4 ms·

If you think interviewing is bad now, wait until you're world-class. Then either the interviewers "know" the wrong answers, or feel so threatened that you're "

If you think interviewing is bad now, wait until you're world-class. Then either the interviewers "know" the wrong answers, or feel so threatened that you're "not a culture fit."

StillBored 11y ago
I'm pretty sure i'm not world class. That said, twice in the past few years I've been in the situation where the interviewer was wrong (recently like over a dozen times in the interview on different topics!). Most of the time I just brush it off, but I'm not the type to let things slide on technical issues with black and white answers. So sometimes if pushed i will try to gently backup my statement with concrete examples (goggleable if you will). But, still if you piss someone off by telling them to google it, you definitely get the "culture fit" answer. So, i'm not sure how to crack that nut. Maybe the best answer is you probably are not going to fit in, and terminating it early is a good idea. Its like the crazy member of the opposite sex who breaks up with you, and all you feel is relief. BTW: When I got the culture fit answer recently, I almost sent the hiring manager the "your techie is presenting himself as an expert in the following areas critical to your success but he thinks a,b,c,d. These aren't even areas subject to disagreement by knowledgeable people. Here are the actual answers complete with hard references you can verify." But when I cooled down, I figured the best response was the pleasant thank you for your time answer.
danellis 11y ago
Maybe they're just put off by people arrogant enough to call themselves world class.
- brendangregg 11y ago
  Total guess, but picking a "throwaway" account might suggest the writer is uncomfortable saying that, and may never have said that in an interview. But that's a guess. If they did call themselves world-class, then that's sure to come across as arrogant, even if they are.
  - danellis 11y ago
    Sure, but it's something other people say of you. To say it of yourself, even outside of an interview, is rather gauche, and perhaps reveals a sentiment that does manifest in interviews.
brendangregg 11y ago
I get the feeling that at some large companies there is the "front door", geared towards junior staff and fresh graduates, and typified by whiteboard coding trivia, and then the "back door", geared towards opportunistic hires of world class talent. Anyone else get that feeling?

If you think interviewing is bad now, wait until you're world-class. Then either the interviewers "know" the wrong answers, or feel so threatened that you're "not a culture fit."

StillBored 11y ago

I'm pretty sure i'm not world class. That said, twice in the past few years I've been in the situation where the interviewer was wrong (recently like over a dozen times in the interview on different topics!). Most of the time I just brush it off, but I'm not the type to let things slide on technical issues with black and white answers. So sometimes if pushed i will try to gently backup my statement with concrete examples (goggleable if you will). But, still if you piss someone off by telling them to google it, you definitely get the "culture fit" answer. So, i'm not sure how to crack that nut. Maybe the best answer is you probably are not going to fit in, and terminating it early is a good idea. Its like the crazy member of the opposite sex who breaks up with you, and all you feel is relief. BTW: When I got the culture fit answer recently, I almost sent the hiring manager the "your techie is presenting himself as an expert in the following areas critical to your success but he thinks a,b,c,d. These aren't even areas subject to disagreement by knowledgeable people. Here are the actual answers complete with hard references you can verify." But when I cooled down, I figured the best response was the pleasant thank you for your time answer.

danellis 11y ago

Maybe they're just put off by people arrogant enough to call themselves world class.

brendangregg 11y ago
Total guess, but picking a "throwaway" account might suggest the writer is uncomfortable saying that, and may never have said that in an interview. But that's a guess. If they did call themselves world-class, then that's sure to come across as arrogant, even if they are.
- danellis 11y ago
  Sure, but it's something other people say of you. To say it of yourself, even outside of an interview, is rather gauche, and perhaps reveals a sentiment that does manifest in interviews.

brendangregg 11y ago

I get the feeling that at some large companies there is the "front door", geared towards junior staff and fresh graduates, and typified by whiteboard coding trivia, and then the "back door", geared towards opportunistic hires of world class talent. Anyone else get that feeling?