[thejo]

On the first point, you have to remember that the larger a company grows, the more impersonal it becomes. Interviewing in most large companies is usually seen as a chore, the outcome of which does not have a huge impact on the interviewer. This is different in a startup, where hiring someone may significantly impact your own work. Of course, if the interview is conducted as though it is a chore, then it just sucks and you have to start thinking about how badly you need the job.

On questions, you can always ask about -

* the team you'll be joining

* if it's a small company / startup ask about their business and competition. An engineer who shows that he understands how his work fits into the larger picture is far more valuable than one who is happy to just write code.

* learning opportunities - large company or small, dig into what it is you can take away from the job

Of course, there's no point in making it a formality. What would you like to know about something you might be doing for the next few years of your life?