Master the Reverse Interview: The One Question That Trips Up 90% of Candidates

Reverse Interview

The article presents a GitHub repository (https://github.com/viraptor/reverse-interview) that collects numerous questions candidates can ask during a technical interview to evaluate the company and demonstrate their own value.

Intended Use

Identify questions that interest you.

Check which questions you can answer yourself through research.

If you cannot find answers, ask the interviewer.

Do not try to ask every question on the list.

Responsibilities

What are the on‑call policies and overtime compensation?

What does a typical day look like?

What is the ratio of junior to senior engineers?

What does onboarding training involve?

How much of the work is independent development versus routine tasks?

What are the expected core working hours per day?

How is success defined for this role?

Is the position a new role or a replacement, and are there technical debts?

Which project team will I join, and is it a new or existing project?

Technical

What technology stack does the company use?

How is source control managed?

How is code tested?

How are bugs tracked?

How are code changes integrated and deployed? Is CI/CD used?

Is infrastructure defined as code and version‑controlled?

What is the workflow from planning to completion?

How is disaster recovery prepared?

Is there a standard development environment, and is it mandatory?

How long does it take to set up a local test environment for a product?

How quickly are security issues in code or dependencies addressed?

Do developers have local admin rights on their machines?

Are there regular technical sharing sessions?

Team

How is work organized?

How does communication happen within and between teams?

How are differing opinions resolved?

Who sets priorities and plans?

What happens if work is returned as incomplete?

What types of meetings are held weekly?

What is the product/service release cadence?

How are production incidents handled and is there a blameless culture?

What challenges is the team currently facing?

What is the structure and composition of the technical team?

Company

Is there a budget for meetings or travel, and what are the rules?

What is the promotion process and expectations?

Are technical and management career paths separate?

What are the company's views on diverse hiring?

Are there company‑wide learning resources such as ebook subscriptions or online courses?

Is there a budget for certification?

What stage of maturity is the company at (early, growth, maintenance, etc.)?

Can I contribute to open‑source projects, and does it require approval?

Are there non‑compete or confidentiality agreements?

What gaps exist in the company culture?

Can you share a story about a difficult situation the company faced and how it was handled?

Business

Is the company currently profitable? If not, how long until it becomes profitable?

What are the sources of funding and who influences high‑level plans?

How does the company generate revenue?

What obstacles prevent higher earnings?

What does the company consider its competitive advantage?

Remote Work

What is the ratio of remote to office work?

Does the company provide hardware and how is it refreshed?

Can additional accessories or home office equipment be purchased, and is there a budget?

Is there a budget for co‑working spaces or internet?

How often must employees come to the office?

Are meeting rooms always ready for video conferences?

Office Work

What is the office layout (open, cubicles, private offices)?

Are there nearby teams that require heavy phone usage?

Compensation

How are bonuses allocated and what percentages have been typical in recent years?

Are there social security, housing fund, or retirement benefits, and does the company provide commercial insurance?

Paid Leave

How many days of paid leave are provided?

Are sick leave and personal leave separate?

Can leave be taken in advance, potentially resulting in negative balance?

What is the policy for rolling over unused leave?

What are the policies for childcare?

What are the policies for unpaid leave?

Other Resources

For additional inspiration, see the Joel Test: https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2000/08/09/the-joel-test-12-steps-to-better-code/