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My experience of interviewing for a job at Apple

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Re: My experience of interviewing for a job at Apple

#131

Post by atarian »

natch wrote: post #31

The author has an odd interest in sharing numbers that, while significant, show that the point is being missed. Sure, 700 billion is an impressive market cap for a company, but that's not what it's all about for the creative people of Apple. $6,000 of your time, meh, we all invest that much in side projects, year after year, if not more frequently than that. 5,000 miles, yeah, so you took a flight, is this supposed t…

Good callout.. especially considering the article started off like: >3 screening calls, 5 FaceTime interviews, a trip to Cupertino for 5 two-person interviews

Re: My experience of interviewing for a job at Apple

#132

Post by freyr »

stevenjohns wrote: post #108
joslin01 wrote: post #7

Out of curiosity, why the title 700 Billion? What is the purpose of this in how it relates to the article? Regarding the article, yea, seems pretty standard. Sorry you didn't get the job

It could be for a number of reasons. 1. OP wanted to emphasize what it is like to interview at a company which has a lot of resources to invest into interviews - one of the things mentioned was committing multiple people for a full day to just interview him, as well as willing to bear a high initial cost (travel, hotel) to interview him. 2. OP wanted to detail the interview process of such a financially successful co…

5. They have $700B, and even they can't they afford more than a "thanks but no thanks."

Re: My experience of interviewing for a job at Apple

#134

Post by pistle »

From surveying the comments... If companies are willing to spend the time and money vetting you, why are you not looking at them the same way?

Despite the headlines, market cap, cache of the name of the company on your CV, how can't you have as many questions coming up to put at them as they have for you?

The only time I've been turned down for a job that looked like it could have "dream job" aspirations to it, I had to say that 1) I totally knew and agreed with why they were declining and 2) felt they knew exactly why I would not likely feel comfortable coming in with them in a way that fits just right.

You should be seeking out, within reason, what day 1, month 1, and year 1 are going to be like. You should be seeing how they fit into your life path as much as they are seeing how you are going to get them through the issues that made the added headcount necessary.

What OP left me with, literally, was "I'm not a dummy b/c they brought me in." It's such a dry, objective review that it makes me think they were along for the ride instead of taking the wheel. It could well be just a personality-based thing. The OP has an apparently sterile passion for design and/in documentation.

Interviewers love passion and resonance - or at least they should at some place you really want to be. Nobody should have to pry things out of you. And then, they want to be able to agree with you and your view on technical passions and interpersonal rapport. Are you hard-working, objectively talented, opinionated-but-open, and do you seem ready and able to complement or enhance them?

Re: My experience of interviewing for a job at Apple

#135

Post by downandout »

Though this isn't as bad as many I've read, stories like this are the reason I have never applied to work at any of these large firms (Google, Apple, etc.). I have been a full-time developer for more than 20 years. I have 4 software patents to my name, one of which formed the basis of a startup that was acquired for $64 million. I know a few people at Facebook and Google (not at Apple), and I am definitely in the same league in terms of coding skills.

However, based on available information, I am 100% certain that I couldn't successfully complete the on-command hypothetical coding exercises with someone standing over my shoulder, along with the other mental and social gymnastics associated with applying at any of these companies. I wonder how many other well-qualified people are out there that will simply never apply because of the drawn-out, intimidating hiring process.

Re: My experience of interviewing for a job at Apple

#136

Post by option_greek »

downandout wrote: post #135

Though this isn't as bad as many I've read, stories like this are the reason I have never applied to work at any of these large firms (Google, Apple, etc.). I have been a full-time developer for more than 20 years. I have 4 software patents to my name, one of which formed the basis of a startup that was acquired for $64 million. I know a few people at Facebook and Google (not at Apple), and I am definitely in the sam…

You can add Microsoft to the list when it comes to on-command hypothetical coding exercises. Along with optimal solution, you are also expected to give it in a short duration.

Re: My experience of interviewing for a job at Apple

#137

Post by abawany »

RandomBK wrote: post #16

This all sounds like a typical 'cultural fit' screening process. I can't speak to SV firms, but many consulting/banking firms use the same technique. It can be very frustrating at times, as you never get to find out what went wrong, especially if the interview itself felt like it went very smoothly. I just finished a long string of interviews for consulting and product management positions, and there is nothing worse…

I am saddened that as a candidate, I am expected to just go away without getting any feedback but the company in a similar situation hounds me if I happen to reject them. I don't know how to improve this situation, unfortunately.

Re: My experience of interviewing for a job at Apple

#138

Post by badc0de »

downandout wrote: post #135

Though this isn't as bad as many I've read, stories like this are the reason I have never applied to work at any of these large firms (Google, Apple, etc.). I have been a full-time developer for more than 20 years. I have 4 software patents to my name, one of which formed the basis of a startup that was acquired for $64 million. I know a few people at Facebook and Google (not at Apple), and I am definitely in the sam…

I completely agree and would never apply to any of these companies, specially Apple.

Re: My experience of interviewing for a job at Apple

#139

Post by mc32 »

iopq wrote: post #130
mc32 wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It depends on how you want to interpret "yourself". Our selves have very many facets. We have the at-home facet, the with-friends, the one at-work, the one in front of a court. They are all our self. It basically means be natural for the face you're putting on. Don't over do it. Don't construct something overly elaborate such that it misrepresents you and it becomes apparent. Don't over think it.

I don't have a "write some algorithm in 15 minutes" self because I never do it at my job, but here I am, trying to rush an implementation on a whiteboard.

Part of that is doing research and getting to know what the company looks for in candidates and what you can expect in interviews and how you meet them. Sometimes it won't be a good fit, and that's alright.

If they want you to be their monkey and that's not you, I'd say don't do it. Of course, that's very easy for me to say, but if you think it's unreasonable and don't like it, find another company. There is no "one" company --just like there is no "one" romantic partner. It's all about trade-offs.

Re: My experience of interviewing for a job at Apple

#140

Post by aleem »

abawany wrote: post #137
RandomBK wrote: post #16

This all sounds like a typical 'cultural fit' screening process. I can't speak to SV firms, but many consulting/banking firms use the same technique. It can be very frustrating at times, as you never get to find out what went wrong, especially if the interview itself felt like it went very smoothly. I just finished a long string of interviews for consulting and product management positions, and there is nothing worse…

I am saddened that as a candidate, I am expected to just go away without getting any feedback but the company in a similar situation hounds me if I happen to reject them. I don't know how to improve this situation, unfortunately.

It's like the girl you don't want to date. You just tell her "it's me not you" rather than tell her what's wrong with her, which would be downright insulting. OTOH, the one you like you can end up courting her for months putting up your best side. Now imagine you're extremely eligible and get a lot of suitors--you tend to develop a knack for diplomacy, and the lesser said the better. Also imagine if you had to sit down with each rejected suitor to explain why they were rejected.

If a corp were to have dialogues with every rejected candidate it would take considerable effort with little to no ROI.

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