Re:The Only Interview Question That Matters
by tptacek on Saturday February 01, 2014 @01:27PM
(#7162665)
Yes. This is what I'm trying to say about the difference between a candidate's narrative and a candidate's capabilities.
When you think about it, the fact that we almost universally hire candidates based on their narratives sounds fucking insane.
Re:The Only Interview Question That Matters
by baruch on Saturday February 01, 2014 @06:23PM
(#7163920)
I haven't been using the proposed question but if I was and the candidate told me that his accomplishment is to solve many issues and keep the product bug-free that would be an accomplishment I'd appreciate as well.
I've managed a team and there are those who will find a grand solution to a thorny problem or find a solution to something you didn't think of as a problem and there are others who will plow on to fix countless bugs and make the system better for it. Both are needed, and others as well along the spectrum.
I believe that knowing your strengths and playing to them would be a way to get the best for both sides. Unless of course the interviewee is looking to change course completely.
(Of course, in a real interview I'd have a good answer for what you wanted to hear. I'm just saying that an honest answer would be useless.)
It also biases you against people with many small accomplishments as opposed to one grand one. But people who can handle 20 different small tasks on a schedule are also valuable. Your organization probably needs more of them than me (I'm the one big thing sort of person).