Whether you are looking to join a blue chip company or a newly minted start up, your interview experience is as much about you pitching yourself to the company as it is the company pitching itself to you. So while it's fun to imagine the perks of catered lunches and weekly ping pong happy hours, the ultimate test is to discover whether that company's mission and future are aligned with your principles and personal development goals.
Some of the warning signs I've discovered during my interview process:
What are the objectives set for the company/team the next one and five years?
Especially if I'm interviewing during a post funding round hiring frenzy, I want to ensure that my position has been thoughtfully created within the context of the organization, rather than just being added headcount.
How has the company culture evolved? What parts would you maintain, and what parts would you change?
The next hire is the riskiest asset to a company's culture. If the leadership team doesn't value its culture's preservation and evolution to that extent, I probably will be just as apathetic towards my impact on the company.
What is your favorite part about the work? What makes the work interesting?
If the answer does not kick off with some variation of "my coworkers," the interview is as good as over.
What is something silly or fun you enjoy doing?
Literally having any answer without pause is a good sign.