Say you're in a job interview and you ask, "Who will I be working with?" (employees, employer)

[BigCityDreamer]

And the interviewer responds:

"Well, you won't be working with anybody. You will be working FOR us."

What would your reaction be to this?

[manderly6]

What kind of job is it?

[313Weather]

I would have tried re-phrasing the question.

It is a sort of a strange question to ask during an interview of course, unless you were actually meeting the employees right then and there.

[CoolSocks]

Originally Posted by 313Weather

It is a sort of a strange question to ask during an interview of course, unless you were actually meeting the employees right then and there.

Agreed. There's not really any reason to ask about your future coworkers during an interview.

[BigCityDreamer]

Originally Posted by CoolSocks

Agreed. There's not really any reason to ask about your future coworkers during an interview.

I've asked the question during many other interviews and was simply told who I'd be working with. It was never strange.

I just expect straightforward answers to my questions in an interview. I keep them simple.

[andrewcool]

It really depends on the job. For government positions, they always let you know, because while you may know the department title, you may be working at a different department location, different location, and so many other possible combinations.

[hnsq]

Originally Posted by BigCityDreamer

And the interviewer responds:

"Well, you won't be working with anybody. You will be working FOR us."

What would your reaction be to this?

My reaction would be to stand up, shake his hand, tell him I don't want to work for a company that has that attitude, and walk out.

[Lodestar 77]

^^^^Naa. Don't cut off your nose to spite your face, this isn't a big deal. If and when you get offered the position, then you can "grill" the employer a bit more.

[Yzette]

Originally Posted by BigCityDreamer

And the interviewer responds:

"Well, you won't be working with anybody. You will be working FOR us."

What would your reaction be to this?

Inside, I'd be thinking and wondering if the interviewer was trying to come across as a power-tripping, sarcastic, jackdonkey.

Outside, I'd clarify. "No, no. I mean what kind of team will I be working with, in terms of staffing? How many people are in the department, how many will be on the immediate team, how is the team structured, and so on."

It's a perfectly logical and acceptable question, one I've asked on every interview. It matters because it says something about workflow and workload. In my case, there is a difference between 5 people putting together a 140-page magazine and 3 people putting together a 140-page magazine.

[Adhom]

Maybe that question does sound a bit direct. If I were the interviewer, it may sound like I have to name some people who you wouldn't even know. Usually I ask if I will be working alone or on a team or how the team is structured.