MetaChat - Just survived a five hour job interview. My brain is now mush.

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18 December 2013

Just survived a five hour job interview. My brain is now mush. Gahh. I need a job and I'd really like this job and I thought that I did really well but five hours of sitting in one conference room and talking about software process just melts your brain.

post by: octothorpe at: 15:57 | 19 comments

I hope you get good news before Christmas, octo.

posted by Senyar 18 December | 16:34

Thanks. Very cool company and an interesting position and I'm flattered that they came and sought me out but the whole process is just numbing.

posted by octothorpe 18 December | 17:39

Wow, five hours? That's inhuman.

posted by JanetLand 18 December | 19:37

I assume it was one hour each with five different people or teams? Or - no? Did you know going in it would be a long interview? I had one like this and I didn't know and I got the job. Wishing you a good outcome, too. Relax tonight!!

posted by rainbaby 18 December | 19:51

It was an hour with one or two people at a time.

Feeling better now. Just have to deal with the suspense now.

posted by octothorpe 18 December | 20:14

Oy, yes. Those are so stressful. Good luck.

posted by lysdexic 18 December | 20:37

I've only ever been an interviewer, not an interviewee at a 5+ hour interview. Looks grueling. Good luck.

posted by gaspode 18 December | 21:09

I hate marathon interviews, and they've become such a norm. Well done getting through! Good luck!

posted by Miko 18 December | 23:44

Yeah, I've been through one or two of them. Was it like, the first folks were there to get you comfy and the next folks threw the hardballs? I hate those.

"Hey these guys seem really friendly."

"Holy crap, do I still have all of my fingers after those last guys?"

posted by Splunge 19 December | 00:56

Wow, that is a difficult thing to do well in, but it's great that they sought you out. Best of wishes for a great outcome!

posted by mightshould 19 December | 07:02

Thanks all. Yes, Splunge it was a little like that. The first interviewers mostly just chatted and talked about the company; by the second to last they had me re-designing their software test automation infrastructure on the white board.

I'm a little worried that I'm not young and hip enough for the company, it's all very MacBook and Ikea, but I do actually know what I'm talking about and I hope that I communicated that well enough.

posted by octothorpe 19 December | 07:46

I hate marathon interviews, and they've become such a norm.

^^^^^

If you're going to want me to work half a day, you're going to need to pay me for half a day.

posted by Eideteker 19 December | 11:53

What it means is that it's a pain in the ass to get a new job if you already have a job since it means studying algorithms and such for a week and then taking a whole day to interview.

There's always a running joke at any tech company that when anyone takes a day off without much notice that they're interviewing at Google.

posted by octothorpe 19 December | 12:32

Sounds tiring! But also a good sign that they are really serious about you.
Hope you get it!

posted by rmless2 19 December | 15:17

Good luck, octo! Sounds like you aced your interview, I hope they have the decency to get back to you soon.

posted by msali 19 December | 15:20

What mightshould said: it's great that they sought you out. Glad the ordeal is over.

posted by tangerine 19 December | 23:10

Well, HR just emailed me for references, so that's a good sign.

posted by octothorpe 20 December | 15:07

They were clearly impressed with your stamina. :)

posted by JanetLand 20 December | 15:38

Fingers crossed, octo.

posted by Senyar 20 December | 18:19

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