4 ms·
Do note that these interview slates will vary depending on level of candidate experience. At Google, we generally do not ask system design interviews of new gr
by vitus 3y ago
Do note that these interview slates will vary depending on level of candidate experience.
At Google, we generally do not ask system design interviews of new grads / entry-level candidates. It's pretty rare for mid-level candidates (L4), and expected for senior and up (L5+).
Also, there are situations where candidates may have an extra interview added to their slate. One common reason for this: the hiring committee doesn't have enough signal because the interviewers don't coordinate appropriately, and end up asking heavily overlapping questions (e.g. 3 questions that basically reduce to "use DFS").
- eieio 3y ago> One common reason for this: the hiring committee doesn't have enough signal because the interviewers don't coordinate appropriately, and end up asking heavily overlapping questions (e.g. 3 questions that basically reduce to "use DFS"). I'm curious - how much up-front coordination is mandated? Plenty of the interview loops I've done agree in advance to the exact set of questions we'll ask during an onsite specifically to avoid problems like this (which of course causes other problems...)
- idank 3y agoNot very much. There's an interview lead that is supposed to make sure no question overlaps happen. They will sometimes comment on the chosen question (e.g. asking an unrelated question to someone interviewing for a research position). In general I think this is pretty rare as it requires folks to care about their interview before it starts. :)
- lesuorac 3y ago> I'm curious - how much up-front coordination is mandated? None is mandated. It's incredibly rare (maybe 5%) to also be requested to put your question into a spreadsheet (that all the interviewers can see) to avoid any overlap pre-interview. Post-interview you have to submit what question you asked into the official (not a spreadsheet) tool.
- vitus 3y agoWhen interviews were actually in person, there would be a pass-along sheet where you would write down your question. Of course, that wasn't perfect (the comment I had about too many people asking BFS was from a pre-pandemic email thread). These days, the actual process is confusing at best (and wildly inconsistent across interviewers, as it's dependent on what the recruiter sets up), so it shouldn't be surprising that it's rarely used if ever. To be clear: I don't actually know what the rate is of candidates being asked to come back for an extra interview. My understanding is that it's always been a last-resort option, but it'd be one of the more common reasons if the candidate actually made it to the slate of "in-person" interviews, and then needed to come back for another one.
- DanAtC 3y agoNice, make your problem the interviewee's problem and waste more of everyone's time.
- mnd999 3y agoThe arrogance of these companies makes me never want to work there. I did go through the Apple process once though and it was pretty much as described.
- yieldcrv 3y agoPeople that need jobs really shouldn't view this kind of approach as advice or relevant to them. I feel like that's often left out of these kind of takes. For anybody that needs reminding: Companies' abrasive or uncoordinated interview processes likely has nothing to do with your experience in your team on the company. Your manager's uncollaborative behavior may have nothing to do with your day to day, or mental health on the job. Ignoring or leaving any of these companies because you considered any one behavior a red flag is a privileged take for people that have trust funds, masquarading their version of life as normal.
- mnd999 3y agoIf you really need a job why would go go through these processes? They’re long and complicated and it’s basically a crapshoot anyway because they do it so badly. Even if you get it you’ll have no negotiating power so you’ll get screwed on comp. Take a contract position or something else less hard to get, get more financially secure and then go for the faang role.
- superchink 3y agoideally things go perfectly all the time, but people sometimes make mistakes. what would you rather they do? pass on the candidate because they didn’t get enough data to support a hire? or give them more chances to demonstrate their capabilities?
- 3y ago
- teaearlgraycold 3y agoThe Google interview has degraded in the last few years. When I interviewed 6 years ago as a fresh grad they flew me out to Seattle. Now I don’t believe you can go in person even if you want to on your own dime - at least not for the level I interviewed at when I got in a couple years ago (this was after Google’s supposed return-to-office).
- mattnewton 3y agoDoes a couple years ago = early 2021 during the pandemic?
- lesuorac 3y agoKinda of; that's why it changed but it never changed back. I'm kind of surprised that its impossible to do it locally at all. I know one time I was interviewing at FaceBook and I asked to do the phone screen in-person and they let me (I lived near the office).
- meowtimemania 3y agoI prefer online. In person means using a whiteboard while online means using a laptop+ text editor.