I'm currently on the lookout for DevOps roles and have lined up a few interviews. I want to know what significant red flags people have noticed during DevOps job interviews. For example, do vague job descriptions or non-specific interview questions indicate that a company might not really understand what DevOps is about? Are there other warning signs that the job might just be a traditional sysadmin role in disguise?
5 Answers
If they mention being 'on call,' definitely ask whether it's a rotation. Having no downtime can lead to quick burnout. I negotiated to have the final say in my priorities during on-call duty to avoid that stress. Find out how they handle the issues that come up during those times, too!
Long hours with no breaks can lead to burnout. Make sure you know what you’re signing up for.
A major red flag is if they insist on using timesheets. It often hints at micromanagement. However, I've worked in a place where timesheets were used just for project tracking and not as a micromanagement tool. So, if they do ask, follow up on how they utilize the timesheets in the management process.
If it’s a consultancy, just brace yourself—micromanagement is likely.
Sounds like a good point. The context really matters!
Watch for companies that can’t clearly explain their CI/CD pipeline or deployment methods. Also, if they say "we're moving towards DevOps," it's usually a sign you might end up trying to transform a resistant ops team all on your own.
One thing to ask about is what your day-to-day work will look like. Also, pay attention to how quickly HR or other team members reply to your emails. If they call you at odd hours, like 7 PM, that might be a sign of bad work-life balance. You definitely don't want to be in a place where urgent calls are the norm.
I'd also ask about the meeting load; if they're vague about that, it could mean you'll spend most of your time in pointless calls.
Makes sense.
If the job description mainly focuses on Linux skills without mentioning modern tools like CI/CD or public cloud services, it’s a sign they want a traditional sysadmin and are just giving it a trendy name. Also, if they’re a company that grew through acquisition, expect a confusing tech stack and a lot of diversity in processes.
Diverse tech stacks can also be a great opportunity! It just depends on how management plans to streamline things.
Can I ask why being on call is a red flag? For me, it could mean extra cash.