Ask HN: How to approach first C-level interview
I am being courted for a technical leadership position in a small startup (~30 people). The non-technical founder CEO asked me to come to the office on Friday just to see the place and catch up and meet her teams and the other founders.<p>I am strongly interested in this position, but it&#x27;s not a do or die situation for me if I don&#x27;t get it; it would just be a nice new fun opportunity. I have a skill set that they need, but I&#x27;m not sure they realize how badly they need me. I have management experience in a startup (grew into the job), but I&#x27;ve been a comfortable developer for the past few years while my kids were growing up. I&#x27;m a little concerned about the current state of the company as it seems like they&#x27;ve plateaued, but I get the impression that was because of technical deficiencies (which is where I would come in and help). That said, I need to take care of myself and my family and it&#x27;s naturally scary leaving a stable 9-5 developer position.<p>What kinds of things should I be aware of when going to their office? What things should I do&#x2F;say to show that I want the position, but that I&#x27;m not too eager? What should I avoid doing&#x2F;saying to give myself the best leverage when going into negotiations? How do I negotiate the salary&#x2F;bonus&#x2F;equity combo without knowing their financial status? This is the first position I&#x27;ve had to &quot;interview&quot; for in a decade, so any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated.