[kjgkjhfkjf]

Regardless of whether you consider yourself an imposter, do ask clarifying questions! They are generally expected from candidates. If you're not asking them, you're probably hurting your chances.

Source: I interview lots of candidates for SWE positions.

[scarmig]

Questions are often under specified for exactly this reason: to test ability to ask questions when necessary.

Even if the problem is fully specified, asking clarifying questions is considered a good signal in any interview I've ever conducted.

[alacombe]

> Questions are often under specified for exactly this reason: to test ability to ask questions when necessary.

Unless you deviate from the script the [incompetent] interviewer expect, in which case, you are toasted.

[amarkov]

If you can't make yourself understood to the average engineer at a company, I think it's fair to say there's not a good fit between you and the company.

[alacombe]

s/engineers/managers/... Who probably ended up there to limit their collateral damage to the company, ie. followed the Peter principle.

[khedoros1]

I'd say that if you're in a technical interview with a non-technical manager, you may've chosen the wrong company to interview with. And if it's a non-technical portion of the interview and you have trouble making yourself understood (to a manager), you're back to the "it's not a good fit" conclusion.

[alacombe]

It was definitively the "technical interview with a non-technical manager", and yes, I do agree with you, but it's difficult to judge companies beforehand.