitable for the position, if they just cram up on some technology they've never experienced before just for the interview, it isn't going to end well for either party. Thoughts?

                                          R Offline
                                          R Offline
                                          realJSOP
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #27

                                          I absolutely hate interviewing. I understand the need for it, but I'd rather risk walking by my ex-wife during one of her feeding frenzies than do a job interview.

                                          ".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
                                          -----
                                          When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013

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