[stonk]

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.

[CptCodeMonkey]

Yeah, I've worked in two shops where every developer was on guard for themselves, those were not fun situations. I can usually figure out I am in such a scenario when I ask someone if they would mind helping me by reviewing or talking through how I solved a somewhat prickly problem. If they instantly turn me down in such a way that to suggest "Not my problem, not my concern" I usually tack that onto a mental score sheet for deciding not to renew or extend my contract.

Usually I am more receptive towards teams that have a final interview stage where all of the other dev's weigh in. I've avoided some fairly toxic places because of that step.