job interview -- advice & dust

[TooPatient]

Went great! Interviewer needed to borrow DH's pen. Nice guy. No ugly technical stuff, just talking about different technical stuff and how to deal with. The company actually got started in pedometer apps and knew the work DH had put into ours.

Asked to come back and chat with company president.

Great company. Cool product. Nice people.... Long miserable commute and low pay.


Hoping the Wednesday one goes as well. Easy commute and about 20% higher pay.

 

[Dee*Jay]

TooPatient - I'm thrilled to hear this interview went so well and fingers crossed for another great interview on Wednesday for DH!

 

[chroman]

Congratulations on what sounds like a successful interview!

So hopefully these comments arn't too late

Often, the best way to prepare for inteviews is to take interviews. If you have the luxary to setup a few interviews for positions you are rather unlikely to take the job for, that can be good experience. If that feels somewhat immoral or time is at a premium, perhaps try to arrange interviews so your 'dream job' interview comes later.

Nobody likes white boarding coding. The hardest part (but most important part) is to externalize /everything/. Talk througnyour thought process, what you are thinking, and what you might not like about a solution you've written. Don't go silent. The interviewer is trying to gauge your thought process first, and not so much your ability to position curly braces. If you can, it might not hurt to pickup a set of fine tipped white board markers and an eraser of your own. The fat tipped ones suck for writing code, but are usually what most places have on hand. Plus, white board markers tend to die at the most inopportune times!

Having the camdidate bring paper resumes seems rather odd, but maybe thats common in the sector. Most people I know just attach the candiates resume as a pdf to the calendar event that the employees get.

I'd say skip the suit, and probably not wear a jacket either. Nice pants/shirt/shoes will likely suffice. Dressier might risk triggering some ugly ageism depending on who is in the room. If your DH can pull it off, a vest (and maybe a simple solid tie?) could work, if a lack of suit/jacket feels too underdressed. Though, I'm not that familiar with the medical sector, so ymmv, especially if you're now kicking around attire ideas for the follow up. Oh, and if there are white boards around, watch out for light colored clothes!

This is a sweeping generalization, but if its a larger co, they may be more interested in specific skills that you already have. Whereas a smaller company may be more interested in the ability to ramp up quickly on new specific skills (but not be totally unfamiliar with a domain), fit in with the rest of the group, and work without too much direction in chaotic environments.

Oh, and find ways to ask questions. Its common for interviewers to ask, "do you have any questions for us?" near the end of a session, and you always want respond with some good questions!

Good luck (++dust)

 

[TooPatient]

Congratulations on what sounds like a successful interview!

So hopefully these comments arn't too late

Often, the best way to prepare for inteviews is to take interviews. If you have the luxary to setup a few interviews for positions you are rather unlikely to take the job for, that can be good experience. If that feels somewhat immoral or time is at a premium, perhaps try to arrange interviews so your 'dream job' interview comes later.

Nobody likes white boarding coding. The hardest part (but most important part) is to externalize /everything/. Talk througnyour thought process, what you are thinking, and what you might not like about a solution you've written. Don't go silent. The interviewer is trying to gauge your thought process first, and not so much your ability to position curly braces. If you can, it might not hurt to pickup a set of fine tipped white board markers and an eraser of your own. The fat tipped ones suck for writing code, but are usually what most places have on hand. Plus, white board markers tend to die at the most inopportune times!

Having the camdidate bring paper resumes seems rather odd, but maybe thats common in the sector. Most people I know just attach the candiates resume as a pdf to the calendar event that the employees get.

I'd say skip the suit, and probably not wear a jacket either. Nice pants/shirt/shoes will likely suffice. Dressier might risk triggering some ugly ageism depending on who is in the room. If your DH can pull it off, a vest (and maybe a simple solid tie?) could work, if a lack of suit/jacket feels too underdressed. Though, I'm not that familiar with the medical sector, so ymmv, especially if you're now kicking around attire ideas for the follow up. Oh, and if there are white boards around, watch out for light colored clothes!

This is a sweeping generalization, but if its a larger co, they may be more interested in specific skills that you already have. Whereas a smaller company may be more interested in the ability to ramp up quickly on new specific skills (but not be totally unfamiliar with a domain), fit in with the rest of the group, and work without too much direction in chaotic environments.

Oh, and find ways to ask questions. Its common for interviewers to ask, "do you have any questions for us?" near the end of a session, and you always want respond with some good questions!

Good luck (++dust)

Awesome advice! Practice real interviews aren't really an option (been applying to every thing in town from a little below to a bit above for over 18 months now) as it has been very hard to get ANY interview.
Great if you can manage! We have been practicing at home, with WorkSource, and even getting some help from the generic recruiters who are trying to match him to a position.

 

[Mayk]

Wishes for something good! You are deserving!

 

[TooPatient]

Company 1: interview today went awesome. Have coding test to get done tomorrow at home. Next in person interview with company president on Thursday.

Company 2: Contract position. (18 months). Interview on Wednesday morning.

Company 3: 1st phone interview went very well. Just called (like 15 minutes ago!) to schedule in person for 2 weeks from now. Will know date soon. Phone interviewer said DH was in the top couple they were considering.


