How to respond to the "How do you rank yourself in technology X on a scale from 1 - 10"?

What is 10? Why are recruiters and interviewers asking such questions?

10 = expert.

Yes, expert is honestly an undefinable term. But it's a term.

Ask yourself, what do I see as an expert?

Then ask "am I an expert?"

If you say yes, then you're a 9 or 10.

Are you a junior? You're probably 5-6.

Are you a new/beginner? 1-3.

Fill in the gaps as you see necessary.

@Stuxnet 100% agree

Why I take issue with this question stems exactly from the gap between what I define as an expert and what the next guy sees as one...

I've also met devs that rank themselves 9 and every bloody stand up they say "this is taking a little longer than i expected"...

I put down a one. Gotta stay humble.

I fucking hate this question... There are times I'm a 10 and others I'm a - 10 in the same language 😥

@r0b0t Love your honesty 👍👍

On most days I'm a Grad before coffee, Journeyman after lunch and only soar after everyone else has gone home 😀

Ask for 10 sided dice to roll

Say 10 to everything. What are they going to say in response? "No way, you lying bitch!"?

I think not.

Stupid question deserves stupid answer.