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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.
Good luck. I saw some good advice on the subreddit. See also the followup comments. The original comment is below.
My ideal interview goes like this:
I paste problem in to doc
TC ("the candidate") reads it
TC generates and solves a trivial example to confirm understanding. E.g. for two sum: so f([2, 3, 4], 5) is True, but f([2, 3, 4], 12) is False, right? No discussion of algorithm yet
TC asks 1-2 needless pedantic questions. Can we assume f is called with appropriate types? Do we need to check if nums fits in RAM? If there is actual ambiguity, ask about that instead.
TC says OK I think I see a way to solve this using $DATASTRUCTURE, in worst case O(n2) time, where n = ..., which should be optimal theoretically because ....
TC verbally, with a little writing but not pseudocode, describes the algorithm, and checks it against their earlier examples.
TC says I think that sounds reasonable, should I start coding it up?
TC codes it up, using at least one helper function, and at least one piece of language-specific style/syntax. Functional programming is always nice.
TC comments at least once that there are two ways to write a thing, and pros and cons stylistically are...
At each step if possible, or when done if not, TC steps through their code with the same examples as before.
My biggest pet peeve is when TC is confused, asks broadly for "a hint", rather than putting in any effort: "I could almost X, but that fails because Y; do you think there's a way to remedy that, or maybe I should consider other options". Bonus pet peeve points if, given the hint, TC has no idea what to do, but confidently says "ah yes of course, thanks"
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Hey, good luck!
If they were nice on the first technical, and you’ve already cleared that bar, you can expect them to be similarly nice in subsequent rounds. Brutal interviews are for weeding out a glut of applicants, not punishing those who already seem to be a good fit.
That’s not to say you should be completely relaxed. It’s good that you are taking it seriously and have prepared. Ultimately, even if you don’t end up with this position, that policy serve you well.
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All I can tell you is that every time I've felt like this in my career, it turns out to have been a minor speed bump in retrospect. There will be another job opp like this even if you don't pass the interviews this time. Just keep your LinkedIn up to date and keep chatting with recruiters.
Some of your anxiety might also stem from a flavor of imposter syndrome where you feel as though the company you're interviewing for is deigning to offer you a bunch of extra money you don't deserve. This is incorrect. They saw your skillset and made a cold, rational business calculation that you were such a valuable to the team that it would be a good deal for them to spend
yourCurrentSalary * 2each year. That means that your skills.are valued at that amoubt among at least some companies. Don't feel intimidated and nervous, feel confident due to the vote-of-confidence you've received.More options
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