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For some background:

  • I'm interviewing for a job as a software developer in a funded startup. The company has been running for about 1 year and is still relatively small (the dev team is about 10 people).
  • I've already gone through two interviews and a "project": one interview with a HR person, I did a short programming assignment, then an interview with a developer who I imagine would be my superior.

My next interview is with the CTO of the company (this will be a phone interview, as were the previous interviews).

My questions are:

  • What can I expect?
  • What kind of questions will I be asked?
  • How can I prepare?
  • What kind of questions should I ask?
  • What are things I should not say no matter what?

Thanks!

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  • 2
    why do you think this is different from any other interview?
    – IDrinkandIKnowThings
    Commented Jun 6, 2016 at 19:29
  • 1
    Have they given you any idea what the job will entail? That may very well dictate the questions they ask. Treat it as any interview.
    – JasonJ
    Commented Jun 6, 2016 at 20:29
  • 4
    @Chad an interview with a HR person is different from an interview with a developer is different from an interview with a CTO. I have experience with the former two, but no experience with the latter. Thus the question.
    – zundi
    Commented Jun 6, 2016 at 23:37
  • 2
    A CTO at a small startup is different from a CTO at a large company. At the former, they're basically just the lead developer (hopefully also a co-founder), and the interview will take on a more tech/dev interview flavor.
    – James Adam
    Commented Jun 7, 2016 at 14:24
  • I Am not sure that I agree in this case. I am not sure why you think This specific interview will be any different than any other interview with a development manager.
    – IDrinkandIKnowThings
    Commented Jun 7, 2016 at 16:42

1 Answer 1

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First off all, congrats. You must have impressed whoever you interviewed prior to this point to get to the CTO interview. I am going to go out on a limb and say your last interview is nothing more than stroking the ego of the CTO, unless something is majorly wrong with you and you will blurt it out on this last interview in the process.

Coming back to your questions:

What can I expect?

Expect a personality characteristics driven interview rather than the techie stuff the previous interviewers put you through.

What kind of questions will I be asked?

This depends on the person interviewing you. Nobody else can tell.

How can I prepare?

There is no preparation to this other than being and acting professional

What kind of questions should I ask?

These are things come to mind but only to my mind, not an exhaustive list:

  • what is your biggest pain point(s) and how can I/my skills can help you get through it/them? Unless it is ovious that they are severely understaffed and you will be expected to work from day-1

  • what are the short term and long term goals of the company ?

  • How much growth are you expecting in the next 1-2 years ?

  • Related to the previous question: what would be a growth plan for me in this expansion process ?

  • Here as a last question, I would ask something about how the company culture, but if you interviewed 2 people and it is a small company, you may already have developed a sense for it. But if you haven't, a soft question like that, wouldn't hurt

What are things I should not say no matter what?

Oh boy... this is a touchy subject but again, do not talk about salary, increases in salary unless you are specifically asked. Even in that case, try to deflect them with round-about answers, like negotiable, or having your performance guide them to decide what you are worth. Also, do not talk about flex schedules or working from home arrangements or any other fringe benefits that company is providing or will provide. Do not bad-mouth your previous employers, bosses or jobs/assignments. Again do not ask if you can access the internet freely from your workplace, as it is a sign of slacking off in the eyes of a supervisor. Use common sense is my best advice to you.

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