Thread by @ClareSudbery

This is a really interesting thread. I totally get what you're saying, and it makes me really sad and mad that women encounter these situations in job interviews.
But the conclusions being drawn also make me sad.

https://twitter.com/alicegoldfuss/status/1092168647026532352

I am a pathological question-asker, and I am aware that I have been judged for that, in some contexts (including interviews).
But, you know what? Sod them. The ability to ask decent questions is a core software development skill.

And it's not just about complex questions that are deliberately obscure. It's also a skill to be able to ask simple questions, and questions that are designed to increase simplicity. For senior technologists in front of less experienced colleagues, I believe it's an obligation.

As a role model I want to counter the elitist bullshit that suggests we must out-clever each other, all the time.
To be clear, I'm not judging you @alicegoldfuss for coming to the conclusion that you must not ask questions in interviews. I'm judging the culture that led you here.

I once had a job interview where I was harshly judged for not knowing stuff off the top of my head. I almost cancelled my next interview - for a similar position - as a result.
I almost changed my behaviour in interviews. But I didn't.

For the next interview (which was with @thoughtworks) I turned up as my real questioning self, and I got the job.
And I was reminded that if they didn't want me, if they didn't want my open uncertainty, then I didn't want them either.

By refusing to play that game, I found the people I really wanted to work with.
Ask your questions and ask them with pride!