Ouch... One thing I took from this post is that I came to the realization that I might be an A. It describes me pretty well except that I won't "ignore any decisions that were made." (If a decision is that bad, I will at least say so and let them see it through as a learning experience.)
Still, I don't think I'm an a-hole. I really do get along with everybody, and try to add value and contribute to any place that I work. I just don't think that there are previous employers out there cursing me out because I was too much trouble.
Are you sure that A == a-hole? (This is probably going to bother me all day)
I fit the 'A' category (so effectively I'm telling people to never hire me ;) ), over time I've gotten better at communication and I work better together with others now than in the past, but there is still a lot to be solved.
The best spots to 'plug me in' are when everybody else is ready to give up and it's a real challenge, or when I can write tools for others. (or under extreme stress). Those are the times when I thrive. If you want me to do the front-end of your web-app together with 5 others then please look somewhere else.
Whether or not A is an asshole is a call you can't make with the information given, it's perfectly possible to not be a team player and not be an asshole at the same time, if someone ignores decisions that were made then maybe that indicates they're working for the wrong boss or at the wrong level.
It is implied, but not a given that A is an a-hole. This detail bothered me too. There are a huge number of intangibles needed to actually gauge whether A or B is a better fit.
With such a sparse description of A and B, it seems like many of us are filling in lots of details based on our interpretation of the situation.
Still, I don't think I'm an a-hole. I really do get along with everybody, and try to add value and contribute to any place that I work. I just don't think that there are previous employers out there cursing me out because I was too much trouble.
Are you sure that A == a-hole? (This is probably going to bother me all day)