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Interviewing Your Future Boss?

crimethinker asks: "I am an embedded systems engineer for a small division of a large company. Up to now, we have managed to get by with little more than a 'team lead' position, but as our division grows, they are looking to hire a full-on engineering manager. I was one of the candidates, with my current boss's favorable recommendation, but I withdrew my resume when they told me the job was all paper and schedules; I'd never touch code or hardware again. Now the VP has a 'short list' of candidates, and has invited me to be one of the interviewers. Yes, you read that correctly: I will be interviewing the person who will become my boss. So, I put the question to you, Slashdot: what questions should I ask my prospective boss?"

23 of 447 comments (clear)

  1. Well by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    If I hired you, would you agree not to fire me?

  2. vacation...? by paz5 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Can I have next week off?

    1. Re:vacation...? by saden1 · · Score: 2, Funny

      What is your take on Bean counting? Are you mythological or pathological bean counter?

      --

      -----
      One is born into aristocracy, but mediocrity can only be achieved through hard work.
  3. "What is your opinion on.. by Various+Assortments · · Score: 5, Funny

    Naptime?"

  4. My question by teamhasnoi · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Will you give me hell about reading Slashdot all day?"

    1. Re:My question by It'sYerMam · · Score: 5, Funny
      Answers:

      1: Hell no. I'll point you specifically to the pro-Linux bits
      2: Only if I catch you.
      3: Yes
      4: WTF Is Slashdot?

      1: Super geek. "Hired" pile
      2: Benevolent dictator. "Possible" pile.
      3: Idiot. "No way" pile
      4: "Feed to goatse"

      --
      im in ur .sig, writin ur memes.
  5. Boss' Daughter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Is your daughter hot and available?"

  6. Important Question by MrNonchalant · · Score: 5, Funny

    How much of a pay raise would you give me latet for a favorable reccomendation now?

  7. Hmmmm by Deanasc · · Score: 5, Funny
    Let's say, hypothetically, that I came in still drunk from last night and told you what I really thought about those ugly kids in that picture frame on your desk and then puked behind the ficas tree in the lobby... How would you handle a situatioin like that?

    The correct answer here is to give me a raise.

    --
    I've hit Karma 50 and gotten a Score:5, Troll... I win!
  8. Do you allow... by Exsam · · Score: 5, Funny

    Pantless mondays?

    --
    "To face death, that's nothing much. But to feel really stupid when you die, well, that would be insufferable."
  9. The Only Question to Ask by Enonu · · Score: 4, Funny

    What would you do for a Klondike Bar?

  10. be smart by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    hire the one with the biggest tits and hottest ass.

  11. Just one question. by Moofie · · Score: 2, Funny

    Have you now or ever in the past had pointy hair?

    --
    Why yes, I AM a rocket scientist!
  12. Thanks by Timesprout · · Score: 2, Funny

    As one of the short listed candidates I would like to thank all those who submitted questions. I now feel very confident I can blitz this interview. Thanks again.

    PS crimethinker, prepare to be sacked for lack of imagination.

    --
    Do not try to read the dupe, thats impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth
    What truth?
    There is no dupe
  13. Re:Ask more about Life, less about Tech. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    was she pretty? ;)

  14. ask him to pee in a cup by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Tell him you just can't feel comfortable in an office environment in which drug or alcohol use is winked at. (Mylanta, Scope, Viagra may *sound* like silly street names, but they're a very really threat to the American way of life, as well as to germs, impotence, and acid reflux disease.)

    Also, point out that as part of the terms of your employment, you'll be be able to quit at will, and will be periodically inspecting his desk drawers and email. For safety, etc.

  15. Re:"What is the last book you read?" by Lord+Bitman · · Score: 2, Funny

    how the hell am I supposed to make Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix sound professional?

    --
    -- 'The' Lord and Master Bitman On High, Master Of All
  16. Re:Hawaiian Shirt Friday? by tabacco · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hammocks! :)

    Hank: Uh, hi, Homer. What can I do for you?
    Homer: Sir, I need to know where I can get some business hammocks.
    Hank: Hammocks? My goodness, what an idea. Why didn't I think of that?
    Hammocks! Homer, there's four places. There's the Hammock Hut,
    that's on third.
    Homer: Uh-huh.
    Hank: There's Hammocks-R-Us, that's on third too. You got
    Put-Your-Butt-There?
    Homer: Mm-Hmm.
    Hank: That's on third. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot... Matter of fact,
    they're all in the same complex; it's the hammock complex on
    third.
    Homer: Oh, the hammock district.
    Hank: That's right.

  17. Re:Ask more about Life, less about Tech. by cyb3r0ptx · · Score: 2, Funny

    The word "No" is easier to type.

  18. What's your Slashdot User ID? by fdiskne1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    If he say's "What's Slashdot?", he's out.

    If he says he only lurks, or posts AC, he still could be worth hiring.

    If he gives you a user ID, great! Now go find out if he's cool, a 1337 h4x0r, or a troll.

    --
    But why is the rum gone?
  19. Re:"What is the last book you read?" by IIH · · Score: 3, Funny
    Besides, it's always interesting to throw an off-the-wall question at someone and see how they respond.

    Where I worked, we interviewed our boss, and one of the Q's was "do you keep goats?" (as we had heard he had a farm. Positive answer, great boss, so that was added to our standard list of questions. Next interview (a few years later) when we asked "do you keep goats?", we got an answer of "No, but I minded cheetehs for a while, does that count?" (boss was from south Africa, and was an excellent one!)

    In short - ask about pets! :)

    --
    Exigo spamos et dona ferentes
  20. Re:Don't ask job related stuff by Provocateur · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...you know the drill. Start with:

    You look down and you see a tortoise crawling towards you...

    --
    WARNING: Smartphones have side effects--most of them undocumented.
  21. Re:Damn good answer by Smallpond · · Score: 2, Funny

    True. Some of my best managers have been non-technical. One guy had no clue, but he knew how to organize and keep a punchlist. We told him what we needed and he wrote it down. My worst manager thought he could do everything better than the people in the group. He drove away some of our best engineers. Finally, he left and went to Microsoft where he has thrived.