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Ask HN: How to navigate an interview where the interviews has it against you

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Re: Ask HN: How to navigate an interview where the interviews has it against you

#11

Post by digisign »

98¼% chance that if one of the interviewers doesn't like you for any reason, you are not getting an offer.

So, as soon as something like this becomes clear, and first time you're disrespected... Stand up, dust yourself off, and say "I think we're done here." Then walk out and don't look back.

It's not so easy if it is the first time it's ever happened, but if you think and plan ahead of time, it is doable. Remember it is a two-way interview, and you have three more interviews lined up this week.

Re: Ask HN: How to navigate an interview where the interviews has it against you

#12

Post by runnerup »

inter_netuser wrote: post #7

Excuse yourself to the washroom. Call the front desk letting them know you are feeling unwell, must’ve been the food you just ate prior. Ask to reschedule with a different interviewer if possible, idk because you are embarrassed or something.

I like this.

Re: Ask HN: How to navigate an interview where the interviews has it against you

#14

Post by agiacalone »

groffee wrote: post #4

Sounds maybe like a 'stress interview'[0], basically they intentionally piss you off to see how you respond to stress. In any event, you dodged a bullet with them, who'd want to work in a place like that? [0] https://www.topinterview.co.uk/interview-advice/what-is-a-st...

I took a criminology class in the late 90’s where the professor talked about how unethical stress interviews were (for police department hiring, of all things) and encouraged applicants to walk out of any PD that attempted to give one.

I think it’s sound advice then and now.

Edit: I should add that the professor was a former Chief of Police for an SF Bay Area city.

Re: Ask HN: How to navigate an interview where the interviews has it against you

#15

Post by Wowfunhappy »

digisign wrote: post #11

98¼% chance that if one of the interviewers doesn't like you for any reason, you are not getting an offer. So, as soon as something like this becomes clear, and first time you're disrespected... Stand up, dust yourself off, and say "I think we're done here." Then walk out and don't look back. It's not so easy if it is the first time it's ever happened, but if you think and plan ahead of time, it is doable. Remember i…

Unless we're discussing some all-day affair, surely it makes more sense to just finish out the interview? You've already cancelled your other plans, gotten dressed up, and made the commute. None of which offsets the sunk cost fallacy, but:

• What if you're reading the room wrong?

• What if one of the other interviewers likes you, and will be hiring somewhere else in the future?

• What if a different team at the company has a position in the future?

• What if you used the time to practice interviewing? (Even if the conditions are less than ideal.)

I think all of that combined is worth an extra hour?

Re: Ask HN: How to navigate an interview where the interviews has it against you

#16

Post by digisign »

Wowfunhappy wrote: post #15
digisign wrote: post #11

98¼% chance that if one of the interviewers doesn't like you for any reason, you are not getting an offer. So, as soon as something like this becomes clear, and first time you're disrespected... Stand up, dust yourself off, and say "I think we're done here." Then walk out and don't look back. It's not so easy if it is the first time it's ever happened, but if you think and plan ahead of time, it is doable. Remember i…

Unless we're discussing some all-day affair, surely it makes more sense to just finish out the interview? You've already cancelled your other plans, gotten dressed up, and made the commute. None of which offsets the sunk cost fallacy, but: • What if you're reading the room wrong? • What if one of the other interviewers likes you, and will be hiring somewhere else in the future? • What if a different team at the compa…

O.P. was clear I think. And the other percent or two allows for some of your exceptions. But I'd push back at practicing "doormat" skills. Life is too short.

Re: Ask HN: How to navigate an interview where the interviews has it against you

#17

Post by codingdave »

dntrkv wrote: post #9
trinovantes wrote: post #3

Sounds like they did you a favor. Even if you passed the interview, do you really want a coworker like that?

Many times you are being interviewed by a random person that you might not even work with.

Even so, the organization accepts that behavior enough to have that person interviewing. Take it as the red flag it is and move on out.

Re: Ask HN: How to navigate an interview where the interviews has it against you

#18

Post by muzani »

inter_netuser wrote: post #8
groffee wrote: post #4

Sounds maybe like a 'stress interview'[0], basically they intentionally piss you off to see how you respond to stress. In any event, you dodged a bullet with them, who'd want to work in a place like that? [0] https://www.topinterview.co.uk/interview-advice/what-is-a-st...

People actually do that? I thought white boarding is the stress part.

Yeah, I have some old books from my dad that taught people how to be ready for a stress interview. Often it's something like having your seat in a place where light shines in your eyes, loud background noises, or a panel of interviewers staring at you.

It's probably more suited for say, sales job, but doesn't represent engineering well. Unless it does, which you probably want to get out of there as fast as possible.

Re: Ask HN: How to navigate an interview where the interviews has it against you

#19

Post by lostdog »

digisign wrote: post #16
Wowfunhappy wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unless we're discussing some all-day affair, surely it makes more sense to just finish out the interview? You've already cancelled your other plans, gotten dressed up, and made the commute. None of which offsets the sunk cost fallacy, but: • What if you're reading the room wrong? • What if one of the other interviewers likes you, and will be hiring somewhere else in the future? • What if a different team at the compa…

O.P. was clear I think. And the other percent or two allows for some of your exceptions. But I'd push back at practicing "doormat" skills. Life is too short.

OP could easily have been wrong. It's possible to have an interviewer that is just rude, but will still judge you fairly.

Re: Ask HN: How to navigate an interview where the interviews has it against you

#20

Post by asfarley »

avgDev wrote: post #10

I had a weird interview once. I used a common C# shortcut and the dev asked what it was....I explained....he said it would never compile. The whole interaction was really awkward and he was being kind of an ass about it. I believe I asked "Would you like me to write it out so you can understand?". Frankly, at that point I was pretty annoyed. This was in front of 3 devs. He just sat there quietly, so I did rewrite it…

What was the shortcut?
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