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Tech interviews are notoriously difficult. What has been your least favorite question or experience?
In my first ever interview for Microsoft, I was fresh out of college and working at Nordstrom to make some money while I job searched and waited for the recession passed. In an interview for Microsoft Inside Sales, the recruiter asked me to describe a typical day at Nordstrom. I did. She said she didn't understand. I explained again. She said she wasn't following. I explained again. Six attempts later, I was certain I had blown the interview. Nope, I got the job! That's just the way they rolled...
Jennifer HajeReal Estate Agent
212
06/05/19 at 1:03AM UTC
Absolutely. I learned that I wasn't a good fit for that company. It was a good lesson to learn.
Jennifer HajeReal Estate Agent
212
06/04/19 at 5:08AM UTC
Good question. I did not mind a technical interview. I had an issue with taking tests that had questions about company picnics with 3 leg and potato sack races and obscure math(not relevant to the position). In my opinion, it made me feel like the company was really valuing the tests and not what the applicant can bring to the company.
Erika Parker PriceReady Pause Go Podcast Host for Career Pausers
1.07k
06/04/19 at 5:41PM UTC
Interviews can definitely be a way to learn more about a company. It's a 2-way dialog and sometimes it highlights a good or bad fit from the start.
Anonymous
05/28/19 at 5:17PM UTC
I'm not a fan of the arbitrary case question!
Erika Parker PriceReady Pause Go Podcast Host for Career Pausers
1.07k
05/29/19 at 2:06PM UTC
I think I've managed to miss that one in my interviews!
Maggie BBusiness and Data Analysis Consultant
983
05/28/19 at 2:57PM UTC
My biggest frustration are roles that make you take a typing test. I understand wanting to know my typing speed if I'm doing data entry, but typing has no bearing on ten-key speed, and those tests don't take into account the way I type! I make mistakes frequently, and have to go back a digit or two to fix it, and tests frequently don't allow you to backspace.
Or tests that want to gauge whether you know Excel, but use a different version of Excel from what you're familiar with, and penalize you for clicking in a different spot that will ultimately get the same result the test is going for.
Erika Parker PriceReady Pause Go Podcast Host for Career Pausers
1.07k
05/28/19 at 3:02PM UTC
That sounds super frustrating! If (and only IF) these are for jobs that you truly want, my only advice is to practice. I'm sure you could nail the typing test with a little practice doing it in the same format they want.
I interviewed for a company 2 years ago that had me take an intelligence test and a personality test from home. The weirdest part was that I had to do it via Skype so they could watch me take the test - seemingly to ensure I wasn't consulting someone else? It was a startup so it seemed very odd to me that they would have gone to these lengths, but they were part of Madrona Venture Group and apparently that's part of their process. They suggested I just minimize the Skype window so I didn't have to look at them and that worked fine. Passed the test with flying colors, but didn't get the job. Ah well!
Maggie BBusiness and Data Analysis Consultant
983
05/28/19 at 3:07PM UTC
Luckily, these were years ago, and never for jobs I landed. I am very lucky to be doing something I truly love!
Oooh, man, that sounds VERY odd. I definitely have a cover over every front-facing laptop camera in my possession because I don't trust them! I don't need to be watched when I'm doing things at home! Yikes!
Anonymous
05/28/19 at 2:31PM UTC
Fascinating! did you ever figure out why they did that?
Erika Parker PriceReady Pause Go Podcast Host for Career Pausers
1.07k
05/28/19 at 2:42PM UTC
Apparently, they wanted to test your ability to 1) maintain your composure in a frustrating conversation and 2) find different ways of explaining the same thing. The other famous question at the time was, "Please sell me this bottle of Talking Rain water." And then the response was usually something like, "But I don't like water" or "But water is free from the tap. Why would I buy that?"
Georgene HuangCEO & Co-founder of Fairygodboss
5.22k
05/28/19 at 11:54PM UTC
I love the idea of having to explain the same thing in different ways. I especially value it now that I think one of my most important jobs is to communicate (or "over communicate"). People hear thing so differently even if your words seem straightforward.
Erika Parker PriceReady Pause Go Podcast Host for Career Pausers
1.07k
05/29/19 at 4:43AM UTC
Yes, I think sometimes we get so caught up in our own language (or that of our company or industry), we forget that it may be alienating to the customer or general population.
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