So as you may know I spent the last 9 months looking for a career move. I didn't want a new job; I wanted a
better job. So with
Eric Wise's Interview questions in hand, I interviewed (and turned down) a lot of companies in the last year; I also ticked off a lot of recruiters because I just wouldn't take that position... In the last 2 months I had 2 really good opportunities. During both their interview processes I found a pleasant surprise: a really intelligent interview process that let me demonstrate my knowledge without being a total pain.
Before I go on, let me mention that I have been hit with every type of minutaie know to man. Name the framework class that can be used to control an electric toaster... System.It.Was.Nice.Talking.To.You.Not! Please take our automated test... hmmm... again with the minutaie.
So the one I didn't get (I would have taken it if it was offered... I wasn't a good fit for the first project),
Fortis Software, put me in a room with 2 developers (first). They probed my knowledge by reviewing my experience. After probing a bit, they had me write a function on a white board. It was actually a simple function, but it let them see how well I could think. They also had me answer some questions for some scenarios built on a white board. They had me interview with several others, but this first part was the heart of the interview.
The next was with my new job:
ASPSOFT. Jon called me and we chatted for about 1/2 hour on the phone. He probed my knowledge and experience. The final test project was that he gave me a 3 hour task to do one evening. The project was real world (Some day I'll reveal more about it). It tested my .Net knowledge, my database skills, my problem solving skills, and finally my personal development philosophy.