INTERVIEW DAY!
• Have a schedule
• Set expectations
• Make an effort to have
diverse interviewers
• Allow for breaks
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MAKE A GAME PLAN
• Assign different areas of
focus for each interviewer
• Have a hand-off system
• Create 3-5 questions for
each interviewer to ask
• Record impressions
immediately after interview
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SETTLING IN
• Start with a simple conversation
• Ease candidates into process
• Double-check for red flags
• Learn how they communicate
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BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEWING
• Hypothetical questions are
game-able
• Ask for the story of specific
situations
• Keep in mind they want to
get hired!
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COLLABORATION AUDITION
• Plan an app
• Focus on high-level design
• Jr - simple MVC app
• Mid/Sr - OO game
• Sr/Lead - distributed API
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PAIRING AUDITION
• Not everyone pairs
• Let them use their setup
• Pick a kata, Ruby quiz, or
open source project you’re
both familiar (but not
intimate) with
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PRESENTATION AUDITION
• Have candidate teach you
something
• It needn't be technical
• Set clear expectations about
length, format, and
investment of time
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INTERVIEW LUNCH - AN OPPORTUNITY!
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AFTER THE INTERVIEW
• Gather all feedback, then
discuss as a group
• Find a consensus
• Follow-up interviews can be
problematic
• Set candidate expectations
for response and meet them
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• Don’t say why, call out
deficiencies, or make it
personal
• Be respectful
• Explain potential for
reapplication (if any)
• Be cautious with follow-up
HANDLING REJECTION
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7 INTERVIEW
ANTIPATTERNS
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GPA, SAT, GRE
• GPA useless after 2-3 years
• More interesting to see what
was studied than test results
• SAT and GRE are for judging
academic performance only
• High School transcripts =
LOL
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“NEGGING”
• “You’re not qualified for this
job -- I’m not sure how you
got this interview”
• “You’re qualified but I’m not
feeling a spark. Convince me
you’re the right person for
this job.”
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“SUBMIT A PR TO APPLY”
• What about the well-
documented barriers to
OSS?
• You’re asking for free work
for the CHANCE of a job
• Many people can’t tip their
hand that they’re looking for
new employment
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GROUP/SPEED INTERVIEWS
• Disrespectful of individuals
• Filters for people who can
attract your attention
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PUZZLE QUESTIONS
• Google on puzzle questions:
“a complete waste of time”
• Filter for people who have
the same context as you
• Only serve to make you feel
smart
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WHITEBOARD CODING
• It is artificial to code by
writing on the wall
• Adversarial rather than
collaborative
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FIZZBUZZ
• At best: a time waster
• At worst: an insult
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3KEEP IMPROVING
YOUR PROCESS
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WE IMPROVE WHAT WE MEASURE
• Register predictions ahead
of time
• Discover your biases
• Keep tabs on people you
turn down
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Steven Mullin
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KERRI MILLER (@KERRIZOR)
• glass artist
• Vespa mechanic
• lighting designer
• author & teacher
• player of games
• software developer
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