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Tech Interview Torture Chamber

mattfriz.com

11–20 of 232 posts

Re: Tech Interview Torture Chamber

#11
Surprised I don't see my main pet peeve - early reference check. Before I even talk to anyone I'm asked to provide three phone numbers of three former managers. So I have to call them up, make sure the number is still working, and ask for the favor that they can give me a reference in case anyone reads my application.

All of these other things are on me. References I have to call two or three (or at one company, six) people and ask for the favor of giving a reference - just to apply to a job.

Of course I can fold my arms and refuse to give them, but if we're starting off on that footing, I might as well just break off the interview.

If we're nearing an offer, I have no problem giving references, it's just silly to have to worry about my references getting calls before I've even talked to anyone at the company.

My more minor peeve with interviews is not mentioned as well. That is, scheduling the in-person interview. If a company is flexible, I could take an extended lunch and have an interview wrapped up within a 60-90 minute lunch break (or better yet, go after normal business hours). But companies keep you around for hours, sometimes just sitting there waiting to talk to people. Inevitably one of the main people you were supposed to talk to is unavailable to speak to you that day. It's understandable an in-person interview is during business hours and can be a few hours long, it's more the ones that waste my time for no reason that annoy me.

Re: Tech Interview Torture Chamber

#12
post #5

We all agree the tech interviews are broken. I suspect that the next trend in tech interviews will be worse in just a slightly different way. We got rid of the "Why are manholes round?" questions, now we have live coding tests.

For an industry that's all about disrupting others, tech isn't very good at disrupting itself.

Re: Tech Interview Torture Chamber

#13
post #4

> Everyone that interacts with the candidate must offer a beverage or a trip to the bathroom as many times as possible throughout the day. Bladder manipulation is a powerful interrogation tactic. I used to do this, I guess it's time to stop

Don't stop this. It's essentially harmless and in the case of certain people, welcome. You want your interviewers to think have empathy for your candidates. Interviewing is already stressful and a full bladder or dry throat makes it worse.

Re: Tech Interview Torture Chamber

#15
post #5

We all agree the tech interviews are broken. I suspect that the next trend in tech interviews will be worse in just a slightly different way. We got rid of the "Why are manholes round?" questions, now we have live coding tests.

Do we though? What if the current system is the least bad option out of a set of much worse alternatives?

Re: Tech Interview Torture Chamber

#16
post #5

We all agree the tech interviews are broken. I suspect that the next trend in tech interviews will be worse in just a slightly different way. We got rid of the "Why are manholes round?" questions, now we have live coding tests.

[deleted]

Re: Tech Interview Torture Chamber

#17
post #4

> Everyone that interacts with the candidate must offer a beverage or a trip to the bathroom as many times as possible throughout the day. Bladder manipulation is a powerful interrogation tactic. I used to do this, I guess it's time to stop

This was the one that stuck out to me, though my take based on the tone of the article is that it's an easy way to pretend that you care, even if you don't. If you do have a caring process, this fits in just fine ("you doing ok? need anything?"). But if it's the only kind words you hear in the process it's sure to be weird.

Re: Tech Interview Torture Chamber

#19

Surprised I don't see my main pet peeve - early reference check. Before I even talk to anyone I'm asked to provide three phone numbers of three former managers. So I have to call them up, make sure the number is still working, and ask for the favor that they can give me a reference in case anyone reads my application. All of these other things are on me. References I have to call two or three (or at one company, six)…

> That is, scheduling the in-person interview. If a company is flexible, I could take an extended lunch and have an interview (or better yet, go after normal business hours).

Good point. Having to always blow a vacation day on an interview seriously limits the number you can do per month/year. Want to do 10 interviews a month? You've blown half the month right there.

Re: Tech Interview Torture Chamber

#20
post #9

> Always start off by asking the candidate, "Is this still a good time?" Is there a better way to ask this? It would be relatively awkward for the candidate to bring up on their own, so it seems like a good idea to make sure nothing unexpected has occurred since the call was planned. > Alright, that's enough chit chat. Curtly prod them to submit to the interrogation. Assuming it's still good to have the call, why wou…

Hello, is this (Candidate)? (Assuming you can pronounce candidate's name, otherwise, try a different opening.

This is X from company Y. Is this a good time to talk?

Great, so the way this usually goes is I talk about A, we talk a little about B, I'll ask you about C, and if you have any questions D

Sound good?

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