<p>Thanks for the comments and feedback everybody... And I do have most, or maybe I'll say some, of the answers.</p>
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<p>The reason the interview process is so stringent is not necessarily the company but rather the group itself. The company, as I know from other people, both in technology and other, doesn't instill an interview policy that tough. Rather, the group I interviewed with sees itself as a rather "elite" team of senior engineers. In this market they can certainly get away with it. On top of that, the company had been at one point a startup -- that was later acquired -- and that startup hired during the tough times in the market, and so they had pick of the crop. That culture, a more collegial feel, lives on. This group in particular provides a platform for nearly all of this company's like products. There are many products sitting on top. And so it is high visibility, which got them to hire senior engineers.</p>
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<p>Today, this group prides itself on their intellect. They consider the vibe a collegial feel, where once you join you never leave. The numbers prove it too. And the interview process is purposely part of that. The premise is that if you get through the interview process and still are excited about the company and group, you have a new home. They will take care of you via pay, benefits, bonuses, etc. They do not check references because, again, if you get through the process, they know everything about you and who you are and what you know.</p>
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<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>juliemboyle</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/72436/tuesday-feb-1-workouts#post_1980991"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a><br><p>That seems a bit over the top.............do you want the job if we get an offer? </p>
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Great question! I find myself asking this very question. I like the job role. I like most of the people in the group. But the commute is far. And the "elitist" feel seems to be to be carried too far by some, beyond the point of just being proud to be a part of the group. What I love about it is that I know for me professionally, I'll be able to grow there. And I will be rewarded monetarily for my hard work, more so than other companies, both through top pay and healthy bonuses. I am lucky that I have a verbal offer due in any day now from another company, and I think I'll be extended another offer with more interviews to come. So hopefully I'll have my pick.<br>
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<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>master_of_none</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/72436/tuesday-feb-1-workouts#post_1981009"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a><br><p>Thor, sounds like a little overkill. Scary that they had people working that late on interviews. What's their regualr work day like?</p>
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<p>Not sure. That's one thing I haven't been able to read. But I can tell you this: leaving the building yesterday at 9:07, there were more cars in the parking lot than I cared to see. More scary than this is that I have now logged roughly 5 hours talking to the hiring manager.</p>
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<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>zojmn151</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/72436/tuesday-feb-1-workouts#post_1981065"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a><br><p>Thor - have to agree with everyone else...my first thought was "do you really want to work there (if that's the interview process)??"</p>
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<p>There are many benefits. I think working there would be great for my career. I'd be able to grow quite a bit. But I also have other "offers" that seem just as exciting. Though right now I think I'd be able to grow more at this company. Which isn't to say that is my only goal. I'm looking at another startup right now, and my thinking is that since the job is different but just as exciting, the startup will have massive upside for the crazy hours I will work.<br><br>
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<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>hobey</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/72436/tuesday-feb-1-workouts#post_1981077"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a><br><p>Thor - That was the screen then the interview? Wow! I'm a tough interviewer but I like to think I don't torment candidates like that. They're here for the whole day (from 9-4) and usually talk to 5-6 people. I'm with everyone else on really deciding if that's the place you want to work.</p>
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Yes. You touched on something in another comment (see below) that may shed some light, especially for you, on the process.<br>
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<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>MBannon</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/72436/tuesday-feb-1-workouts#post_1981113"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>Thor - If these guys offer you a position, you might just express some concern regarding the interview process. Assuming they ask you to elaborate, you might start by suggesting their interview process could be more efficient, since it sounds like you essentially repeated the interview over and over and over. From there you could lead into the crazy-long hours without sounding like you're scared of working long hours.</p>
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<p>Believe it or not, I have already done this! They are constantly evolving the "grilling" process and took all of my suggestions, some of them to heart. The second time I went in they purposely addressed one of my "suggestions". That was nice to see.</p>
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<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>hobey</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/72436/tuesday-feb-1-workouts#post_1981114"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a><br><p>The only way I can make sense of this is if he's interviewing for an uber-competitive company that gets thousands of applicants. Some place like Google or something...</p>
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YES!</p>
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<p>Over the years there has been a model interview, if you will, that has evolved from the likes of Google, Apple, Microsoft, etc, companies known for very tough interviews. This process is for the most part what this group (the one I interviewed with) follows. And this process is actually documented in a book titled, "Cracking the Coding Interview". In short, the interview is a hands-on affair where you are asked numerous times to both code something, like an algorithym, and design a complex system. They purposely give vague descriptions so that they can see how you think, what questions you ask, how you logically follow through, and if you can come up with something. Most interview candidates, according to these guys (and the book), do not get through it, and it's okay not to get through it, because they want to see how you think. And asking these kind of design issues drags that out.</p>
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<p>Tough. Very tough.</p>
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<p>I was told a story by one of the guys. He said he was interviewing another guy about a year ago. The interview, much like mine, was crazy long. As they were escorting the candidate to his last stop of the interview, now in hour 7 of the process, the guy, as he was walking down the hall, started wobbling and then crashed into a wall. He did it again and then hunched over nearly passing out. He had been locked away in interview hell for so long that his blood sugar level dropped. Now they bring in snacks, tell you to have the biggest breakfast you can find, and get a good night sleep. Kind of like loading up the day before Ironman.
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