Here's a reverse interview question I'm toying with. One question I've had a few times is "Give an example of a time when you've had conflict at work?" - or variations on that theme. After giving the normal canned response I like to add:
1. You're asking because there is the normal amount of office conflict in your work place?
2. You're trying to build a "Team of Rivals" company culture like Barrack Obama in 2008 i.e. making Hilary his secretary of State
3. You're giving me a coded message that there are genuinely prickly personalities and a lot of conflict in your team?
Number 3 is the real question.
The good thing about asking reverse questions is that you can avoid getting bad clients and employers. The problem with asking these kind of questions is that it puts the employer on the back foot and is unlikely to result in a job. It will depend on how much you want the job I suppose.
I third Evernote. I keep a single note for each largish task or smallish project and add points for each new thing I solve. It's great to come back to 6 months down the track...I remember doing this before, but how did I fix it then?
1. You're asking because there is the normal amount of office conflict in your work place? 2. You're trying to build a "Team of Rivals" company culture like Barrack Obama in 2008 i.e. making Hilary his secretary of State 3. You're giving me a coded message that there are genuinely prickly personalities and a lot of conflict in your team?
Number 3 is the real question.
The good thing about asking reverse questions is that you can avoid getting bad clients and employers. The problem with asking these kind of questions is that it puts the employer on the back foot and is unlikely to result in a job. It will depend on how much you want the job I suppose.