I have a series of virtual on-site interviews tomorrow for a software engineer position with a major tech company. I have only ever worked for startups before, as most of my applications to bigger companies have been met with automated rejections.
I’ve done my best to prepare by solving LeetCode problems and reading up on system design in the short amount of time since the first contact with the recruiter, but still feel woefully inadequate. Prior to this, I had one technical assessment stage with an employee at the company where I received “great feedback” and was quickly slotted into having this followup series of interviews (3 hours back-to-back), which I delayed by a week to prepare a bit more, the maximum possible due to their hiring season ending this week.
I am stone cold terrified. I was terrified during the first technical, having some of the worst physical anxiety symptoms I’ve had since my teenage years, but I was able to calm down when I saw that the problem was approachable. I was able to find a solution, and the follow up questions just had to be discussed and not solved. I was also lucky that my interviewer was incredibly friendly and put me at ease. I fear that the next stages will not go as smoothly.
I think the terror is partially due to what’s at stake. My current company often feels it is on the brink of failure. My job seems more stressful than that of all of the other devs in my circle, unless they’re downplaying their own, but perhaps that could be attributed to my company being an understaffed startup that feels like it’s on the brink of failure. I also live in a VHCOL area, and support my unemployed spouse, so it feels like we’re always on the verge of going negative financially. This job I’m interviewing for would effectively double my compensation. A world of difference in terms of how much I could save, not just towards our financial security, but towards my goals.
I had been feeling a bit grim and depressed prior to this opportunity presenting itself. I think it’s one part burnout and another part about comparing my employment situation to my peers, and feeling like I’m stuck, like I’m not growing and like nothing is changing for the better. I would bounce out of it slightly, but then things would happen, and I’d slide back into it. I’ve tried to mentally prepare myself for it not working out, telling myself that if I’ve made it this far now, I could do it again with a different company. I hope I can stay optimistic if I’m rejected tomorrow.
I don’t know what I wanted from writing all of this. Maybe just a place to vent, maybe some words of encouragement or advice, maybe some stories of your own trials and tribulations as they relate to mine. I feel slightly better having gotten it all out there.
p
I have a series of virtual on-site interviews tomorrow for a software engineer position with a major tech company. I have only ever worked for startups before, as most of my applications to bigger companies have been met with automated rejections.
I’ve done my best to prepare by solving LeetCode problems and reading up on system design in the short amount of time since the first contact with the recruiter, but still feel woefully inadequate. Prior to this, I had one technical assessment stage with an employee at the company where I received “great feedback” and was quickly slotted into having this followup series of interviews (3 hours back-to-back), which I delayed by a week to prepare a bit more, the maximum possible due to their hiring season ending this week.
I am stone cold terrified. I was terrified during the first technical, having some of the worst physical anxiety symptoms I’ve had since my teenage years, but I was able to calm down when I saw that the problem was approachable. I was able to find a solution, and the follow up questions just had to be discussed and not solved. I was also lucky that my interviewer was incredibly friendly and put me at ease. I fear that the next stages will not go as smoothly.
I think the terror is partially due to what’s at stake. My current company often feels it is on the brink of failure. My job seems more stressful than that of all of the other devs in my circle, unless they’re downplaying their own, but perhaps that could be attributed to my company being an understaffed startup that feels like it’s on the brink of failure. I also live in a VHCOL area, and support my unemployed spouse, so it feels like we’re always on the verge of going negative financially. This job I’m interviewing for would effectively double my compensation. A world of difference in terms of how much I could save, not just towards our financial security, but towards my goals.
I had been feeling a bit grim and depressed prior to this opportunity presenting itself. I think it’s one part burnout and another part about comparing my employment situation to my peers, and feeling like I’m stuck, like I’m not growing and like nothing is changing for the better. I would bounce out of it slightly, but then things would happen, and I’d slide back into it. I’ve tried to mentally prepare myself for it not working out, telling myself that if I’ve made it this far now, I could do it again with a different company. I hope I can stay optimistic if I’m rejected tomorrow.
I don’t know what I wanted from writing all of this. Maybe just a place to vent, maybe some words of encouragement or advice, maybe some stories of your own trials and tribulations as they relate to mine. I feel slightly better having gotten it all out there.
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