No Homework Questions
Also known as: Lazy Questions, Preparation Failure
The rule prohibiting questions that could be answered through basic pre-interview research.
Full Definition
Homework questions waste irreplaceable access — the time with someone who has direct, lived experience with the problem — and signal to the interviewee that the interviewer didn't prepare. This damages credibility and reduces the interviewee's willingness to engage seriously. Every interview question should be something only that specific person can answer.
Example
'How many robotic procedures does your hospital perform annually?' is available in public registries. Asking it wastes the interview. 'Given the volume your program handles, where do you feel the most pressure in the workflow?' uses that public knowledge and gets to the real insight.