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Ask HN: Balancing interviewing and day job?

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Ask HN: Balancing interviewing and day job?

#1
I'm currently working as a software engineer, and I'm looking for a new role at a new company. I've reached the later stages of interviewing with multiple companies, and every single company wants an on-site interview for 4-5 hours.

How are you supposed to manage that with a full time job? Vacation days? Sick days? Flexing your hours?

I'm sure there are multiple ways to do so, but I'd love to hear some advice from those of you who have been through the process.

Re: Ask HN: Balancing interviewing and day job?

#3
What really gets me is the time it takes to do the interview.

I get needing 2-3 to confirm prowess and answer all of the logistics of the working relationship, but it seems like there is waste somewhere.

I'm probably just impatient, but I'd welcome feedback on if that's just a Me thing or if most people find nearly half a day spent interviewing to get old pretty fast.

Re: Ask HN: Balancing interviewing and day job?

#6

What really gets me is the time it takes to do the interview. I get needing 2-3 to confirm prowess and answer all of the logistics of the working relationship, but it seems like there is waste somewhere. I'm probably just impatient, but I'd welcome feedback on if that's just a Me thing or if most people find nearly half a day spent interviewing to get old pretty fast.

No, it's not just you. Spending half a day to interview because some higher up wanted "top tech talent" is beyond ridiculous. (Not average people that can still do the job, oh no, it HAS to be "TOP tech talent".) There is no reason why the interview should take more than 2-3 hours (and that's on the extreme side) where everyone involved just sits in the same room and takes notes.

Re: Ask HN: Balancing interviewing and day job?

#9

Well, if you've got multiple companies, explain the problem to each of them. The one with the best answer for how they will work with you is the one who gets first crack at interviewing you. The rest get in line.

This may be good advice. But what if one of them is "big advertising tech company" and you have meta-reasons for wanting to work for them (future signalling for example) but they ain't too accommodating on the interview side of thigns.

Re: Ask HN: Balancing interviewing and day job?

#10

Well, if you've got multiple companies, explain the problem to each of them. The one with the best answer for how they will work with you is the one who gets first crack at interviewing you. The rest get in line.

This may be good advice. But what if one of them is "big advertising tech company" and you have meta-reasons for wanting to work for them (future signalling for example) but they ain't too accommodating on the interview side of thigns.

Your reasoning about this company may be a wishful thinking.
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