Company 1 is small (10-15 people) but has equity financing and been around for 5+ years. Does really cool stuff that really makes a difference in the world (like helps people to walk again). An hour or more commute each way. At best. Low pay. (at least a $30,000/year pay CUT from his previous job that already had our budget pretty tight). Would NEED to get a 2nd car.

Company 2 is mega company. Actually, is his previous employer but different team. Great commute (15-20 minutes average). Pay comparable or a bit higher than previous position in company. No need for 2nd car.

Company 3 is small (about 50 people) with equity financing. Been in market and growing for several years. Solid business plan. Product that is really interesting to DH and does good in the world. Commute 30-40 minutes. Pay as good or better than previous job. May be able to manage with just the one car but would probably need to get another one at some point.


So...
Hoping for lots of offers! Would love to have to try to decide between them rather than just trying to make something work.

 

[TooPatient]

Wishes for something good! You are deserving!

Thank you! I am sure something good is about to come!

 

[azstonie]

Hang in there!!!!!! Dust for #2 and #3!!!!

 

[VRBeauty]

What wonderful news! Sending tons of dust your way for the best possible outcome!

 

[SMC]

Best of luck! I hope it works out for your DH and he gets multiple offers!

 

[hay joe]

TP, good luck to you and your husband. Fingers crossed and hopes are high!

 

[zoebartlett]

Good luck to your husband, TP!

 

[missy]

Sending more good luck ***DUST*** to you both!

 

[mary poppins]

Wow, your husband is on quite the interview streak! Sending interview dust his way.

 

[decisively_unsure]

Re: job interview -- advice & dust

Don't forget the power of demand. Often if company wants an individual, they are willing to add on a bit more salary. It isn't cheeky to mention that you have higher offers, but really want to work at the company.

 

[CJ2008]

Good luck!
Good luck!
More interview dust going your way!

 

[junebug17]

TooPatient, just want to send lots encouragement and best wishes to you and dh, I am thinking of you and hoping things work out!

 

[TooPatient]

The suspense is killing me! DH was supposed to be done with interview for best position 45 minutes ago. Still going! Nothing since an email an hour and a half ago (presumably interviewer swap) saying it was going really well. How well!?!?

Nothing to do but wait!

 

[NewEnglandLady]

It's probably a good sign that the interview is going long! And the fact that he thought it was going great in the middle is good news! Continued dust coming your way!

 

[TooPatient]

Went great! Now to wait and hope they call him in for the 2nd in person interview. Went 45 minutes long.

Would be great fit. Maybe a bit too great.... It is the same product as our company already made. Eh. Will go with it. Would not mind selling ours to them if they wanted!

 

[Dee*Jay]

Thanks awesome TP! Can't wait to hear about next steps!

 

[PintoBean]

Dust dust dust for the next round of interviews!

 

[TooPatient]

Still waiting after holiday weekend. No news on the original batch.

He had another phone interview with a whole different company today. Went very well. Already talked to engineering manager. Today was HR. Going for long in person Thursday. Questions today were mostly about how long notice to start and how long he would take to consider if offer made.

 

[TooPatient]

Decline from company #1

No news from company #2 (so likely decline)

Another in person with company #3 scheduled for next week.


But the big excitement today is an entirely different company! (Company #4 for sanity!)

Got passed onto company by recruiter. Had long phone interview with engineering manager. Heard nothing for a long time. Figured they weren't interested (prefer Master's and highly math focused). Got an email from recruiter to schedule phone interview with HR for Tuesday (day before yesterday). Had phone interview with HR. She scheduled in person for less than 48 hours after that one.

In person was today. Had him do 30 minute PowerPoint presentation to introduce himself. FOUR rounds of interviews (two senior engineers each round) plus a lunch interview session with engineering manager. Ran almost an hour long.

DH came home smiling! He had fun! Able to answer technical questions. All interviewers very pleased he knew about the stuff they were talking about (ranging from hardware to software to signal processing to old technology to new technology). Great match of personalities. Even his interests outside of work are shared with the different team members.

Company #4:
Smaller company but not super small. Equity financing, but partnered with a massively well known company that has been very successful. Close to home (20 minutes or less), comparable pay to what he had been making, great people, interesting/fun/exciting product. And... would be essentially be working on something that is DH's dream project.

 

[junebug17]

Oh TP, sounds promising, sounds like all the interviews went really well and dh felt confident and competent - I hope this works out! Sending lots and lots of dust!

 

[azstonie]

It does sound promising! I'm sure the right offer will come rolling in! Dust! Dust! Dust!

 

[VRBeauty]

Fingers crossed that this is the one!

 

[KaeKae]

I don't comment here often, but TooPatient, I want you to know I have my fingers and toes crossed for you with Company #4!

 

[TooPatient]

Thank you all!

The waiting to find out is so hard. No idea how long to expect them to take making a decision. Just trying to keep going with everything else so there are more options lined up if it doesn't work out. (But really hoping it does!)

 

[Calliecake]

Too Patient, Sending lots of job dust your way. The interview sounds like it went wonderful. Hopefully you will be hearing great news soon!