discussion Interview tips? (Tech/SWE)

[Lazerbeamz]

Hey all, I’ve been with my company for a few years since graduating but I feel like I’ve outgrown it and am looking for new opportunities for a fresh start.

 

I’m a software engineer and I’m good at my job, but I absolutely loathe the interviewing process, especially in our field. For those unfamiliar, it’s usually 2-3 rounds of interviews and the last round can be anywhere from 1 to 4 hours where you code a problem live while another engineer watches you solve it  
 

My resume is pretty good and I can land interviews easily, but by that stage I usually don’t make it cause I’m a bad test taker under pressure. knowing someone else is watching + there’s a time limit makes me get in my head so I lose my train of thought.

 

I go through cycles of landing several interviews, not passing them due to bad time management under pressure and then getting demotivated and stopping my job search altogether. I get so close yet so far and I hate it, any tips if any of you girlies are in the field? Thanks in advance  

[Archetype]

You need to practice at home.  Do simulated timed tests.  Redo some of your own code under time constraints.  Apply to companies and startups you don't care about *just* to practice this last round interview process (if you get an offer, you can obv reject but it'll be an indicator of your improvement).  Consider paying someone to mentor you as well so you can talk through your struggles with the final test.  I'm a product designer in tech (had to go through the design version of the seemingly endless interview process myself many times).

[Sesame]

2 hours ago, Lazerbeamz said:

Hey all, I’ve been with my company for a few years since graduating but I feel like I’ve outgrown it and am looking for new opportunities for a fresh start.

 

I’m a software engineer and I’m good at my job, but I absolutely loathe the interviewing process, especially in our field. For those unfamiliar, it’s usually 2-3 rounds of interviews and the last round can be anywhere from 1 to 4 hours where you code a problem live while another engineer watches you solve it  
 

My resume is pretty good and I can land interviews easily, but by that stage I usually don’t make it cause I’m a bad test taker under pressure. knowing someone else is watching + there’s a time limit makes me get in my head so I lose my train of thought.

 

I go through cycles of landing several interviews, not passing them due to bad time management under pressure and then getting demotivated and stopping my job search altogether. I get so close yet so far and I hate it, any tips if any of you girlies are in the field? Thanks in advance  

There’s a GitHub repo somewhere out there that actually breaks down a boatload of companies by their interview process and which ones have whiteboard interviews/walkthrough assessments/take home projects, and there was quite a bit that had no coding requirements at all. I’d recommend checking those out, I think I saw the link on r/cscareerquestions 

[dussel_06]

That’s horrible. I hate tests in the job seeking process. And more than 2 interviews are frustrating.

Maybe look for a company that doesn’t require tests/exams. For sure there are some especially start ups or small companies. If you have a good resume/CV and good in your interview, then someone will hire you. 

[katara]

Companies that have 3+ rounds of interviews stretched over months are horrible and usually just waste everyone's time by either picking no one or someone who is the son of a manager anyway. 

 

Companies that really want you invite you quickly and do like 2 interviews in quick succession at most.One interview to get to know each other and one interview to discuss the technicalities of the job, that's it. At least that's my expereince.

 

I don't even bother with companies if I find out they have like a 5 round interview and assesement test thingy ove 3 months LOL. They are just bored and have no lives and literally built a Hunger Games style tournament to entertain themselves 

Edited October 12, 2022 by katara

[MonsterJohn]

This company I just finished interviewing for senior Swe had total 7 rounds. I'm TIRED, if they rejected me after this

[popmusicisdead]

for my last job, i totally flunked the test in the last part of a 5-part interview because of my damn nerves.

my friend, who was up for the same position but failed the previous round, got another chance because my slot opened up and then got hired instead. 

 

they ended up hiring me eventually a few months later minus the jumping through hoops. so it worked out, i guess 

 

Edited October 15, 2022 by popmusicisdead