After listening carefully to their presentation during the interview, ask one but no more than one "difficult" question, something where they'll have a hard time accommodating you if they're not set up that way. Some questions include:
I'm sorry, but I have to strongly disagree with a couple of these...
1. Will you put me in an office instead of a cube?
For most jobs and companies this question will only signal that you're pompus, pretentious, and demanding. Smaller companies are going to have extremely limited office space, and will have their own criteria for how it is allocated. Larger companies will generally have plenty of office space, but will have draconian policies on how it is allocated. If you're being interviewed as a junior developer and your team's senior developers are in cubes, you WILL be put in a cube. Even *if* you find a company that's willing to be accommodating, how it is going to look to your peers (even superiors) who are in cubes that you demand and receive an office?
2. I have my own [chair/computer keyboard/mini fridge]. Is it alright if I bring it in and use it?
Again, I think this is pretty demanding for an interview question.. Save it for after you've completed 30 days on the job and find you simply cannot tolerate the company provided chair/keyboard/fridge. In many offices which have generator/UPS power those utilities must be sized based on the predicted load of the building, so personal fridges, fans, heaters, etc will be banned for this purpose, or by fire/safety regulations. Lastly, even if they do let you bring in your $1000 aeron keep in mind that if you are asked to leave unexpectedly (laid off or fired) you may not be allowed to collect your chair/keyboard/etc and take it with you.
3. I have particular brands pens and pencils I use as a matter of personal preference. Will you reimburse me if I buy them from Office Depot or am I expected to use only the office supplies the company provides?
Ok, this is asinine. How much is a box of good pens? $10? You're going to quibble in an interview for a position that pays $75k - $100k a year over a $10 box of pens?!?! I would tell the interviewee to promptly get stuffed.
4. After I've been here a few months and fully integrated with the rest of the team, are you willing to consider having me telecommute for part of the week?
5. How flexible are your work hours? Can I come in at 10:30/leave at 3:30 in order to avoid rush hour traffic?
Valid questions, but again, save them until you have completed your first 30 days. Work the schedule your manager dictates for the first 30 days then ask for accommodations.. This gives you time to prove yourself as a team player, and gets you a lot of face time with your peers while you're new and people are forming their first impressions about you. Being the guy who comes in at noon, leaves at 8pm, and telecommutes 3 days a week generally isn't going to win you many friends, unless that's a common scenario for the company, in which case you would have been informed that anyway.
