[Peter Gulka]

As many of you know I am moving on to a new job. The hunt has started for a replacement here at NAIT and I've been asked to provide some interview questions of a more technical nature.

If you were going to interview someone for your job, what kinds of technical/technology related questions would you ask?

[n1ugu]

Trying to get us all to do your homework again for you, Peter?

[n1ugu]

Ok, seriously, I would ask questions like:

• Give me a quick synopsis of what a relational database is.
• What operating system(s) are you comfortable working on?
• If you had to restore from a backup, what would your process be?
• You get an email from Jane....she can't print, she says....what do you do?
• I want coffee....extra strong coffee...what do you do? [LOL...come on, I'm kidding!!!]
  

These aren't really technical or technology related, but important in seeing the "type" of person they are:

• What do you envision your first week here to be like? (you can get some insight into how a person works, how they think, what "type" of person they are)
• What would you want to accomplish in your first 6 months?
• Have you worked with fund raising systems before? If so, which one(s)?
  
• In what capacity? {you may be surprised how many people may apply for your job that never really "used" a system, didn't really understand it, but just clicked when someone told them to!!}

So, those are my questions....

[mwittman]

Well, if these are good enough for Google ...

1. How many golf balls can fit in a school bus?


2. You are shrunk to the height of a nickel and your mass is proportionally reduced so as to maintain your original density. You are then thrown into an empty glass blender. The blades will start moving in 60 seconds. What do you do?

3. How much should you charge to wash all the windows in Seattle?

READ MORE

[RobertWild]

MWittman: Amusing list. Funnily enough, they are questions that have been asked of the Google Answers team

Peter: Barbara's list is a good one.

Try to ask a mix of the following:

Technical questions of various difficulty levels with definite answers (Tests knowledge)

Eg: What's the difference between a relational database and a flat file one. Give an example. (You wouldn't believe the number of "database people" who have no idea of this.)

Technical questions of various difficulty with various optional answers (Tests Problem solving creativity)
Scenario questions of conflicting demands (Tests prioritisation skills)

Also, 1 or 2 really off the wall questions - this is not intended to get a right answer, it's more intended to show you an applicant's thinking process about how they would find a solution to a problem that they have no idea on. Chances are, if there is an interviewing team, you will need to warn them of what you are doing.

[stancliff]

It's always helpful to know how resourceful the applicant is. I was once told in an interview that there weren't many, if any colleagues, I could go to if I got stuck on a particular issue. They were trying to find out if I had any experience in finding out answers to technical questions on my own. So, if the applicant says, "Yes, I once had this problem writing a Crystal Report and I posted on The BUS and found the answer.", then you know you have a savvy candidate.

[andrea.bbbs]

For my previous job, one of the questions was "name three strengths and three weaknesses you have" . I think a question like that allows the job seeker to brag, but it also shows honesty. I think I would be uncomfortable hiring someone who did not own up to any weaknesses.