Another onsite interview

The last thing I expected to hear back was a request to schedule another onsite interview. This time I got to do a presentation.

Umm...

The tale of an interview

I spent the weekend cramming. It was the most stressful weekend I have had. Tried to relax by watching a movie or two. But believe me, I was stressed.

The interview was set for Monday morning @ 11a. I reached well ahead of time. It appeared that there was an employee meeting underway and I could hear applause every now and then.

My first interview was with a guy who had attended the same school that I did. So we kind a hit it off.

Midway through the interview, way my oh-oh moment! He asked me a puzzle me. I am not very good at puzzles. And I hadn't heard of this one.

But I took my time and thought through it and with a little bit of help was able to solve it. He said that only 1 in 20 get it. I was mighty proud of myself.

The second interviewer had called in sick. So they made me talk to him over the phone. You don't have the same connection over the phone than you do in person. I thought I did ok, but could have done way better.

The third interviewer was the hiring manager. He was very business-like. Stern and matter-of-fact. He reminded me very much of the VP of my former company. He asked me several questions that required a deep knowledge of the business that the online company was in. Honestly, I wasn't prepared. I had read some literature, but I lacked the indepth knowledge of the company business. I felt out of my league here.

That wrapped it up. The recruiter escorted me out. She is leaving the company, she said and a new recruiter would contact me for further steps.

Bonus check

Actually it ain't bad working at my present company. At my previous company, I hadn't seen a bonus check in 5 years. In a year and half here, I have gotten three. That's pretty darn good

And there is a pay raise on the horizon too.

I should think about sticking it out here and getting a new position within the company instead of moving.

The onsite interview is set

I have been scheduled for an onsite interview at the major online company. Got to prepare hard.

Second phone screen

This one was short. Very short.

Don't know what to make of it. I told wifey my chances were 50-50.

A birthday to remember

I could smell that wifey was upto something as my birthday neared. In the evening we went out for dinner with friends. Normally she is relaxed, but I could tell that she was holding back. After dinner we went to our friends place for some drinks. Around 10:30, we started to head home. That is when the surprises began.

She asked me to turn around and head to SF instead. We were spending the night in a hotel right outside Union Square. We lost our way a little, but we made it there eventually. The views of the SF skyline overlooking the Bay Bridge were fabulous.

Wife gave me my gift: a platinum wedding ring. I had been longing for one that matches the platinum watch strap I had. This was perfect

The next morning we checked out and headed to the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay for lunch. It was the best lunch I have had in a long time. From our table, we had an expansive view of the Pacific Ocean. It was breathtaking.

In the evening, we headed back to the City to catch a play at the Post Street Theatre.

It was the most memorable birthday I have had. Thanks to my beautiful wife!

The art of saying no

I hadn't heard back from the company where I interviewed for the non-technical position.

Today I pinged my contact there and she got back to me saying that she had meant to send me a note but hadn't gotten around to it.

They found someone who was a closer match, she said.

I didn't expect to get this job, but every rejection hurts. So I spent my time sulking today. It'll take me a couple of days to get through, but I have my birthday and the second phone screen at the big online company to look forward to.

First phone screen

I was apprehensive as I went into the first phone screen. I decided to drive to a nearby parking lot away from work so that I could take the call in peace. The first place I chose to go had a lot of traffic that made listening to my cellphone hard. So I drove around and the second place I parked had poor cell reception.

I finally found a place that had good cell reception. The time came and went and still no phone call. Ten minutes later, my cell rang. Turns out that the interviewer had gotten my numbers mixed up and had called home first. Fortunately he had tracked down the recruiter and gotten my cell number and had called me.

This company has a reputation for folks who don't suffer fools too well. So I went in expecting to talk to someone who was hardnosed and churlish. He turned out to be nice and cheerful. It helped that I was prepared and was able to answer most of his questions.

The recruiter is supposed to contact me next.

Surprise call

I had asked a friend at a major online company to forward my resume a long time ago. I hadn't heard back and nobody had contacted me and I put it down to the fact that they probably weren't interested.

Imagine my surprise when out of the blue, I got a call today.

I am excited. The first phone screen is scheduled for next week.