Comments on: Interviewing – Types of questions http://elegantcode.com/2008/01/14/interviewing-types-of-questions/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:11:39 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Alex Mueller http://elegantcode.com/2008/01/14/interviewing-types-of-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-17312 Alex Mueller Fri, 25 Jan 2008 04:22:38 +0000 http://elegantcode.com/2008/01/14/interviewing-types-of-questions/#comment-17312 Thanks Scott, this is a helpful post for those of us having to interview. I will be sure to apply these techniques. Thanks Scott, this is a helpful post for those of us having to interview. I will be sure to apply these techniques.

]]> By: David Starr http://elegantcode.com/2008/01/14/interviewing-types-of-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-17155 David Starr Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:49:24 +0000 http://elegantcode.com/2008/01/14/interviewing-types-of-questions/#comment-17155 I get your point, Steve. I don't think Scott means to imply that other loines of questioning shouldn't be explored. For folks such as yourself, it may be better to have you walk through a problem on a white board, or something of that nature. Even that, though, is a situation in which you want the candidate to talk and open up. I get your point, Steve. I don’t think Scott means to imply that other loines of questioning shouldn’t be explored. For folks such as yourself, it may be better to have you walk through a problem on a white board, or something of that nature. Even that, though, is a situation in which you want the candidate to talk and open up.

]]> By: Scott Schimanski http://elegantcode.com/2008/01/14/interviewing-types-of-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-17154 Scott Schimanski Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:48:46 +0000 http://elegantcode.com/2008/01/14/interviewing-types-of-questions/#comment-17154 Steve: Thank you for the comments. You are absolutely correct. You don't want to miss a great hire because the candidate is not great at speaking off the cuff. With the quieter candidates, you will have to listen closely to their answers and ask questions based on their answers. Hopefully, this will bring further information. That is more difficult then bringing a list of questions. Think of the reporters questions. After the first answer to a question, think of the "what", "where", "why", "how', "who" of the topic to delve into more detail. Scott Steve:

Thank you for the comments.

You are absolutely correct. You don’t want to miss a great hire because the candidate is not great at speaking off the cuff. With the quieter candidates, you will have to listen closely to their answers and ask questions based on their answers. Hopefully, this will bring further information. That is more difficult then bringing a list of questions. Think of the reporters questions. After the first answer to a question, think of the “what”, “where”, “why”, “how’, “who” of the topic to delve into more detail.

Scott

]]> By: Brian http://elegantcode.com/2008/01/14/interviewing-types-of-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-17137 Brian Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:50:12 +0000 http://elegantcode.com/2008/01/14/interviewing-types-of-questions/#comment-17137 Nice post. As always, the purpose of interview questions is to get the candidate to start talking. :) A good acid test: If a question can be answered by the phrase "YES" or "NO" then it probably needs to be rephrased. One question I ask in every interview is: "What is the name of the last book you read?" It's a moderately closed question, but it must be followed up with dialogue about either (1) why the person doesn't read, or (2) the person's good reading habits. You'd be surprised how many people -- technology people, developers included -- who say they don't read, not even technical books. Next candidate, please! Nice post. As always, the purpose of interview questions is to get the candidate to start talking. :)

A good acid test: If a question can be answered by the phrase “YES” or “NO” then it probably needs to be rephrased.

One question I ask in every interview is: “What is the name of the last book you read?” It’s a moderately closed question, but it must be followed up with dialogue about either (1) why the person doesn’t read, or (2) the person’s good reading habits.

You’d be surprised how many people — technology people, developers included — who say they don’t read, not even technical books. Next candidate, please!

]]> By: Steve Campbell http://elegantcode.com/2008/01/14/interviewing-types-of-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-17135 Steve Campbell Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:24:43 +0000 http://elegantcode.com/2008/01/14/interviewing-types-of-questions/#comment-17135 It seems to me like the open ended questions would predispose towards a particular type of candidate - one that is good at thinking on his feet and putting thoughts into words right away. I think you're probably missing out on the more thoughtful introspective potentials. Without preparing for the specific question, there is small chance for someone like me to answer your questions well during an interview. It seems to me like the open ended questions would predispose towards a particular type of candidate – one that is good at thinking on his feet and putting thoughts into words right away. I think you’re probably missing out on the more thoughtful introspective potentials.

Without preparing for the specific question, there is small chance for someone like me to answer your questions well during an interview.

]]> By: McCoy http://elegantcode.com/2008/01/14/interviewing-types-of-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-17100 McCoy Mon, 14 Jan 2008 19:58:00 +0000 http://elegantcode.com/2008/01/14/interviewing-types-of-questions/#comment-17100 Go Mad Dog! Another great post! Go Mad Dog! Another great post!

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