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Discussion on: I'm a developer for The Washington Post, ask me anything!

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Jess Lee

What were the 'signals' that made you feel ready to start applying for jobs?

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What's it like working for The Washington Post?! I'm curious about how the culture has evolved over the last few years.

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Jessica Bell

So I have only been at the post since Jan, so can't answer how it's changed over the years but right now it really varies team to team. I have a SUPER awesome team with really nice senior devs and an amazing technical manager so I am pretty happy :) It can be challenging to keep up with all the things here and deal with technical debt but the people make it fun/easy.

Signals for feeling ready? Honestly I was TERRIFIED... I didn't think I was ready but my GA TA, my partner who is a dev, and other people in my life in tech told me just to do it and see what came back. So I build a little portfolio site, made a resume, and started... I had a few REALLY bad interviews, but then a few REALLY good ones too :P

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Jess Lee

What was the interview process at Washington Post like?

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Jessica Bell

I had an initial chat with people working in the post - I was talking to them already for some of the community organizing stuff that I do when they asked me to sit with a few people re. job. I was not looking at the time but was curious so sat down! After the first convo I talked for about an hour with my current manager and senior dev regarding their projects and culture. I spend about 3 hrs at the offices meeting with various people and chatting code - it was very laid back, more a conversation than a test/interview.

I know SOME teams do code tests/take home exercises but I did not have a specific one other than chatting back and forth about experience and tech

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Jess Lee

OOH! I'm a GA WDI Grad too! I'm assuming you did your program in DC?

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Jessica Bell

YUP! FEWD 7! ie: mega-fewd hahaha