Ask HN: How do engineers make time for job interviews/phone screens/preparation?

#1

Post by jobseekerThrowA » Mon, Jan 11, 2016, 7:53 PM UTC

I work full-time at a mid size tech company as a senior engineer. I'm looking to make a move looking for better opportunities.

As a senior engineer, I have plate full with project deliverables, design for next project, bug fixes, presentation, and other meetings. How do I make time for preparing for interviews, phone screens and full-day on-site interviews?

Around 4 years back I worked at a big-company as a junior engineer and didn't have many responsibilities so it was easy to vanish for couple of hours/call-in sick for phone screens and take off for on-site interviews.

Just curious how other HN folks manage job hunting. Also since I'm on H1B, I need to secure another job before I can quit existing job so quitting job and searching is not an option.

Re: Ask HN: How do engineers make time for job interviews/phone screens/preparation?

#2

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Jan 11, 2016, 9:14 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: How do engineers make time for job interviews/phone screens/preparation?

#3

Post by cakes » Mon, Jan 11, 2016, 9:48 PM UTC

PTO or sick days most likely if you have to do it during a normal work day. Sometimes, if you are lucky, you may find a company willing to work around your schedule (e.g. maybe a late-day interview) - it wouldn't hurt to ask.

Re: Ask HN: How do engineers make time for job interviews/phone screens/preparation?

#4

Post by jacalata » Mon, Jan 11, 2016, 10:31 PM UTC

Preparing for interviews is your own time, like evenings. Phone screens, same way you'd do a dentist appointment. All-day on-site, take a vacation day.

Re: Ask HN: How do engineers make time for job interviews/phone screens/preparation?

#5

Post by muzani » Mon, Jan 11, 2016, 10:48 PM UTC

I used to interview with a lot of companies on Saturdays. It seems that some people squeeze it into their schedule when they like a candidate.

Re: Ask HN: How do engineers make time for job interviews/phone screens/preparation?

#6

Post by randycupertino » Mon, Jan 11, 2016, 10:54 PM UTC

PTO and sick days... "dentist appointments" etc.

I will say I stay away from companies that want you to do an extensive try out before there's an offer in place. I had a consulting gig that was like 20 hours of work to "see how I solved problems" I politely declined and told them I couldn't do it without a consulting fee.

Also stay away from any jobs posted on HireArt, their whole process is to have you do a massive "try out" before you even get through the recruiter to the company. Terrible process, massive waste of time.

Good luck in your search!

Re: Ask HN: How do engineers make time for job interviews/phone screens/preparation?

#7

Post by hnuser123 » Tue, Jan 12, 2016, 2:42 PM UTC

I would take day off for on-site. For preparation using PTO would be fair to your current employee.

Re: Ask HN: How do engineers make time for job interviews/phone screens/preparation?

#8

Post by jobseekerThrowA » Wed, Jan 13, 2016, 9:15 PM UTC

OP here: Thanks for the responses!

Since taking a single PTO doesn't reduce expectations wrt deliverables, I think it would be better to take off in chunks of 2-3 days or a week for interview preparation.