Background
It was early December. Friend of mine (
http://blogs.dirteam.com/blogs/tomek/)
who at this time was working for Microsoft (he is still working there) asked
me whether I'm considering myself as an passionate about technology, and
having abilities to write code in C/C++. I've answered
yes. So I've
updated my resume, send it over to Tomek, and forgot about whole
thing.
Prologue
It was somewhere around of mid-January, when email have arrived. My resume
was interesting enough to catch HR eye. I was appointed to phone interview.
The day has come (or rather night, due to polish timezone). I had a drink,
sat before skype, and it rang... I was asked several questions, mostly about
my deep "thoughts" about software developing, testing and
debugging. Nothing specific, rather general questions about approach. It was
nice talk (did I mention about drink? :-)) ). At the end it turned out that
both me and recruiter on the other side have started with computers on the
same time, and on similar equipment. 8-bit computers. I've started witch
famous and genuine Commodore 64 and "other side" with Atari. After
this interview I was thinking I presented myself OK, but somehow did not
expected any further steps. Something like that.
Warm up
But then, another email have arrived. I was invited to interview in Prague.
Next week. So I had to arrange all this stuff. Hotel was booked by MS, so it
would be with tickets for plane, but... I choose to go to Prague by train. From
Warsaw it is not so far away, and timing was much more right for me. I
wanted to be well rested to this interview. My (and not only mine)
experience says it is most important on technical interviews (not counting
simple luck, since it is always most important in any situation ;-)) ). I
also have started to renew my rusty C++ skills. I was impressed with C++
standard library improvements, since my last look at it. Nice to know.
Finally I was in train to Prague.
Prague
On Wednesdays evening I was on place. Nice hotel in center of Old Town, but
I had no time to go see Prague. I was just tired. So I went to bed. On the
morning I've ate breakfast and did last browsing through my notes. Then
checkout, and I had two hours free to interview. I went to sightseeing.
Prague is very nice place. Unfortunately my camera went down, so I have
nothing to share at visual level... But time have passed very fast, and it
is 2PM - here I go!
The Thing
I have arrived to hotel, and there were already three another guys. One from
Romania, Slovakia and Poland. We have talked a bit. It looked that I was the
oldest, and most experienced. But not necessarily in software development
;-)) such a life. Interview have started. Room where we have met, was some
kind of waiting room. From it we were taken to interviews one by one with
folks from Microsoft. My first interview - about software testing. How to
write test cases (how to search interesting points to test), what to expect
from tested code. At the end little misunderstanding. I did not catch what I
was expected to do (write sample code), but fortunately everything clears
out very fast and I have time to write answer. It looks like not bad answer.
Short (very) break and another interview. Now about algorithms, coding and
etc. Now You may know why I wanted to write for myself
proof of concept
for recursion (URL). At that time I was confused and I could not force small
detail, and get stuck. Interviewer was kind and helped me to finish work in
ordinary way. But with next task I dealt much better. At the end I've
received positive feedback.
Back to
waiting room, water, cafe, next interview. Again about
testing. And I've remembered baselines the most. In other words - how to
tell whether new software version is better than older? Or worse? I was
beginning to feel tired... Stress is powerful factor in such
circumstances.
First milestone. We were told, that there will be three interviews, only in
case of some doubts would be another two or three. I was asked to stay for
another. Also my
rodak was left after this checkpoint. At this moment
I was taking this as good sign.
Now a little talk with some one from HR. I don't like this talks. They
always are for me a little spooky (talks, not persons ;-)) ). I always try
to present myself without any fiction, but... I don't know why I feel that I
can not never to understand well what is under mask on the other side. My
bad luck, since my best jobs which I got, it was when no HR was involved in
direct hiring process (I was interviewed by technical persons and my future
co-workers, HR was only processing my papers...). But lets go back to Prague
Intercontinental 4-th flour. I was asked typical HR questions, some
puzzles, etc. My interviewer looks very tired, and wanting only to finish
her job for today (it is already about 6PM), she gets a bit more live in her
eyes, when at the end I've asked what she likes most in working for
Microsoft. Truly HR person?
Final (as it shows later) interview. This time much more technical,
implementing SQL selects in C. Nice talking. Not remembering much details -
it is 7PM, my brain started overheating some time ago... After that a few
words with senior recruiter, and I can go for a walk to train
station...
The way back home
I'm walking on chilly air and my brain is starting to function normally,
again. I'm quite pleased with my efforts, however I see a few weakness, which
I have showed during this interview. Tension is fading away, with each mile
away from Prague. Finally I was in home. Then I could only wait for results.
They came after promised two weeks. No, thank You, we would like to pursue
other candidates. Bad luck or not?
Aftermath
Now, two month passed, and I can (I think so ;)) ) more honestly tell myself
what went wrong. Or maybe not wrong, but what I could done better.
First -
HR - I've told You - I can not talk with them ;)))
Read
Joel on Software more carefully. If I've done my homework, I
would be much better prepared for this. Joel writes how MS recruited in many
articles, and I can tell that only my lack of time few days just before
interview did not allow me to read it. Dammit!
If You are standing before chance like I was, take under consideration:
- read JoS carefully - it is full of tips which can safe Your life (not
only on interviews :)) )
- be rested and fresh
- make yourself sure You have understand task, BEFORE you start
coding
- test Your code without asking before You say "I'm
done!"
- go for it!
My lesson
So, I did not got job at Microsoft. So what the story for me? I did refresh
my developing skills, and now I'm sure I want to do software developing.
This is essentially what is interesting to me. Recently I spend a lot time
reading blogs like Joel On Software, links from joel.reddit.com, Signal vs
Noise and more others - and looks like this is really exciting to me, so I
have to try.
Other thing is, that I've learned a lot about myself during this interviews.
As usually, it turned out that I'm not so smart, how I like to think about.
But most of us are also ;-))