Coding for 20 years | Working for startups for 10 years | Team leader and mentor | More information about me: https://thevaluable.dev/page/about/
Twitter: @Cneude_Matthieu
I did interviews for practice, too, but my conclusion is not that good: tech interviews are often random, and I'm not sure I learn a lot from them except that techies have very different point of views on many things, and often they'll search people who agree with them. The consequence: a mono-culture where the collective intelligence goes down.
On top of that, it takes time to do interviews and, for me, a LOT of energy.
I agree that it can take a lot of time and energy. But as you interview more, you get a good sense of when you should bow out before going through the whole process. I have also always asked for an initial chat before a code test so as to limit the amount of time I spend. You can also stagger it over a period since you are not actively looking so that you don't get overwhelmed.
Although I have heard about the monoculture that you are talking about, there are also a lot of places that don't have that attitude. It is one of the things I look for when I move and the only way you can find those companies is if you interview a lot of them. Frankly, I have rarely faced this and it is possible to see in an interview, how the interviewers react to an alternative opinion. Most of the time it triggers a healthy debate.
Iny my experience, the concepts are being recycled pretty much in every interview I have been. The actual questions might be different but best practices, concepts don't change. As mentioned in the post, you can also find gaps in your knowledge/skills.
It boils down to whether you want to go through the process when you are desperate and need to find a job or when it doesn't really matter. The companies that fit don't your style will still be there when you are desperate and it's better to filter them out from your list earlier.
Having said all of that, everyone's experience is different but for me, the benefits and peace of mind I get outweigh the rest.
Coding for 20 years | Working for startups for 10 years | Team leader and mentor | More information about me: https://thevaluable.dev/page/about/
Twitter: @Cneude_Matthieu
There are a lot of interesting ideas here.
I did interviews for practice, too, but my conclusion is not that good: tech interviews are often random, and I'm not sure I learn a lot from them except that techies have very different point of views on many things, and often they'll search people who agree with them. The consequence: a mono-culture where the collective intelligence goes down.
On top of that, it takes time to do interviews and, for me, a LOT of energy.
I agree that it can take a lot of time and energy. But as you interview more, you get a good sense of when you should bow out before going through the whole process. I have also always asked for an initial chat before a code test so as to limit the amount of time I spend. You can also stagger it over a period since you are not actively looking so that you don't get overwhelmed.
Although I have heard about the monoculture that you are talking about, there are also a lot of places that don't have that attitude. It is one of the things I look for when I move and the only way you can find those companies is if you interview a lot of them. Frankly, I have rarely faced this and it is possible to see in an interview, how the interviewers react to an alternative opinion. Most of the time it triggers a healthy debate.
Iny my experience, the concepts are being recycled pretty much in every interview I have been. The actual questions might be different but best practices, concepts don't change. As mentioned in the post, you can also find gaps in your knowledge/skills.
It boils down to whether you want to go through the process when you are desperate and need to find a job or when it doesn't really matter. The companies that fit don't your style will still be there when you are desperate and it's better to filter them out from your list earlier.
Having said all of that, everyone's experience is different but for me, the benefits and peace of mind I get outweigh the rest.
I'm a bit late but that's a very interesting point of view. Thanks for that!