Comment by jll29 | Hacker News Reader

Comment by jll29 | Hacker News Reader

Two questions to ask your interviewer:

1. What - from all the things you have accomplished while working here so far - are you most proud of?

2. What did they do for the last social outing?

(Look for their face reaction as they answer the two questions. If they look surprised, or don't have a good answer, you may want to look elsewhere.)

And, if not already covered in the interview (which they really should):

- How technical is the CTO? Can/does s/he program? Ph.D. Degree?

- Who (name and function) does the group (my boss' boss) report to?

- What does the company do for training its people? Is there an annual budget?

- What is the attrition rate in the team?

- What is the career path anticipated for the role under discussion?

I'll add

- How technical is the CEO? Can/does s/he program? Ph.D. Degree? If the answer is anything yes to the former it bumps up by ~10% the salary expectations (12% if she's a music major).

- Who (name and function) does the group (my boss' boss) report to?

- How's internal accounting structured: is this division a profit center or a cost center (if cost center, bump up amount by 25%)

- What's the philosophy behind compensation? Somewhere serious will use a stock based comp. If they don't, or tell you it's not in the local customs, maybe they would be more comfortable with your consulting rates.

The rest (how they raised money) you should already have a pretty good idea before walking through the door (pitchbook is your friend or just ask around). Free drinks and admin rights on workstations are a given, of course, for any serious offer.

I love these! Adding some follow-up questions:

To better understand the attrition rate:

- Who is the team made up of - internal transfers or external hires?

- How long have the current team members been on the team?

- When was the last time someone on the team was promoted?

Delving into career trajectory and your questions about training:

- What does the path look like in 3, 5, 7 years for this role?

- What leadership opportunities does this role lead to?

- Will my professional goals be linked to the company's goals?

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