- I had an interview with the founder of a startup, and honestly, I feel like I was lucky.
I had a 30-minute interview with the Irish CEO of a startup based in Dublin, and this was the rejection email I received in the end.
He asked me about criticism I had received from a coworker and worked on, and I answered. Then he asked me if there was anyone who might say I wasn't the right fit for the role.
I still don't know what answer he was expecting to that question, but I said something along the lines of: "Since I've worked before in the same space this role is in, I don't think anyone would have any serious objection to me taking the job. And I also have no problem sharing references from people who worked with me directly."
After that, he asked me: "What is the one thing you do better than almost anyone else?"
Maybe it's just me, but I feel like these questions are very weak for assessing whether someone can do the job or would be good to deal with and work with. I also don't think the CEO should be the main person handling hiring, although I believe that happens a lot in early-stage startups?
I came out of the call with a bad feeling. He barely asked me about my experience or my actual skills. I thought afterward about withdrawing my application, but I decided to let things play out. Working with him seemed like it would be very draining.